Topic: Pretoria

South Africa set to elect populist Jacob Zuma

The polarizing ANC leader is expected to draw record numbers of voters to the polls in Wednesday's presidential race.

Is South Africa about to become more 'African'?

Populist Jacob Zuma's expected victory in Wednesday's presidential poll unnerves some well-to-do South Africans, but others are drawn to his commitment to the traditional value of 'ubuntu.'

Nelson Mandela boosts Zuma at final ANC campaign rally

South Africa's ruling party candidate, Jacob Zuma, vows no constitutional changes ahead of April 22 vote.

Will pirates join forces with Islamist militias in Somalia?

Escalation of violence could lead pirate gangs to join radical militants, including those with ties to Al Qaeda, say analysts.

Zimbabwe's 100-day plan to lift economic embargo, court donors

The government says it will ease media ban as part of an effort to reengage with the West. But the US and Europe are dubious.

Guinea-Bissau assassinations: Is Colombia's drug trade behind them?

The murder of the president and the Army chief on Monday raises questions about the nature of the instability in this African nation.

Sudan’s Bashir tries to stall Darfur genocide ruling

The International Criminal Court said Monday that it will decide on March 4 whether to issue an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir for charges of crimes against humanity and genocide.

Why did Sudan make a deal with Darfur rebels?

Khartoum has agreed to swap prisoners and talk with Darfur insurgents.

This week's lookahead - Jan. 26

We're baaaaack: Islamists take over in Somalia

Piracy raises pressure for new international tack on Somalia

The world is not willing to allow this strategic nation to remain ungoverned. Can a coordinated effort create a stable government?

Abductions of Zimbabwe activists could ruin talks

Twenty activists from the Movement for Democratic Change opposition party have been abducted since October. Their whereabouts are still unknown.

Africans join forces to fight the LRA

Southern Sudan, Uganda, and Congo launched operation Lightning Thunder this week to flush the Lord's Resistance Army out of its base in northern Congo.

New rival to test South Africa's ANC

The Congress of the People party officially launches on Tuesday. Its leaders – dissidents from the African National Congress – could usher in a more vibrant multiparty era.

Who are Somalia's pirates?

A Monitor Q&A reveals who's behind the modern-day pirates, how they got so good at taking ships, and what's being done to stop them.

Oil capture spotlights Somali pirates' reach

A supertanker hijacking helped boost the price of oil early this week.

Dallas preacher T.D. Jakes takes his pulpit to Africa

The megachurch leader’s entrepreneurial evangelism is popular with a new generation of South African blacks.

Zimbabwe: Latest test of Africa's power-sharing model

Zimbabwe follows Kenya's path. Will international donors be as supportive?

Last-ditch effort to move Zimbabwe talks forward

As dispute persists in wake of presidential election, the country seems poised between negotiated settlement and outright civil war.

World

African Union calls for unity government in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's opposition rejects calls for a unity government, however, citing perceived bias of mediator, South African President Thabo Mbeki.

Why South Africa's Mbeki won't rein in Mugabe

Even in Africa, pressure is mounting for Thabo Mbeki to increase pressure on Zimbabwe's president.

Will Africa take action against Zimbabwe's Mugabe?

The African Union is expected to discuss the issue in Egypt Monday, one day after Mugabe declared a 'sweeping victory' in Friday's presidential runoff, which was widely condemned as a sham.

Mugabe more isolated

The opposition's pullout from Friday's vote raises pressure on Zimbabwe's leader.

South Africa's president calls attacks on immigrants shameful

President Mbeki says end 'attacks against Africans' and welcome them back home. But a police raid on a transit camp sends another message.