A Tale of Two Elections

ISN Insights has published my latest piece, "A Tale of Two Elections," which looks at the crisis averted in Guinea and the one broiling in Ivory Coast.

Africa Updates

Some updates follow on stories about which I have recently written: On Guinea's state of siege, the slowly emerging Lesotho vote count, chaos in eastern Chad, China as a dubious patron of Africa, and always more and more on Zimbabwe.

Chaos in Conakry

The small West African nation of Guinea is beset by violence and controversy. Violence has escalated in recent weeks as the government has sicced the army on civilians. Africa Focus has the story. (See also here.)

Instability in Guinea

The West African nation of Guinea has been in turmoil lately. After three weeks of demonstrations, including a debilitating general strike on the part of unions, Guinea's President Lansana Conte has agreed to yields some of his authority to a yet-to-be-named Prime Minister. But Conte did not yield before his security forces killed some 40 demonstrators. The unparalleled Africa Focus has a page with several stories that will catch you up -- many of them are wonderful examples of Africa reportage.