Africa
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits Libya
By Ann Talbot, September 8, 2008
Condoleezza Rice has just made the first visit to Libya by a serving US secretary of state for more than a half a century. The last secretary of state to make the trip was John Foster Dulles in 1953, ...
Angola becomes Africa’s largest oil producer
By Brian Smith, September 4, 2008
Angola overtook Nigeria this year as Africa’s largest, and the world’s eighth largest, oil producer—a combination of Angola’s surge in growth and Nigeria’s decline in pro...
Zimbabwe: Stalemate over power-sharing deal
By Chris Talbot, August 16, 2008
Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), walked out of talks this week that were intended to set up a power-sharing government with President Robe...
Rwanda: Government report documents French role in 1994 genocide
By Kumaran Ira and Alex Lantier, August 14, 2008
On August 5, the Rwandan government in Kigali released a 500-page report detailing France’s role in the anti-Tutsi genocide carried out by a French-backed, ethnic-Hutu government in 1994. Based ...
Military coup in Mauritania follows unrest over spiralling food prices
By Brian Smith, August 11, 2008
A recent bloodless military coup in the West African state of Mauritania follows internal disputes within the ruling elite, which is gripped by corruption scandals. It is also a response by the milita...
South Africa: General strike against price rises
By Chris Talbot, August 7, 2008
A general strike brought the South African economy to a standstill on Wednesday. The South African Congress of Trade Unions (COSATU) called its two million members out on a one-day strike in protest o...
Famine in East Africa: Catastrophe threatens as food prices rise
By Barry Mason, August 6, 2008
The threat of starvation facing millions in East Africa is increasing. According to FEWS net (Famine Early Warning Systems Network), 11 million people across the region are in need of food aid.
Letter from South Africa
Xenophobia: A direct result of failed ANC economic policies
August 1, 2008
The xenophobic attacks taking place in different parts of South Africa have gripped local and foreign media attention. Graphic details are portrayed in the media of “mobs” attacking immigr...
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman on Zimbabwe: A case of unclean hands
By Alex Lantier, July 21, 2008
The foreign affairs columnist of the New York Times,Thomas Friedman, published an op-ed piece on July 16 entitled “So Popular and So Spineless.” The column was devoted to denouncing the Ru...
China steps up investment in Congo as war in east continues
By John Farmer and Ann Talbot, July 15, 2008
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the process of receiving $9 billion of Chinese investment in what has been dubbed Congo’s “Marshall Aid Plan,” a reference to American refi...
Zimbabwe election: US and UK move to impose sanctions
By Ann Talbot, July 2, 2008
Robert Mugabe was inaugurated for a sixth term as President of Zimbabwe on Sunday, following an election campaign characterised by government backed violence and intimidation.
Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai pulls out of election as Britain and US seek regime change
By Ann Talbot, June 26, 2008
The decision by Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), to pull out of the presidential election in Zimbabwe has been followed by an appeal for military inter...
