Politics of Security and Conflict Issues
West Africa: Militants in Rivers state Nigeria are embracing the presidential amnesty, where eighty former rebels have so far availed it. While Nigeria has regained confidence of United Nations with the re-equipment and re-kitting of its troops serving under the Nigerian Contingents in the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). The Senegalese police unit has joined the African Union-UN Peacekeeping Force in Darf
ur.
National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) said that the violence in Niger Delta would not stop in spite of the President’s amnesty package. He proclaimed democratic leadership as the only viable option.
South Africa: In South Africa, Home Affairs plans to launch induction for asylum seekers. While camp dwelling IDP victims of the 2007 post-election violence vowed to boycott the count, accusing the South African government of neglect. In the mean while the constitution-making process has ground to a halt because of disagreements, infighting and a lack of funds in Zimbabwe.
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, current chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), was scheduled to make his first state visit to Zimbabwe on 27 August 2009.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: The International Criminal Court has begun preparations for trials on Kenya's post election violence as efforts towards a local tribunal are frustrated by political wrangles.
While in Tanzania despite the government’s warnings for the Muslim leaders against issuing a document similar to the controversial Catholic booklet containing guidelines on how to choose leaders in next year's General Election, a group of Imams is expected to launch one soon. The Muslim Council of Tanzania however has distanced itself from the said document.
Djibouti and Nigeria are expected to send peacekeepers to Somalia according to state officials. Mozambican President Armando Guebuza recently met four main political actors in Madagascar, the self-proclaimed President, Andry Rajoelina, the deposed President Marc Ravalomanana and former Heads of State Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy. The meeting was a second round of negotiations with formation of a transitional government on the agenda.
The Islamic administration officials of Hisbul Islam in Somalia have joined the Islamic administration of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen in the region according to reports. While four people were killed in the Somali capital Mogadishu after insurgents attacked an important government checkpoint.
Central Africa: Civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to flee Ugandan rebel attacks under the Lord’s Resistance Army.
The United Nations is considering revising the mandate of its peacekeeping forces in the DRC and Southern Sudan to join the hunt for LRA leader Joseph Kony. While a mutiny over pay, by a section of the army in the eastern DRC is heightening fear, say officials, as farther north an escalation in attacks by LRA rebels has prompted large-scale displacement.
Gabon has gone to the polls to elect a new president nearly three months after the death of President Omar Bongo Ondimba at the age of 73.
Human Rights and Social Issues in Domestic Politics
West Africa: The Executive Director of the Rescue Alternative Liberia (RAL), shared that consultative meetings were to be held to draft an anti torture bill under the country's criminal justice system. Mean while in Sierra Leon custom has been slow to yield to the new inheritance law providing aid for disadvantaged widows and orphans.
According to the research group Open Society Initiative for West Africa some of the highest-ranking teachers of Islam, known as marabouts, are responsible for trafficking children through Niger to neighboring countries to beg. Also the Nigerian state government recently evacuated over 3,000 members of an Islamic group who had over the years isolated themselves in Mokwa town. The move was amid apprehensions following recent upheavals by Boko Haram in the north last month.
South Africa: China is building an agricultural research centre near Maputo in Mozambique, expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2010. The centre will boast agricultural laboratories and crop-testing areas, and will also undertake aquaculture research. While the Zambia Widows Network Association (ZAWNA) has said that most people in the country are ignorant about their legal rights, and continued to suffer injustices.
Malawi's president, Bingu wa Mutharika, has come under severe pressure from civil society groups demanding he scrap a newly-passed bill allowing 16 year olds to marry, in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
East Africa/Horn of Africa: According to research presented at the Forum for the Study of Foreign Policy program in Ethiopia African countries benefit more from relations with China and India then with the west. While the 2nd annual U.S. Africa Command Academic Symposium came to an end recently where academics from Africa, Europe and the United States had come together to enhance their understanding of Africa Command and offer input on how best to support peace and stability in Africa.
Ugandan Muslim intellectuals want the role of the Mufti removed from day-to-day management of Muslim affairs to strictly spiritual functions. This was in lieu of Mufti Ramadhan Mubajje’s involvement in a property wrangle that has left the Muslim community divided into two factions. Also the Uganda Muslim Teachers Association (UMTA) revealed that they have asked government to remove all non-Muslim head teachers from Muslim-founded schools.
The African Union (AU) commission on human and peoples' rights has warned Uganda government against torturing suspects. In the mean while IRIN revealed that several thousand IDPs are facing a food crisis in Somalia where food deliveries have been halted to the town of Jowhar.
Central Africa: With a view of enhancing the country's science and technology human resource base, the Student's Financing Agency of Rwanda (SFAR) in partnership with Chinese and US universities have sponsored 61 students to upgrade their studies.
