Sudan: Sustaining the Comprehensive Peace Agreement

A report published last week calls for urgent action from African heads of state who are meeting at a major summit of the African Union (AU) in Uganda from 19-27 July.
In their new joint report titled ‘Renewing the Pledge: Re-Engaging the Guarantors to the Sudanese Comprehensive Peace Agreement’, the global coalition of 26 humanitarian and [...]

Rwanda: 16 Years On

When you type ‘Rwanda’ into an Internet search engine the second option that usually surfaces is the ‘Rwandan Genocide’. This 1994 event dominates contemporary knowledge of the nation, as we seem to hear of little else.
The Rwandan Higher Commissioner Ernest Rwamucyo echoes this sentiment. In a recent meeting with New Africa Analysis he was keen [...]

When China met Africa: Storyville

Storyville’s recent documentary, When China met Africa, exposes China’s increasing investment and business involvement in the continent. Focus is particularly shifted onto Zambia, where the developments of Chinese-Zambian relations are tracked through the first-hand perspective of three individuals. The documentary provides no commentary or narration, which suggests that the viewer can draw their own conclusions; [...]

Jonathan Dimbleby’s African Journey – A Review

While watching ‘An African Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby’, the latest series in the reporter’s extensive coverage of the continent, one cannot help but notice the overly positive perspective from which it comes. Seemingly one-sided, it is a far cry from the images of hunger, poverty and corruption that have for some time been ubiquitous in [...]

South Africa: Socio-economic benefits of Soccer World Cup

As the 2010 soccer World Cup in South Africa kicks of Friday 11th May, the question of what South Africa and the rest of the continent actually gains from hosting this mega-event is raised more frequently. In terms of the social and economic impact, Africa is already benefitting greatly from the event with the creation [...]

On that Yar’adua visit in Nigeria

Last week, four Muslim clerics led by Sheik Ibrahim Datti Ahmad, the president, Supreme Council of Sharia rekindled the debate over the health of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua by visiting the ailing President.
According to Datti, they were at the seat of power- the Aso Rock Villa, following a request to be allowed access to the [...]

Questioning Libya’s agenda in Chad/Sudan Conflict

It would be no understatement to suggest that Libya and their leader Colonel Gaddafi have been intimately involved in the politics of neighbouring Chad. From serving as a middleman in the Chad – Sudan conflict, to being involved in internal reforms and power struggles, Gaddafi’s efforts loom large in the affairs of his country’s neighbour.
The [...]

On a reconstituted cabinet in Nigeria

As the political rumblings continue unabated, acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan who had earlier sacked the entire federal cabinet sent a fresh list of 25 nominees to the Senate for screening and possible confirmation as ministers. Seven of the ministers in the dissolved cabinet made it back while the remaining were either fresh nominees or [...]

Jonathan consolidates for 2011 presidential bid

Nigeria’s acting President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday 17th March 2010 dissolved the country’s cabinet effectively removing the influence in government of the ‘Katsina Mafia’ loyal to ailing President Umaru Yar’adua.
By dissolving the entire cabinet, Jonathan now has a chance to consolidate his power, cancel out those agents who were standing in his way, and put to [...]

Selfish interests fuelling Nigeria’s political quagmire

The intrigues, power play and political manoeuvres have heightened and attained an extra dimension since the return of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua suddenly from Saudi Arabia, where he has been since the 23 November 2009 for medical treatment.
For more than three months, Nigeria heard nothing about the President. Even the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, who [...]