SOUTH AFRICA A trial for the ANC 24th June 2005 After his sacking, Jacob Zuma faces criminal charges; his party faces a lengthy political battle The elevation of Minerals and Energy Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to the deputy presidency on 22 June is an astute if provocative move by President Thabo Mbeki. Mlambo-Ngcuka, 49, is widely regarded as one of the most effective ministers, having secured the mining industry's agreement on tough black empowerment provisions and started the liberalisation of South Africa's energy market. She will leave the Energy Ministry as the 'Oilgate' scandal continues to unfold. The allegations involve one of the country's largest parastatals, PetroSA, and African National Congress funding; as the minister responsible for PetroSA, Mlambo-Ngcuka could still face awkward questions.
SOUTH AFRICA A province says no 24th June 2005 Image courtesy of Panos Pictures View site In Western Cape, the ANC didn't dance to the national leadership's tune National leaders of the governing African National Congress, including President Thabo Mbeki's ally Zola Skweyiya, the Minister for Social Development, publicly supported Ebrahim R...
CONGO-KINSHASA Revolution day 24th June 2005 Image courtesy of Panos Pictures View site Planned protests against postponing the elections test the regime's will Militant supporters of veteran oppositionist Étienne Tshisekedi wa Malumba want to turn Independence Day on 30 June into Revolution Day. Their cause: outright opposition to ...
SOMALIA Diverted flight 24th June 2005 After more delays and disputes, some of the would-be government heads home When the new Transitional Federal Government (TFG) made its grand departure from Nairobi, representatives of the international community lined up to wish President Abdullahi Yusuf ...
BURUNDI Under new management 24th June 2005 The local government elections bring change and hope for a calmer future Burundi's politics have been transformed by the local government elections on 3 June. Firstly, they passed off peacefully, except in five communes of Bujumbura Rural Province, wher...
SOMALIA The clans line up 24th June 2005 The idea of the Transitional Federal Government was to share senior appointments proportionally: four for the big clans (Darod, Rahenweyn, Dir, Hawiye) and one-half for others, suc...
MAURITIUS The brightness is fading 24th June 2005 The election campaign turns vicious as prosperity comes under threat The model Indian Ocean economy is faltering and opposition leader Navin Ramgoolam looks well placed to topple Prime Minister Paul Bérenger at the general elections on 3 July...
SIERRA LEONE A matter of graft 24th June 2005 The World Bank has postponed indefinitely a donors' meeting on Sierra Leone, which had initially been scheduled for 6 June, as concern grows about high-level corruption in Presiden...
ETHIOPIA Post-election massacre 24th June 2005 The power struggle has worsened in the ruling party following the surprise success of opposition parties in May's elections (AC Vol 46 No 11). Hardliners in the Ethiopian People's ...
KENYA More ships ahoy! 24th June 2005 A week after being left off the Group of Eight finance ministers' list of African states eligible for debt relief on 11 June, President Mwai Kibaki's government has unblocked payme...
GUINEA BISSAU Yala the spoiler 24th June 2005 In the second round of the presidential elections due on 17 or 24 July, Malam Bacai Sanha of the ruling Partido Africano da Independência de Guiné e Cabo Verde (PAIGC)...
