News From Africa - Press review

Zimbabwe

The politics of exclusion and national survival

The author writes from first hand experience and with deep passion for her country where she has lived and worked nearly all her life. Her analysis and insights, historical and current, reveal an understanding of how people survive creatively, and hope that their lives may return to some form of normalcy - hopes that their nation may get the leadership it needs to give priority to the people and their personal, social, national, and international needs. One photo accompanies the articelon the site; others will appear later in our photo gallery. Jim Kirkwood

8 October 2007 - Clement Njoroge

Nigeria

Private universities and officials lock horns

The Catholic Church of Nigeria and the National Universities Commission are at loggerheads over the legal and academic status of seminaries and institutions affiliated to Nigerian universities.

Mon, 5 May 2008

6 May 2008 - Tunde Fatunde

Africa's next great Scramble

Africans in the Dark over the Congo River project

Advocates of the $80 billion Grand Inga Project on the Congo River project who met in London this week failed to include the voices of those who will be most affected if the dam is built.

African non-governmental organizations and the affected communities were pointedly excluded from participating in the London meeting. Instead, almost 100 representatives of governments, banks and the dam industry gathered to discuss financing the project's development. This flawed process bodes ill for the project's ability to reduce poverty in the region or to provide sustainable development.

Wed, 23 April 2008

23 April 2008 - Terri Hathaway

Angola

Gearing for election government closes human rights office

In preparation for the elections in September, the government has taken two actions indicating that they are planning a repressive campaign. They closed down the UN office on Human Rights in Luanda on April 1. They supported Mugabe's election process and were completely uncritical. The Angolan leaders of the SADC monitoring team were quick to say that the election in Zimbabwe had been free and fair, before other monitors had time to make this evaluation. The government had also indicated earlier that they would supply police support in the event of a breakdown in order in Zimbabwe. JK

Wed, 16 April 2008

16 April 2008 - Southscan

Kenya

The New look cabinet

President Mwai Kibaki yesterday announced a new 42 Member Cabinet comprising the lead organ of the Grand Coalition government that follows from the February 28th National Accord. We take closer look at the composition of the cabinet.

Monday, 14 April 2008

14 April 2008 - News From Africa

Peace, Violence and Reconciliation

The Graves Are Not Yet

Excerpted from a speech delivered by Philip Emeagwali at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia at the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination.

Monday, 7 April 2008

7 April 2008 - Philip Emeagwali

Toward the African Synod

Africa at the dawn of the 21st Century

The analysis of today's African society cannot be disregarded if we want an incisive theology. This Synod - which bears in its title the words reconciliation, justice and peace could gift us with a shared vision of what is happening in Africa and how we might be able to react as Christians.

Tuesday, 1 April 2008

1 April 2008 - Renato Kizito Sesana

South Africa

Zuma steps on Mbeki's toes with Angola visit

"The 1988 battle of Cuito Canavale changed the political landscape of the region by speeding up Namibia's independence and SA's liberation from apartheid. More than 4,800 people died during the conflict... Although SA has an existing bilateral agreement with Angola, Zuma has seemingly capitalised on gaps in the political repertoire between the two countries... Racked by almost 30 years of civil war, public infrastructure in Angola is weak. But because the country is abundant in natural resources, it is seen as an untapped investment opportunity."

26 March 2008 - Hajra Omarjee

Africa

Moving beyond the justification of war

Many African states are former colonies of Britain. As a result, many African Churches have adopted Britain's support of a just war. This concerns African countries because Africa is rife with feuds and ethnic rivalries. The Churches have to step in and remind church and political leaders to listen to the Archbishop's suggestion that differenes can be sorted out non-retributively, in the direction of "creative non-violence" and gain the support of those of pacifist commitment and those who encourage non violent solutions. B.T.

19 March 2008 - Media Centre, Ekklesia

Africa - America

George Bush Visits Africa to promote the US Africa Command

Horace Campbell look at Bush's visit as an attempt to further militarize the continent and consolidate US holding

18 February 2008 - Horace Campbell

Kenya

Understanding the Kenyan Opposition

An analysis of Kenya's leading opposition party, ODM, and the three component elements described as the activist-intellectual left, the Moi-ist retrogressives, and the populists. The author argues that it is as a result of the different agendas of the elements in reference, that ODM has displayed conflicting strategies and consequently why future peace for Kenya may be uncertain depending on which element wins the day. NG

11 February 2008 - Mukoma Wa Ngugi

Chad

Helping the injured amid the chaos

Violent clashes between rebels and government troops in N'Djamena have left hundreds injured, many dead and thousands fleeing the capital. Simon Ashmore, the ICRC's deputy head of operations for East Africa, says the ICRC is supporting the Red Cross of Chad as far as possible in tending to the injured and the dead, notably with one surgical team in place and another on the way.

6 February 2008 - ICRC

K enya

Examining the Real Issues at Stake in Post-Elections Crisis

In normal circumstances of conflict, compromise, and other means of arbitration, conciliation, negotiation and so forth are useful and usually receive attention.

24 January 2008 - Dr. Mumma C.A. M

Kenya

The poverty of international journalism

The author considers three particularly dangerous, pervasive myths and misrepresentations that have appeared in the media in the USA - and elsewhere - in covering Kenya's post election crisis. DN

23 January 2008 - n Barbieri

South Africa

The curse of South Africa

Mineral wealth has distorted the economy for generations. Moeletsi Mbeki, brother of South Africa's president on why people want jobs not handouts

17 January 2008 - Moeletsi Mbeki