Spotlight | Madagascar
Rajoelina cold-shouldered by international lenders over election financing

Madagascar
Senior foreign ministry official under suspicion of gold trafficking

Since the arrest of a man with a diplomatic bag containing 53kg of gold ingots, there has been no sign of Julien Fanambinana Soananata.

Madagascar
World Bank and IMF called in to rescue Madagascar's finances

President Rajoelina has had no choice but to turn to the Bretton Woods institutions to bail out the country's economy, burdened largely by debt and subsidies to the oil and utilities sectors.

Madagascar
Brussels puts projects on standby following Rajoelina's dismissal of EU ambassador

The relationship between President Andry Rajoelina and Brussels continues to deteriorate, and the EU is now preparing to put projects on hold.

Madagascar
Diplomatic community shores up speaker of parliament

It was a close call for Christine Razanamahasoa, the speaker of Madagascar's lower house, who was almost dismissed by her peers after sharply criticising Andry Rajoelina during her speech at the opening of the parliamentary session on 17 October.

DRC
CENI turns down international offer to audit electoral roll

Rather than accept an offer by four organisations - among them the African Union and UN - the DRC's electoral commission has called for expressions of interest in conducting an audit of the country's electoral register.

Madagascar
Rajoelina fails to quell ambassadors' election doubts

The Malagasy president discreetly met with a gathering of ambassadors on 24 April to discuss the financing of this year's elections, amid concerns over the loss of fundamental rights in the country.

Guinea
The low-key UN team monitoring the 28 September trial

Guinea's high-profile 28 September trial is coming under increased attention from a number of key UN officials. Behind the scenes, they are keeping an eye on any ethnically motivated statements that could trigger incidents.

Madagascar
Democracy watchdog under heavy pressure from Rajoelina

The HCDDED is in Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina's crosshairs after receiving complaints from opposition MPs.

The New Guard
The New Guard: Angola, Morocco, Madagascar and Kenya

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

AngolaWalter Pacheco, the rising star of Angolan finance

MoroccoMeryem Rami Yahyaoui, the trade minister's international asset

MadagascarMarie-Christina Kolo, eco-feminist and climate activist in chief

KenyaAngel Mbuthia, Madame President

Madagascar
Rajoelina's battle of wills with the World Bank puts aid programmes in danger

A growing number of differences between the World Bank and President Andry Rajoelina could end up costing the Madagascan government hundreds of millions of dollars.

In Focus | Africa
Russia's electoral "experts" aim to conquer Africa

Although controversial in Russia itself, Russian electoral know-how has become an export product, notably in Africa. Russian pollsters, consultants and analysts are besieging African presidencies with offers of opinion polls and vote surveillance techniques, which they present as antidotes to Western interference.

Spotlight | Madagascar
Long transition reaching its denouement

The lengthy political transition which began when Andry Rajoelina known as TGV came to power in March 2009, is about to reach its conclusion with the presidential election scheduled for the end of July. Little by little, the main candidates [.