Zone 2- Africa: Microscopic Analysis, 'The Universal Democratic Value system- Madagascar, a case in point’, W # 92

Week # 92, Dated 1st - 7th Nov. 09’

Democratic domestic governance has become a global constitutive norm. The fully socialized ‘normal’ state in international society is now expected either already to be democratic or embarked upon a democratization trajectory. Scholarly scrutiny has further contributed to legitimize the process and reinforce the widespread belief that democracy is the natural end point of a ‘normal’ course of political development.[1]
Democracy and democratization has become a part of the mainstream of global dialogue and International and regional bodies reinstate this norm by projecting influence in a globalized world. The Security Council last week welcomed the power-sharing agreement reached by Madagascar's current and former leaders. The four past and present leaders - Andry Rajoelina, Marc Ravalomanana, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy - struck a deal following talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 6th November.
Madagascar's political rivals have now agreed on posts within a transitional government that will hold power until next year's elections following a power struggle that brought months of volatility to the country. Andry Rajoelina will remain head of state, joined by two co-presidents representing other political factions on the island.
Rajoelina, a 35-year-old former DJ, was mayor of Madagascar's capital of Antananarivo when he overthrew democratically elected President Marc Ravalomanana in March after winning support from the military. The widely denounced takeover followed weeks of protests that claimed dozens of lives. African and Western nations called Rajoelina's takeover a coup, and the African Union and the Southern African Development Community suspended Madagascar's membership.
Mediators helped forge a power-sharing agreement in August but Rajoelina drew criticism for unilaterally forming a new government in September, violating an accord that demanded that all parties agree on appointments. His actions sparked demonstrations by supporters of the deposed former president demanding his return. With the latest power sharing deal in place elections are to be held by November 2010.
According to the AU the regional body would not re-admit Madagascar until the newly agreed power-sharing government is in place and fresh elections in the pipeline.
UN Secretary General Mr. Ban"s spokesperson said the UN would continue to support Madagascar "through the transition and beyond," led by former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano, who has been working with the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the International Organization of the Francophonie to mediate a solution to the political tensions. The Council further affirmed its support for the efforts of the United Nations in the process, including an election consultation team which was sent last week.
Analysts say the deal will allow donors who suspended aid worth hundreds of millions of dollars to resume work with Madagascar without flouting their own democratic ideals. However, some diplomatic sources have said their governments will await the holding of free and fair elections before fully reinstating aid.
This case in point demonstrates how the democratic principle has been established as a universal norm and usually transcends the sovereign bounds of states. It is widely accepted as a value system similar to a moral set of ideals and is stepping up to assume the same status as perhaps genocide prevention and humanitarian intervention.
Even where some literature, especially in the Chinese academia is raising the debate to counter its infallibility, the concept’s strong hold on international imagination surfaces in diplomatic language. Even though in Madagascar’s case international bodies may not be proactively interfering on the domestic front, nevertheless it is quite evident that international pressure propels national leaders along democratic lines.

Discussion Questions:

§ Would you agree that democratic principles have acquired the same standing as genocide prevention or humanitarian intervention?

§ Does diplomatic language over simplify the concept of democracy?

Sources/ Related links
§ International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 51, No. 3, Sept 07’, ‘Envisioning China’s Political Future: Elite Responses to Democracy as a Global Constitutive Norm’, by David C. Lynch
§ http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hfV75EHUookBtBk2OlprGZBpDTzgD9BQPN4G0
§ http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/11/07/world/international-uk-madagascar-crisis.html
§ http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Rest+of+the+World&month=November2009&file=World_News200911081213.xml
§ http://allafrica.com/stories/200911160266.html
§ http://allafrica.com/stories/200911180006.html
§ http://www.un.org/democracyfund/XSituatingDemocracy.htm

[1] International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 51, No. 3, Sept 07’, ‘Envisioning China’s Political Future: Elite Responses to Democracy as a Global Constitutive Norm’, by David C. Lynch
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Zone 2- Africa: Telescopic Analysis-'Addressing the IDP Crisis in Africa- Kampala Summit' W # 92

Week # 92, Dated 1st - 7th Nov. 09’

An African Union Special Summit held on 22 and 23 October 2009, in Entebbe, Uganda, adopted the ‘African Union Convention on the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa’, also known as the ‘Kampala Convention’. It is the first legally binding international instrument on IDPs with a continental scope, which commits African States to prevent displacement and protect and assist internally displaced persons.
A UNHCR statement issued in advance of the summit pointed to the global shift in recent years away from a focus on refugees, and to the more complex issue of people displaced within their own country. Where refugee populations have declined in recent years, internal displacement continues to rise and the number of people uprooted from their homes is mounting. Experts say the displacement is aggravating social upheavals, wars and food shortages in many parts of the continent.

Out of Africa’s total 17-million refugees, returnees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) the continent hosts at least 13 million of the world's estimated 25 million IDPs who vastly outnumber refugees. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Sudan (4 million), the Democratic Republic of Congo (2.12 million) and Somalia (1.55 million) head the list of IDPs.

The causes of displacement vary, according to the AU, but are largely homegrown and exacerbated by extreme poverty, underdevelopment and lack of opportunities as well as natural disasters. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) Climate change has also increased the frequency and intensity of natural hazards in Africa. There is no agency with a mandate to protect and assist IDPs - unlike refugees, who fall under the UNHCR. While they make up almost two-thirds of global populations seeking safety from armed conflict and violence, they have fewer rights than refugees.
The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement restate and compile existing international human rights and humanitarian law and attempt to clarify grey areas and gaps in the various instruments pertinent to IDPs. 17 African Union member states signed the agreement, namely, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, (Disputed) Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
However According to the UNHCR and the AU Commission, African leaders are reluctant to end poor governance, abuse of human rights and conflicts that have displaced millions of people. Poor attendance by politicians at the AU’s special Summit has cast doubts on the commitment of African leaders to end the refugee and IDPs crisis. No Head of State of any of the countries worst hit by the crises attended the Kampala Summit including Rwanda, Burundi, the DR Congo and Sudan.
Over the years, the AU has developed various initiatives, including deployment of peace support operations, appointment of special envoys and special representatives and mobilizing international support for post-conflict reconstruction. In some cases, regional blocks have intervened to prevent, de-escalate and resolve conflicts - including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote d'Ivoire; the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in southern Africa; and the Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Sudan's north-south conflict. In addition, various instruments exist that offer protection to the displaced, such as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Specifically focusing on displaced persons, the Kampala declaration agrees to, among other things, enable IDPs find durable solutions by promoting and creating conducive conditions for voluntary return, local integration or settlement elsewhere in the circumstances of safety and dignity and to ensure access to primary, secondary and post-secondary education, and other training for all children, including refugee and internally displaced children as well as access to informal and adult education
Despite a landmark convention having been adopted, critics say implementation will be difficult unless politicians join in. The charter is a legal instrument that spells out a number of obligations that countries should honor. The AU Commission, however, says it will promote the charter through civil society and national parliaments. The establishment of a code to protect IDPs under international law would ensure provision of humanitarian assistance and rule out arbitrary displacement of people. The debate also centered on ending support to armed groups, and to holding them responsible for the refugee and IDPs crisis, a provision that several countries objected to.
The African Union (AU) is now in advanced stages of establishing an African Standby Force whose mandate will include assisting people after natural disasters, peacekeeping, protection of the vulnerable, and implementation of peace agreements. The force made up of soldiers from the national armies of AU member countries will consist of 25,000 soldiers and will be fully operational in June 2010.
The Kampala summit was described by Zambian President Rupiah Banda as “a distinct success”. The signing of the convention brings to an end the process of negotiation that started in 2006. Seventeen countries have signed the convention but for the legally binding document to come into force, it has to be ratified by 15 of the AU's 53 member states.
In spite of the euphoria of its adoption, officials and analysts remain skeptical given the backdrop of a rather unsatisfactory record of ratifications, and implementation of obligations under such instruments, by African States.

Discussion Question:
Would you agree that the Kampala Summit has been a ‘Distinct Success’ despite critics’ apprehensions?

