Zimbabwe is going to the polls on 31 July, despite doubts about whether enough reforms have been made to allow for a truly democratic choice.
Category: Africa
Egypt: reads and reactions
A selection of analysis and commentary on this week's events in Egypt. They convey the comforting message that I'm not the only one sitting on the fence.
A good coup, as coups go
Egypt's military seizes power – not usually the best of strategies for establishing democracy. But sometimes it's the only way, and so far the public seems to be behind it.
Egyptians rally for preferential voting (well, almost)
Demonstrations against Egypt's president reflect a variety of sources of discontent, but a large part of the problem goes back to the system that elected him.
Getting the story straight in Africa
Barack Obama is starting to tell a consistent story about human rights in Africa, and by implication elsewhere – helped by this week's Supreme Court decision on gay rights.
Election roundup time
An occasional feature in which we summarise the latest election news. This week: Albania, Mongolia, Kuwait, Mali and Zimbabwe.
Another election roundup
Tying up some loose ends from recent electoral events, plus an advance look at next month's Iranian election.
Not all religion is fundamentalist
An exciting and uplifting story about the rescue of the treasures of Timbuktu (yes, it's a real place). But there's also a moral to it.
Judges have the last word in Kenya
Kenya's Supreme Court has upheld the victory of Uhuru Kenyatta in this month's presidential election. He still has a problem with the International Criminal Court, but for now it looks like a triumph for Kenya's democratic institutions.
Good news for Zimbabwe, at last
The EU has responded to Zimbabwe's constitutional referendum by suspending most of the sanctions on government figures, although not President Mugabe himself.
The World is Not Enough 