Obama urged to cancel Dar visit

US President Barack Obama should cancel his planned visit to Tanzania later this month in protest against the government’s failure to settle a “slavery” case, a Washington Post commentator urged on June 10. The issue being that, Alan Mzengi, then a diplomat in Tanzania’s Washington embassy, should pay a sum of $1,059,349 in damages to a Tanzanian woman who worked as a servant in his home.

Egypt’s Mohamed Morsi appoints hardline Islamist to govern Luxor

The Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi, has appointed a member of the hardline Islamist group Gamaa Islamiya to the governorship of Luxor – a tourist city in which militants associated with the group killed 58 tourists in 1997. The symbolism of the appointment has enraged Egypt‘s sidelined non-Islamist opposition, who perceive it as further proof that Morsi is not concerned about the country’s increasing polarisation.

To read more please visit TheGuardian site here

SA Government wants probe into British spying allegations
International relations and cooperation department spokesperson Clayson Monyela said on Monday the government had noted with concern the reports published by the UK’s Guardian newspaper. The full benefit of details reported on is not yet available, but in principle, the abuse of privacy and basic human rights particularly if it emanates from those who claim to be democrats, would be condemn.
To read more please visit the Mail and Guardian site here

SADC leaders urge Mugabe to delay vote
Southern African leaders on Saturday told Zimbabwe to ask its courts to extend a July 31 deadline to hold elections, amid high tension between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai over the timing of the vote. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in the Mozambican capital came two days after Mugabe declared the election day, a date was immediately rejected by Tsvangirai, his main political rival.
To read more please visit the Mail and Guardian site here

Législatives en Guinée: la date du 30 juin n’est plus retenue
“La date du 30 juin prévue pour les élections législatives en Guinée n’est plus  dans le programme de la CENI. Retenez que nous ne pourrons pas tenir les  élections législatives le 30 juin comme l’avait indiqué le chef de l’Etat”  guinéen Alpha Condé, a indiqué une source à la CENI. Il est  techniquement impossible d’organiser les législatives le 30 juin, date “choisie pour des raisons que nous et n’ayant  pas fait  l’objet de débat au sein de notre institution”, a indiqué la même source.
To read more please visit the Jeune Afrique site here

Equal Education march to demand norms and standards
Pupils and EE members marched in Pretoria and Cape Town on Monday callingfor safer and better resourced schools. In Cape Town, around 2 500 learners marched to Parliament, where they delivered a memorandum to a representative of the basic education department. Other rallies took place in Johannesburg and Durban on Sunday.
To read more please visit the Mail and Guardian site here

Southern Africa: Slow but steady
The biggest company by market capitalisation in our Southern African region is insurance firm Metropolitan, which is listed in both Namibia and South Africa, and which is valued at $1.2bn in our table. Second place is taken by First National Bank of Botswana, with $1bn, up from last year’s $906m. The value of Namibia’s Paladin Energy has decreased from $830m to $631m over the past year,as a result, a drop from second to seventh in our table.
To read more please visit the african Business site here

How GCHQ stepped up spying on South African foreign ministry
In December 2005, there was a GCHQ meeting on a project to intensify spying on the South African foreign ministry. The goal was to gain access to South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs network, to collect intelligence from target machines, and  finally, to find more access points to increase reliability.
To read more please visit TheGuardian site here

Photo attributed to Magharebia

On the evening of March 21st, 2012 I was sharing dinner with a prominent Malian journalist at Comme Chez Soi, a popular French restaurant in Bamako. It was my last meal before catching the midnight flight back to Washington D.C. I had spent the previous month working on a proposal focused on increasing stability and countering violent extremism in northern Mali. During this time, the Taureg-led National Movement for the Liberation of l’Azawad (MNLA), emboldened by highly trained soldiers, arms caches, and heavy artillery from Libya, were overtaking the ill equipped Malian army. Conspiracy theories were mounting, but no one seemed to comprehend the enormity of what was on the horizon. By the time I landed in Washington D.C., President Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT) had been overthrown, the constitution was suspended, and shortly thereafter, the MNLA unilaterally declared the independence of northern Mali (Aziwad). Islamic extremist groups such as, Ansar al Din and Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), quickly capitalized on the political and security vacuum and began imposing Shariah law on the traditionally moderate populations. This raised concerns that northern Mali would become a training, recruitment, and staging ground for terrorist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). When MUJAO threatened to seize major cities in the south and turn Mali into an Islamist state, this fear was heightened triggering rapid military intervention by the French.

Nearly a year later, I was contracted to return to Mali and conduct a ‘resiliency’ assessment focused on ‘youth and livelihoods’. I was excited to return, to see my friends and colleagues, eat brochettes, listen to music, and learn about the new Mali. I had been casually following the news and knew that the situation in the north was dire, but I had no idea how complex, and intractable it was, and to my surprise, that had always been that way. Despite the warning signs, for the past two decades Mali had been celebrated as a burgeoning democracy. Unfortunately, this was merely a façade. As representatives of civil society suggested, Mali’s underbelly is now exposed and we must decide to either clean out our dirty closet or shove the mess back under the table. Several representatives of civil society believed there is a window of opportunity to begin addressing the issues and building society’s confidence in the prospect of significant change. However, if this moment is not captured, strong forces benefitting from the status quo will quickly fill the void.

 This context formed the backdrop of my assessment. As a consultant, it is not unusual to have inadequate time and resources to realistically understand the context. Typically, by the time my contract is complete, I have only begun to discover how much I do not know. Thus, I always leave with more questions then answers. For instance, Mali’s drivers of instability and also its resiliencies are complex, fluid, and overlapping, making the design and implementation of conflictsensitive interventions difficult. On one hand, weak and corrupt government institutions and illicit markets are considered two of Mali’s greatest barriers to resilience. On the other hand, these very systems serve as socio-political and economic coping mechanisms that have formed over time. They are entrenched and cannot be replaced quickly or easily. If the change process is pushed too fast, undermines existing structures, or adulterates home-grown initiatives, it could easily reinforce the status quo. Alternatively, if the people do not see evidence of change, optimism will fade and unmet expectations will turn into discontent. Due to a lack of obvious alternatives, the temptation to revert back to deconstructive coping mechanisms is strong.

