President of Togo Promises to Repatriate First Leader’s Remains for Reburial

The Togolese head of state Faure Gnassingbe has announced in his New Year message that the remains of President Sylvanus Olympio, Togo’s first president assassinated on 13 January 1963, will be repatriated to the country for reburial. “The government,...

President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia Re-elected for a New Five-year Term

President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, who has been ruling Tunisia since 1987, has been re-elected for a new five-year term with 89.62% of the votes, after the presidential poll held on Sunday. His contenders, Mohamed Bouchiha of the ‘Parti de l’Unité...

Deposed President of Mauritania Formally Resigns

The deposed president of Mauritania, Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi, elected in March 2007 and ousted in August has formally handed in his resignation. “I voluntary resign from my position as President of the Republic,” said Ould Cheikh...

Armenia: Race For Presidency Offers New Debate Over Old Taboo

Ten years ago this month, Armenia’s first president fell victim to a dismal economic situation and Nagorno-Karabakh. Having served one term and half of another at war with Azerbaijan over the Armenian-populated province, Levon Ter-Petrossian’s...