Africa in the News 8/3/15

Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army Africa via Flickr.

Inclusive Governance and Leadership

The secret to Ethiopia's counterterrorism success – Al Jazeera

July 31, 2015

Security cooperation is an area of high interest for the US in Africa. Obama has repeatedly expressed his administration's keen interest in learning from Ethiopia's counterterrorism (CT) efforts and its counterinsurgency (COIN) strategy, which I call the "Ethiopian Doctrine" on CT and COIN.

John Garang: The Sudanese rebel whose death divided a country (Audio) – BBC

July 30, 2015

It has been 10 years since the death in a helicopter crash of John Garang, leader of the southern Sudanese rebel group, the SPLM. He spent many years fighting against the Sudanese government, but signed a peace deal and was made Vice President just before his death. After he passed away, the division of Sudan became inevitable and South Sudan declared independence in 2011.

Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding

August is crunch time for South Sudan – ISS Africa

July 30, 2015

Belligerents in the crisis in South Sudan have been given until 17 August 2015 to sign a final peace agreement. This follows a mini-summit with United States (US) President Barack Obama in Addis Ababa on 28 July. Meanwhile, heads of state of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) are expected to meet on South Sudan by the end of August.

Cameroon Pays High Price for Joining Boko Haram Fight – All Africa IRIN

July 31, 2015

Five suicide bombings in just 13 days in the Far North Region, all blamed on Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram, have made people jittery. Thousands of troops have been sent north by the government in distant Yaoundé and draconian security measures have come into force across much of the country.

The Third Term Myth – PBS News Hour

July 31, 2015

It's worth reading all President Obama had to say during his AU speech in context, because the president was speaking about governance, and there was much laughter and applause as he spoke. But at home his comment was viewed purely through a political lens. Was he being overconfident? Sly? How dare a politician say he thinks he's doing a good job? Was he plotting a Constitutional coup?

Trade, Investment, and Sustainable Development

Africa wealth report 2015: rich get richer even as poverty and inequality deepen – The Guardian

July 31, 2015

Africa is now home to more than 160,000 people with personal fortunes worth in excess of $1m (£642,000), a twofold increase in the number of wealthy individuals since the turn of the century that highlights the problem of deepening inequality as some of the world's poorest nations register strong economic growth. Meanwhile, the number of poor people in Africa – defined as those living on less than $1.25 a day – increased from 411.3 million in 2010 to 415.8 million in 2011, World Bank data shows.

South Africa's Transnet Transformed – The Africa Report

July 28, 2015

Transnet, South Africa's rail and port parastatal, is undertaking a vast counter-cyclical investment campaign to build new port infrastructure and update old railway equipment. While oil and mineral prices are low, Transnet's managers are overseeing plans for the construction of facilities to repair oilrigs at Saldanha Bay and the manufacture of a generation of new locomotives to replace train components that are in some cases more than 30 years old.

Africa's Strategic Role in the Global Arena

Obama, on China's Turf, Presents U.S. as a Better Partner for Africa– New York Times

July 29, 2015

At a time when China has surpassed the United States as a trading partner and left its mark throughout Africa, Mr. Obama essentially made the argument that Washington offers a better, more empowering vision for Africa's future. Without ever quite saying so explicitly, President Obama used his four-day trip to Africa to suggest that the United States offers an alternative to China's aggressive courtship of the continent.

Airlines in Africa, and the tale of democracy: Kenya and South African carriers bleed, while Ethiopian flies high – Mail & Guardian Africa

August 3, 2015

KENYA Airways (KQ) last week announced a loss of $257 million (Ksh25.7 billion), the biggest ever in the country's corporate history. It seemed like all factors in the world seemed to conspire perfectly to batter KQ's fortunes – company CEO Mbuvi Ngunze blamed the losses on competition from Middle East airlines, western travel advisories against Kenya, runway closures, Ebola in West Africa, terrorism, high operating costs, and troubled relations with crew.