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.
Ethiopia: The Meles Zenawi Show - World Economic Forum on Africa 2012 (analysis)
The World Economic Forum is best known for its annual meeting at Davos in the Swiss Alps where, recently, focus has been on the poor state of the world economy - particularly that of Europe. So, the annual Africa version of the event (held last week in the swanky surroundings of the Sheraton, Addis Ababa) must make a welcome change, as the atmosphere was robustly positive. Read >
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
African Arguments, by Magnus Taylor*
Correction
In an article on prison conditions in Rwanda from The East African, published in our last newsletter, there is an error in the title. The prisoner interviewed in the aricle is a prisoner of the Special Court of Sierra Leone, not of the International Criminal Court. Read >
Friday, 11 May 2012
Africa: Inequalities undermine impressive growth
Twelve years ago, the influential Economist magazine described Africa as “the hopeless continent”. Last year the same publication ran the headline: “Africa rising: the hopeful continent”, noting that some of the fastest-growing economies in the world are in Africa. Read >
Friday, 11 May 2012
AllAfrica.com
Ethiopia: Development over democracy (analysis)
International financial institutions rank Ethiopia as one of the fastest growing economies but debates rage over its political strategy and regional role. Read >
Friday, 11 May 2012
Africa Confidential
South Africa: Secrecy bill breakthrough as ANC agrees to major changes
Johannesburg (South Africa) - The ANC has bowed to pressure on the Protection of State Information Bill, proposing much greater protection for journalists and whistle-blowers. Read >
Friday, 11 May 2012
Mail and Guardian (South Africa)
Africa: The collapse of the Euro; the fall of the CFA
The euro zone continues to falter as uncertainty surrounding the fiscal actions of Greece and Italy, skyrocketing unemployment figures and living costs lead to ever gloomier predictions. Conversely, most African economies are increasingly recording impressive growth rates in GDP and in other yardsticks. Read >
Friday, 11 May 2012
Pambazuka News, by Chika Ezeanya*
Malawi: Bingu’s legacy and the political future
Questions about dead presidents’ legacies are best left to historians writing a generation removed. But for the late Malawian President Prof. Bingu wa Mutharika, we can be sure of a few things that will be part of his national and international memory. Read >
Friday, 11 May 2012
Pambazuka News, by Steve Sharra*
Nigeria: Terrorisms growing due to unresolved unrests, says national security adviser
Kaduna (Nigeria) - The National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi (rtd), Thursday said the failure to squarely address the root causes of unrests in the country has created an avenue for the recruitment, indoctrination and training of terrorists and other groups threatening the national security. Read >
Friday, 11 May 2012
This Day (Nigeria)
Zimbabwe: Our ugly secret - abortion, illegal but thriving
Harare (Zimbabwe) - "Today you're going to cry." The doctor, prodding Grace roughly with his nicotine-stained fingers, is matter-of-fact, there's no malice in his voice. Read >
Friday, 11 May 2012
Sokwanele (Zimbabwe)