As an international currency war looms in the developed world, factions within South Africa are at war on what to do about an appreciating rand. The fiscal authorities appear sympathetic, but reluctant to act. The exchange rate has an emotional impact. The value of a currency fuels perceptions of that economy and by implication the [...]
Up to 200,000 people will lose their homes if the state government continues its plans to redevelop the waterfront at Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta, a new report released by Amnesty International warns. The report released Thursday 28th states that demolitions are part of a ‘master plan’ developed by South African based firm Arcus [...]
In my last piece for New Africa Analysis, I wrote of my frustration with the superficial nature of British and international media coverage of the Charles Taylor trial in The Hague. Some of the causes of that frustration will come up again as I take you through Tim Butcher’s fascinating and, at times, horrifying book, [...]
The Washington based International Budget Partnership (IBP), an internationally recognized, independent organisation that measures the transparency of government spending, has placed the country first in its Open Budget Index (OBI).IBP aims to promote citizen participation in national spending. The country was scored 92 out of 100, knocking Britain from first place to third in the [...]
The foreign policy of Tony Blair’s Labour Government has left a lasting legacy for the UK; a mixed bag that can lay claim to containing both great success and tragic failings. Politically, it was a double-edged sword: The same combination of economic stimulus, humanitarian aid, military intervention and vigorous diplomacy that met with great success [...]
Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni has been granted the ticket to run for president on behalf of the country’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). A press release issued Monday 25th October by State House confirmed that Mr. Museveni got 100 voter signatures from 75 districts, and had paid the non-refundable Shs 8 million (roughly $3500)required by [...]
President Jacob Zuma has appointed his political advisor, Charles Nqakula as his country’s special envoy to the Sudan. The decision comes as larger African economies are being called upon to increase their roles in pan-African affairs, and reflects the nation’s commitment to achieving peace and stability in Sudan. South Africa currently chairs the African Union [...]
Hopes for peaceful and democratic elections and an end to authoritarian rule are fading fast due to a disagreement over who should lead the electoral commission, a report from Reuters claims. The optimism that had preceded the election has turned to anger and resentment, with violent clashes in the streets and roadblocks set up around [...]
The country’s anti-corruption commission (KACC) has vowed to put an end to the rampant practice of politicians using treasury funds to finance their campaigns and bribe voters before the next election in 2012. In an interview with Reuters, Patrick Lumumba; Director of the KACC claimed, ‘the history of mega-scandals in this country has always been [...]
Four African nations have agreed to the formation of a joint military force to combat the activity of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which has spread from Uganda into much of central Africa. The governments of the Central African Republic (CAR); Democratic Republic of Congo; Sudan and Uganda committed to the creation of a brigade [...]
