en-gbhttps://www.africa-confidential.comAfrica Confidential's latest newsletter from Africa Confidentialhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/images/logo_small.gifhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12529/Disputes%2c_disruptions_and_a_new_diplomatic_orderFri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTIn the first of two special issues our correspondents look at the most critical political and economic developments in the year aheadAfrica601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12529/Disputes%2c_disruptions_and_a_new_diplomatic_orderhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12530/A_poll_without_passionFri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTThe party-political system is failing the country amid preparations for national elections in February and state elections in MarchNigeria601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12530/A_poll_without_passionhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12531/The_fight_for_the_ANC%e2%80%99s_soulFri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTRamaphosa must appeal to the left to win a mandate for liberal economic reforms. It’s not the only paradox hereSouth Africa601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12531/The_fight_for_the_ANC%e2%80%99s_soulhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12539/Key_events_in_South_Africa_in_2019Fri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTSouth Africa601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12539/Key_events_in_South_Africa_in_2019https://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12532/Win_first%2c_then_workFri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTRamaphosa is almost certain of victory in May, but then his challenges really beginSouth Africa601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12532/Win_first%2c_then_workhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12533/Goodbye_to_all_thatFri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTPresident Lourenço’s long honeymoon will come to an end as public focus shifts to the economyAngola601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12533/Goodbye_to_all_thathttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12534/Fighting_fear_with_freedomFri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTAbiy Ahmed calculates that a new era of democracy and respect for civil rights could counter any backlash to his reformsEthiopia601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12534/Fighting_fear_with_freedomhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12535/Business_thrives%2c_society_waitsFri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTGas finds, steady oil prices and the recovery of tourism help a strengthening economy while rights take a back seatEgypt601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12535/Business_thrives%2c_society_waitshttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12536/Peace_maybe%2c_prosperity_noFri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTOld adversaries finally appear ready to make a go of peace but the international community is reluctant to foot the billSouth Sudan601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12536/Peace_maybe%2c_prosperity_nohttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12537/Sall_safe_for_second_termFri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTThe President is a shoo-in for re-election, but then he will have to make good on his grandiose promisesSenegal601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12537/Sall_safe_for_second_termhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12528/The_people%27s_spring_against_BeshirFri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTLong-standing opposition groups and former regime allies are demanding the President's exit in the biggest protests since he seized power 30 years agoSudan601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12528/The_people%27s_spring_against_Beshirhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12527/Church_claims_sweeping_opposition_winFri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTEarly results – which the regime is banning the media from reporting – indicate a win for the opposition after government plans to fix the poll went awryCongo-Kinshasa601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12527/Church_claims_sweeping_opposition_winhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12526/Adieu_2018%2c_legacies_of_a_troubled_yearFri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTA boost for continental trade and radical change in the HornEconomy, Africa, Obituary601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12526/Adieu_2018%2c_legacies_of_a_troubled_yearhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12524/Kofi_Annan_(1938-2018)Fri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTIn an era when narrow nationalism and populism are taking on the international system, the career of Kofi Annan showed where the battle lines were drawn. Described by colleagues as a 'diplomat's diplomat', Annan spent his professional life in the United Nations, becoming one of its most powerful advocates, reshaping the organisation, pushing it to do more to fight poverty, injustice and oppression.Obituary601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12524/Kofi_Annan_(1938-2018)https://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12523/JH_Mensah%2c_1928-2018Fri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTHis formidable intellect and tough independence of spirit made Joseph Henry Mensah an improbable candidate for the hurly-burly of partisan politics. Yet it was those qualities, along with his personal integrity and sense of humour, that marked his contribution to public service and government in Ghana and several other African countries over six decades.Obituary601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12523/JH_Mensah%2c_1928-2018https://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12525/John_Howe%2c_1938-2018Fri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMTA long-standing friend of Africa Confidential, John William Alan Raymond Howe was a remarkable reporter, columnist, translator, poet and short story writer. Best known for his reporting on Chad, Algeria and the Western Sahara in the British and French press, John's first trip to Africa was to Nigeria where he was hosted by Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Afrobeat music star, in 1973. That gives a measure of the man.Obituary601https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/12525/John_Howe%2c_1938-2018https://www.africa-confidential.comhttps://www.africa-confidential.com