Strategic Thinking on East Africa

By: Reuters Nairobi - At least eight people died in shootings in Burundi’s capital Bujumbura overnight, an administrator said, and explosions rang out in several districts, the latest in a series of attacks to hit the city since a disputed presidential election. Local residents told Reuters the police were behind the killings and had been accompanied […]

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The EU has imposed an asset freeze and travel ban on three Burundi officials accused of ordering excessive force against peaceful protestors. The officials – overseeing intelligence and security bodies – are close to President Pierre Nkurunziza. The EU has also imposed sanctions on a former general who took part in a failed coup in […]

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by Marta Tveit Presidential push-ups, a disappearing secretary-general and more promises than you can shake a stick at. Welcome to Tanzania’s election race. “I intend to be working [for this country] at all times! I will work while sitting! I will work while squatting! I will work while I’m asleep!” – Dr John Pombe Magufuli, presidential candidate, […]

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AFP | 29 September, 2015 13:22 Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza. File photo Image by: FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP / AFP The EU is readying sanctions against four associates of Burundi president Pierre Nkurunziza after he won a disputed third term, diplomatic sources said Tuesday. The sources told AFP that the European Union had agreed in principle to hit […]

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Source: Reuters Author: Reuters * Tanzania one of most stable states in Africa * Ruling party struggles to shake-off socialist past * Lags more dynamic neighbours despite resources By Edmund Blair and Fumbuka Ng’wanakilala DAR ES SALAAM, Sept 29 (Reuters) - On the streets and in board rooms, Tanzanians are calling for change as they […]

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Posted on September 28, 2015 by Malik Ibrahim Ismail Omar Guelleh will be the first African president to appear as a witness in a UK corruption case. But this trial of intrigue is just one of many challenges facing the 16-year president. For the first time in history, a sitting African president will be summoned to give evidence in person […]

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UN rights chief warns over upsurge in Burundi killings. Picture: AFP The UN human rights chief warned Monday that Burundi risked sliding back into civil war after a dramatic rise in killings, arrests and detentions in the troubled central African country. “Almost every day, dead bodies are found lying on the streets of some of […]

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From The Economist HOW do you hold an election without registering voters? That is the question confronting Somali politicians—as well as hordes of diplomats, NGOs and other international hangers-on—trying to create a functional government in Somalia, a country that has been without a functioning central state apparatus since the fall of its military regime back […]

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From the Sudan Tribune September 24, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The leader of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) Sadiq al-Mahdi Thursday renewed calls for an inclusive process to end the armed conflicts peacefully and achieve democratic reforms, saying that his party remains the major political force in the country. Opposition Umma Party leader and former […]

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From The East African By Havyarimana MosesA popular Chinese-owned supermarket in Bujumbura caught fire Monday morning leaving nothing to salvage as fire fighters got overwhelmed by the blaze. A worker at the T2000 supermarket said an electronic fault was to blame for the incident. “Yesterday there was a problem with a fuse box and we […]

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