Kenya could be on its way towards reconciliation following rapprochement between the country’s two main political protagonists. But David E. Kiwuwa warns that lasting change will only happen if there’s a fundamental shift away from the country’s notoriously tribal political system.

There are fears that the unexpected death of Alfonso Dhlakama, leader of Mozambique’s main opposition party Renamo, could affect efforts to end decades of conflict in the country. Eric Morier-Genoud argues that Dhlakama’s death shouldn’t put an end to negotiations with the governing Frelimo party, but progress will depend on his successor.

Some South Africans have argued that the country’s first post-apartheid president, Nelson Mandela made too many concessions during the country’s transition to democracy. Steven Friedman makes the point that people need to understand the limited opportunities Mandela and his colleagues had when negotiations were taking place.

Class action remains relatively untested territory in South Africa. In one of only two cases in the country, lawyers representing miners afflicted by silicosis - a form of occupational lung disease – recently secured an historic compensation settlement of R5 billion (US$400 million). Penelope Andrews spells out the five factors that make the settlement significant.