As I departed Mali for the second time, I was overwhelmed with despair. Mali’s challenges are entrenched and connected to a regional dynamic that will not be easy to dismantle. The level of complicity and direct engagement of national and regional government and military actors in illicit activities is unfathomable. Everyone seems to benefit from the instability, drug trade, and ransoms from kidnapping foreigners. My greatest fear is that external actors will fall into the all-too-familiar trap of dumping money into short-term and oversimplified programs that are not aligned with each other or home-grown initiatives. Or that the focus and emphasis of interventions in northern Mali will be on oversimplified military-based counter-terrorism initiatives. As a result, interventions will either have a negative impact or no impact at all . Another quagmire that I am currently struggling to understand is the dangerous dance that the United States and European continues continue to play with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Pakistan. We provide these countries with billions of dollars in aid and oil revenue. In turn, these countries extend enormous resources to promote more extremist forms of Islam in Mali and the Sahel region through direct funding or by providing education to Imams and Koranic teachers. Then, to counter violent extremism, the United States and Europe design and implement relatively small-scale and short-term development programs that have no chance of competing with these larger forces who possess endless resources and longer term visions. Similarly, the drug trade, particularly cocaine trafficking and ransoms, fund both AQIM and rebel groups. Until the United States and Europe can find ways to deter the demand for cocaine, there will be a supply.

In closing, I realize that bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, NGOs, contractors, and foreign militaries are all looking for genuine ways to support Malians in this difficult transition. I also realize that these same actors have their own interests and time frames for Mali and the region. For the sake of Malians, I hope they are able to put the interests of Mali above their own. Time will tell.

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MONDAY, JUNE 17th, 2013
Vision, Innovation, and Action to Address Child Marriage
Hosted by: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Location: Woodrow Wilson Center
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Time: 2:00pm – 4:30pm
Summary: Over the past decade, nearly 58 million girls were married before the age of 18. Child marriage is a truly global problem: In Africa, 42 percent of girls are married before turning 18, but it is also prevalent in parts of Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean (in South Asia, for instance, 46 percent of girls are married). Child brides often start childbearing early, leading to complications and producing high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality among girls in developing countries. Married girls are often forced to leave school, negatively affecting their ability to work and provide for their families. The panelists will describe current policies and programs working to support young women and delay marriage whenever possible.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/vision-innovation-and-action-to-address-child-marriage

Staged Reading of Milo Rau’s ‘Hate Radio’
Hosted by: Georgetown School of Foreign Service
Location: Georgetown University
37 St NW and O St NW, Washington, DC
Davis Performing Arts Center Devine Studio Theatre
Time: 7:30pm
Summary: Directed by Prof. Derek Goldman, Co-Artistic Director, Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown University. The reading will be followed by a discussion led by Prof. Cynthia Schneider (former US ambassador to the Netherlands and distinguished professor in the practice of diplomacy, Georgetown University) with Eva-Maria Bertschy (dramaturge for Hate Radio), Ping Chong and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Michael Pelletier, who will focus on how theater can be used as a powerful tool of cultural and political diplomacy.

Hate Radio brings the 1994 Rwandan genocide to life by reconstructing an hour-long broadcast by the Rwandan radio station Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines, which throughout the genocide interspersed sports reports and the latest music hits with naked racist ideology and incitements to murder. With methodically built-up psychological manipulation, RTLM reached the entire Rwandan population; its broadcast could not be avoided.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: 
http://events.georgetown.edu/events/index.cfm?Action=View&CalendarID=251&EventID=104238

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TUESDAY, JUNE 18th, 2013
Examining Prospects for Democratic Reform and Economic Recovery in Zimbabwe
Hosted by: U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Location: Dirksen Senate Office Building
Constitution Avenue and 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC, Room 419
Time: 10:00am
Summary: Panel Event

Panel Two
Mr. Dewa Mahvinga
Senior Researcher
Human Rights Watch
Washington, DC
Mr. Mark Schneider
Senior Vice President
International Crisis Group
Washington, DC
Mr. Todd Moss
Vice President for Programs and Senior Fellow
Center for Global Development
Washington, DC

Panel One
The Honorable Donald Yamamoto
Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Bureau of African Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC
The Honorable Earl Gast
Assistant Administrator for Africa Bureau for Africa
United States Agency for International Development
Washington, DC
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/examining-prospects-for-democratic-reform-and-economic-recovery-in-zimbabwe

A Briefing by the Honorable Raila A. Odinga: African Achievements and Challenges: Learning from the Past but Looking Forward
Hosted by: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Location: Woodrow Wilson Center
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
Summary: The former Prime Minister of the Republic Kenya, The Honorable Raila A. Odinga, will discuss the past 50 years, highlighting both achievements and challenges on the continent. He will also share his vision for Africa over the next 50 years, with a particular focus on Africa’s future engagements with China and the United States.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/african-achievements-and-challenges-learning-the-past-looking-forward
 
Poverty and Progress: Realities and Myths about Global Poverty
Hosted by: Cato Institute
Location: Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001
Hayek Auditorium
Time: 12:00pm
Summary:
Featuring the author Deepak Lal, Professor Emeritus of International Development Studies, University of California at Los Angeles, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute; with comments by Marcus Noland, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics; moderated by Ian Vasquez, Director, Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, Cato Institute.

