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 thre
e 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
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 thre
e 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.
_______________________________________________________
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.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment