Mugabe at 88: Five Zimbabwean Politicians To Watch in 2012
AS Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe turns 88, he faces the challenge of coming up with a viable successor who commands enough influence within Zanu PF ranks and Zimbabwe’s highly influential security establishment to maintain control of the state apparatus.
5 Reasons Why Mugabe Needs an Election More Than Ever
As he nears the end of his eighth term in office with a weakened ruling party and a stronger, though divided opposition, Mugabe realizes that without an election, there is no clear way of guaranteeing the transition of power within his Zanu PF party nor the security of his private family assets.
Syrian Government Tries to Recoup Legitimacy Amid Military Onslaught
AS the situation in Homs begins to resemble Misurata, the Syrian government is making last ditch efforts to recoup the little of what legitimacy it has left, and while the violence has spiraled beyond what many had anticipated, a foreign intervention, whether sanctioned by the United Nations or not, is unlikely to make things any [...]
Follow the Money: Payment Trail Reveals Challenges of Ridding Liberia of Corruption
Last July, five months before she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf welcomed Chevron CEO John Watson into the executive mansion to herald one of the largest investments in her country since the end of its devastating civil war in 2003: Chevron’s purchase of the rights to explore for oil off the coast of the West African nation.
Congo suspends two airlines following deadly crash
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suspended the licenses of two airlines after one of their aircraft crashed over the weekend, killing President Joseph Kabila’s chief adviser and seriously injuring his finance minister.
Rwandan refugee journalists fear for colleague Jean Bosco Gasasira
In Rwanda, Paul Kagame is afraid of one woman, jailed opposition leader Victoire Ingabire Umhoza, and Rwandan investigative journalists are constantly under siege. Following the assassination of Leonard Rugembage, the editor of Umuvugizi, Rwandan journalists in exile have been under constant surveillance from state security agents.
FAA Moves to Limit Blockout System Hiding Private Jet Flights
The (US) Federal Aviation Administration is proposing rules that would prevent private plane owners from keeping their flight records secret unless they can provide a valid security concern.
How (and How Not) to Jumpstart an Economy
The polarized rhetoric of the 2012 election cycle presents voters with a false choice of whether the government can create jobs or should just get out of the way. The real debate should be about which policies work and which don’t.
Santorum Win Raises New Challenges for Romney in Key Conservative States
Rick Santorum’s win in four key conservative states has raised new questions for Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, who has consistently led in the polls and received increasingly favorable coverage from the mainstream media since he was erroneously declared the winner in the Iowa Caucus in January.
Ousted Tunisian leader Ben Ali’s 34 cars and 48 yachts are seized
Further evidence of the extent of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali’s wide-reaching financial empire has been revealed after police reportedly seized dozens of luxury items and company shares belonging to the ousted Tunisian leader.
U.S. Energy Trade Mission to Visit Four African Countries
Washington has belatedly discovered Africa’s vast mineralogical and energy riches, and the U.S. State Department is dispatching a trade mission to Africa that will visit Mozambique, Tanzania, Nigeria and Ghana.