The greatest reduction in mass poverty in human history has occurred during the current era of globalization. The world’s poor are now catching up with the rich at a rapid pace in terms of human well-being. Deepak Lal will discuss how, despite those achievements, confusion about poor countries abounds: the World Bank exaggerates the extent of poverty; the benefits of new development fads including microfinance or randomized testing of projects, are vastly oversold; and discredited theories, such as the need for massive foreign aid to save Africa, have been resurrected. Marcus Noland will draw from his experience working in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East to comment on the book and its view that increased liberalization in the developing world is decreasing the influence of the West’s advocates of dirigisme.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.cato.org/events/poverty-progress-realities-myths-about-global-poverty

Global Health and the Animal-Human Interface
Hosted by: National Institute of Health
Location: National Institute of Health
9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892
Building 50, Rm 1227/1233
Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Summary: Guy Palmer, DVM, PhD is founding Director of the Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, a multi-disciplinary institute with the mission of addressing global disease challenges through research, education, global outreach, and application of disease control at the animal-human interface.  Dr. Palmer currently leads disease control programs in east Africa and Latin America as well as directing laboratory research at Washington State. He heads the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Training Program in Infectious Diseases and Microbial Immunology and holds a NIH MERIT award for research on pathogen emergence. He also serves as an adviser to the Global Development Program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the International Training Program on Molecular Epidemiology of Food-borne Pathogens in Eastern Africa, and is a member of the NIH College of Scientific Review.

Dr. Palmer will discuss how animal health interfaces with human health, especially as it relates to disease control and prevention programs in Africa.  He will also talk about the One Health Initiative (http://www.onehealthinitiative.com), a worldwide strategy for expanding interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care for humans, animals and the environment.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://ned.org/events/civil-society-and-the-quest-for-democracy-in-uganda-threats-and-opportunities

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19th, 2013
Hearing on Human Rights in Sudan
Hosted by: Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
Location: Rayburn House Office Building
45 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC
Room 2200
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Summary: Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) for a hearing on human rights in Sudan and the humanitarian crises arising from the Government of Sudan’s longstanding human rights abuses. Ten years since the beginning of state-sponsored crimes against civilians in Darfur, which the U.S. government found to constitute genocide, the human rights and humanitarian situation in the region remains dire. Civilians continue to face violent attacks by government forces, pro-government militias, and armed opposition groups, while humanitarian aid is severely limited for an estimated 2.3 million internally displaced persons.  Some 130,000 Darfuris have been newly displaced in the first months of 2013 alone. This hearing will address the humanitarian crises in Sudan and South Sudan, the human rights violations underlying the crises, and U.S. policy in the region.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://tlhrc.house.gov/

US-South African Scientific and Technological Collaboration: Opportunities for US Industry
Hosted by: Brand South Africa
Location: William Fulbright Center
Hogan Lovells, Columbia Square, 555 13th St NW, Washington DC 20004
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Summary: South African Minister of Science and Technology Derek Hanekom and Dr Bernie Fanaroff, director of the Square Kilometer Array South Africa radio telescope program, will participate in a symposium on innovation in South Africa and the opportunities it presents for US industry. Other speakers include Amb. Donald Gips, US-SA Business Council, Kevin Smith, CEO Solar Reserve, Mark Schnell, GM Sasol Synfuels and Dr Ashoke Bhattachariya, Dir. Global Health Innovation Systems, Johnson and Johnson.
For more information, please visit: http://www.brandsouthafrica.us/?p=658

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THURSDAY, JUNE 20th, 2013
House Subcommittee Hearing- Ethiopia After Meles: The Future of Democracy and Human Rights
Hosted by: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations
Location: House Rayburn Office Building Washington, DC 20515
Time: 10:00am
Summary: Panel Event

Panel I
The Honorable Donald Y. Yamamoto
Acting Assistant Secretary of State
Bureau of African Affairs
U.S. Department of State
The Honorable Earl W. Gast
Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Africa
U.S. Agency for International Development

Panel II
Berhanu Nega, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Economics
Bucknell University
J. Peter Pham, Ph.D.
Director
Michael S. Ansari Africa Center
Atlantic Council
Mr. Obang Metho
Executive Director
Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/subcommittee-hearing-ethiopia-after-meles-future-democracy-and-human-rights

Women as Agents of Change: Traditional Practices and Community-Based Social Change in Ethiopia
Hosted by: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Location: Woodrow Wilson Center
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Time: 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Summary: Dr. Bogaletch Gebre is the recipient of this year’s King Baudouin African Development Prize. She is a passionate women’s rights activist from Ethiopia and has been recognized for her efforts to transform the lives of women through innovation and altering traditional conceptions of a woman’s role in shaping her political, economic, and social destiny. She is the founder of Kembatti Mentti Gezzimma (KMG), a community-based organization, which operates with the understanding that people cannot be developed but can only develop themselves as opposed to a linear one size fits all approach. Dr. Gebre organizes intra-communal dialogues that take on cultural taboos and the harmful practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). As a result of her approach, KMG has witnessed the incidence of FGM in Ethiopia diminish from 100% to less than 3% in a span of ten years. Her work has been replicated by international organizations, UNICEF has recommended that KMG’s approach to ending FGM be used as a model for other African nations, and the UNDP has commissioned the organization to coordinate the expansion of its community intervention model to confront the scourge of HIV/AIDS.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/conversation-dr-bogaletch-gebre

The Role of Economics in Democratic Transitions: The Case of Tunisia
Hosted by: National Endowment for Democracy
Location: National Endowment for Democracy
1025 F Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20004
Time: 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Summary: What are the elements that shape the outcome of a country’s transition from authoritarianism to democracy? All too often policy analysts focus on the political process, while neglecting the vital role of economic reform in determining democratic success or failure. Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring, has made significant strides towards developing democratic consensus; however, two years on, the country’s continued struggle with economic stagnation, high unemployment and lack of entrepreneurial opportunities poses serious challenges to its transition. Drawing upon his experience in business and civil society in Tunisia, Dr. Mondher Ben Ayed will discuss why tackling these economic questions is essential for Tunisia’s future stability and success
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://ned.org/events/the-role-of-economics-in-democratic-transitions-the-case-of-tunisia

Map attributed to Nicolas Raymond, Free Grunge Textures/Creative Commons

Brazil: Eager to Explore New Frontiers in Africa

“The government and some large Brazilian companies are betting on the opening of new frontiers in the African market.

In recent years, Brazil has increased its economic presence both in Lusophone Africa – mainly Angola and Mozambique – as in South Africa (considered to be one of the more “mature markets” in the region along with North African countries.)”

“O governo e algumas grandes empresas brasileiras estão apostando alto na abertura de novas fronteiras no mercado africano.

Nos últimos anos, o Brasil ampliou sua presença econômica tanto na África lusófona – principalmente Angola e Moçambique – quanto na África do Sul (considerada um dos “mercados maduros” da região, junto com países do norte africano).”

This article has been translated from Portuguese. Click here to read the original version on BBC BRASIL.

Now, explained Ambassador Paulo Cordeiro, secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Africa and the Middle East, one of the greatest challenges for Brazilian diplomacy is to create the right conditions so that a growing number of companies explore new investment opportunities in emerging African markets, such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, Kenya, Guinea, Tanzania, Senegal and Ghana.

“These efforts are a big part of my work. We are committed to creating the right environment for this expansion to take place, and to convince Brazilian society that the African continent has many interesting opportunities to offer- and not only in Portuguese speaking countries,” said Cordeiro.

Official initiatives range from programs for military and technical cooperation to projects for expanding the financing of investments in the continent as well as efforts for political rapprochement.

These initiatives work alongside some large Brazilian companies that have been actively seeking out business opportunities in countries that until recently were synonymous with conflict and extreme poverty, interested primarily in opportunities in the infrastructure and natural resources sectors.

According to Cordeiro, the decision announced by President Dilma Rousseff to forgive $900 million dollars of African debt took place amidst these expansion plans.

Financing

In total, 12 countries will benefit from President Rousseff’s decision: Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Mauritania, Sudan, Sao Tome and Principe and Guinea-Bissau –of which only the last two classify as Lusophone nations.

Until recently, Brazilian state-owned banks could not finance investments and trade flows to these countries because of their unsettled debts with Brazil.

This measure will allow the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and Banco do Brasil to finance Brazilian exports as well as investments and infrastructure projects carried out by Brazilian companies (today, almost all BNDES loans for projects in Africa go to Mozambique and Angola.)

“The demand for investment and cooperation called for by African countries is immense,” said Cordeiro. “Tanzania wants Brazilian companies to help in the hydroelectric sector, for example, and Gabon seeks investments in oil. We also have many Brazilian companies interested in participating in this market – but we are still lacking the means to finance such projects.”

According to the Ambassador, in order to solve this problem, proposals were made to BNDES to create a board responsible solely for loans to Africa and Latin America.

“We need to think of appropriate financial instruments for these projects in Africa and understand what their guarantees could be,” stated Cordeiro.

Cooperation

Cordeiro points out that in the field of technical cooperation, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) already has projects in several African Countries – among them Senegal, Mali and Ghana. In addition, in terms of military exchange, there has been significant Brazilian participation in the training of Namibia’s Navy.

In the past three months, Dilma made three trips to Africa. Besides her trip to Ethiopia where she participated in the celebration of the African Union’s anniversary, she also went to Guinea Bissau in February to attend the third South America-Africa Summit and to Nigeria to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan.

In March, she attended the 5th BRICs summit in South Africa, taking the opportunity to also meet with leaders of other African countries.

Moreover, according to the Foreign Ministry (Itamaraty,) in recent years efforts have been made to expand the infrastructure of various Brazilian embassies in Africa, which more than doubled over the last decade, allowing Brazil to rank fourth, along with Russia, in terms of countries with the largest representation in the Continent (behind the United States, China and France.)

Photo attributed to UNHCR_ACNUR Las Americas

UN Accuses Mali of Recruiting Child Soldiers

In the recent report on children and war released by the UN, hundreds of children have been recruited by Islamist groups, Tuareg rebels, and government militias in Mali. For the first time, Mali appears in this annual report, which provides a “shame list” of abuses against children accountable in 2012.

For this country in crisis, the UN denounces “the exploitation and massive recruitment” of hundreds of children – mostly boys aged from 12 to 15 years – by Islamists such as the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), Ansar Dine, and the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

This article has been translated from Spanish. Click here to read the original version on Jeune Afrique

The same goes for pro-government militias: “In the region of Mopti Sévaré under government control, information has been received regarding the recruitment of children by the following militias: Ganda Izo, Ganda Koy and Liberation Forces of the North.”

Furthermore, the report highlights the following statement: “Given that a number of militias are integrated into the armed forces of Mali, it is urgent to identify these children and to help them leave the ranks.”

Unexploded ammunition has killed 24 children between March and August 2012 in the north of Mali, and the Malian army has led “interethnic reprisals against children of Arab and Tuareg origin.”

The report also lists 211 cases of sexual abuse (rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage) against girls by members of the MNLA, MUJAO, Ansar Dine, and AQIM.

Finally, “in February 2013, 86% of students who were still in the north remain deprived of access to education” due to damage caused to schools.

“Human Shields” in Syria

The UN Special Representative for children and armed conflict, Leila Zerrougui, hoped that the new UN mission in Mali (MINUSMA) “[will] allow [us] to improve our collective response to the needs of children.”

The UN report now includes 55 armies and armed groups from 14 countries, including 11 new parties which operate in Mali, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Syria.

In a previous report in 2011, the UN also stipulated that, in Syria, “the situation regarding children has deteriorated in all areas.”

