Vol 56 No 6 | CONGO-KINSHASA Muzito's Waterloo 20th March 2015 Former Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito, one of President Joseph Kabila's main allies, has been named in connection with a Belgian investigation into foreign political bribery. The Belgian public...
Vol 56 No 4 | CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLICCONGO-BRAZZAVILLE The friendless mediator 19th February 2015 An angry UN has asked Sassou to end the peace talks in Nairobi but has few better ideas about achieving reconciliation It's been a bad year for Congo-Brazzaville President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. He is official mediator in the Central African Republic conflict for the Communauté économique des états de l'Afrique...
Vol 56 No 4 | EQUATORIAL GUINEA Obiang’s own goal fest 19th February 2015 Hosting the Africa Cup of Nations won some prestige for the regime but could not paper over the cracks From the glass-fronted VIP section of the main stand, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo had a perfect view as crowd violence in the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo spiralled...
Vol 56 No 4 | CONGO-KINSHASA Poll date set 19th February 2015 The Commission électorale nationale indépendante (CENI, the electoral commission) has named 27 November as the date for the next parliamentary and presidential elections. The announcement came on 12...
Vol 56 No 3 | EQUATORIAL GUINEAFOOTBALL Obiang's goals 6th February 2015 Hosting the Africa Cup of Nations has enabled President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo to improve his country's image and raise his regional profile. At the opening ceremony of...
Vol 56 No 3 | CONGO-KINSHASA Kabila's conundrum 6th February 2015 A wave of repression costing dozens of lives and hundreds of arrests failed to prevent Parliament on 25 January from defeating President Joseph Kabila's bid to postpone next...
Vol 56 No 1 | CONGO-KINSHASA Hell no, he won’t go 9th January 2015 Kabila’s determination to stay in power regardless of the legalities poses major risks – but the economy is looking up Speculation is rising that the probable postponement of local elections due in June and October is part of a plan by President Joseph Kabila to put off next...
Vol 55 No 23 | CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Diamonds fund rebels 21st November 2014 A UN report that illicit diamonds are financing rebels has dashed the government’s hopes that the ban on exports will be lifted Diamonds are a vital export for Central African Republic but the main beneficiaries recently are rebels linked either to Anti-Balaka groups or to the Séléka coalition. The interim...
Vol 55 No 22 | GABON Bashing Bongo 7th November 2014 Seasoned investigative journalist Pierre Péan has put the cat among the pigeons yet again with a stream of sensational claims about President Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba and his...
Vol 55 No 22 | CONGO-KINSHASABRITAIN Don't look now 7th November 2014 The High Court in London ruled late last month that the hearing on the law firm Dechert's disputed bill to Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation should be held behind...