January 13, 2009
Africa: Freedom Declined in 2008, Says Rights Group
Freedom House, the Washington-based independent non-governmental watchdog, has described 2008 as a year of "regression" for sub-Saharan Africa in its annual report on political… Read more »
January 12, 2009
South Africa: Top Court Sparks Upset Over Zuma, Mbeki
South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal has opened the way for prosecutors to reinstitute corruption charges against Jacob Zuma, the man selected by the ruling African National… Read more »
Ghana: World's Press Celebrates Election
The world's press is celebrating Ghana's peaceful transfer of power after an extremely close run-off election. Opposition candidate John Atta Mills defeated the ruling party's Nana… Read more »
January 09, 2009
Sudan: Country in Danger of Splitting, Warns Report
Southern Sudan might break away from the north if the "troubled relationship" between Sudan's dominant centre and regions on its periphery are not resolved, a new report has… Read more »
Somalia: Piracy Surges Again
There has been a new upsurge of piracy off Somalia, reports an agency associated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato). Read more »
Somalia: Multinational Force to Combat Pirates
The United States Navy has announced the formation of an international force to provide security in the dangerous shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden off the Somali coast. Read more »
Sudan: Pluses and Minuses of War Crimes Charges
Attempts to charge Sudan's leaders with war crimes in Darfur have dramatically changed the country's political scene, says a new report by the British think tank Chatham House. Read more »
January 07, 2009
Guinea: Liberia Calls for Return to Democracy
Although the Liberian government believes there should be "constructive engagements" with the authors of Guinea's recent military coup, it does not back the new regime, says… Read more »
Somalia: 'Everything Is Not Alright'
AllAfrica's new feature, "Africa from Abroad" highlights important articles about the continent appearing in non-African media outlets. Our first entry highlights an extensive… Read more »
January 06, 2009
Zimbabwe: Rights Group Names And Shames Judges, Lawyers
Human rights lawyers in Harare have issued a blow-by-blow account detailing how the actions - and inaction - of named Zimbabwean judges, magistrates and state lawyers have… Read more »
January 05, 2009
Sudan: Bush Approves Darfur Air Lift
United States President George W. Bush on Monday authorized an immediate airlift of equipment and supplies to the international peacekeeping force in the troubled Darfur region of… Read more »
January 03, 2009
Ghana: Atta Mills Wins Presidency in Change of Power
Opposition presidential challenger John Atta Mills has won Ghana's presidency at his third attempt, returning the National Democratic Congress (NDC) founded by former President… Read more »
January 02, 2009
Guinea: Hopes for Reform Dashed Again
Guinea’s political elite has once more been rendered powerless by an army whose leaders owe their survival to a political system built upon confusion and fear. Read more »
South Africa: Flags Lowered For Anti-Apartheid Legislator
South Africa's President Kgalema Motlanthe has announced that the national flag will be flown at half-mast on Sunday to celebrate the life of Helen Suzman, an old opponent of the… Read more »
Ghana: Voting Begins in Key Area Despite Boycott
Voters in the rural Tain constituency of western central Ghana were trickling into polling stations Friday in an election that could decide who becomes the country's next… Read more »
December 30, 2008
Ghana: Presidential Election Stands on Knife Edge
Ghana's presidential election stood on a knife edge on Tuesday as the country's electoral commission said the difference in votes between the two candidates was so small that it… Read more »
Ghana: Nation on Knife Edge as Election Result Delayed
The announcement of Ghana's presidential election result is being delayed as parties haggle over vote counts in disputed constituencies, according to Ghanaian radio reports. Read more »
December 29, 2008
Guinea: AU Suspends Country Over Coup
The African Union (AU) has suspended Guinea from taking part in all AU activities until the country returns to civilian rule under the constitution. The AU's Peace and Security… Read more »
Ghana: Opposition's Atta Mills Leads Election
Ghana's opposition challenger for the country's presidency, John Atta Mills, is retaining his slight lead in a run-off election as the final votes are counted. Read more »
Ghana: Presidential Election Too Close to Call
With more than half the results counted in the second round of Ghana's presidential election, the two candidates are running neck-and-neck. Read more »
December 27, 2008
West Africa: The Return of the Military Coup
The African Union (AU) has condemned the return of coups d'état to the continent, describing the phenomenon as "a very serious setback in the ongoing democratization process… Read more »
December 26, 2008
Somalia: New U.S. Moves Ill-Advised, Counter-Productive
The last-minute attempt by the Bush administration to force through a United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing a new peacekeeping mission in Somalia is both… Read more »
December 24, 2008
Zimbabwe: Tutu 'Ashamed' of South Africa Over Mugabe
Archbishop Desmond Tutu launched a blistering attack on the South African government on Wednesday for failing to use its influence in the United Nations Security Council to oust… Read more »
December 23, 2008
Guinea: Coup Follows Conté's Death
A military officer appeared on television in Guinea on Tuesday soon after news of the death of President Lansana Conté to announce that a "National Council for Democracy"… Read more »
Guinea: Conté Dies, Aged 74
Guinea's President Lansana Conté died Tuesday at age 74. He had been in power since 1984. Read more »