February 2012 - East Africa's emerging investment frontier was brought into the spotlight by Nairobi-based Andrea Bohnstedt. She explained how major discoveries of oil and gas, and the prospect of hydrocarbons development in Uganda, Mozambique and offshore Kenya and Tanzania, have added gloss to these countries' attractiveness as destinations for foreign investment of all kinds but highlighted the sub-region's political and operational challenges.

March 2012 - Argentinian lawyer Carlos María Regúnaga gave his take on the current sabre-rattling over the Falklands/Malvinas situation. Prior to that he had described the government's main aim of providing investors with the necessary political and economic stability to encourage them to help develop the country's enormous reserves of natural resources following recent oil and shale gas discoveries.

April 2012 - The vast offshore gas discoveries of the Eastern Mediterranean was the topic for Charles Gurdon to ruminate upon. The area has major national and regional political issues which will have an impact on hydrocarbon development. Richard Schofield of Menas Borders then led us through the complicating factor of the region's unresolved martime boundary disputes.

May 2012 - It was time to take stock of where Nigeria, which is has Africa's largest population and second largest economy, is heading. Renowned Nigeria expert Jonathan Bearman acknowledged that the country has always been a challenging operating environment for foreign companies but, while it is possible to navigate with care through its treacherous waters of big-man politics and corruption, he explained how the country is currently facing such serious problems that its very survival as a unitary state is in the balance.

June 2012 - Acknowledged world authority Professor Jeremy Keenan guided us through the latest developments in the Sahara-Sahel. The current crisis in Mali was assessed, along with the upsurge in serious political and security risks in each country and the wider region, and how they are likely to have profound impacts on foreign investors. A truly startling and insightful round up.

July 2012 - 'Mozambique's metamorphosis' was the title of Senior Associate Chris Melville's tremendously informative lecture on the country's potential reshaping of its political economy following the recent discoveries of natural gas offshore. The aspects he tackled were: Led by the same party since 1975, how well equipped is the government to deal with the challenge? Will it succeed where others have failed in finding the right balance between the expectations of foreign resource companies and the demands of a still-impoverished people? Will the large scale infrastructure needs of energy investment help to overcome Mozambique's tendency towards regional disintegration or will they aggravate it?

September 2012 - Post-revolution Libya: one year on. The country's struggle to find its feet was the topic for Alison Pargeter and Charles Gurdon. The challenges and opportunities facing its economy and foreign companies were explored in depth: security, national reconcilation, regionalism and political Islam. How the country's new leaders will deal with these issues in the coming months will be crucial to Libya's political and economic future.

October 2012 - Patrick Gilkes reflected on what the unexpected death of long-serving president Meles Zenawi would mean for Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa generally. He highlighted the questions that would now be asked over the country's role as the regional major power, and revealed the massive hydropower and other infrastructural developments planned. Would they still go-ahead now Meles' strong personality is no longer there?

November 2012 - Turkey's position as a bridge between east and west can be a strength but in challenging times, it can also be a risk. Menas Caspian expert Alex Jackson described how the domestic political scene remains complex, faft-moving and volatile. A new constitution in the pipeline will shape the country's future - if both domestic and international politics do not derail the process.

December 2012 - Progress on forging a new Egypt was the topic for December. After Morsi's almost six months in office, Dr Noel Brehony looked at how domestic politics have changed radically but its role in the region has been greatly enhanced. Following a wide review of Egypt's relationships, government policy and the implications for foreign investors, he concluded that its insuperable demographic and economic problems continue to cloud its progress.

February 2013 - In conjunction with our new co-hosts, Clyde & Co, acknowledged authority on the region Prof. Jeremy Keenan presented a timely round up of the fast-moving events in the Sahara/Sahel. The Mali crisis and the recent terrorist attack on the Algerian In Amenas gas facility were explored in depth when Keenan revealed the nature of the Islamist groups operating in the area. He explained the likely future and political implications for the region, especially for those Western companies already operating there, or thinking of investing in North Africa.

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