A Cameroon government human rights commission said that rights violations in prisons persists in the face of authorities' "indifference". In the mean while the controversy surrounding the encroachment of Gishwati forest in Rwanda has taken a new twist with 289 families facing immediate eviction. The government is being accused of persecuting the poor and showing partiality towards the rich.
Health, Environment and Domestic Politics
West Africa: The Burkina Faso government has shut down more than 20 health clinics in a nationwide campaign to eliminate illegal set ups. While in Ghana the non-governmental organization Action for Rural Education (ARE) has initiated a one-year project known as Health Education Awareness and Literature (HEAL 11) to address HIV related issues. In Nigeria local media reported that environmentally sound management (ESM) practices in e-waste, i.e. Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE), is virtually absent.
South Africa: Zambia government has bemoaned the continued increase in deforestation in Eastern Province due to land encroachments into forest reserves.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: AU African ministers at the Conference of Africa Heads of States in Ethiopia agreed this week to demand US$67 billion per year from the global community in compensation for the effects of climate change. Also on the agenda was the coordination of a common African union position for the upcoming global summit on climate change, in Copenhagen. While malnutrition woes have arisen in Kenya beyond the WHO global acute malnutrition threshold. Also debate on the destruction of Mau Complex, one of the five water towers of Kenyan agri-economy, due to deforestation, has been highlighted.
Central Africa: Disease is threatening to devastate banana production, a staple, in 10 African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Also while antiretroviral therapy (ART) is giving hope for HIV-infected patients in Rwanda, it fails to reach many. A mutual health insurance scheme is under scrutiny in a bid to reduce poverty and improve the wellbeing of Cameroonians.
Political Economy
West Africa: Trouble is simmering in oil communities of Ghana for alleged exclusion of locals from the exploration activities. While the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria has recovered N25.5 billion from loan defaulters.
South Africa: Zimbabwe and South Africa have signed a four-year agreement to promote safe labour migration between the two countries.
Central Africa: In Uganda 2 billion barrels of oil has been confirmed with expectations of increase with continued exploration. However a commission to study renewable energy sources has also been set up to find long lasting solutions to the energy deficit. While in Tanzania two giant coal projects are expected to inject 1,000mw into the national grid. Also Rwanda's only cement factory, Cimerwa is set to begin using peat, a coal-like fossil fuel, for energy production.
In the mean while Rwandan exporters struggle to meet criteria for African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) products under speculations that Africa still takes too little advantage of the trade facility.
ur.National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) said that the violence in Niger Delta would not stop in spite of the President’s amnesty package. He proclaimed democratic leadership as the only viable option.
South Africa: In South Africa, Home Affairs plans to launch induction for asylum seekers. While camp dwelling IDP victims of the 2007 post-election violence vowed to boycott the count, accusing the South African government of neglect. In the mean while the constitution-making process has ground to a halt because of disagreements, infighting and a lack of funds in Zimbabwe.
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, current chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), was scheduled to make his first state visit to Zimbabwe on 27 August 2009.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: The International Criminal Court has begun preparations for trials on Kenya's post election violence as efforts towards a local tribunal are frustrated by political wrangles.
While in Tanzania despite the government’s warnings for the Muslim leaders against issuing a document similar to the controversial Catholic booklet containing guidelines on how to choose leaders in next year's General Election, a group of Imams is expected to launch one soon. The Muslim Council of Tanzania however has distanced itself from the said document.
Djibouti and Nigeria are expected to send peacekeepers to Somalia according to state officials. Mozambican President Armando Guebuza recently met four main political actors in Madagascar, the self-proclaimed President, Andry Rajoelina, the deposed President Marc Ravalomanana and former Heads of State Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy. The meeting was a second round of negotiations with formation of a transitional government on the agenda.
The Islamic administration officials of Hisbul Islam in Somalia have joined the Islamic administration of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen in the region according to reports. While four people were killed in the Somali capital Mogadishu after insurgents attacked an important government checkpoint.
Central Africa: Civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to flee Ugandan rebel attacks under the Lord’s Resistance Army.
The United Nations is considering revising the mandate of its peacekeeping forces in the DRC and Southern Sudan to join the hunt for LRA leader Joseph Kony. While a mutiny over pay, by a section of the army in the eastern DRC is heightening fear, say officials, as farther north an escalation in attacks by LRA rebels has prompted large-scale displacement.
Gabon has gone to the polls to elect a new president nearly three months after the death of President Omar Bongo Ondimba at the age of 73.
Human Rights and Social Issues in Domestic Politics
West Africa: The Executive Director of the Rescue Alternative Liberia (RAL), shared that consultative meetings were to be held to draft an anti torture bill under the country's criminal justice system. Mean while in Sierra Leon custom has been slow to yield to the new inheritance law providing aid for disadvantaged widows and orphans.
