February 10

• Zimbabwe: Mugabe Outwits Tsvangirai Ahead of Zuma Talks

  President Robert Mugabe this week (8 February 2012) hastily swept under the carpet his ongoing conflict with his partners in Zimbabwe's three-party government - apparently to head... Read more »

• Madagascar: Rajoelina Faces Internal Revolt

  Madagascar's transitional president, Andry Rajoelina, is facing internal revolt in his inner circle as he battles to stave off implementation of the SADC elections roadmap and hold... Read more »

• South Africa: Dead Man Walking

  Julius Malema's career in South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) is effectively over, although it could be months before he is formally removed from his post as... Read more »

January 27

• Angola: Opposition Unita Party Faces Collapse

  Angola's main opposition party Unita is staggering towards collapse, and with key figures jumping ship, could be wiped out in September's national assembly election. Read more »

• Africa: Opening China's Gateway to Africa

  China has announced to its massive business community that the gateway to Africa is open, and South African Airways (SAA) has the keys. Read more »

• Madagascar: Rajoelina Hangs Tough

  The government of Andry Rajoelina in Madagascar is colluding with France to prevent the return of ousted president Marc Ravalomanana to the island, undermining the SADC Road Map... Read more »

• South Africa: Unions Set to Re-Elect Leader [analysis]

  Consensus is coalescing in the 2-million member Cosatu trade union federation over re-election of incumbent general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi in September. Read more »

• South Africa: Ruling Party Youth Leader Faces Police Probe

  Julius Malema-watchers focused on the African National Congress National Disciplinary Committee of Appeals (NDCA) this week as it concluded its hearings on the suspension of the... Read more »

• Swaziland: Customs Revenues Help to Prop Up King

  The R7 billion (US$879 million) Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) payout to Swaziland for the 2012-13 financial year could keep King Mswati III's tottering government afloat... Read more »

January 15

• South Africa: Filling Out the 2012 Agenda

  Two key gatherings this month will chart South Africa's political agenda for 2012 - and beyond. Read more »

• South Africa: Zuma Appears Set for Second Term [analysis]

  A year ahead of the African National Congress (ANC) centenary-year elective conference, President Jacob Zuma has effectively cleared his path to a second party presidential term -... Read more »

• South Africa: One Hundred Years of Fortitude [column]

  If there was any doubt that the African National Congress's 100th anniversary was the headline event of the decade in Southern Africa, the festivities that took place in the... Read more »

January 13

• Swaziland: Rumblings in Military Augur Badly for King

  Swaziland's military is showing signs of irritation at King Mswati III's increasingly desperate cost-cutting to avoid democratic transformation. Read more »

• Swaziland: Opposition Squabbles as Govt Collapses

  Rather than hastening the apparently inevitable, slow-motion collapse of the Mswati administration, Swaziland's government-in-waiting under the People's United Democratic Movement... Read more »

December 9, 2011

• South Africa: Ruling Party Youth Leader Gets Desperate

  With his appeal against his suspension only days away, African National Congress (ANC) youth leader Julius Malema is increasing the possibility of permanent expulsion. Read more »

• Swaziland: Mswati's Moves Unlikely to Stop Implosion

  For traditionalists, King Mswati III's troubled year, the rapid collapse of Swaziland's economy and the surge in pro-democracy protests has little to do with South Africa's... Read more »

• Zimbabwe: Budget a Recipe for Political Failure

  The massive bias of departmental budgetary allocations towards ministries controlled by ministers from President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF continues in Zimbabwe's 2012 budget, passed... Read more »

December 5, 2011

• South Africa: Malema's League Base Crumbling [analysis]

  Julius Malema's previously slavishly loyal powerbase in the ANC Youth League is evaporating as ambitious young politicians manoeuvre furiously for position ahead of his departure. Read more »

• South Africa: Youth Leader's Days in Ruling Party Numbered [analysis]

  African National Congress Youth League leader Julius Malema's remaining time in the ruling party is to be counted in days. Read more »

• Zimbabwe: South Africa Plans Pressure To Ensure 'Inclusive Government'

  With Zimbabwe's Global Political Agreement (GPA) programme months behind schedule and effectively stalled, Pretoria is preparing to begin imposing real pressure on the three... Read more »

November 11, 2011

• Zimbabwe: Would-Be Mugabe Successors Jockey for Power

  The implications of President Robert Mugabe's failing health will dominate Zanu-PF's 11th annual non-elective conference in Zimbabwe's second biggest city, Bulawayo (6-10 December... Read more »

• Zimbabwe: Army Takes Delivery of Chinese Small Arms Ahead of Election

  The Zimbabwe Defence Force (ZDF) has taken delivery, via an African intermediary, of the first of several consignments of Chinese small arms and equipment. Read more »

October 31, 2011

• South Africa: IBSA - a Tale of Missed Opportunities

  The 5th India-Brazil-South Africa (Ibsa) summit, concluded with a 60-point declaration in Pretoria last week, was a missed opportunity. Read more »

• South Africa: Youth Relish 'Digital Citizenship'

  Home-grown social media platform, MXit is the pastime of choice for 30% of South Africa's youth. Read more »

• Congo-Kinshasa: Opposition Divisions Open the Door for Kabila

  A month ahead of general elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) opposition parties remain too divided to pose a serious challenge to incumbent President Joseph... Read more »