After several declarations and denials, Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou was nominated by Benin’s ruling coalition, the Forces Cauris pour un Bénin Emergent (FCBE), as the only candidate to succeed President Thomas Boni Yayi when the first round of elections are held on 28 February 2016.
Politics
Politics and Society Magufulication is the name of the game
John Magufuli is the Grinch who stole Uhuru, literally and figuratively. He’s also stolen a lot of other things since coming into office less than two months ago. Like luxury travel and other perks for public officials. Like free meals at official meetings. Like fat kickbacks for customs officials at Dar es Salaam port and in the Tanzanian Revenue Authority.
Politics and Society A weak rand is bad news for the poor
Within hours of Zuma’s imprudent announcement that he was appointing as minister of finance an ANC backbencher and former mayor to 200 000 people in the West Rand (until residents burned down his house and chased him out), the South African banking index lost R128 billion in share value (its worst hit since October 2001), and the rand fell by 5.4% to a record low of R15.38 to the dollar. Within days, Zuma had to replace him by reappointing a former minister, Pravin Gordhan, to the job.
Politics and Society Zuma goes – then what?
Something did snap when President Jacob Zuma, in what appears to be an impulsive unilateral move, “redeployed” the minister of finance without informing his own cabinet. The immediate economic shock has been severe, and the consequences for the treasury haven’t even been felt yet
Politics and Society Unstable climates make for unstable politics
El Niño has hit Africa particularly hard this year. The unpredictable weather cycle has been more intense than past iterations, and is being blamed for everything, from drought in southern Africa to excessive typhoons in Madagascar.
Politics and Society African Union to introduce an African passport
The African Union has said the continent could soon become borderless with the introduction of an African passport as part of the bloc’s 2063 Agenda. So far, two countries – Rwanda and Mauritius are implementing the plan
Politics and Society Deeper Regional Integration an opportunity for Africa
African countries have the most visa requirements in the world. Only 11 of the 54 countries on the continent offer 100% liberal access to all African citizens – Seychelles, Uganda, Cape Verde, Togo, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Rwanda, Comoros, Djibouti, Madagascar and Somalia. Another seven countries – Mozambique, Mauritius, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Gambia and Burkina Faso – offer liberal access to citizens from at least 50% of the countries on the continent. This is in stark contrast to the European Union (EU), which offers complete freedom of movement to all citizens from its member states.
Politics and Society African Media Leaders Forum: Shaping Development Conversations in Africa
African society is at a historic turning point, with its citizens caught between rapidly growing economies, morphing political landscapes and technological innovations that are impacting all pillars of tradition and culture
Politics and Society African Standby Force: how the AU can get it right
Last week, as part of the Amani Africa II field exercise, the African Standby Force (ASF) began testing its Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) at the Lohatlha military base in South Africa.