In the same report, Leila Zerrougui states that, “thousands of children” were killed, tortured, used as human shields by the Syrian army, or recruited by the opposition.

According to the UN, “in May 2012, the Syrian government forces reportedly entered the primary school As Safirah in Aleppo province, took 30 boys and 25 girls aged 10 to 13 years hostage, and had them  march at the head of their troops to flush out a local unit of the Free Syrian Army.¨

The enrollment of teenagers by the opposition is also increasing. Based on the report, “former combatant of the original Free Syrian Army in the village of Kufr Zeita indicated that children not older than 14 years were often employed in the loading of weapons, food delivery, and the evacuation of the wounded”.

In addition, detention for alleged association with the opposition is a disturbing trend; the report states that a 16-year-old from Kafr Nabl (province of Idleb) witnessed the sexual assault and murder of his friend during his detention.”

In 2012, five action plans to release child soldiers were signed in South Sudan, Burma, the DRC, and Somalia. This has aided in the release of thousands of children. Nepal and Sri Lanka have been removed from the shame list.

Demonstration against MPs demands for a salary increment and their attempts to eject members of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). Photo attributed to Bwanacollins/Creative Commons

Protestors Throw Cow’s Blood at Politicians in Nairobi Demanding Lower Salaries 

“One hundred families could live on what a Member of Parliament makes each month.” This is what was written on one of the countless banners that flooded the gates of the Kenyan Parliament, where hundreds of people gathered to protest a raise in wages for members of Parliament that has been granted for no reason, since it has been just three months since the general elections and the Parliament has had barely any time to pass a single law.

“Con lo que un diputado cobra al mes viven 100 familias”. Esta es una de las innumerables pancartas que hoy han inundado los alrededores del Parlamento de Kenia, donde centenares de personas se han congregado para protestar por el aumento de los sueldos que los diputados se han otorgado como premio por nada, ya que solo hace tres meses que se celebraron elecciones generales y apenas han tenido tiempo para tramitar una sola ley.”

This article has been translated from Spanish. Click here to read the original version on ELMUNDO.es.

In reality, the most notable thing that has been done so far the revocation of an order of the Salaries and Remunerations Commission that reduced their salaries from 851,000 schillings (about €7500) to 532,500 schillings (about €4700), not including expenses, loans, or overtime, which are paid separately.

A large cardboard pig led the march to the Upper House, located in the heart of Nairobi, and passers-by stopped to curiously admire the unique flag bearer. These people, along with a swarm of reporters, crowded around to take the best photo of the day.

“We are you’re bosses, you’re fired;” “Compared to you, Judas Iscariot looks like a Saint;” “If higher wages reduces corruption, why is Kenya between 139 and 174 (on the list of most corrupt countries)?” These were other banners that stood out above the sea of heads covered with the scarves and caps of the “Occupy Parliament” movement.

The protest, organized by various human rights organizations and activists like Kenyan photojournalist Boniface Mwnagi, proceeded quietly until the protestors reached the gates of Parliament, which were bolted shut and guarded by dozens of police.

The sounds of drums and shouting attracted the attention of the police, who went to the fences to see what was going on. Tempers began to flare, and they began to shout and curse at them.
With an indifferent attitude, members of Parliament limited themselves to taking photos of the masses with their smartphones and laughing at the comical scene- for example, when one of the protestors tried to climb the fence but was caught by two policemen.

Despite the tension, the situation did not escalate, and protestors and police maintained their positions. But the organizers of the protest, the same people who had released a herd of pigs in front of Parliament a few days prior, were prepared for a final surprise: when it seemed that the situation was over, a van appeared with its back door open, revealing boxes and bags full of cow blood.

To the surprise of the police, members of Parliament, and journalists, the protesters began to hurl the boxes and bags at the line of police, creating an enormous pool of blood that splashed everyone within 10 meters of it.

“With what they make in a month, I could live for two years,” an outraged protester and economic consultant at a local firm explained to ELMUNDO.es. “We can’t let these people laugh at us, but we don’t have enough power.”

The truth is that although this civic movement has a clear objective and a legitimate cause, it has only managed to bring together a few hundred people, which makes it difficult to put pressure on members of Parliament to change their plans.

Chinese Financial Investment Stimulates Development in Africa

“According to the Africa Attractiveness Survey 2013 produced by Ernst & Young PPL, in the past five years, FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in Africa grew from 3.2% to 5.6%. Since 2012, the total amount of FDI from emerging markets exceeded the total amount of FDI from developed countries. These investments from the emerging markets effectively promoted the overall development in Africa, opened up more employment opportunities, developed skill training programs, reduced poverty and eliminated inequalities. China has been playing a very important role in these investments and developments.”

“安永会计师事务所5月6日发布的《2013非洲吸引力调查报告》指出，过去5年，非洲吸引全球外国直接投资份额从3.2%上升到5.6%。2012年，来自新兴市场国家的直接投资超过发达国家对非投资，这些投资有力促进了非洲发展，推动了非洲创造就业、技能开发、减贫和消除不平等，其中中国投资作用毋庸置疑。”

This article has been translated from Mandarin. Click here to read the original version on 163.com

The Proportion of FDI in Africa to the entire World Increased Exponentially

The Africa Attractiveness Survey 2013 is a report that combines potential market analyses from 38 different countries and over 500 business leaders in the world. The report highlights that over the past 5 years, FDI in Africa increased 12.8%. Eighty six percent of the business leaders believe that business environment in Africa will be further improved in the next 3 years, and it will become the second most attractive area after Asia.

Continuously improving business environment in Africa, the growing trade and investment have been very effectively promoting the economic growth in Africa. The survey points out that since 2000, the total economic output has doubled in the area southern to Sub-Saharan Africa.  Ajen Sita, the Area Managing Partner for Africa at Ernst & Young, remarked: “FDI has a particularly important role to play as a future source of longer-term capital for reinvestment in infrastructure initiatives and as an accelerator of sustainable growth across Africa. And there is far more to come”.

