John Campbell

Africa in Transition

Campbell tracks political and security developments across sub-Saharan Africa.

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Africa and the World Bank Presidency

by John Campbell
Nigeria's Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala attends an economic conference in the capital Abuja October 20, 2011. (Afolabi Sotunde/Courtesy Reuters) Nigeria's Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala attends an economic conference in the capital Abuja October 20, 2011. (Afolabi Sotunde/Courtesy Reuters)

Many Africans were proud that the continent fielded a highly qualified candidate for the World Bank presidency, Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. By the time the vote took place, serious African observers recognized that the American candidate would win. But, there was also satisfaction that the three sub-Saharan heavyweights – Nigeria, South Africa, and Angola – had come together to nominate and support her. Read more »

The Economist Endorses Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

by John Campbell
Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaks during a media briefing in Pretoria March 23, 2012. (Siphiwe Sibeko/Courtesy Reuters) Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaks during a media briefing in Pretoria March 23, 2012. (Siphiwe Sibeko/Courtesy Reuters)

The Economist has strongly endorsed Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the presidency of the World Bank. The March 31st editorial argues that the American and European “carving up” for the leadership positions at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund is outdated, and that the poor qualifications of President Obama’s nominee, Dr. Jim Yong Kim provides an opportunity to end it. It also calls on the Colombian candidate José Antonio Ocampo, a former finance minister, to withdraw “gracefully.” Read more »

Africa Unlikely to Win World Bank Presidency

by John Campbell
Dartmouth College President Jim Yong Kim (C) walks off stage with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner (L) after U.S. President Barack Obama (not pictured) named Kim as his nominee to be the next president of the World Bank, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, March 23, 2012. (Jonathan Ernst/Courtesy Reuters) Dartmouth College President Jim Yong Kim (C) walks off stage with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner (L) after U.S. President Barack Obama (not pictured) named Kim as his nominee to be the next president of the World Bank, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, March 23, 2012. (Jonathan Ernst/Courtesy Reuters)

Nigeria, South Africa, and Angola are supporting the candidacy of Nigeria’s foreign minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for the World Bank (WB) presidency. For that office, President Obama has nominated the president of Dartmouth and a medical doctor, Jim Yong Kim, who has a distinguished background in development — but not in business, finance or politics, as his predecessors have had. Read more »

Guest Post: Nigeria: Cleaning Up Procurement

by John Campbell
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, managing director of the World Bank and former Nigerian finance minister, Nigeria's Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi (C) and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan (R) exchange greetings during a session at the 15th edition of the Nigerian economic summit in Abuja December 15, 2009. (Afolabi Sotunde/Courtesy Reuters) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, managing director of the World Bank and former Nigerian finance minister, Nigeria's Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi (C) and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan (R) exchange greetings during a session at the 15th edition of the Nigerian economic summit in Abuja December 15, 2009. (Afolabi Sotunde/Courtesy Reuters)

This is a guest post by Jim Sanders, a career, now retired, West Africa watcher for various federal agencies. The views expressed below are his personal views and do not reflect those of his former employers.

Reportedly, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has invited World Bank officials to vet all federal government contracts. “Very soon we will get people from the World Bank to be at my office. For every contract we want to award, irrespective of the structures we have on the ground, they will assess it so that if a job is supposed to cost N10,000 and it’s awarded for N10,000, the likelihood that the contractor bribing anybody will be reduced,” Jonathan was quoted as saying. Read more »

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