Sources/Related Links:
http://www.achpr.org/english/Press%20Release/KAMPALA%20CONVENTION_IDPs.pdf
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=86762
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4803&Itemid=366
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-20-voa36.cfm
http://allafrica.com/stories/200910190677.html
http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5690:editorial-do-african-leaders-care-about-idps-and-refugees&catid=35:editorial&Itemid=61
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/-/2558/676822/-/qxo0kcz http://www.independent.co.ug/index.php/news/news-analysis/79-news-analysis/2045-african-leaders-tackle-plight-of-their-victims http://www.internal-displacement.org/

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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.' The blog development project has been undertaken and jointly developed by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.
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Zone 2- Summary on Africa, Week # 92

Week # 92- Dated 1st - 7th Nov., 2009

POLITICS OF SECURITY AND CONFLICT ISSUES

West Africa: A coalition of Guinean opposition leaders has presented President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso, the mediator named by the 16-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a set of proposals they believe will end the political crisis precipitated by a military takeover last December. In the meanwhile Nigeria's plan to give Niger Delta residents a slice of the national energy company is expected to be a major deterrent to militancy in the oil-producing region.
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who is being tried by the UN-back court for Sierra Leone in The Hague for crimes he allegedly committed in the neighboring country, has confessed to sending fighters to help rebels inflict mayhem on civilians during the 11-year war. He further accused Britain of transporting arms to Sierra Leone in violation of a United Nations arms embargo on the country, and also denied widespread press and investigative reports that Al Qaeda traded diamonds with Sierra Leonean rebels under his supervision in Liberia.
South Africa: Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika is likely to take over African Union chairmanship from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi next January according to African Union sources.
Also Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) ended its boycott of the new unity government, last week but has give President Robert Mugabe a month to fully implement a power- sharing deal.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: With this month's (October) transition from non- extendable five (5) years' term of Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to two (2) years' term of Transitional Federal Unity Government (TFUG), Somalia is now under the authority of United Nations Transitional Administration -Neo-Trusteeship. Meanwhile the East African Community (EAC) Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Beatrice Kiraso, has called on politicians to embrace the idea of having foreign policies harmonized among EAC partner states.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a power-sharing agreement reached by Madagascar’s current and former leaders bringing an end to months of political wrangling. Also the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur has participated in a reconciliation ceremony in the north of the region aimed at halting a spate of recent inter-tribal clashes that have killed at least two dozen people.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES IN DOMESTIC POLITICS

West Africa: Over 100 newspaper and magazine publishers and broadcasting chiefs from 48 African countries attended a two-day African Media Leaders Forum (AMFL) in Lagos that called upon media organizations to embrace the digital revolution.
Meanwhile in Nigeria the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) is expected to commence a massive voter enlightenment to sensitize Nigerians on the need to defend their votes in subsequent elections.
South Africa: Botswana has been ranked the most peaceful nation in Sub-Saharan Africa followed by Malawi during a Global Symposium of Peaceful Nations in Washington DC.
Meanwhile more than 500 Congolese refugees have been repatriated to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from Zambia, bringing the total number of refugees that have left the country since May to 15, 660. Also at least 2,250 tents and other non-eatable goods are to be supplied by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with the purpose of helping to alleviate the situation of Angolans who came from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: Muslim and Christian leaders meeting in Mombassa last week failed to break an impasse over the inclusion of kadhi courts in a new constitution. Also in Kenya an audit report of the IDP fund indicates that high ranking government official flouted the rules in disbursing the IDP funds leading to a loss of nearly Sh200 million. Meanwhile the Eastern African Commissioners on human rights met in Rwanda to discuss measures aimed at enhancing human rights in the region.
Somalia's insurgent group Al-Shabaab has banned the UN World Food Program from distributing humanitarian foodstuffs bearing the US flag in the southern region.
Central Africa: Reportedly a total of 63,441 Rwandans are still living as refugees in twelve countries on the African continent. Also at least 16,000 civilians have fled deadly clashes in western Democratic Republic of Congo and are now languishing in neighboring Republic of Congo, according to the UN and local officials.

HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND DOMESTIC POLITICS

West Africa: United Nations climate talks resumed last week in Barcelona after African nations agreed to return to the table negotiating emissions targets for 37 industrialized countries.

