Zone 2- Africa Summary, week # 125

Week # 125, Dated 20-26^th June, 2010

POLITICS OF SECURITY AND CONFLICT ISSUES

West Africa: Angolan President made an historic visit to Ghana. The visit of President Dos Santos was his first state visit to Ghana in close to three decades of his administration.

Ghana’s President John Evans Atta Mills, last week met with Vice President of South Africa, Kgalema Mothlanthe, in Pretoria in a closed door session to discuss matters pertaining to the growth path of the African Union (AU), preceding the Union’s summit in Kampala, Uganda between the 24th and 27th of July, 2010.

The Prime Minister of Cameroon, Philemon Yang, on 22 June 2010 visited Commonwealth Headquarters in London and met Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma. During the meeting, the Secretary-General briefed Mr. Yang on current Commonwealth activities on promoting democracy and development among member countries.

Côte d'Ivoire's president has called for an official investigation into corruption allegations against one of his own ministers. President Laurent Gbagbo asked a state prosecutor last week to look into whether Interior Minister Désiré Tagro has been skimming state funds and funds intended for toxic waste victims into his personal account. The minister is also accused of peddling influence to get members of his ethnic group into the national police academy.

A court in Lome, Togo last week dissolved the OBUTS, an opposition party led by the former Prime Minister Messan Agbeyome Kodjo, for "violation of the Charter of political parties". The court acted upon complaints of officials of the party, who were either excluded or had resigned. The seven founding members who were either excluded or had resigned said following their departure, the party no longer had the quorum of two-thirds of national representation of the ethnic groups in the country.

African Union (AU) has said it was satisfied with steps taken to hold Guinea's first presidential elections on June 27 to restore civilian rule. The statement followed the signing into law of a new constitution and the electoral law. The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU said the signing into law of a new constitution and the electoral law meant that the return to civilian rule in the West African nation was final and irreversible.

During this recent Guinean election a new SMS texting campaign to allow Guineans to monitor their election and protect their votes was one of the ways the United States Embassy helped further that country's democratic electoral process. A runoff vote would be needed to determine who wins the mineral-rich West African nation's first free election since independence 52 years ago. Former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo garnered about nearly 40 % of vote in last week’s historic poll, well short of the simple majority needed to avoid a runoff.

Ghana and China last week signed a cultural agreement for the period 2010 to 2012 in Accra.

Central Africa: The former chief of staff of the Rwandan army and a leading critic of President Paul Kagame was shot in South Africa, where he lives in exile. He was taken to a Johannesburg hospital where he is undergoing surgery. Earlier this year, Rwandan officials accused Nyamwasa of conspiring with another former army officer against Mr. Kagame's government. Meanwhile the exiled editor of the Umuvugizi newspaper in Rwanda has alleged that Rwandan security killed acting editor Rugambage because the paper was investigating the shooting of Rwandan General Kayumba Nyamwasa in South Africa.

The sons of Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba say they will seek war crimes charges against 12 Belgians they accuse of being involved in their father's death, nearly 50 years ago. Lumumba was the first democratically-elected leader of Congo, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, after it won independence from Belgium in 1960. He was soon ousted in a coup by army chief Joseph-Desire Mobutu and murdered by officials in Katanga province in January 1961.

In Burundi all opposition parties pulled out of presidential election on 28 Jun, saying the ruling party used fraud to win local elections in May. Incidents of violence and opposition boycotts have cast a cloud over hopes for democratic reform.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES IN DOMESTIC POLITICS

West Africa: In Liberia the Sirleaf Administration, last week, beefed up measures already in place to reform the judicial system and increase the citizen’s access to justice as part of efforts to combat corruption and injustice. As part of the measures, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf dedicated two criminal courts designated Court A and Court B at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia, the home of the Liberian Judiciary. She also proposed the establishment of “Special Courts” and threatened to request legislation that would make corruption a “non-bail able offense” in case reform measures took longer than expected in taking roots.

In Ghana Mrs. Augustina Akumanyi, Deputy Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has said that the issue of fewer women participation in elections to occupy public offices had become worrisome.

