UNITED STATESAFRICA Barack Obama launches his agenda in Ghana 10th July 2009 Image courtesy of Panos Pictures View site The African audience hopes that President Obama's declared Africa policy will be both distinctive and practicable As in so many areas the expectations are that President Barack Obama's Africa policy will be a break with the past. In some respects, the President's decision to sketch out an African policy represents a new development in itself. Often in response to public demand, successive administrations – in Washington and elsewhere in the West – have spelt out wish lists of continental objectives for Africa without a policy plan or the resources to attain them. The result has been frequent and deep disappointment. The Obama administration's advisors say they see a way to change that, partly because of changes within Africa itself and also because of wider international changes in economic and political conditions.
UNITED STATESAFRICA Washington's Africa team takes shape 10th July 2009 Image courtesy of Panos Pictures View site After years of marginalisation and under-staffing, the African Affairs bureau of the State Department is beginning to attract strong interest from the other regional bureaux. The first key...
GHANAUNITED STATES Obama's akwaaba moment 10th July 2009 Image courtesy of Panos Pictures View site John Atta Mills welcomes the first African-American US President and his entourage to Ghana amid hopes for US investment and cooperation The wet and windy weather of Ghana's rainy season will not dampen the warm welcome for United States President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle on 10-11 July....
At its 1-3 July summit at Sirte, Libya, the African Union proved as adept at diplomatic double standards as its European counterpart. After a campaign to pressure the junta that seized power from Mauritania’s elected government last August, the AU announced that the time was ripe to lift sanctions in recognition of the military’s attempts to organise their own elections, which many political parties will boycott. Yet the President of the AU Commission, Jean Ping, said the AU was ‘extremel... At its 1-3 July summit at Sirte, Libya, the African Union proved as adept at diplomatic double standards as its European counterpart. After a campaign to pressure the junta that seized power from Mauritania’s elected government last August, the AU announced that the time was ripe to lift sanctions in recognition of the military’s attempts to organise their own elections, which many political parties will boycott. Yet the President of the AU Commission, Jean Ping, said the AU was ‘extremely concerned’ about the attempt by Mamadou Tandja to change Niger’s constitution. Another army general in politics, Tandja was at least initially elected. Eritrea faces sanctions for meddling in Somalia but Sudan will not, despite repeated meddling in Chad. The biggest inconsistencies revolve around the AU’s attitude to the International Criminal Court. The AU’s decision to suspend cooperation with the ICC on its warrant for the arrest of Sudan’s President Omer el Beshir for mass murder in Darfur appalled many African human rights activists. Might the AU now also suspend cooperation with the ICC should it indict senior politicians in Kenya, following Kofi Annan’s despatch of an envelope to The Hague listing the names of those said to bear most reponsibility for last year’s political violence? And what about Joseph Kony and Jean-Pierre Bemba? The AU’s vote for selective prosecutions is a step towards the destruction of both the ICC and the hopes for an extension of international justice. Read more
GHANAUNITED STATES Ghana's DC dividend 10th July 2009 Expectations are high in Accra that its hosting of President Barack Obama will prompt a rush of United States investment and assistance for Ghana and the region. Even...
RWANDA The quest for justice after the genocide continues 10th July 2009 The search for justice lumbers on in a costly UN tribunal and national and community courts, but the convictions are relatively few The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was set up by the United Nations Security Council in November 1994 to try those responsible for genocide or other serious offences...
SOUTH AFRICA Anglo American's CEO fights back 10th July 2009 Anglo CEO Cynthia Carroll has called for 'a major overhaul' and 'cultural transformation' of senior management. Those managers are striking back, along with members of the board. Her...
NIGERIA Half-time for Yar'Adua 10th July 2009 Yar'Adua's three new recruits may help improve the government's performance, but the problems of power generation and the Delta remain After two years of drift, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and his government seem to be trying to arrest the slide. Recent appointments have bolstered the administration's competence. The...
RWANDA The missing suspects 10th July 2009 Thirteen more genocide suspects are sought by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The United States government's offer of a US$5 million bounty for their arrest has...
NIGER President Tandja goes for a third term 10th July 2009 He may deny it but President Mamadou Tandja began the process of changing the constitution to prolong his mandate in December 2008 After decades of coups and assassinations, Nigeriens had hoped that President Mamadou Tandja would stabilise the country and peacefully hand over to his successor. Instead, he decided to...
ANGOLA Sonangol goes international 10th July 2009 The state-owned oil company is expanding and forming new partnerships, but the new focus is gas development, with tax incentives for exploration Undaunted by the collapse of the international oil and gas market, Luanda's state-owned oil company Sonangol is setting its international sights ever higher. On the back of Angola's...
SOUTH AFRICA Anglo American seeks fresh capital 10th July 2009 The future ownership of mining giant Anglo American is crucial for South Africa, but any deal must suit the ANC government and the unions Anglo American, the huge mining conglomerate, is no longer strictly a South African company since it moved its headquarters and main stock-market listing to London in 1999. Yet...
NIGERURANIUM Competition for Niger's uranium 10th July 2009 Niger is the world's third-largest uranium producer, extracting about 3,300 tonnes per year. Prices rose to US$55 per pound in June, up more than 35% since April; nuclear...
MADAGASCAR Go on, negotiate 10th July 2009 While Madagascar's ousted President Marc Ravalomanana stews in South Africa, the youthful transition leader Andry Rajoelina has been in Belgium, vainly trying to persuade the European Union to...
GAMBIA No free speech here 10th July 2009 By gaoling opposition journalists, President Yahya Jammeh makes himself look insecure. The President, who seized power as a mere lieutenant fifteen years ago, now entitles himself President Sheikh...