According to the research group Open Society Initiative for West Africa some of the highest-ranking teachers of Islam, known as marabouts, are responsible for trafficking children through Niger to neighboring countries to beg. Also the Nigerian state government recently evacuated over 3,000 members of an Islamic group who had over the years isolated themselves in Mokwa town. The move was amid apprehensions following recent upheavals by Boko Haram in the north last month.
South Africa: China is building an agricultural research centre near Maputo in Mozambique, expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2010. The centre will boast agricultural laboratories and crop-testing areas, and will also undertake aquaculture research. While the Zambia Widows Network Association (ZAWNA) has said that most people in the country are ignorant about their legal rights, and continued to suffer injustices.
Malawi's president, Bingu wa Mutharika, has come under severe pressure from civil society groups demanding he scrap a newly-passed bill allowing 16 year olds to marry, in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
East Africa/Horn of Africa: According to research presented at the Forum for the Study of Foreign Policy program in Ethiopia African countries benefit more from relations with China and India then with the west. While the 2nd annual U.S. Africa Command Academic Symposium came to an end recently where academics from Africa, Europe and the United States had come together to enhance their understanding of Africa Command and offer input on how best to support peace and stability in Africa.
Ugandan Muslim intellectuals want the role of the Mufti removed from day-to-day management of Muslim affairs to strictly spiritual functions. This was in lieu of Mufti Ramadhan Mubajje’s involvement in a property wrangle that has left the Muslim community divided into two factions. Also the Uganda Muslim Teachers Association (UMTA) revealed that they have asked government to remove all non-Muslim head teachers from Muslim-founded schools.
The African Union (AU) commission on human and peoples' rights has warned Uganda government against torturing suspects. In the mean while IRIN revealed that several thousand IDPs are facing a food crisis in Somalia where food deliveries have been halted to the town of Jowhar.
Central Africa: With a view of enhancing the country's science and technology human resource base, the Student's Financing Agency of Rwanda (SFAR) in partnership with Chinese and US universities have sponsored 61 students to upgrade their studies.
A Cameroon government human rights commission said that rights violations in prisons persists in the face of authorities' "indifference". In the mean while the controversy surrounding the encroachment of Gishwati forest in Rwanda has taken a new twist with 289 families facing immediate eviction. The government is being accused of persecuting the poor and showing partiality towards the rich.
Health, Environment and Domestic Politics
West Africa: The Burkina Faso government has shut down more than 20 health clinics in a nationwide campaign to eliminate illegal set ups. While in Ghana the non-governmental organization Action for Rural Education (ARE) has initiated a one-year project known as Health Education Awareness and Literature (HEAL 11) to address HIV related issues. In Nigeria local media reported that environmentally sound management (ESM) practices in e-waste, i.e. Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE), is virtually absent.
South Africa: Zambia government has bemoaned the continued increase in deforestation in Eastern Province due to land encroachments into forest reserves.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: AU African ministers at the Conference of Africa Heads of States in Ethiopia agreed this week to demand US$67 billion per year from the global community in compensation for the effects of climate change. Also on the agenda was the coordination of a common African union position for the upcoming global summit on climate change, in Copenhagen. While malnutrition woes have arisen in Kenya beyond the WHO global acute malnutrition threshold. Also debate on the destruction of Mau Complex, one of the five water towers of Kenyan agri-economy, due to deforestation, has been highlighted.
Central Africa: Disease is threatening to devastate banana production, a staple, in 10 African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Also while antiretroviral therapy (ART) is giving hope for HIV-infected patients in Rwanda, it fails to reach many. A mutual health insurance scheme is under scrutiny in a bid to reduce poverty and improve the wellbeing of Cameroonians.
Political Economy
West Africa: Trouble is simmering in oil communities of Ghana for alleged exclusion of locals from the exploration activities. While the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria has recovered N25.5 billion from loan defaulters.
South Africa: Zimbabwe and South Africa have signed a four-year agreement to promote safe labour migration between the two countries.
Central Africa: In Uganda 2 billion barrels of oil has been confirmed with expectations of increase with continued exploration. However a commission to study renewable energy sources has also been set up to find long lasting solutions to the energy deficit. While in Tanzania two giant coal projects are expected to inject 1,000mw into the national grid. Also Rwanda's only cement factory, Cimerwa is set to begin using peat, a coal-like fossil fuel, for energy production.
In the mean while Rwandan exporters struggle to meet criteria for African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) products under speculations that Africa still takes too little advantage of the trade facility.
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Business and Politics in the Muslim World (BPM)refers to the project entitled, "Globalized Business and Politics: A View from the Muslim World.' This project has been undertaken and developed by the Gilani Research Foundation as a free resource and social discussion tool.
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