Vol 66 No 24 | KENYA Ruto holds the parties together 5th December 2025 The president’s party and its allies won most of the seats on ‘Super Thursday’ – yet numbers show a coalition fraying at the edges President William Ruto and his semi-official allies in the late Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) enjoyed a bumper by-election day on 27 November, winning 16 of the...
Vol 66 No 24 | RWANDABRITAIN No more logo 5th December 2025 The days of London’s biggest football club, Arsenal, proclaiming ‘Visit Rwanda’ on its players’ sleeves are over after the club confirmed that its eight-year sponsorship deal with Rwanda’s...
Vol 66 No 24 | SOMALIAUNITED STATESUNITED ARAB EMIRATES Funding woes dog anti-Islamic State war as Washington joins in 2nd December 2025 Puntland’s war on Da’ish drags on and piracy revives as President Said Deni prioritises electioneering above paying for troops Puntland’s bitter campaign against Islamic State (IS or Da’ish), backed by United States special forces, shows no sign of let-up despite 11 months of fighting and the capture...
Vol 66 No 24 | TANZANIA Hassan faces foreign anger and braces for more unrest 1st December 2025 The government risks losing aid funds and billions in investment in reaction to the election violence as it prepares for Independence Day protests As the scale of bloodshed during the 29 October general election hits home, President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government has triggered the country’s deepest crisis for decades, threatening the...
Vol 66 No 24 | SOMALIA Hassan Sheikh takes poll position 27th November 2025 The President hopes he can remain in power by winning a ‘one person one vote’ election next year, or get his term extended if delays persist President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has strengthened his position in the run-up to the presidential election next year by skilfully dividing the opposition. He is sticking with his call...
Vol 66 No 23 | ERITREAETHIOPIA The fight for the Red Sea escalates 21st November 2025 Commercial interests, naval ambitions and shifting alliances are raising the risk of war – as regional states pick sides Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly insisted that Ethiopia must secure direct access to the Red Sea. In his October address to parliament, he called it ‘inevitable’, citing...
Vol 66 No 23 | CHADSUDAN Abu Dhabi pressures Mahamat Kaka 21st November 2025 The RSF’s seizure of El Fasher exposed the fragility of the Ndjamena regime and its dependence on United Arab Emirates funding The seizure of El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 26 October prompted louder calls from United States and European Union politicians for sanctions against the...
Vol 66 No 23 | SOUTH SUDAN Spinning out of control 21st November 2025 The dismissal of Salva Kiir’s closest ally in a chaotic reshuffle has left him looking increasingly isolated With the economy racing downhill, the peace process ever more fragile and the political landscape dominated by the treason trial of former First Vice-President Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon...
Vol 66 No 23 | UGANDA Museveni looks to an oil boost 21st November 2025 Growth and exports climb ahead of national elections, as the government pins its hopes on extractive revenues President Yoweri Museveni and his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party approach January’s national elections with the National Unity Platform (NUP) opposition targeting his record on education, health...
Vol 66 No 23 | TANZANIA The power behind Samia’s throne 21st November 2025 The technocrat and the party hack – that is the early assessment of new Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba and Vice-President Emmanuel Nchimbi, the two men tasked with fronting...