According to the survey, in the past 5 years, Foreign Indirect Investment included areas such as service, manufacturing, and infrastructural construction, etc., and these areas are not solely in the resource and energy sectors.  Service area accounts for 70% of the entire FDI projects, and 73.5% of FDI flew to infrastructural construction and other sectors. Moreover, the inflow of African private equity funds reached nearly $12 billion. The survey states that one of the biggest challenges in Africa is poor infrastructure, but this challenge is progressively solved. In 2012, Sub-Saharan Africa had more than 800 infrastructural projects under construction, and the total project value was more than 700 billion U.S. dollars.

BRIC Countries are the Main Stream

The Africa Attractiveness Survey 2013 shows that since 2007, FDI from the emerging market countries to Africa grew 20.7%; compared to developed countries, their total FDI only grew 8.4%. In 2012, the total amount of FDI from emerging markets exceeded the total amount of FDI from the developed countries. Among these emerging market countries, China and the United Arab Emirates invested the most in Africa, Chinese FDI grew 28%.

In 2012, FDI from developed countries dropped significantly – a drop of 20%.  In the past 10 years, the United States, the United Kingdom and France were ranked top three countries invested the most in foreign countries. Last year, the United Kingdom FDI to Africa increased 9%, but the United States and France dropped 22% and 39%.

British think-tank The Overseas Development Institute released a report in March, this report stated that FDI in Africa grew from $15 billion in 2001 to $37 billion in 2011; and in 2010, 25% of FDI in Africa came from BRIC countries. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development released the World Investment Report in March 2012. In this report, it states that FDI in Africa grew by 5.5%, and the BRIC countries are among the countries in the forefront of FDI in both stocks and flows. Although Africa only accounts 4% of total amount of FDI from BRIC countries to foreign countries, the investment of construction projects from BRIC countries increased from 19% in 2003 to 25% in 2012. Most of these investments focused on infrastructures and service sectors, only 26% of these projects focused on the primary sector.

Chinese Investment in Africa Fills out the Funding Gap

In the Africa Attractiveness Survey 2013, FDI has played a key role in the rapid economic development in Africa over the past 10 years. FDI in Africa over the past 10 years has created at least 15 million jobs, promoted more skill training programs, reduced poverty and eliminated inequalities. China has been playing a very important role in these investments and developments. The survey shows that over the past 5 years, China invested more than 152 new projects, ranked number 9 in the world.  Chinese FDI in Africa also grew 28%. CEO of Standard Chartered Bank of Africa said “in the past 10 years, there was a rapid growth in South-South trade and investment”. Last year, the total amount of trade was near 200 billion between China and Africa.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) Africa representative and General Manager Liu Yagan told the reporter that ICBC in 2008 invested 5.5 billion and acquisition of 20% stake in Standard Bank in South Africa. This investment is one of the biggest investments China has made in Africa. Liu also said the annual investment from China to Africa is 2 to 3 billion; upon until 2012, the total saving exceeded 15 billion.

U.S. think-tank Center for Global Development senior researcher Vijaya Ramachandran said China plays an important role in filling in the funding gap in Africa. Kenya’s major newspaper The Standard reports that Chinese investment and trade in Africa provides a historical opportunity for African self-development.

In the East Industrial Park in Ethiopia, Hua Jian Shoe Factory production line supervisor Ji Ru told the reporter that she is very proud to be able to work at a Chinese factory. Not only she is able to support her siblings to attend school, reduce the burden on the family, this job also gives her a new learning opportunity.

Professor Sandy, Honorary Professor at the Political Science department in the University of South Africa, and Director at the Institute for Global Dialogue told the reporter that the Chinese President Xi Jinping just announced that China is going to provide 20 billion loans to Africa in the next 3 years – this will greatly promote the development in Africa. Professor  Sandy also believes that President Xi Jinping’s visit to Africa, including signing more than 40 cooperation documents, and announcing a series of measures to support Africa, in terms of strengthening assistant, investment and financing cooperation, as well as vocational trainings, etc. These series of investments will become a catalyst for the further development of Africa.

Continue reading to see each story in more detail…

Zuma: Mandela is responding to treatment
Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Zuma said: “We are happy to report that former president Nelson Mandela is responding to treatment. We are happy with the progress he is making during these difficult days. We appreciate the support from the international community. We are proud to call him our own. We ask you to continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.” Meanwhile, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said on Wednesday he was “one of the greatest admirers” of Mandela and pledged to perpetuate his ideals. Speaking to France Info radio while in New Zealand, the Dalai Lama said South Africa’s anti-apartheid icons like Mandela and Desmond Tutu were ageing and frail and “logically they are going to go.” “The important thing is to preserve his memory,” the Dalai Lama said. “Nelson Mandela is very ill, Desmond Tutu also quite old … [The] important thing is their teaching, their spirit must carry.”
To read more please visit the Mail & Guardian site here

Boosting Youth Employment in Niger
In Niger, a country where 67% of the population is under 25 years of age, the problem of youth unemployment and underemployment is acute, given that the lack of job opportunities threatens to undermine the country’s political and economic stability. “You, the young people of Niger, have the potential to become an engine for development…”
To read more please visit the AllAfrica site here

Kenyan MPs Settle for Lower Pay Rise
Kenya’s members of parliament have finally come to an agreement over their new salary, local media reported. Parliamentarians on Tuesday agreed with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) to a gross monthly salary of $6,300 after a deadlock in negotiations prompted several public protests against the elected politicians. They will also get a $59,500 car grant and tax free mileage allowance and a pension as per a contributory scheme. The SRC had said the benefits were subject to the availability of funds, local media reported. The MPs had initially wanted their salaries revised to around $10,000 per month, drawing criticism across the country.
To read more visit Al Jazeera English here

