NEWS ANALYSIS

Better evidence or desperation by ISO, CMI? Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | Since August 27 last year when he was released on bail, embattled former inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura has appeared to be on the road to rehabilitation and possible freedom. Many observes assumed his privileges …

New York, United States | AFP | After sparking a scandal by recalling a racist episode from his distant past, actor Liam Neeson is now battling to save his career — a task experts predict will be difficult but not impossible. More than 40 years ago, Neeson recently told The Independent of London, he was …

Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria, which elects a new president on February 16, is Africa’s most populous nation and leading oil producer but is dogged by poverty and insecurity. – People and penury – More than 190 million people live in the West African nation. The UN estimates it …

Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Muhammadu Buhari was elected president of Nigeria in 2015 on a pledge to defeat Boko Haram jihadists and tackle endemic corruption. As he seeks re-election, here is a look back at key developments in the country during his first term. – 2015: successes against Boko Haram …

Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Key events in the history of Nigeria since independence from Britain in 1960: – First coup – In January 1966 the first in a series of military coups takes place amid dissatisfaction with progress after colonial rule. Significantly, it is also triggered by the fact that …

Paris, France | AFP | It was fear of being dominated by a Chinese behemoth that sparked an attempt by large French and German rail companies to join forces to create an European industrial champion. The merger by Alstom and Siemens was vetoed by the EU on Thursday, but concerns about …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | This week, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) held a series of events to mark 38 years since the start of the war that brought President Yoweri Museveni to power in January 1986. The events to celebrate Tarehe Sita climaxed on Wednesday in Kitgum district. …

Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Nearly six years after the African Union shut it out in the cold, Egypt will take the organisation’s helm  — and strengthening multilateral powers is unlikely to be on the agenda. Cairo’s tenure “will probably concentrate on security and peacekeeping”, said Ashraf Swelam, who heads …

Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was elected in 2015 on a wave of hope that he could defeat Boko Haram Islamists and turn around a country blighted by decades of corruption and poor governance. But while he will go down in history as Nigeria’s first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent, …

Washington, United States | AFP | Twitter shares took a pounding Thursday as an unsettling update on its global user base offset upbeat figures on revenues and profits in the past quarter. Shares skidded 9.8 percent to close at $30.80 following Twitter’s fourth quarter update, which showed a consistent profit trend …