A pivotal efficacy trial of RTSS, the world's most clinically advanced malaria vaccine candidate, is now underway in seven African countries: Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. Also officials from the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) are at work in Cape Verde to help local authorities battle the country's first reported epidemic of dengue fever.
Severe erosion over many years in Anambra, southeastern Nigeria, has cut off or destroyed hundreds of homes, businesses, farms and schools, prompting the governor to call for a state of emergency in the area where he says thousands of people now risk being displaced.
South Africa: As the world prepares for the historic climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark in December a group of eminent global leaders brought together by former South African president, Nelson Mandela, have put their weight behind seeking a credible and decisive strategy for environmental protection.
In the meanwhile the international medical and humanitarian organization, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned that wavering international support for HIV/AIDS efforts is resulting in funding shortfalls that could wipe out a decade of progress in rolling out AIDS treatment.
Zimbabwe's major pharmaceutical companies are facing collapse owing to the influx of cheap donor drugs.
Mozambique is to become the latest country to receive assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat to prepare a claim for additional areas of seabed.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: The world's largest malaria conference was convened in Kenya last week with a call for substantial and sustained support for research to guide evidence-based policies and the development of new malaria tools. Meanwhile the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) in Uganda has ordered the immediate closure of Leather Industries Uganda Ltd, for alleged failure to adhere to the authority's guidelines.

POLITICAL ECONOMY

West Africa: Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has stated that there is no going back on the planned deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.
Meanwhile Ghana stands the risk of being blacklisted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) if the country adopts a financial regime characteristic of a tax haven.
South Africa: In a move with damaging implications for investment, Zimbabwe plans to grab a 51% stake in foreign-owned firms within 60 days of the gazetting of the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act regulations. While in Namibia the Erongo region has been experiencing a uranium boom due to increases in the price of uranium over the past few years.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: Trade within the East African Community has reportedly grown by over 49% since the commencement of the East African Customs Union in 2005.

NORTH AFRICA

The Egyptian government has expressed its readiness to cooperate with other eight countries under Nile Basin to resolve their disagreements on the usage and access of River Nile water.
Meanwhile a giant solar energy project in the Sahara Desert sponsored by Germany's main power companies and expected to provide Europe with 15% of its electricity needs, has commenced.
Morocco has expelled a Swedish diplomat, accused of delivering Moroccan state documents to "separatists" from Western Sahara. Meanwhile the party congress of the Swedish Social Democratic Party has demanded that Sweden recognize Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara becoming the first country in Europe to do so.
Tunisia was ranked respectively first in North Africa, third in the Arab world and fourth in Africa by the 2009 edition of the UK based Legatum Prosperity Index.
Algerian authorities have signed a framework agreement with Great Britain in the defense sector to formalize and legalize relations between the two countries.

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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.' The blog development project has been undertaken and jointly developed by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.

Zone 2- Summary on Africa, week # 91

Dated 25th - 31st October, 2009

POLITICS OF SECURITY AND CONFLICT ISSUES

West Africa: The Peace and Security Council of the African Union has called for the setting up of a Hybrid Court to address the issues of impunity and the state protection of those suspected of committing crimes against humanity in Darfur. Also the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) has upheld the convictions and sentences passed on three former leaders of the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) convicted earlier this year for atrocities committed during Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed cautious optimism over the progress of democracy in Guinea Bissau, where a series of political assassinations earlier this year threatened stability in the impoverished West African country.
South Africa: At least 67,000 firearms have been collected countrywide, as part of the process of disarmament in Angola.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: In Uganda president Yoweri Museveni has met Buganda district chairpersons to discuss the controversial Land Bill 2007, the regional tier system of governance and the recent riots that rocked the region for three days.
BBC reports that Southern Sudan leader Salva Kiir has made his strongest call for full independence when the region's status is decided at a referendum due in 2011. Also at least 10 people have been killed in a new round of inter-tribal clashes in Darfur, Sudan.
In the meanwhile in Kenya Treasury last week gave a breakdown of how billions of shillings meant for resettlement of internally displaced people, was shared out to the respective ministries now under investigation for alleged embezzlement.
While in Somalia the officials of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen officials have set condition for any peace and reconciliation conference held for the rival Somali people who are fighting in the country. Also an airplane transporting Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed was targeted by insurgent mortars last week.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES IN DOMESTIC POLITICS

