Daily News on the Issues Affecting Africa for January 29th

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 US involvement in the counter al-Qaida efforts in Africa, Uganda's role in constructing peace in South Sudan, Liberian efforts to suppress illegal drug markets, France's military strategy in West Africa, the Rwandan political atmosphere, progress resulting from Obama's Power Africa efforts, and analytic preparation for the coming African Union summit.

US steps up African al-Qaida fight
France and the U.S. last week solidified a partnership to combat terrorism and quell sectarian violence across the southern reaches of the Sahara. The French-American cooperation put renewed emphasis on the role of U.S. Africa Command, led by Army Gen. David Rodriguez, which is expected to figure into President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night. Obama has already announced plans to convene a summit of African leaders at the White House later this year that will focus on development and coordination with the training and advisory assistance of African Command to suppress al-Qaida-linked groups active in the region. On Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry re-affirmed the commitment to Africa, stating that the U.S. will continue to back "efforts by the African Union, regional leaders, and our French allies to disarm all armed groups." – Military News
To read more, please visit the Military News site here.

Debate continues over Uganda army role in South Sudan conflict
Speakers at a Nairobi forum sponsored by the Rift Valley Institute expressed concern for the future of South Sudan following a ceasefire agreement brokered in Addis Ababa late last week. Participants also raised issues concerning the presence of Ugandan forces in the conflict. The negotiations were held by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the regional body that was drawn into the brutal conflict following reports that Ugandan troops were battling alongside government forces loyal to President Silva Kiir. – Voice of America
To read more, please visit the Voice of America site here.

Liberia: Counterfeit drug war in Liberia
Liberia's Ministry of Health is launching a major crackdown on counterfeit drug sellers throughout the country, but Liberians say they have no choice but to buy such drugs, given their low cost and availability even in rural areas. In late 2013, the health ministry and the Pharmaceutical Board of Liberia intensified a campaign that began in July that year cracking down on peddlers of fake drugs. The campaign involved teams of monitors touring the country to ensure counterfeit drugs are not being sold, and raising awareness of the dangers of drugs bought on the street. – allAfrica
To read more, please visit the allAfrica site here.

France to deploy an additional 3,000 French troops permanently in West Africa
France says it plans to expand its military presence in Africa with the deployment of at least 3 000 troops to military bases in Niger, Mali and Chad as well as a logistics and supply base in Ivory Coast. France already has troops on stabilisation missions in Ivory Coast, Mali and the Central Africa Republic (CAR). – Defence Web
To read more, please visit the Defence Web site here.

Rwanda: Repression across borders
Since the genocide which devastated the country and claimed more than half a million lives in 1994, Rwanda has made great strides in rebuilding its infrastructure, developing its economy, and delivering public services. But civil and political rights remain severely curtailed, and freedom of expression is tightly restricted. The government dominated by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) — a former rebel movement that ended the genocide — does not tolerate opposition, challenge, or criticism. In the 19 years since the RPF took power, Human Rights Watch has documented numerous cases of arbitrary arrests, detentions, prosecutions, killings, torture, enforced disappearances, threats, harassment, and intimidation against government opponents and critics. These abuses emerged in the immediate post-genocide period in the mid-1990s and have continued to this day. – Human Rights Watch
To read more, please visit the Human Rights Watch site here.

Obama's Power Africa Initiative, six months later
It has been six months since President Obama first introduced the Power Africa Initiative. Here are four areas where the Initiative, which aims to increase electricity access by 20 million households and businesses in six African countries over the next five years, is making some of the best headway. ­– One Campaign
To read more, please visit the One Campaign site here.

Q&A: Africa's tremendous progress amid war and famine
The issue of peace and security, particularly in South Sudan and the Central African Republic, are expected to dominate the discussions at the African Union's (AU) semi-annual summit being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this week. But AU Commission deputy chair Erastus Mwencha told IPS that this summit will be about much more than conflict. Sustainable development, economic integration and environmental concerns will also so be on the table, he said, and it would be a mistake to ignore the progress the AU has made over the past several years. – Inter Press Service News Agency
To read more, please visit the Inter Press Service News Agency site here.