Published by The Guardian (12th September, 2018) Seven years ago I went on one of my strangest journalistic jaunts, when I joined the first western parliamentary delegation to […]
Africa / Arts / Books / Congo / Equatorial Guinea / General / Ivory Coast / Libya / Nigeria
A well-trodden journey into the heart of darkness
Published by The Times (30th December, 2017) Dictatorland: The Men Who Stole Africa by Paul Kenyon (Head of Zeus) I came to this book with enthusiasm. The author […]
Africa / Zimbabwe
The Crocodile shows his teeth
Published by The i paper (20th November, 2017) So farewell then, Robert Mugabe. The situation in Zimbabwe remains fluid after the carefully planned coup that claims not to […]
Africa / Equatorial Guinea / Politics
When naive good intentions meet corrupt kleptocracy
Published in The Independent (November 24th, 2012) Having been flown over on the luxurious presidential jet, we sat for a while in a hotel bar, watching a local […]
Africa / Equatorial Guinea
Unesco’s latest attempt to give out dictator’s $3m prize delayed by lawyers
Published in The Guardian (March 5th, 2012) The latest attempt to award a controversial $3m UNESCO prize given by Africa’s longest-ruling dictator has been jeopardised by the organisation’s own lawyers, […]
Africa / Equatorial Guinea
The strange and evil world of Equatorial Guinea
Published in The Observer magazine (October 23rd, 2011) It is hard not to be impressed when you arrive in the newly rich nation of Equatorial Guinea, especially when […]
Africa / Equatorial Guinea
Africa’s despots fear the gales will blow south
Published in The Times (March 11th, 2011) Juan Pedro Mendene was midway through his weekly radio programme, ironically called Total Relaxation, when the live broadcast was interrupted by his […]
Africa / Aid / General
Big men, bankers and the stench of corruption
Published in The Independent (August 18th, 2009) Frederick Chiluba is a sharp dresser. The one-time bus conductor who rose to become President of Zambia has a fondness for […]