Political Risks |

As Islamist Insurgency Deepens, Mali President Seeks New Term

BAMAKO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Life in Mali’s presidential palace, an imposing mansion with manicured lawns and splashing fountains overlooking the capital, Bamako, has become increasingly lonely for President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who is seeking a second term in elections to be held on Sunday. The front-line in a regional war against jihadists whose bombings and hit-and-run attacks are growing more sophisticated by the month, Mali’s failure to quash a fractured Islamist insurgency has reverberated…

Congo Opposition Threatens to Reject Election If Kabila Runs

Posted on by The Editorial Team

KINSHASA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Opposition leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo denounced President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to rule himself out of upcoming elections, saying they will reject the polls if he is a candidate. Congo is preparing to hold elections in December, two years later than scheduled. While the constitution bars Kabila from seeking a third term, he’s yet to say whether he’ll be a candidate or not. Attempting to extend his 17-year…

Rigging Claims Cast Cloud Over Zimbabwe’s Post-Mugabe Vote

Posted on by The Editorial Team

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – The legitimacy of Zimbabwe’s first election since Robert Mugabe quit after leading the nation for almost four decades has come under attack even before voters line up to cast their ballots, raising fears of a disputed result. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who replaced Mugabe in November and leads the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, has promised a fair contest on July 30. Yet the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change says the…

Buhari Faces United Opposition Challenge in Nigerian Vote

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari rode to power three years ago on the back of a broad coalition determined to oust the ruling party. Now the West African nation’s opposition parties are planning to use the same maneuver to defeat him in February’s general elections. The People’s Democratic Party, which held power for 16 years until its 2015 defeat, signed an agreement with 38 other opposition groups to form the Coalition of…

Once Bitter Foes, Ethiopia, Eritrea Promise `Bridge of Love’

Posted on by The Editorial Team

ADDIS ABABA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a declaration of peace and agreed to re-establish key economic links after an unprecedented summit between the Horn of Africa nations’ leaders that marked the end of almost two decades of strife. The announcements by an Eritrean official and the Ethiopian state-owned broadcaster Fana followed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s visit to the Eritrean capital, Asmara, on Sunday for talks with President Isaias Afwerki and their decision to…

Nigeria’s Lawmakers to Probe State Oil Company Over Remittances

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria’s House of Representatives will investigate the state-owned oil company for allegedly not sending enough funds to the government. The lower chamber voted to start a probe after a motion on Tuesday from Nicholas Ossai, a member of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party and the chairman of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges. There’s an “urgent need” to investigate Nigerian National Petroleum Corp.’s “under-remittances” to the so-called Federation Account,…

Western Monitors’ Return Kindles Hope for Free Zimbabwe Vote

Posted on by The Editorial Team

HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – An influx of Western observers is giving Zimbabweans some hope that this month’s elections won’t be a repeat of the tainted contests held during former President Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule. While Zimbabwe’s past three elections were marred by allegations of rigging, violence and intimidation, new President Emmerson Mnangagwa has welcomed the return of monitors from Western nations whose governments were more critical of Mugabe than teams from African countries. He’s vowed that the…

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