One of Africa's canniest operators Blaise Compaoré was forced out of power on 31 October as over 100 000 protestors in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso demanded his exit. Unable to trust anyone to protect him from prosecution after 27 years of corrupt and
1st Nov 2014

Bankers hosting parties for their government friends were a little more discreet than usual – perhaps in deference to rising political and economic uncertainties – at the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on 9-1
24th Oct 2014

As bidding opens on four offshore oil exploration blocks and President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf signals that long-awaited petroleum legislation is imminent the National Oil Company of Liberia again comes under unwelcome scrutiny. State-owned Nocal stands ac
12th Sep 2014

Following the death of more than 900 people in West Africa from the worst outbreak of Ebola so far and with potential carriers arriving in the United States and Middle East the international system has at last swung into action. The United Nations World
7th Aug 2014

President Ernest Bai Koroma sacked his chief of staff Richard Konteh for alleged corruption over mining and timber deals on 9 June (AC Vol 54 No 4 Loyalty rewarded). The dismissal casts a cloud over his presidency but may also embarrass Tony Blair. The e
13th Jun 2014

The end of 1963 was an interesting and lucky time to be asked to become Editor of Africa Confidential. There is no doubt that Africa as a whole (which then as now we defined as including the Maghreb North Africa and the Horn as well as South of the S
8th May 2014

The report draws devastating conclusions about the deep roots of corruption and blames public servants 'at all levels'. Revelations include a statement that 4 100 schools do not exist though each has multiple ghost teachers while 9 000 employees were su
30th Apr 2014

President Blaise Compaoré is in growing political difficulty. Mass protests greet any attempt to prolong his rule something he would attempt by amending Article 37 of the Constitution to permit him another term of office (AC Vol 55 No 3 Blaise wants a c
4th Apr 2014

Security officials around President Lansana Conté are cracking down ahead of the presidential election scheduled for December when their man and his Parti de l' Unité et du Progrès are the front runners. General Conté's military retinue has been t
17th Mar 2014

Côte d'Ivoire's Great West region has been the site of deadly violence since civil conflict followed President Alassane Dramane Ouattara's election victory over Laurent Gbagbo in November 2010. Liberian-based militias loyal to Gbagbo carried out a s
13th Feb 2014