Economic Consequences of South Africa’s Political Crisis
Earlier this week, South Africa’s debt was downgraded by S&P to junk bond status for the first time in 17 years, which will have a very negative effect on borrowing costs. The downgrade was prompted by a dramatic, middle-of-the-night cabinet reshuffle, when President Zuma sacked about one-third of his ministers including Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, […]
The Gambia and Thailand: A Tale of Two Coups
For all of those committed to rule of law and democracy, the recent removal of Gambian President Yahya Jammeh from office is a most welcome development. Jammeh, who lost the December 2016 presidential elections in a surprise landslide to incoming Gambian head of state, Adama Barrow, had first taken power via a military coup in […]
Rule of Law Prevails in Zambia with Dismissal of Politically Motivated Case against Rupiah Banda
Yesterday the Lusaka High Court dismissed a politically motivated case that was brought against former President Rupiah Banda by the previous government. This case accusing him of benefitting from an oil deal with Nigeria, which was the brainchild of the late President Michael Sata and his chosen prosecutor, the currently suspended Mutembo Nchito, and was […]
A Nigerian Oil Nightmare
The Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail recently published a story on one of Robert Amsterdam’s clients, James Bay Resources Ltd. Read an excerpt below: Nigerian elections often revolve around huge sums of money, which greases the wheels of the election machinery for the leading parties, and some insiders believe that the Canadian asset was seen […]
Zambian Watchdog’s Fake News about Henry Banda a Political Ploy, Says Amsterdam
20 February 2015 – The following statement was issued by lawyer Robert Amsterdam of Amsterdam & Partners LLP (London, United Kingdom): The practise of knowingly publishing completely false information under the guise of news reporting has become such a severe problem in Zambia that we are approaching a dangerous threshold, where not only criminal liability […]
An Open Letter to Zambian Watchdog
17 February 2015 Dear Mr. Editor, I write to you as International counsel to His Excellency, former President Rupiah Banda and to Henry Banda (Mr. Banda), regarding serious and urgent concerns over articles published on your website over the past week. I refer to your articles of 9 February 2015, “Henry Banda joins Katumbi, Lungu […]
Rising Political Risk for Miners in Zambia
The 2011 election of President Michael Sata and the Patriotic Front (PF) government in Zambia turned out to be one of the most negative events for foreign investors in the country. Not only did the Sata government expropriate properties, re-nationalise assets, and rack up debt and inflation – they also sought to tighten control over […]
Mugabe and the U.N. vs. the Whistleblower
Doug Bandow writes in the American Spectator about the case of our client Georges Tadonki, who challenged political corruption in Zimbabwe and paid for it with his job. In 2008 Tadonki had been on station for six years and predicted epidemics of both cholera and violence. Journalist Peta Thornycroft interviewed Tadonki at the time, concluding […]
The Unlawful Persecution of Nigeria’s Central Banker
The Nigerian government’s attempt to pin a criminal case against its former Central Banker Lamido Sanusi after he exposed a multi-billion dollar corruption scheme reeks of political motivations.
The Politics of Justice in Africa
The relations the International Criminal Court (ICC) enjoys with states in Africa are testy – and things don’t appear to be getting better.
Russia News Blast
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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 1, 2020
Today in Russia: Constitutional amendment set for July 1; Claims of Russian involvement in US protests “dirty manipulation”; SpaceX historic launch could cost Russia, Musk taunts Russia; Vedomosti new owner will not remove controversial editor; Trump plans expanded G7 meeting including Russia in September; The Ruble is “saturated with oil”; OPEC and Russia in talks of continuing cuts as oil prices fall again; Russia and Turkey risk a “new Syria” in Libya; Russian stimulus falling short; A ranking of Russian allies
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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 29, 2020
Today in Russia: Moscow death count doubled amid scrutiny; Satellite and social media images seem to confirm Russian airpower sent to Libya; Vedomosti sale complete; 20 more arrested protesting arrest of journalist; Russia trying to keep up in vaccine race; “Freak heat wave” in Siberia; Ship travels through Arctic without icebreaker assistance Russian jets scrambled over Black Sea; Can Russia spark a domestic tourism boom with borders shut?; Drop in outflow of tourists to help Ruble
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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 28, 2020
Today in Russia: Journalists arrested for protesting the arrest of a journalist who protested the jailing of a whistleblower; Russia finds new way to lower cases – stop counting asymptomatic; US Military: Russia sent 14 MiG 29s and Su-24s to Libya; Russia could face 7.5 percent drop in GDP; Moscow Mayor says restrictions to stay in place until vaccine; Libya to fall under “spheres of influence?”; Roscosmos chief believes SpaceX and Musk are up to no good on Mars; New Nordstream 2 sanctions from US possible, Russia says no affect on plans
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