Meanwhile Mrs. Janet Amegatcher, Director, Mind Freedom Ghana (MFG), a mental health non-governmental organization on Friday called on government to ratify the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

A Sierra Leonean business woman who helped in recruiting fighters to invade Sierra Leone in 1991 last week concluded her testimony as Charles Taylor’s 18th witness, telling Special Court for Sierra Leone judges about her support and loyalty to the Sierra Leonean rebel leader and denying prosecution claims that she was not only supportive and loyal to the Sierra Leonean rebels, but that same support and loyalty extended to Mr. Taylor and his Liberian rebel group.

Meanwhile Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRC-SL) has disclosed that the country is yet to submit a report to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR).

Togolese immigration officials at major entry points have commended Ghana for introducing biometric passports as a positive development to resolve problems associated with acquisition of Ghanaian passports.

Central Africa: In Congo-Kinshasa the inquiry into the killing of the human rights activist Floribert Chebeya is to be handed over to the army. The Chief Prosecutor in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Floribert Kabange said any suspects would now be brought before a military court.

Last week UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon named a high-profile committee including President Kagame as a co-chair, aimed at combating poverty, assessing and fast tracking implementation of Millennium Development Goals.

HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND DOMESTIC POLITICS

West Africa A Swiss based company that chartered a ship that allegedly dumped deadly waste in the Côte d’Ivoire could be fined two million euros. Seventeen people allegedly died after toxic residues on board the Probo Koala were shipped away from the Port of Amsterdam and redirected to Abidjan, where they were dumped on city waste tips. Meanwhile a new laboratory has been set up in the Ivorian port city of Abidjan to improve the monitoring of hazardous materials under a project backed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that aims to prevent a repeat of the notorious incident in which thousands of people were sickened by toxic waste.

Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says that although Liberia may not meet the deadline set for achieving the Millennium Development Goals in 2015, she is grateful to the World Bank and its partners for positively helping to alleviate poverty on the African continent.

Central Africa: The official death toll stands at 76 after a train accident last week in the Republic of Congo. The train was en route to the Congolese capital, Brazzaville, when it derailed and plunged into a narrow valley near the southern coastal city of Pointe-Noire.

POLITICAL ECONOMY

West Africa: Ghana’s Parliament last week endorsed a credit agreement between Ghana and the BNP Paribas of the United Kingdom for the supply, installation and operation of Vessels Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS).

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry last week hosted a delegation of 20 Ghanaian businessmen, as part of its efforts to reach out to the promising economies of Africa.

US carrier, United Airline began a direct flight from Washington D.C last week for Accra, Ghana. It is part of a strategy to use the African market to build on its strong emergence from the recent global economic downturn that hit the aviation industry.
Ghana’s Annual Producer Price Index (PPI) dropped by 0.77 % points in May, bringing the respective yearly change between May 2009 and May 2010 to 16.14, up from 16.90 %. Meanwhile the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) recorded a total of 257 investment projects with a total estimated value of 619.99 million dollars last year. Also available Statistics from the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) have revealed that revenue generated by the tourism sector in 2009 was 1,615.2 million dollars, compared to 1,403.1 million dollars obtained in 2008.

However Forbes Magazine issued a report on Ghana titled “Ghana Ranked 9th Worst Economy in the World”. It is believe that the report is being done with 2008 and 2009 as the reference years in which case, most of the data and information used have a lot of factual inaccuracies.

Ghanaian Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) last week launched a brief guide for civil society on oil and gas, which focuses on issues, challenges and prospects associated with the production of oil and gas in the country.

The ministry of finance and economic development has revealed that Sierra Leone will receive the first tranche of a three-year $45 million International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan in July to boost the nation's economy.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week completed its fourth review of Togo's economic performance under its Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement and approved an augmentation of access of US$16.2 million. With this augmentation, completion of the review allows Togo to access US$21.1 million immediately, bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to US$106.7 million.

In Sierra Leone oil marketing companies in the country have announced another increase in the pump prices of all petroleum products as government withholds all subsidies on the products with effect since June 21.

Central Africa: As global oil prices continue to fall, a top Rwanda government official revealed last week that the government departments and fuel dealers are set to meet this week to discuss whether pump prices should remain stable or decrease. In the past few weeks, a barrel of oil on the international market has fallen below $76 (Rwf44, 156) from $89 (Rwf51, 709) a barrel amid signs the U.S. economic recovery and demand for crude remains uneven. §

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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- Africa Summary, week # 124

Week # 124, Dated 13^th-19th June, 2010

POLITICS OF SECURITY AND CONFLICT ISSUES

West Africa: In Ghana the Electoral Commission is expected to register about 180,000 new voters during the 10-day Revision of the Voters Register in the Western Region. Meanwhile the Volta Regional Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and their Constituency Chairmen have disengaged themselves from a group purporting to propose former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings as a NDC flag bearer for the 2012 Election. In a statement released they deemed the proposal as premature and likely to create unnecessary tension and division within the party. They also reaffirmed the region's total ‘unflinching’ support for President John Evans Attah Mills towards actuating the "Better Ghana" agenda.

The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) reports that disarmament and demobilization of 600 former combatants has begun in the northern, rebel-held town of Korhogo.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) dispatched 200 Election Observers to Guinea Conakry where the presidential elections were held on June 27, 2010.

Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has said that although the nation may not meet the deadline set for achieving the Millennium Development Goals in 2015, she is grateful to the World Bank and its partners for positively helping to alleviate poverty on the African continent.

Central Africa: An official of Burundi’s national police has dismissed as “rumor” reports that security agents want to arrest Agathon Rwasa, leader of the main opposition National Forces of Liberation (FNL) party. But, Jean Bosco Habyarimana, spokesman of the FNL, said agents of the intelligence police in civilian clothes went to the opposition leader’s house, sealed it off and then attempted to enter it by force. This comes a day after leaders of a coalition of opposition parties called on their supporters to boycott the 28th June presidential election. Several opposition groups, including the FNL, pulled out of the upcoming presidential election after accusing the Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) of being biased towards incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza’s ruling CNDD-FDD party – a charge both the ruling party and CENI deny.

Meanwhile in Rwanda Lawmaker, Francis Kaboneka, has urged members of all religious groups to massively participate in the forthcoming presidential elections slated for August 9.

The top United Nations envoy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) paid tribute to a group of Senegalese blue helmets last week who were the first batch of peacekeepers to leave the country in line with the recent decision by the Security Council to alter the UN mission there. The Council last month agreed to transform the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC (MONUC) into a stabilization mission in the coming weeks, authorizing the withdrawal of up to 2,000 UN military personnel - from an existing strength of 19,815 - by 30 June from areas where security has improved enough to allow their removal. It also authorized the new operation, which will be known as the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), to stay in the country until 30 June 2011.

The Ugandan army says at least 10 of its soldiers were killed in the Central African Republic last month while chasing Lord's Resistance Army rebels. Ugandan newspapers report the army chief has ruled out an attack by the LRA, placing the blame instead on Sudanese militiamen. Ugandan forces have been pursuing LRA fighters across the CAR, southern Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo since December 2008.

Southern Africa: The former chief of staff of the Rwandan army and a leading critic of President Paul Kagame was shot and wounded last week in South Africa, where he lives in exile. His wife called the incident a Rwandan-backed assassination attempt, a charge the Kigali government dismissed as "preposterous."

According to a Zimbabwean political analyst, Zimbabweans appear cynical following the announcement that President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai initiated a joint drive to draft a new constitutionlast week. However, Rejoice Mgwenya predicted Zimbabweans will go to the polls to choose their leaders in a democratic vote after the constitution is finalized.

Meanwhile according to an official of Zambia’s National Constitutional Conference (NCC) the group will soon conclude an initial draft constitution ahead of next year’s general elections.

No individual or group in Swaziland has admitted responsibility for a spate of recent bombings against government and opposition party targets, but their actions are creating a sense of instability in the aid-dependent southern African state.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES IN DOMESTIC POLITICS

West Africa: Agents of National Security are investigating a case of cruelty on the high seas in which three Ivorian nationals are alleged to have been thrown into the ocean by the captain of a Chinese vessel. The incident happened in Ghanaian waters. One of the three stowaways drowned, while the other two were rescued by a Ghana Navy ship after 12 hours in the sea.

A Sierra Leonean woman who helped top Sierra Leonean rebels in recruiting and training fighters in Liberia, last week told Special Court for Sierra Leone that as far as she knew, Charles Taylor’s name was never mentioned as one of those helping to recruit and train rebels to invade Sierra Leone in 1991. The witness also told the court that West African peacekeepers and Guinean military officers were involved in trading diesel, and arms and ammunition with Sierra Leonean rebel commanders during the West African country’s 11 years civil war.

