Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
denis sassou nguessolatest news & developments
President Yoweri Museveni has ruled for almost 40 years. Photo: Sumy Sadruni/AFP
STRONGMAN

Strongman syndrome in Africa flips democracies to totalitarianism

The strongman thrives on populism, low civic involvement, political elitism, fear, poverty, illiteracy and the abuse of the rule of law

  • Robert Kigongo
3 min read
A man wears a traditional Kankurang mask along the beach in the popular tourist area of Senegambia in Banjul on December 6, 2021. (Photo: John Wessels/AFP)
ABDALLA HAMDOK

The Continent: Africa A-Z of 2021

The highlights of 2021 in Africa

  • Samira Sawlani
  • The Continent
9 min read
BGFIBank allegedly played a central role in a years-long scam that allowed former DRC leader Joseph Kabila’s family and close associates to launder $243-million in public and suspect funds
ANETH LUTALE

The dirty secrets of the dictators’ favourite bank

BGFIBank allegedly played a central role in a years-long scam that allowed former DRC leader Joseph Kabila’s family and close associates to launder $243-million in public and…

  • Simon Allison
9 min read
AFRICA

Internet shutdowns in Africa threaten democracy

Governments’ interruption of social media is censorship is a way to control the flow of information online and amounts to censorship

  • Julie Owono
4 min read
Mahamat Idriss Deby (C) sits in the honour tribune during the state funeral for his father Chadian president Idriss Déby Itno in N’Djamena on 23 April 2021. (Photo by Christophe Petit Tesson/POOL/AFP)
ABDOULAYE WADE

Family dynasties fuel conflict across Africa

“Family fortunes” in Chad reflect further-reaching dynamics of ruling

  • Mbulle-Nziege Leonard
4 min read
Iron grip: President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been in power for 36 years
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Congo-Brazzaville’s repressive government buys secret weapons haul from Azerbaijan

For several years, the Republic of the Congo has been quietly buying an arsenal from Azerbaijan, with the latest cache arriving before next month’s election

  • Khadija Sharife
  • The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
  • Mark Anderson
9 min read
Former president of Botswana, Ian Khama. (Paul Botes/M&G)
BOTSWANA

Why do presidents cling to power?

Four former heads of state speak about what being president is actually like

  • Simon Allison
  • Dhashen Moodley
  • Kiri Rupiah
9 min read
AFRICAN UNION

Fighting restarts around palace in Chad capital

Fighting restarted on Sunday around the presidential palace in the Chadian capital, Ndjamena, where rebel forces have surrounded President Idriss Déby Itno and loyalist troops,…

  • Staff Reporter
2 min read
AFRICAN UNION

Report: Chad rebel leader accepts ceasefire

General Mahamat Nouri, the main leader of Chadian rebels in control of large parts of the capital, Ndjamena, has accepted a ceasefire proposed by Libyan leader Moammar Gadaffi,…

  • Staff Reporter
3 min read