Africa News Update
Africa News Update offers news, background and feature articles from African sources twice weekly. The newsletter is free of charge and is edited by the Norwegian Council for Africa. Some of the articles may be shortened.
Burundi: Government should promote, not stifle, debate about roots of political violence (opinion)
Nairobi (Kenya) - There are good reasons to be optimistic about Burundi. The country is emerging from decades of civil war and brutal ethnic conflict. In 2011, the government put in place a National Independent Human Rights Commission that has started to tackle sensitive issues, such as extrajudicial killings by the police. Read >
Friday, 01 June 2012
The East African (Kenya) by Daniel Bekele*
Nigeria: Lagos students protest against President's new name for university
Lagos (Nigeria)— Authorities of the University of Lagos, yesterday, ordered immediate closure of the university following protests by students of the institution which entered second day over the renaming of the school to Moshood Abiola University. This came as the Federal Government insisted that there was no going back on the decision. Read >
Friday, 01 June 2012
The Vanguard (NIgeria)
Uganda: Inflation falls to 18.6 per cent
Kampala (Uganda) - Uganda’s inflation eased by nearly three percentage points to18.6 per cent in May, on the back of lower food prices, the country's bureau of statistics said ahead of a key rate-setting meeting on Friday. Read >
Friday, 01 June 2012
The Nation (Kenya)
Angola: The perils of speaking truth to power
Luanda (Angola) - Rafael Marques de Morais was startled awake at dawn by loud pounding on his front door. It was October 16, 1999 - three months after the 28-year-old journalist had published a scathing critique of the corrupt Angolan government. Read >
Friday, 01 June 2012
Think Africa Press, by Rebecca Regan-Sachs
Liberia/Sierra Leone: Charles Taylor's 50-year sentence is just the beginning
Johannesburg (South Africa) - Former Liberia president Charles Taylor has been handed a 50-year jail term for his role in Sierra Leone’s civil war. The sentencing is seen as a major victory for human rights campaigners across Africa. Read >
Friday, 01 June 2012
Mail and Guardian (South Africa)
Egypt: The working class and the question of organisation (opinion)
The nascent trade union movement in Egypt will need to develop political structures for the voices of the working class to be heard in electoral processes. Read >
Friday, 01 June 2012
Pambazuka News, by Hossam El-Hamalawy*
Egypt: Protests against choice between right and right
Cairo (Egypt) – Like the delayed after-effects of an earthquake below the ocean before the subsequent tsunami hits adjacent coastlines, Egyptian anger finally exploded this week after several days of stunned silence following the controversial results of Egypt’s first-round of presidential elections. Read >
Friday, 01 June 2012
Inter Press Service (IPS)
Uganda: Students develop software to monitor unborn babies
Kampala (Uganda) — Three students at Makerere University in Uganda have designed mobile phone software that can monitor foetal movements and heartbeats. Read >
Thursday, 24 May 2012
Sci.Dev.Net (UK)
Zimbabwe: Drafting of new constitution back on track
London (UK)/Harare (Zimbabwe) - The drafting of a new constitution was said to be 'back on track' after COPAC reached 'common ground' on contentious issues during a meeting in Harare on Wednesday. Read >
Thursday, 24 May 2012
SW Radio Africa (Zimbabwe/UK)