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.
Mali: War by default (analysis)
Tshwane/Pretoria (South Africa) - In an apparent attempt to replicate their successes of last year, Islamist rebels in northern Mali launched fresh attacks on government positions in early January. These attacks resulted in another Malian army's defeat and the fall of the city of Konna, situated 650km from Bamako. Read >
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Institute for Security Studies (South Africa), by David Zounmenou*
Kenya: President Kibaki tells media to stop exaggerating election-related violence
Nairobi (Kenya) - President Mwai Kibaki on Monday urged local and international media to stop exaggerating the violence witnessed in various parts of the country during just-ended party nominations. Kibaki, who spoke after meeting the officials of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) at his Harambee House office, said the violence was isolated. Read >
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Capital FM (Kenya)
Kenya: Human rights commission faults Kenyan MPs
Nairobi (Kenya) - The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has accused the outgoing Tenth Parliament of failing to promote good governance, accountability, the rule of law and the respect for human rights. Read >
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
The East African (Kenya)
Rwanda: Adopting austerity measures after cuts in aid
Kigali (Rwanda) - Rwanda has frozen the recruitment of civil servants, citing ongoing reforms within the public service sector. The freeze on employment is being seen by many economists as part of the government’s wider austerity measures to tackle its budget deficit, occasioned by aid cuts by major donors. Read >
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
The East African (Kenya)
Angola: A record budget for the presidency, the military and the spooks (analysis)
Lusaka (Angola) - Angola's 2013 budget has been hailed by government propaganda as its greatest ever, owing to how much is being spent on social sectors and in the fight against poverty. The State Budget Bill, approved by the National Assembly on January 15, is expected to become law on February 14. Read >
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Eritrea: How long can Eritrea remain a closed state? (analysis)
Calm has returned to Eritrea after dissident soldiers Monday seized the information ministry and called for the release of political prisoners. Although it is notoriously difficult to verify reports from Eritrea given severe media restrictions, it is believed that the mutineers stood down once their terms were accepted by the government. Read >
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
ThinkAfricaPress, by Andy Ryan
Black people, fight your own battles (opinion)
Was Steve Biko over-optimistic when he said ”blacks are tired of standing on the sidelines and witnessing a game in which they should be participating”? It seems to me black South Africans do not want to be involved in the struggle for their own liberation. How else does one interpret the frenzy black people all over the country have gotten into as a result of Gillian Schutte’s letter to white people? Read >
Thursday, 17 January 2013
Thoughtleader/Mail and Guardian (South Africa), by Jackie Shandu*
South Africa: White People - theoretical wars and podium envy (opinion)
Johannesburg (South Africa) - While it was to be expected that the right-wingers would rail loudly against the content of my letter Dear White People* – what surprised me most was the similarity of interpretation and vitriol from many social commentators. Besides the voices of Jackie Shandu, Malaika Wa Azania and Sipho Singiswa, Koketso Moeti and Mr Phamodi – who all tackled the topic from a space of poignancy or rigorous race theory or political analysis – the debate that flourished around this letter largely became a war of armchair theories and personal vendettas reminiscent of turf wars amongst hotdog vendors in London. Read >
Thursday, 17 January 2013
Mail and Guardian (South Africa), by Gillian Schutte
Africa: Behind the times - Washington's slow changing attitude to Africa (editorial)
While many Africans were celebrating President Barack Obama's re-election victory, arguably a more important leadership shift was taking place across the Indian Ocean. Xi Jinping, chosen by the Beijing elite to lead China for the next decade, may not be a household name outside of his home country, but he will be presiding over what may be Africa's single most important strategic relationship in the 21st century. Read >
Thursday, 17 January 2013
This is Africa