Richard J.  BrookTuesday, 07 September 2010
The Algiers Bourse has long been a shell, with only two listed companies, and both of those illiquid state-owned firms. Now private operator Alliance Assurances is set to list, and hopefully mark the start of a move to modernity on the market.

Friday, 03 September 2010
Wednesday and Thursday saw food riots in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, and nearby Matola. By the end of the riots, and midnight on Thursday, seven people were dead and nearly three hundred wounded.  

François Conradie Wednesday, 01 September 2010
In bailed-out banks in Nigeria have voted to oppose the takeover of these institutions by other Nigerian banks, saying that the prospective buyers are too weak to provide the capital needed to properly clean up the books.

François Conradie Monday, 30 August 2010
The Kenyan government has moved to secure guarantees for a number of renewable energy projects, to ensure that private lenders sign the necessary cheques. The size of the projects seems excessive, and the guarantees will put pressure on the country's national accounts.

François Conradie Thursday, 26 August 2010
On Tuesday 24 August, the NGO Human Rights Watch issued a report drawing attention to the problems that the tiny island nation could experience as a consequence of its oil wealth, with estimated reserves of about ten billion barrels.  

François Conradie, Cape Town Wednesday, 25 August 2010
The Canadian company Potash International seems to be up for sale, and a bidding war between BHP Billiton, Vale and Sinochem for the producer of the valuable mineral.  

Thursday, 19 August 2010
Nigeria's next presidential elections are scheduled for January 2011, and presumptive candidates have started lobbying for support. Regional divisions are coming into play. Meanwhile, there are concerns about the logistics for the election.  

François Conradie, Cape Town Monday, 16 August 2010
The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa's biggest opposition party, issued a statement on Sunday 15 August confirming that it is to merge with the Independent Democrats (ID), a smaller opposition party.  

François Conradie, Cape TownThursday, 12 August 2010
Les Afriques spoke to Greg Barker, the firm's co-founder and portfolio manager of the Africa Sustainability Fund, about the countries and sectors he likes and the future of sustainable development on the continent.

Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Cosatu, the Congress of South African trade unions, has warned of a "total shut-down of the public service" as 1.3 million of its members stay away from work on Tuesday 10 August. The strikes will test the country, and their resolution will have a major impact on the economy.

François Conradie, Cape Town Wednesday, 28 July 2010
On Friday 23 July, the Financial Times's City Editor, Mark Kleinman, reported that HSBC and Standard Charter were exploring a takeover of Old Mutual's controlling stake in Nedbank.

François Conradie, Cape Town  Friday, 23 July 2010
On 21 July, the fibre-optic broadband service launched in Lagos, made possible by a 7 200 kilometre cable from Portugal to Nigeria laid by MainOne Company. The development will make a big contribution to communication and business in Africa's most populous country.  

François Conradie, Cape Town Thursday, 22 July 2010
On Wednesday 21 July, Sudanese president Omar El-Bashir travelled to neighbouring Chad for a Community of Sahel-Saharan States conference. Despite being a signatory to the Rome Statute, in terms of which it is obliged to arrest any person wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Chad promised that El-Bashir would not be arrested.  

François Conradie, Cape Town Wednesday, 21 July 2010
The bail-out of Nigerian banks in 2009 may lead to a consolidation in the country's fractured banking landscape, as the Central Bank (CBN) talks about liquidating some of the banks, and others are taken over by rivals.

F.C, Cape Town Friday, 16 July 2010
The NNPC had asked for government help to covert ists debts and fund its operation. The company spokesman denied and said that the government owes it money.

François Conradie Thursday, 15 July 2010
After a book and a blockbuster film exposed the violence that often fuels the diamond industry,  watchers hailed the Kimberley Process, which purports to certify all diamonds as being 'clean', i.e. not from conflict regions and so not contributing to war. Zimbabwe is a member of the Process scheme, but some question whether its diamonds should be certified.  

Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Standard Bank was named Africa's top bank by The Banker, a respected US publication, in its latest edition of the world's 1 000 top banks. This article takes a look at Standard's 2009 performance and its African strategy.  

Monday, 12 July 2010
While most of Africa joined the globe in watching and cheering the World Cup, Islamist militants have made worrying inroads in Somalia and other countries in the region, with some of their victims actually being targeted for watching the football.

Adama Wade Translation: François Conradie Sunday, 11 July 2010
The most beautiful goal of the 2010 World Cup is, undoubtedly, the faultless organisation of the first Cup in Africa.

François Conradie, Cape Town Saturday, 03 July 2010
The "progressive" implementation of the East African Community (EAC) Common Market protocol started today, 1 July. The EAC's member countries are Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, and the Community has set up a head office in Arusha.