Tanzania’s Forgotten Minority Groups Win Rights
Minority groups now have a reason to celebrate, thanks to the first draft of a new constitution for the Federation of the United Republic of Tanzania that has recognised them. Article 45 of the draft, unveiled last week, recognises minority groups such as hunter-gatherers — mainly the Hadzabe and Akiye ethnic groups — for the first time since Independence, over 50 years ago. The Hadzabe and Akiye, whose combined population in the country does not exceed 2,000, live in northern Tanzania and their livelihood depends on wild fruits, honey, and wild meat. Article 45 specifically provides that the state shall put in place…
To read more please visit the East African site here

Mali Tuaregs and Bamako on brink of election deal
Rebels from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and the High Council for the Unity of Azawad (HCUA) groups, that want autonomy for the northern Tuareg homeland they call Azawad, said they were prepared to ink a document put forward by regional mediator Burkina Faso. “We won’t obstruct the process,” an official in the Tuareg delegation told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday. “When the time comes, we’ll sign no problem.”  The MNLA controls the key northern town of Kidal and has been reluctant to let government troops step in to secure the planned July 28 presidential ballot.
To read more please visit the Mail & Guardian site here

The International Criminal Court’s Africa Problem
African political leaders widely believe that the the International Criminal Court is unfairly targeting Africans. At the recent African Union summit held on May 26-27, the AU’s Assembly adopted a decision requesting the International Criminal Court refer back to Kenya its cases against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyata and Vice President William Ruto. This is the latest in a series of decisions since 2008 in which the African Union expressed its displeasure with the ICC.
To read more please visit the Al Jazeera English here

‘Baba Jukwa’ raises Zanu (PF) hackles (Zimbabwe)
Zimbabwean politics is being shaken up by an unexpected source — a Facebook page being run by “Baba Jukwa”, who produces daily revelations of wrongdoing by the country’s leaders. His exposés range from alleged plans by President Robert Mugabe’s party to rig general elections that are scheduled to take place this year, to naming officials who led the government crackdown against the opposition in the western region of Matabeleland, which killed as many as 20,000 people in the 1980s.
To read more please visit the Business Day Live site here

South Sudan ‘will not go to war’ over oil dispute
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has said he would refer oil arguments with neighbouring Sudan to African Union mediators, vowing not to take the country back to war. Speaking on Monday, he said Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir was mobilising for war, something he would not inflict on South Sudan if it could be avoided. “The people of South Sudan should remain calm and patient as we work with the African Union to resolve this impasse with Sudan,” Kiir told reporters, while condemning the “aggressive attitude” of Khartoum.
To read more please visit Al Jazeera English here

Zanzibar’s Encroaching Ocean Means Less Water
Khadija Komboani’s nearest well is filled with salt water thanks to the rising sea around Tanzania’s Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar. And until recently, the 36-year-old mother of 12 from Nungwi village in Unguja on the northernmost part of Zanzibar, spent most of her day walking to her nearest fresh water supply to collect safe drinking water. “The water is very salty so it can’t be used for anything. You will use a lot of soap and water if you use it for washing clothes or dishes. Another difficulty is that you can’t use it for cooking or drinking. That is why we had to walk for long distances to collect water from fresh water wells,” Komboani tells IPS.
To read more please visit the AllAfrica site here

Continue reading to see each story in more detail…

Mandela update: Condition remains ‘unchanged’
Former president Nelson Mandela remains in hospital, and his condition is unchanged. Madiba was admitted on Saturday, June 8 2013, for treatment in a Pretoria hospital for a lung infection. President Jacob Zuma reiterates his call for South Africa to pray for Madiba and the family during this time,” the presidency said on Monday morning. This was the first update since the hospitalization of former South African statesman.
To read more please visit the Mail and Guardian site here

Union Africaine: fin de l’état de grace pour Nkosazana-Dlamini Zuma
Arrivée en juillet 2012 à la tête de la Commission de l’UA,  Nkosazana-Dlamini Zuma essuie déjà des critiques. C’est un petit déjeuner comme le Sheraton d’Addis-Abeba sait en mitonner  pendant les sommets de l’Union africaine (UA). On y voit passer ministres,  diplomates, journalistes, anciens secrétaires généraux de l’Organisation de  l’Unité africaine (OUA)… En janvier, lors de la précédente grand-messe  continentale, le même décor garni de croissants et de café au lait résonnait de  commentaires positifs sur les premiers pas de Nkosazana Dlamini-Zumaà la tête  de la Commission de l’UA. L’énergie déployée lors de la conquête du pouvoir, sa  compétence, sa capacité d’écoute. Mais fin mai, lors du 21e sommet, la lune de miel paraissait terminé et de ce fait, Dlamini-Zuma a dû présenter ses excuses aux  délégations des pays membres pour les ratés de l’organisation du sommet.
To read more please visit the Jeune Afrique site here

Economic week ahead: SA’s mining, retail figures dominate
Mining, manufacturing and retail trade figures will dominate South Africa’s data calendar this week. Overseas, manufacturing retail sales numbers and consumer sentiment readings in the United States, industrial output and employment data in Europe as well as a series of key figures in Asia will set the tone for global markets over the coming days. Here is your guide. On Monday, Africa Egypt will release last month’s consumer price index (CPI) and  Mozambique’s central bank will meet to decide on interest rates.
To read more please visit the Mail and Guardian site here

