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CONFIDENTIALLY SPEAKING

The Africa Confidential Blog

Displaying 1-10 out of 496 results.

  • 28th November 2024

Kenya silent on kidnapping of Ugandan oppositionist in Nairobi

Blue Lines

The abduction of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye in Nairobi is a chilling demonstration of the Kenyan government’s collusion with autocratic leaders. Besigye was lifted by Uganda intelligence officers in the evening of 16 November at an apartment ...

  • 14th November 2024

Climate summit faces geopolitical shockwaves

Blue Lines

Attendance may be sharply down at the COP29 climate summit which started in Azerbaijan this week, but the politicking in Baku still reflects the geopolitical faultlines between east and west and wealthy and developing countries. One of the priorities faci...

  • 31st October 2024

Macron mends ties with Morocco and angers Algiers

Blue Lines

France and Morocco completed the relaunch of their diplomatic relations after the state visit by Emmanuel Macron on 28-30 October featuring an open-top motorcade through the streets of Rabat with King Mohammed VI. The visit saw the signing of more than 20...

  • 17th October 2024

Euro and Gulf diplomats fail again on Sudan plan

Patrick Smith

At a European Parliament hearing on 8 October about the humanitarian crisis caused by the civil war, EU officials and MEPs asked how they could raise media coverage of Sudan’s ‘forgotten’ war. It is a remarkable but accurate indictment and description of ...

  • 3rd October 2024

US generals and diplomats set out markers ahead of Presidential election on 5 November

Blue Lines

The threat of a widening war in the Middle East has dominated the attention of policymakers in the United States and delegates to the UN General Assembly – and ensured that Sudan’s civil war and humanitarian catastrophe will not get the attention it deser...

  • 19th September 2024

Will Africa get its permanent seats on the UN Security Council?

Blue Lines

The question of whether Africa should have permanent seats on the UN Security Council will be on the agenda at the UN General Assembly starting on 24 September. The United States Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has called for two permanent ...

  • 5th September 2024

Geopolitical rivals compete for critical minerals and EV market

Blue Lines

 The geopolitical battle over electric vehicles and access to the minerals they need has dealt many African states a stronger hand. Western tariffs on Chinese EVs, and oversupply in China’s home market, is pushing Beijing to seek new markets. That reinfor...

  • 22nd August 2024

EU tries to dodge ‘vaccine nationalism’ charge in mpox response

Patrick Smith

African states are expected to start vaccinations against mpox in ‘a few days’, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director-General Jean Kaseya told reporters on 20 August. Last week, the WHO and Africa CDC declared mpox a public emergency....

  • 1st August 2024

Oil battles expose rifts in business class

Patrick Smith

In parallel to the contest of wills between young activists in Nigerian cities and President Bola Tinubu’s government, another battle has been playing out. It pits Aliko Dangote against the government in Abuja and some of its business allies. Insiders had...

  • 18th July 2024

Security agencies mobilised to counter African Spring

Blue Lines

The fall-out from the mass protests across Kenya is inspiring activists across the continent as security agencies try out tactics to pre-empt an African Spring. Governments in Uganda, Ethiopia and Nigeria are watching with particular concern. In Nigeria, ...

Displaying 1-10 out of 496 results.