Daily News on the Issues Affecting Africa for October 16th

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 indices of governance in Africa, political tension in the East African Community, the CPI and other measures of international justice, Angola-Portugal relations, conviction of former Liberian head of state, and the future of the Horn of Africa.

Time for "Afro-realism"
OVER the past 12 years overall governance has improved in 46 African countries, accounting for 94% of the continent's population, according to the latest Ibrahim index, which scores 52 African countries (it excludes Sudan and South Sudan since they split in 2011) on the basis of four broad categories. All countries have shown improvements in the area of "human development," which measures education and health care. Yet only 20 increased their scores in the "safety and rule of law" category, which looks at the murder rate and corruption, among other things. – The Economist
To read more, please visit the Economist site here

Tanzania 'formally' isolated from EAC
Yesterday in Kampala Uganda, four EAC member countries, namely Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi met to discuss the draft of the constitution that would govern the federation. In this meeting, Tanzania wasn't invited in what was seen as a move to isolate it ahead of the quick march towards a political federation. – The Citizen
To read more, please visit the Citizen site here

Paul Kagame: le 'Kenya est un bon exemple des problèmes' entre l'Afrique et la CPI
Le président rwandais, Paul Kagamé, s'en est une nouvelle fois pris à la Cour pénale internationale (CPI). Il a estimé, mardi, qu'elle représentait une justice "sélective" aux mains des puissants de "ce monde". – Jeune Afrique
Pour en lire plus, veuillez visiter le site Jeune Afrique ici

Angola's Dos Santos says relations with Portugal unhealthy
Portugal is Angola's main source of imports and Portuguese companies are very active in banking and construction in the huge African country. In turn, Angolan investors have snapped up large stakes in top Lisbon-listed companies. Angola is second only to Nigeria as an African oil producer and its rapid growth has given Portuguese firms and workers opportunities to escape severe economic problems at home. But relations between the two states were "not well," Dos Santos, who has been in power since 1979, told parliament. – Reuters
To read more, please visit the Reuters site here

Liberian Charles Taylor moved to British prison to serve war crimes conviction
The former warlord was moved on Tuesday morning to an unspecified British prison after being guilty of war crimes committed in Sierra Leone.  He had asked the UN-backed special court in The Hague to serve his jail term in Rwanda instead, which he said would be easier for his family.  The plea fell on deaf ears and Taylor, the first head of state to be convicted since the Nuremberg trials, was handed over to representatives of Her Majesty's Prison Service after his plane landed at 11am, the Hague court said. ­– The Telegraph
To read more, please visit the Telegraph site here

Is the Horn of Africa facing another collapsing state?
Just as the Horn of Africa is witnessing the slow restoration of one collapsed state - after more than two decades of anarchic conditions in Somalia - it may be facing the collapse of another. The small country of Eritrea, only 20 years after gaining independence from Ethiopia, has emerged as one of the largest sources of refugees in Africa - as well as one of the most militarised societies in the world. It is increasingly displaying signs of withering state structures and an unsustainable humanitarian situation. – Al Jazeera
To read more, please visit the Al Jazeera site here