Vol 53 No 12 | SIERRA LEONEBRITAIN Faultlines in the foundations 8th June 2012 As Western governments cut aid to Africa, private foundations run by politicians and business people take on an increasingly politicised role Private foundations such as those run by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and financier George Soros can marshal funds in Africa to rival the aid budgets of agencies such as the United...
Vol 53 No 7 | NIGERIABRITAIN Ibori goes to Southwark 30th March 2012 Having pleaded guilty to ten money-laundering charges and obtaining a money transfer by deception and fraud, James Onanefe Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State, will be sent...
Vol 53 No 7 | TANZANIABRITAIN Taking bribes seriously 30th March 2012 The outgoing head of Britain’s Serious Fraud Office, Richard Alderman, has spoken out about the shortcomings of the British criminal justice system in relation to corporate crime...
Vol 53 No 6 | AFRICABRITAIN Getting out of the bush 16th March 2012 Accountants and managers at the BBC are calling time on the African service and cutting British influence on the continent The British Broadcasting Corporation’s decision to eviscerate its highly successful African Service looks counterproductive. It is all the more surprising given that Africa is bein...
Vol 53 No 5 | SOMALIABRITAIN Martial music plays in London 2nd March 2012 Whispers of possible negotiations with Al Shabaab were drowned out by the drums of war The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) may have been hosting the London Conference on Somalia but there was no doubting that Downing Street was in the driving seat.
Vol 53 No 4 | SOMALIABRITAIN No great expectations 17th February 2012 British Prime Minister David Cameron’s grand conference will bring together many parties but no one is forecasting a breakthrough After two decades of political mayhem, Somalis and more perspicacious foreign diplomats are intensely sceptical about high-level conferences. Many approach the London Conference on...
Vol 52 No 21 | TANZANIABRITAIN BAE Systems’ fine dilemma 21st October 2011 Confusion still surrounds British arms company BAE Systems’ failure to make its promised ex-gratia payment of £29.5 million (US$45.6 mn.) to Tanzania, as part of a global settlemen...
Vol 52 No 19 | UNITED STATESBRITAIN No EITI for UK 23rd September 2011 Britain is refusing to follow United States President Barack Obama in joining the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. Asked why Britain would not take part, even though ...
Vol 52 No 15 | TANZANIABRITAIN The radar scandal is back 22nd July 2011 After Westminster MPs lambast BAE over the radar saga, questions about the accountability of Tanzanian officials remain Hearings in the British parliament over the £29.5 million (US$47 mn.) BAE Systems must pay Tanzania over the radar affair have revived questions about whether any Tanzanians, espec...
Vol 52 No 15 | AFRICABRITAIN David meets Jacob 22nd July 2011 Accusations of corruption against police chiefs, plans for state interference with the media and innuendo about politicians compromised by business associates – British Prime Minis...