NEWS ANALYSIS

Luanda, Angola | AFP | Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos’s announcement Friday that he will step down brings to an end a 37-year reign marked by an unrelenting authoritarian style. Though seldom seen in public, he has been a looming presence in daily life for as long as most …

Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on Jan.20 in Washington. The day’s events contained all the pomp and circumstance meant to signify the peaceful transition of power. But Trump’s combative first speech as president also showcased his intent to shake things up in …

IMF head Christine Lagarde has conceded the Washington lender had been late waking up to the widening gap between rich and poor around the world, but is now researching answers to help the middle class By Antonio Rodriguez. Lagarde on Jan.18 made the admission to an audience of high-flying executives …

Education Ministry and closed chain of low-cost schools said to be holding `sensitive talks’ Bridge International Academies is locked in last-minute negotiations with government in order to open with other schools when the new term begins this February, insiders say. As the school year closed in 2016, the government used …

The Independent reflects on his journey to being Africa’s best footballer Denis Masinde Onyango was on Jan.5 crowned the Confederation of African Football (CAF) African Player of the Year – Based in Africa. Uganda’s talismanic shot-stopper made history as the first goalkeeper ever to win CAF’s topmost honour; a prestigious …

Lagarde is visiting when the government is desperate for new money but in no mood to listen. Usually that means no deal but possibly not when the IMF and Museveni need each othe. Meetings between teams from IMF and planners of Uganda’s economy, especially President Yoweri Museveni, have historically involved …

What ISO boss Balya’s fall, Kayihura’s rise mean President Yoweri Museveni’s replacement of Brig. Ronnie Balya as the Director General Internal Security Organisation (ISO) is being seen as an extension of the intelligence leadership shakeup that started in June 2015. Insiders are divided on what is informing the changes with …

Negotiators won over Gambia ex-leader with appeals to faith and patriotism Conakry, Guinea | AFP | In pushing Yahya Jammeh to give up The Gambia’s presidency, negotiators played on two key cards: his deep Muslim faith and his professed love of country. Jammeh finally quit as president and went into …

Mexico City, Mexico | AFP | By picking a fight with Mexico, US President Donald Trump is needling a strategic partner that could retaliate with a trade war and less cooperation on immigration and the drug war, analysts say. The neighboring countries face the biggest diplomatic rift in decades over …

Paris, France | AFP |  When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 there were 16 major walls protecting borders around the world. In 2016 that number had grown to 66, according to researcher Elisabeth Vallet of the University of Quebec. As US President Donald Trump took the first step …