Middle East & Africa

From the archive

When history passes by

The Arab world, in despondent mood, blames outsiders for its ills. Peter David, our international editor, says its biggest troubles are self-inflicted

From the archive

The man who came back

February 1990: Nelson Mandela is released

From the archive

If you can think of something even beastlier, do it

From 1988: Our correspondent reports on Iraq's chemical attack on a Kurdish town that killed thousands

From the archive

A world against itself

The Arab states would like to combine their strengths. But first, argues Peter David, they must decide whether they are one nation or many

From the archives

Thomas Sankara

Burkina Faso's revolutionary leader was assassinated by rivals on October 15th 1987. He sought to give his country dignity, The Economist wrote at the time

From the archive

Black revolt

From the archives

Give him his bread

In 1980, The Economist was optimistic about Zimbabwe's new leader, Robert Mugabe