West Africa: According to the Human Rights Watch the September 28, 2009 violence at a peaceful rally in Conakry, Guinea was organized and was committed largely by the elite Presidential Guard, commonly known as the "red berets".
400 returnees from the ceded Bakassi Peninsula arriving in Nigeria have reported inhumane treatment from the Cameroonian gendarmes.
In the meanwhile the accused former president Charles Taylor told the Special Court for Sierra Leone at The Hague that he did not plan any operations with Sierra Leonean rebels during the country's 11-year civil conflict.
South Africa: Within days of the party "disengaging" from Zimbabwe's unity government, violence and intimidation against the members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) increased sharply, an MDC spokesman told IRIN.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: Representatives of the National Human Rights commissions from the five EAC states, meeting in Kigali, have resolved to form a regional body that will oversee human rights issues within the region.
While in Uganda an estimated total of 1.7 million children are engaged in child labour revealed the executive director for Platform for Labour Action (PLA).
Central Africa: A Canadian court has sentenced Désiré Munyaneza, 42, to life in prison for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In the meanwhile ending one of the world's longest-running refugee sagas, as the last group of some 400 Burundians left Tanzania last week returning to the Central African homeland they escaped in 1972. United Nations agencies are preparing to airlift emergency response teams to help scores of Angolans expelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as each country continues to drive out its neighbor’s nationals.
Numerous human rights organizations continue to protest for the release of the jailed Cameroonian musician Lapiro de Mbanga sentenced to three years in prison last year for supposedly instigating a riot by his song "Constipated Constitution”.

HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND DOMESTIC POLITICS

West Africa: Sokoto State government in Nigeria claimed to achieve a state free from various child killer diseases before the first quarter of 2010. Also in Nigeria the Senate has urged the Federal Government to immediately produce a National Drought Policy based on preparedness to reduce the need of emergency relief. In the meanwhile an agreement was signed between the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Karkara Rapid Development Limited (KRD) for the establishment of the Abuja waste-to energy facility in Nigeria last week.
A United Nations project in Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal is seeking to protect West African Coastline from erosion.
South Africa: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations announced this week that it has begun technical consultations on international guidelines aimed at ensuring that tenure to land and other natural resources such as water, fish stocks and forests is properly governed. Also at the Kampala Convention, a ground-breaking treaty adopted by the African Union (AU), promises to protect and assist millions of Africans displaced within their own countries.
According to experts Malawi's successful use of a tuberculosis (TB) treatment system to scale up antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV could improve chronic disease management. In the meanwhile South African President Jacob Zuma wants to use this year's World AIDS Day to mark the beginning of a massive mobilization campaign by the government against HIV and AIDS.
Coastal erosion, threatening to engulf Maputo's beaches over the next 10-50 years, is the subject of a photographic exhibition to be held in the Mozambican capital.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: In Kenya More than 200,000 people in the Coast are expected to be marooned by floods if the current rains persist. Also Flash floods caused by four days of torrential rains have displaced more than 15,000 people in Somalia near the Kenyan border.
In the meanwhile Bio-Waste Management (U) Ltd has set in motion a project that will see Uganda get its first Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facility.
Central Africa: In Chad WHO reported the start of a three-day nationwide polio vaccination campaign on 30 October. While in Rwanda the Government claims that its efforts to curb the spread of the contagious Influenza H1N1 have paid off with overall decline in Swine Flu infections.

POLITICAL ECONOMY

West Africa: China and the U.S. clash over Ghana's oil, vying for Kosmos Energy's stake in the country’s Jubilee Field. The clash of interests comes in the wake of a reported global decline of oil production. Also despite Civil society activists and organizations having reservations about Ghana’s dealings with the Bretton Woods institutions, the government has announced its intentions to continue engaging with World Bank and IMF.
In the meanwhile under a bilateral trade agreement to deepen Nigerian-German business relationship, Germany has offered to help stop gas flaring in the country in exchange for a greater access to Nigeria's gas reserves.
South Africa: South Africa's trade balance notched up an unexpected surplus of R3.9bn in September, the biggest in nearly six years according to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). In the meanwhile Angola's 2010 budget has increased spending of 50% compared to the previous year, flagging good news for investors dependent on government infrastructure contracts.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: Intra-regional trade within the East African Community region has grown by 49 % in the last five years that the Customs Union has been in force.
Central Africa: A French Appeal Court in Paris last week rejected the demand of the Transparency International (TI) organization for leave to open a probe in France into the estates of three African heads of state– Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea and the late Omar Bongo of Gabon – reportedly having assets in France totaling 160 million euros.
While in Rwanda unstable food prices have pushed inflation to 5.7 % this month.

NORTH AFRICA

The African Union (AU) mission of observers to the presidential and legislative elections in Tunisia termed proceedings as calm and orderly. Tunisian president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, secured a fifth term after winning 89.62 % of the votes in the 2009 presidential election.
South Africa is to assist Libya revive commercial agriculture in the oil-rich North African country which imports about 75% of its food. While a potentially serious infestation of desert locusts has broken out in Mauritania, but experts are hopeful that quickly implemented countermeasures will prevent a repeat of the plague that hit the region five years ago.
In the meanwhile US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is expected to attend the sixth Forum for the Future scheduled for November in Morocco.