The World Food Program (WFP) says it is shutting down the UN humanitarian air service in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia due to lack of cash to continue with the operation. Ending the humanitarian air service will have terrible consequences for about one-quarter of a million people in West Africa who rely on the service for essential needs. The UN agency said the West African coastal service needs some $2.5 million to stay in operation until the end of the year.

Meanwhile Amnesty International has welcomed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's efforts to improve maternal health and his focus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in his visit to Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma while stressing that there should be no discrimination in the use of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) facilities and equipments, has commended the United Nations Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) for donating the sum of US$800,000 in addition to the US$2 million that the government provided to ensure the broadcaster covers the entire country.

Benin has made significant gains in reducing poverty and expanding primary education, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon observed on a visit to the West African nation, while pledging United Nations support for a range of challenges such as food security and the environment. The country's efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - eight targets to slash poverty, fight hunger and tackle other key social and economic problems by 2015 - were the focus of Mr. Ban's visit, part of a five-nation African tour.

Central Africa: With fighting in the Central African Republic displacing thousands of civilians, some people are setting up self-defense forces to protect their families. Civilians fleeing fighting in surrounding areas have doubled the population of the town of Obo, near the border with Congo and Sudan.

The United States, United Kingdom and France backed a demand last week in the United Nations Security Council for Kenya to cooperate in the hunt for a Rwanda genocide fugitive. The three donor states aligned themselves with charges by the UN's Rwanda Tribunal prosecutor that Kenya is withholding information on the whereabouts of the fugitive, Felicien Kabuga.

American defence lawyer, Peter Erlinder has immunity from prosecution as a defence lawyer at ICTR, but that applies only when he is in Rwanda on work related to the tribunal, the Arusha based court has emphasized. Meanwhile Erlinder, 62, has been granted bail due to medical issues, but will continue to face charges of Genocide denial and revisionism.

The coordinator of GCAP Rwanda said during the celebrations to mark this year's International Day of the African Child that the United Nations' Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) Rwanda is soon to embark on a campaign to provide education to vulnerable children.

Southern Africa: Nelson Mandela joined hundreds of mourners last week at the funeral of the former South African president's great-granddaughter who was killed in car crash last week.

Much to the frustration of gender activists, Swaziland's Supreme Court has reversed a February 2010 High Court ruling that allowed a married woman to register property in their own name.

Argentina has become the first team to virtually clinch a berth in the second round of the World Cup. Greece has won its first World Cup football match with a 2-1 decision against Nigeria that keeps the Greeks in contention. Mexico has defeated France 2-0, in the second match for each in the opening group stage of the South African World Cup.

HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND DOMESTIC POLITICS

Central Africa: An eight member delegation from UNITAID, an international organization dedicated to provision of affordable HIV/Aids therapy in developing countries arrived in Rwanda last week to assess progress in anti HIV programs. The President of UNITAID said the team will be assessing the achievements registered by institutions involved in the HIV fight, particularly in the areas of mother-to-child HIV prevention, and provision of pediatric care and treatment.

Southern Africa: A study by the South African Medical Research Council has found that women in abusive relationships are more likely to become infected with HIV.

POLITICAL ECONOMY

West Africa: In Ghana the DANQUAH Institute in collaboration with Imani Centre has condemned moves by Parliament to approve a US$1.5 billion Supplier's Credit Financing Agreement between STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Limited as Lender and the Government of Ghana in relation to the financing of the 30,000 housing units under the Security Services Housing Project.

Concerns are being raised about how Ghana will manage its oil revenues as the Jubilee field, its first major offshore deposit, prepares to start producing and exporting in the fourth quarter of this year. Meanwhile Ghana is set to begin oil exploration off the Tema coast.

WASH United Ghana, a sanitation oriented non-governmental organization (NGO) was launched in Accra last week with a new innovative approach to the promotion of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the country. Ghana needs at least US$ 200 million per annum over time to tackle head-on sanitation-related problems the country is saddled with.

Central Africa: The United Kingdom's Minister for International Development, Stephen O'Brien, held discussions with Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame the nation's road to achieving Vision 2020. the discussion focused mainly on the programs that his government funds as well as how both countries can work towards a better future. §

________________________________________________________

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.

Please Preview your comments before posting.