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Ghana

Economic green shoots lift Mahama’s first 100 days

President John Dramani Mahama instructs Attorney General Dominic Ayine to commence investigations into the findings of the ORAL committee, February 2025. Pic: @JDMahama

Tax cuts, an easing of the debt burden and promises of anti-corruption probes fire up the president’s base

It was the depth of Ghana’s economic crisis that swept John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress to such a decisive victory in the presidential and parliamentary elections in December. It also forced Mahama’s hand on some of the early post-election promises as his Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson made some difficult trade-offs on tax and borrowing.

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Tinubu’s tax revolution tightens his grip

Bola Tinubu. Pic: @DOlusegun

These radical reforms will generate more revenue and help the president’s business allies but may weaken several state governors

With the passing of four tax bills this month – described as the most radical revenue reforms in Nigeria’s history – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has won some...


The Gadaffi billions – how Libya plans to reclaim the stolen wealth

Libya's oil and gas resources: at the centre of the political fight

Colonel Moammar el Gadaffi stashed billions in US banks, and now Libya’s power brokers are vying for control of this hidden fortune. The scramble for wealth has ignited a fierce political battle in Tripoli – one so ruthless that the official leading the recovery has been forced into hiding, fearing for his life. An Africa Confidential Special Report by John Hamilton our North Africa correspondent and managing director of Cross-Border Information.

After three months in illegal detention – partly in one of Libya’s most brutal prisons – Mohammed al Mensli, Director-General of the Libyan Asset Recovery and Management Office...

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Muscat joins the scramble for Africa

Building ties: Oman and Tanzania. Pic: @OmanChamber

Oman is joining the wave of Gulf Arab states reaching out to Africa with unprecedented levels of strategic investment and bilateral agreements

Until recently, Africa had slipped down the priority list for investors and diplomats from Oman, but like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, it is...


Auxillia courts the London crowd

Auxillia Mnangagwa. Pic: @ZimFirstLady

Under sanctions for grand corruption, Zimbabwe’s First Lady is due to address a conference in London where Labour MPs are expected

Despite accusations of electoral fraud and massive corruption against the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxillia, has been invited to a summit in...


Museveni’s $4 billion refinery threatens East African oil pipeline

UGANDA'S OIL DEVELOPMENT Refinery deal challenges viability of East African pipeline. Copyright © Africa Confidential 2025

Kampala has secured investors in the refinery and the 1,400 kilometre pipeline – but are they both viable?

At the centre of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s 20-year ambition for Uganda to become the leading energy supplier across East Africa is the plan to build a refinery...


Ankara and UAE jostle over Mogadishu

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud meets with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, 12 April 2025. Pic: @TheVillaSomalia

Hassan Sheikh has an image problem but foreign states want to keep him dependent on them

While battle has been raging between the Somali National Army (SNA) and Al Shabaab for at least four months, the federal government has been embroiled in a different...


Biya’s reforms hint at succession plan

Pic: DW News still

Amid a scheme to widen patronage and appoint a dauphin, the President may be at last be preparing for his exit

Top regime advisors are at work on reforms designed to broaden representation and increase the accountability of government through more parliamentary seats and new posts, according to sources...


Killings on camera

Pic: Still from BBC Africa Eye documentary Blood Parliament

Officials from President William Ruto’s government have vainly tried to intimidate journalists and activists as they attempt to control the fallout from a BBC Africa Eye documentary Blood...


Tinubu exudes confidence as opposition starts to fold

@officialABAT

After failing to capitalise on deepening hardships and insecurity, opposition governors and lawmakers are defecting to the ruling party

As a political boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has run rings around his rivals. They lack his skills and tactical acuity but most of all they are just...


Cracks appear in Traoré’s YouTube persona

Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Pic: @CapitaineIb226

Burkinabés see the reality of military defeats, a cratering economy and growing authoritarianism despite millions spent on propaganda

Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s regime in Ouagadougou has uncovered yet another ‘plot’ showing that Burkina Faso’s security crisis is deepening in many different ways.

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Security falls apart as Biya totters

General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema meets President Paul Biya, December 2023. Pic: presidentpaulbiya

Focusing on fixing national elections in October, top officials are failing to respond to the insurgents targeting the regime


Ruto pivots from Washington to Beijing

William Ruto in China. Pic: @WilliamsRuto

Kenya’s embattled president calculates that being nice to Donald Trump can only get you so far – his meeting with Xi Jinping may have netted billions