Ajournement du procès Moubarak au 6 juillet
Le procès de l’ancien président égyptien Hosni Moubarak pour corruption et complicité dans le meurtre de manifestants a été ajourné au 6 juillet, à l’issue d’une audience lundi consacrée au passage en revue des preuves. La cour criminelle du Caire a en outre ordonné la libération de Gamal et Alaa Moubarak, jugés avec leur père pour corruption, leur détention préventive ayant dépassé la durée maximum de deux ans, mais cette décision a peu de chances d’être appliquée car d’autres accusations pèsent sur les deux hommes, selon une source judiciaire. La cour ordonne leur libération tant qu’aucun d’eux n’est détenu dans le cadre d’autres affaires”, a déclaré le juge Mahmoud Al-Rachidi.
To read more please visit Le Monde.fr site here

Africa: Can Innovation Solve Africa’s Problems?
AllAfrica’s Mantsadi Sepheka talks to the Africa Innovation Foundation and winners of the 2013 Innovation Prize to find the link between Africa’s development challenges and nurturing and rewarding creative thinkers. Founders of the Africa Innovation Foundation (AIF), would like to contribute to prosperity in Africa by encouraging and supporting innovation in Africa.
To read more please visit the AllAfrica site here

South Africa: Framing Death – How Will the World Mark the Passing of Nelson Mandela?
When I woke up on Saturday 8th June and looked at the leading stories in the news I felt a shiver. Again, South Africans (and many in the rest of the world) are dreading the news that Nelson Mandela’s lung infection has claimed the life of one of the towering figures of the 20th Century. In Britain, the concern is about the health of Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband.
To read more please visit the AllAfrica site here

Nairobi, Kenya polling station in Kilimani, photo attributed to Zulusafari/Creative Commons

Kenya’s presidential election, held on the March 4, 2013, was one of the most closely watched events in the nation’s history. Political analysts all over the world made predictions as to whether or not the election was likely to lead to violence similar to that which occurred in 2007/8, and breathed a collective sigh of relief when the optimists were vindicated. Understanding the factors that led to this outcome is crucial to create meaningful lessons for governance in the future. Our last article on the Kenyan presidential race pointed out that elections alone are necessary, but not sufficient for democracy. In order to move forward, Kenya and other developing democracies should endeavor to learn from both successes and mistakes.

The European Union Election Observation Mission to Kenya commented that “Kenyans should be congratulated for their sense of civic pride and responsibility” and judged that “overall the atmosphere was calm and the democratic spirit of Kenyans prevailed.” This positive statement should not, however, lead to the conclusion that the election was conducted flawlessly. Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto and their Jubilee Alliance won the first round by approximately 8,500 out of 12 million votes. This narrow lead heightened attention to possible misconduct by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which was set up by the new constitution. As a result, runner up Raila Odinga filed a legal appeal, arguing that the results should have led to a second round, as neither candidate could have reached the required 50% had the polls been properly conducted. The Kenyan Supreme Court ultimately upheld the Jubilee Alliances election victory. Critics of the election pointed to issues involving rejected ballots and the return to the system used in 2007, after the failure of newer technologies such as the “Biometric Voter Registration system,” which cost Kenyans 95 million USD.

What stood out, despite the controversy surrounding the electoral procedure, was the willingness by all the parties involved to uphold the legitimacy of the Kenyan political institutions and to put to practice the democratic messages that had been often repeated during the campaigns. Raila Odinga, after the Supreme Court ruling, publicly stated that “The court has now spoken. I wish the president-elect, honorable Uhuru Kenyatta, and his team well.” Understandably, a sense of loss still prevailed among Odinga’s supporters. Some rioting resulted in places such as the lakeside city Kisumu, where five people were killed. Overall, however, the response of the political leaders was to urge caution and promote peace, which had a considerable effect on their support bases.

One could argue the driving force behind the peaceful conduct of the election was Kenya’s new constitution. After the violence in 2007/8, the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Process (KNDR) was initiated, which led to the promulgation of the new constitution on August 27, 2010.  Since then, efforts have been made to apply the reforms in time for the 2013 general elections. Although not all the reforms have yet been successfully completed, the new constitution still managed to give Kenyan’s a sense of hope and progress that was vital in ensuring a break from the past. Furthermore, many of the institutional reforms that had already taken place renewed trust in a system that had previously been viewed as corrupt and broken.

The police force is one good example of positive institutional change in comparison to the 2007 election. Advancing towards March 4^th following unfortunate violence in the Tana District, there were concerns that progress in the security forces had not been substantial enough. The Inspector General of Police, David Kimaiyo, escalated security closer to the election and deployed approximately 100,000 police around Kenya, focusing on the 33,000 polling stations. This heightened police presence acted as deterrent, allowed voters to relax while queuing for their turn at the polling station, and managed small-scale conflicts as they arose.

Other factors that contributed to the success of the election were not purposefully planned. The Jubilee alliance brings together the Kikuyu, and the Kalenjiin, who have traditionally been at the center of conflicts in Kenyan history. The Rift Valley area was the site of ethnic clashes between these two groups throughout the 90s, which carried on until 2008. As the largest ethnic group in Kenya, the Kikuyu have historically held political power, leading to the marginalization of smaller groups. If the broad inter-ethnic alliances such as Jubilee and CORD that contested this election become the norm then this may go some way to mitigate the tensions that still exist after decades of inter-ethnic conflict.

Overall, while the calls for peace from the international community, celebrities and Kenyans themselves were an immense positive force, the emphasis on peace may have sidelined some of the important concerns that must be tackled if the democratic success is to be sustainable. The issues touched on above of leadership, institutional development and alleviation of ethnic tensions are important in and of themselves for the development of the country, and should not be perceived as only remedies for a successful election. Many of the causes of discontentment among the population, such as corruption, problems with land tenure and feelings of disenfranchisement have deep historical roots that cannot be patched over by a single electoral success. Looking forward, the Kenyan government must ensure that the half of the country that did not see their candidate win carries on trusting the state to provide for them and protect them.

*This post was written by the Africa Program and Leadership Project staff. Main contributions by Suraiya az-Zubair, and edited by William Schultz.