Continental view - Africa
Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma
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Tuesday, 22, Jan 2008 02:52
A selection of the top news stories making the headlines in Africa in the last two months.
Rocked by violence
A disputed presidential election on December 27th plunged Kenya into a political crisis from which it has not yet recovered.
Incumbent Mwai Kibaki won a second five-year term as a result of the poll but allegations of electoral fraud from opposition leader Raila Odinga triggered a wave of violence.
At least 700 people were killed as a result and, in the worst incident, 50 burned to death when the church they were sheltering in was torched by rioters on January 2nd.
Both leaders were criticised by the international community for refusing to compromise and initial attempts at a deal met with failure.
Police prevented opposition rallies turning into mass protests against Mr Kibaki's government and the focus turned to political progress by mid-January.
On January 15th, the first date Kenya's parliament sat since the election, Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement achieved a major boost when its candidate beat the government's preferred choice of speaker.
An economic boycott on businesses closely linked to prominent cabinet ministers meant Mr Odinga's opposition campaign was by no means over.
December 30th: Kibaki takes Kenya election
11,000 missing troops
Anxiety about whether the UN peacekeeping force in Sudan's Darfur region will make a real difference on the ground increased over the new year period.
Command of the forces already in Darfur switched from African Union to Unamid control on January 1st but there was little change in reality.
The current forces are around one-third their planned strength and are missing vital units and equipment, including vital aviation capabilities.
Unamid commander General Martin Luther Agwai said he faced a "Herculean task" in stopping the conflict between rebel groups and the government on December 2nd.
And a month later UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon warned that the peacekeeping force was "critically under-strength".
Gen Agwai will not be expecting help from the Sudanese government, whose army was responsible for an attack on peacekeepers which saw a civilian driver critically wounded on January 8th.
Click here to read an interview with Amnesty International on Darfur
Mugabe boycotted
UK prime minister Gordon Brown carried out his threat to boycott an international summit because of Robert Mugabe's presence in December.
Mr Brown said "oppression and repression" in Zimbabwe was behind his refusal to work with Mr Mugabe at a European Union-African Union summit in Lisbon.
"Given the circumstances of the last ten years and our attempts to give assistance in Zimbabwe, which have been thwarted and resisted, it is not possible for us to attend this summit and sit down with President Mugabe," he said.
The move drew criticism from EU president Jose Manuel Barroso, who said world leaders had to be prepared to "meet some people your mother would not like you to meet".
On December 20th Zimbabwe's central banker scrapped his country's Z$200,000 (£3.35) note in a bid to stop hyperinflation.
The note ceased being legal tender after December 31st and was replaced with new banknotes of value $250,000 (£4.19), Z$500,000 (£8.38) and Z$750,000 (£12.57).
Gideon Gono blamed "cash barons" for hoarding the money, saying most of the notes were being held by hoarders. Economists said the measure would not be sufficient to make a real difference to Zimbabwe's ongoing crisis.
Click here for a summary of the situation in Zimbabwe.
An incomplete victory
Jacob Zuma may have beaten Thabo Mbeki to the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC), but he has much to do to replace Mr Mbeki as South Africa's next president.
His victory at the end of a five-day party conference in Polokwane on December 18th means Mr Mbeki will not be able to stand for re-election when his term expires.
Mr Zuma will have to get through a corruption scandal in the meantime, however. He is alleged to have been involved in an illegal arms procurement deal in 1999 which his opponents say threatens his future political life.
Speaking in his first speech as ANC leader on January 12th, he emphasised the importance of "smooth working relations" within his party.
His supporters accuse Mr Mbeki's backers of being behind the corruption allegations he is currently fighting.
January 12th: S Africa's Zuma calls for unity
Other major developments
December 3rd: 'Muhammad' bear Briton freed . A UK teacher jailed in Sudan for allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad was released before the end of her 15-day jail sentence.
Click here for full story
December 11th: Blasts hit Algerian capital. At least 62 people were killed in two bombings in Algiers. The second took place close to United Nations offices.
Click here for full story
December 28th: French aid workers leave Chad. Six workers found guilty of the attempted kidnap of more than 100 children in Chad were returned to France.
Click here for full story