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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.' The blog development project has been undertaken and jointly developed by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.

Zonal Summary on Africa for week # 90

Dated 18th -24th Oct, 2009

POLITICS OF SECURITY AND CONFLICT ISSUES

West Africa: In its second Africa Governance report, the UN Economic Commission for Africa noted several countries making progress on the political inclusion and promotion of multiparty democracy, while Ghana has been quoted as an example of good governance in West Africa.
A Pakistani general, Lieutenant General Sikander Afzal, a veteran of the United Nations quick reaction force in Somalia is set to become the next military head of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
As part of the post-amnesty arrangements in Nigeria the New Partnership for Africa's Development NEPAD is to reintegrate 15,000 youths. Also the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has finally declared an "indefinite ceasefire" following President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's meeting with one of its former leaders, Mr. Henry Okah. In the meanwhile a group of repentant militant leaders issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government, warning a return to the creeks, if the induced division among their ranks was not stopped.
In the meanwhile Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) granted Guinea Bissau $3.5 Million to Pay Soldier’s Salaries to maintain stability in the region.
South Africa: President Robert Mugabe has shrugged off the former opposition's boycott of Zimbabwe's unity government, saying he would not yield to pressure to make concessions
East Africa/Horn of Africa: Sheik Mohamed Mo'allin, a secretary for the information affairs of Hizbul Islam, a Somali faction has denounced the AU troops for the heavy shelling in Mogadishu. In the meanwhile Ethiopian troops who arrived in parts of central Somalia in August have reportedly withdrawn from their bases. Also Security has been beefed up in a Kampala suburb with a big Somali population, following threats by the al Shabaab Islamists to attack the region.
Peacekeepers serving with the joint United Nations-African Union mission in Sudan's war-wracked Darfur region have intervened in deadly tribal clashes, bringing the situation under control. The peacekeeping mission also voiced grave concern over a significant surge in the number of Government and rebel troops in the war-ravaged western region. The new policy on Sudan announced by the Obama administration has been welcomed after months of ambiguity in this very critical policy region.
Central Africa: Tutsi rebels integrated into the Congolese army have warned of a possible return to conflict. The warning comes nearly a year after a peace agreement was first signed.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES IN DOMESTIC POLITICS

West Africa: The United Nations human rights chief has welcomed a new treaty to protect and assist displaced populations in Africa, which accounts for nearly half of the world's 26 million (IDPs).
Nigeria amongst other African countries and the Organization of Islamic Countries, OIC, is proposing a bill on "defamation of religion”, that human rights organizations have described as potentially dangerous. In the meanwhile students in Nigeria are demanding compensation for the educational standstill in three months of protest strikes.
Guinea's junta Chief Moussa Dadis Camara has postponed an announcement on whether he will stand for president, as a top UN diplomat arrived in the country to lead an international probe into the massacre of opposition supporters last month. Also Reporters without Borders have condemned the latest disturbing escalation in the Guinean military’s clampdown on reporters on their arrival at Conakry international airport.
South Africa: In Namibia a large crowd marched last week to protest for the right to choose, and to show solidarity for 15 women who were allegedly sterilized against their will. Court proceedings against the Government commenced last week as well.
The South African cabinet has expressed "strong displeasure" at the decision by University of the Free State vice-chancellor Prof Jonathan Jansen to drop the internal charges against four white students who humiliated black workers at the university.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: Muslims have been ordered by Kenya’s Sheikh Mohammed Dor to withdraw their children from Catholic-run schools in protest at the church's Hijab ban. Also as debate continues over the same-sex marriage of two Kenyan men in London, the team writing a new constitution in Kenya ruled out enshrining the rights of homosexuals. Similarly in Uganda some rights activists have described a proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill as a violation of human rights and have called for its immediate withdrawal. While according to officials a total of 7,538 children in Uganda have been rescued from forced labour and returned to school.
Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over crimes against humanity did not attend the AU summit on refugees, returnees and IDPs in Kampala last week, hence sparing Uganda, a signatory to the Rome Statute, international embarrassment at the refusal to hand over an ICC suspect.
The refugee situation in East Africa has reached alarming levels and the United Nations is urging member countries to adopt the Tanzanian formula of integration. Even though there is no armed conflict in East Africa at the moment, there are about 880,000 refugees and IDPs in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
Central Africa: According to officials remains of victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, have been discovered buried in the Kagera region in Tanzania.
Also IRIN reported a burgeoning humanitarian crisis among the tens of thousands of people expelled by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to neighboring Angola.

HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND DOMESTIC POLITICS

West Africa: The government of Ghana is to spearhead a strong African voice at the Copenhagen talks on climate change at the end of this year, for which African leaders have drawn up a $65 billion dollar budget demand to deal with the effects of environment change.
Malaria Consortium, a non-profit organization has been appointed to help implement a new USAID net distribution project worth up to $110 million across Africa. Fresh outbreak of Cholera has been reported in Nigeria, a region ravaged by the disease for the last 2 months.
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) has accepted responsibility over cyanide spillage and has promised to review its operating procedures. Also Studies carried out by the Ministry of Environment in Nigeria have revealed that out of half a million used computers comprising e-waste that come into the country every month, 45 % come from America.
South Africa: It was revealed at the International AIDS Vaccine conference that further research on the world's only vaccine to show some protection against HIV may be conducted in South Africa. This vaccine was developed in Thailand.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: The Kenyan Government has been asked to curb the high rate of cancer-related deaths attributed to an acute shortage of public early diagnosis centers. While an outbreak of cholera in northern Tanzania continues to spread. A draft bill seeking to provide compulsory insurance against health risks has been passed in Rwanda; also the government has unveiled e-health programmers in charge of developing and implementing Open Medical Record System (OpenMRS). Moreover the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) is currently finalizing a law governing the exploitation of wetlands in the country.
Oil tests by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have shown unacceptable levels of heavy metals in the waste water and mud cuttings left behind by exploration activities. Ethiopia needs an additional $175 million this year to help feed 6.2 million people (8% of the population) ravaged by prolonged drought and crop failure.
Uganda is not rushing to build a nuclear power plant, it has been announced. Sources privy to the matter said the country will wait until its human resource capacity, legal and regulatory framework as well as financial obligations have been strengthened.
Central Africa: Heavy rains have destroyed 214 homes, leaving about 1,070 people without shelter in Burundi.

POLITICAL ECONOMY

West Africa: The European Commission commitments to West Africa on Aid for Trade are expected to reach 8.5 billion Euros. In the meanwhile Telecommunications investment in Nigeria since 2001 has hit an $18 billion mark, while controversy continues to trail the Federal Government's proposed plan to fully deregulate the downstream sector of the nation's petroleum industry for fear of increased poverty rates in the country. Also the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria has hired foreign forensic analysts to help trace over one trillion naira allegedly looted from various Nigerian banks.
South Africa: South Africa’s ferrochrome producers are calling for government support against their Chinese counterparts in another trade skirmish between the two countries. While International food giant Nestlé has this week come under growing pressure from groups loyal to Robert Mugabe to renew it’s recently severed commercial ties with the Zimbabwean First Family.
East Africa/Horn of Africa: The soon to be launched African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) is a platform that will facilitate mutual cooperation among African Tax Administrations and other relevant interested stakeholders with the aim of improving the efficiency of their tax legislation and administrations. In the meanwhile the signing of the long-awaited East African Community Common Market Protocol is scheduled for the 20th of Nov. this year.
Central Africa: South African farmers have gained access to an estimated 10 million hectares of arable land in the DRC following the signing of a deal.
The government of Rwanda is developing a Petroleum Exploration Policy to facilitate oil exploration in the country. Also a specially-adapted bank for small and medium-sized enterprises, (SMEs) is expected to go operational in Cameroon by mid 2010.

NORTH AFRICA:

In Tunisia President Ben Ali has won the 2009 Presidential Elections With 89.62 %. However repressive acts and tight controls on the election process tainted the integrity of the results. Nigerian solidarity movement with Western Sahara last week called on the federal government to condemn the political trial of about seven Saharawi activists by the Moroccan government. While the clashes between police and young people protesting poor housing conditions in Algiers earlier this week reflect growing efforts in recent weeks to stem public demonstrations by a government which, fearing terrorist threats, is determined to maintain a grip on order.

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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.' The blog development project has been undertaken and jointly developed by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.