FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in Africa in 2011

By Peter Apps, Political Risk Correspondent

LONDON Dec 21 (Reuters) - Elections in Nigeria, domestic politics in South Africa, Uganda, Madagascar, Egypt and Congo will all be in focus in Africa in 2011, together with conflict risks in Sudan and Ivory Coast and broader corruption issues.

Below are the key political risks to watch:

NIGERIA PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Nigeria's April 9 presidential race remains wide open with the ruling party divided over its candidate. Government spending is on the rise and the threat of unrest hangs over the oil-producing Niger Delta.

The ruling People's Democratic Party has seen its candidate comfortably win every leadership contest since the end of military rule more than a decade ago, but President Goodluck Jonathan faces challenges to secure the nomination.

Jonathan is a contentious candidate because of the ruling party pact that power should rotate every two terms between the largely Muslim north and mostly Christian south. He is a southerner who inherited the presidency earlier this year after the death of the northerner Umaru Yar'Adua, who died partway through his first term.

The key vote will be the presidential primaries with voting dominated by Nigeria's powerful governors. Meanwhile, analysts expect government spending to rise in the run-up to the vote while the political uncertainty adds an effective brake to policy-making.

What to watch: