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.
Africa: "Africa Rising" - how to look beyond the "promising statistics"
There’s been a lot of talk these past few months about Africa Rising, for whom and what for. But it’s kind of difficult for the average person to look beyond the sentiment and “promising statistics” to put that in some sort of perspective. Read >
Friday, 09 November 2012
African Arguments, by Desné Masie
South Africa: Beyond the ANC - a new UDF or a mass workers' party?
Johannesburg (South Africa) - It seems likely that more South Africans who really care about the future of the country will move beyond the ruling African National Congress (ANC), and start the difficult, protracted affair of building political alternatives. Some already are. Read >
Friday, 09 November 2012
South African Civil Society Information
South Africa: What Sandy shows us
What did Hurricane Sandy teach us a week ago, here in South Africa, just as $30 billion of state funds are being committed to dig out the vast new Durban port capacity over the next three decades, plus billions more nearby for petro-chemical industry expansion in Africa’s largest oil-refining complex? Read >
Friday, 09 November 2012
Pambazuka News, by Patrick Bond*
Cameroon: Thoughts on 30 years of Biya power
November 6, 2012 marked the 30th anniversary of Paul Biya’s presidency (1982 – 2012) in Cameroon. Celebrations, dinners, galas and voter registration drives for members of the ruling RDPC party (Rassemblement Démocratique du Peuple Camerounais) took place in cities across the country, most predominantly in the central regions, that is, those with geo-political links and a common socio-cultural heritage (more generally but problematically referred to as ‘ethnic’) ties to the ruling party. Read >
Friday, 09 November 2012
Pambazuka News, by Amber Murrey
Sudan: Race-based violence and torture
Jalila Khmais Koko is a Nuba woman activist detained eight months ago for calling for peace and helping her peoples fleeing the war in Nuba Mountains to safe places such as the Sudanese capital Khartoum. Read >
Friday, 09 November 2012
Pambazuka News, by Osman Naway
Uganda: Rioting policemen's wives hold police boss hostage
Kampala (Uganda) - Spouses of policemen and their children in a Naguru barracks Tuesday held the Kampala Metropolitan Commander, Andrew Kaweesi, hostage for hours in a demonstration protesting against power cuts and poor living conditions. Read >
Friday, 09 November 2012
New Vision (Uganda)
Nigeria: Floodwaters recede but millions remain displaced
Dakar (Senegal)/Warri (Nigeria) - Efforts to repair infrastructure and restore livelihoods destroyed by Nigeria’s recent flooding - the worst in five decades - require urgent funding and will take six months or longer, say aid agencies. Read >
Friday, 09 November 2012
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)
Ghana: Black Wednesday
Accra (Ghana) - Scores of people are still feared trapped under debris, after a newly-built six-storey shopping mall, located at Achimota and a rented property of Melcom Group of Companies, collapsed in the early hours of yesterday. Read >
Friday, 09 November 2012
The Chronicle (Ghana)
Nigeria: Good hair, bad hair (analysis)
Lagos (Nigeria) - The other Wednesday night I was sharing a table with South African music icon, Mr. Hugh Masekela, Bra Hugh as everybody in Jo'burg calls him. He is rhapsodising about the vibes of Lagos and the different, different behinds of Lagos Mamas and why Lagos is such a place to be and be proud of. Read >
Friday, 09 November 2012
The Vanguard (Nigeria) by Kole Omotoso