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Daily News on the Issues Affecting Africa for February 5th

In the News 615w

Continue reading for a summary of recent news stories relating to some of the most pressing issues on the continent. We draw on a wide range of respected news sources, both from Africa itself and around the world. The themes of today's In the News post are updates on the AU's strategy on conflict mitigation, world recognition that the CAR crisis is at risk of genocide, Germany's foreign policies for Africa, Niger's struggle with France over resources, a gold mine fire in South Africa, Uganda's intervention in South Sudan, corruption in Zimbabwe, and ongoing conflict and displacement in the DRC.

African Union falls behind the times as regional conflicts rage
African Union officials simply have not moved with the times. They didn't recognise, even for a minute, the speed with which rebel formations in the Central African Republic and Mali were able to move, a pace that conventional armies with heavy equipment could never meet. Speed and mobility across borders are the essence of rebellion now […] Another lesson the union has yet to learn is that conflicts unfolding in this part of Africa are now almost always regional wars, not national ones. – The Conversation
To read more, please visit the Conversation site here.

Samantha Power: "En Centrafrique, nous prenons très au sérieux les risques de génocide"
Samantha Power, ambassadrice des Etats-Unis à l'ONU, a participé à la première mission conjointe des membres du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies au Mali, qui s'est achevée lundi 3 février. Avant de s'entretenir, mardi à Paris, avec Laurent Fabius, le chef de la diplomatie française, elle a accordé un entretien au Monde sur la situation au Mali et en RCA.
Pour en lire plus, veuillez visiter le site Le Monde ici.

Germany's Africa strategy
Germany has already used CAR to score a major victory over the French. Last year, there was no bigger rival to Germany's leadership of Europe than French President François Hollande. As he began his presidency, he promised to fight against German austerity and to pioneer an alternative. Some believed he would lead all of southern Europe in a revolt. But that never happened. Soon after coming into office, Hollande launched his offensive in Mali. Germany backed him. Radical Islam was an urgent threat: The situation was too serious to use as a pawn in a game of Europolitics with France. Then Paris went into the car, alone, without taking the matter to the EU. – The Trumpet
To read more, please visit the Trumpet site here.

Special Report: Areva and Niger's uranium fight
Niger has become the world's fourth-largest producer of the ore after Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia. But uranium has not enriched Niger. The former French colony remains one of the poorest countries on earth. More than 60 percent of its 17 million people survive on less than $1 a day. – Reuters
To read more, please visit the Reuters site here.

South African miners trapped in Doornkop gold mine fire
Rescue workers in South Africa are trying to free nine miners still trapped underground after a fire at Doornkop mine west of Johannesburg. Eight other miners have successfully been brought to the surface, the mine owners Harmony Gold said. – BBC
To read more, please visit the BBC site here.

Why is Uganda's army in South Sudan?
Right after the political fallout in Juba and escalation of hostilities between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those behind his former deputy Riek Machar, Mr. Museveni threatened Mr. Machar with military action if he did not come to the table to negotiate with Mr. Kiir. Museveni's military involvement in the conflict has caused concern in Nairobi and other capitals in the region. – CS Monitor
To read more, please visit the CS Monitor site here.

Zimbabwe: Marange corruption exposed in ongoing Zanu-PF 'purge'
A suspected purge in the faction riddled ZANU PF party is set to claim more individuals, after reports of massive corruption at the state run Marange Resources diamond mining firm. A report by the Herald newspaper, which has been publishing a series of exposés laying bare the corrupt activities of many ZANU PF members, has this week claimed that millions of dollars has been pilfered by management at Marange Resources. – allAfrica
To read more, please visit the allAfrica site here.

Thousands flee 'scorched earth' campaign in DRC's Katanga
Village after village in this remote region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been razed to the ground since October 2013 by armed groups calling for the resource-rich province of Katanga to secede and become an independent state. These groups, as well as political affiliates operate under the collective name of Mai Mai Kata Katanga. – IRIN News
To read more, please visit the IRIN News site here.

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Africa Program

The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations.    Read more