South Sudan has claimed that Sudan has seized US$815mn worth of crude that was being transported its northern neighbour's pipeline. South Sudan seceded from the north in July but the two countries have failed to agree on how to share revenues from oil that is produced in the south, but needs to travel through northern pipelines to be exported. Sudan has reportedly seized oil being... 2012-01-26

Jordan's most influential opposition party, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), has called on the Palestinian Authority to stop 'absurd' negotiations with Israel. This statement came despite Jordan serving as the host of the second round of informal talks between the two sides. The IAF, the political arm of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood, has repeatedly criticized Amman's efforts to facilitate... 2012-01-27

Police were forced to intervene to break up an anti-unemployment rally outside the southern city of Ben Guerir on January 20. During the protest, 70 jobless demonstrators threatened to commit 'collective suicide' by walking into a phosphate quarry. Six people were arrested on suspicion of inciting the rally. The region has the second lowest per capita GDP in the country. Despite... 2012-01-30

BMI View: We anticipate that the Mauritian current account deficit will deteriorate slightly to 8.5% of GDP in 2012, from 7.6% in 2011, before making a modest rebound to 7.2% in 2013. An outlook for weak eurozone growth and stubbornly high oil prices informs our view. While we believe this will be financed by surpluses in the capital and financial accounts, we caution that the... 2012-01-30

We expect public expenditure in Kuwait to increase in 2012. Although government spending plans in recent years have been persistently hampered by political gridlock in parliament, we expect growing public agitation - as illustrated by the wave of protest that hit the country in late 2011 - to translate into renewed impetus for a pickup in expenditure over the coming quarters. We... 2012-01-31

BMI View: Cameroon's government revenues will be robust in the coming years, as we expect the price of oil, a key export, to remain at historically high prices. However, expansive government spending, on both capital expenditures and current expenditures such as food and fuel subsidies, will keep the budget balance negative. We are forecasting a shortfall equal to 0.3% of GDP... 2012-01-27