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January 25, 2013 News

January 25, 2013

Keep reading for recent news stories including reports on the developing situation in Mali, an interview with the UN's new special adviser on Africa, Maged Abdelaziz, Kenya selling solar and biogas to the national grid, a move towards greater gender equality in Morocco, new healthcare policies in Burkina Faso, and Rwanda instituting austerity measures.

Taking the fight to the desert
"As France pours men and money into the battle against jihadists, the contours of Mali's crisis are rapidly changing. Bombing raids may have ended the militants' hegemony over the people of Timbuktu and Gao, but their campaign is far from over. Restoring some security across the Sahara will be a slow and painful business, with many reverses. Pounded by French air strikes near Leré, fighters led by Al Qaida's Algerian commander Abdel Hamid Abou Zeid quickly hit back, attacking Diabali. Then, half a desert away, on 16 January Moulathmine Islamist militants took 41 foreign oil workers hostage at In Amenas, south-east Algeria.."
To read the full article, visit the Africa Confidential site here

'Ensure that everyone benefits from economic gains'
"In May 2012, Maged Abdelaziz was appointed as the UN's new special adviser on Africa, at the level of under-secretary-general. As head of the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), he is in charge of advocating for African development internationally and helping coordinate the efforts of UN agencies and departments in support of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the African Union's continental plan for political, economic and social advancement. Although new to his post, he is no stranger to the global community's interaction with Africa. As part of a long diplomatic career on behalf of his native Egypt, he was that country's permanent representative to the UN in New York for the seven years just prior to his most recent appointment, and in that capacity served as vice-president of the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, among other duties. As OSAA prepared for new General Assembly debates on Africa in October, he shared some of his thoughts with Africa Renewal…."
To read the full interview, visit the Africa Renewal site here

Solar, biogas power to be sold to national grid
"Kenya has revised its power pricing policy for renewable energy to allow the sale of solar-generated power to the national grid

The change in policy is likely to attract new investors in solar energy, who were hitherto restricted to selling their power independently.

It is also expected to trigger new investments by communities living in high solar-potential regions like northern Kenya and to improve Kenya's energy mix, eventually reducing the cost of electricity and boosting supply…"
To read the full article, visit the East African site here

AU chafes over French force in Mali
"As France's full-scale war on Islamist militants now rages on in landlocked Mali, African leaders meeting for their biannual African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia this weekend will be hard-pressed to find a way for Africa to take charge of the situation.

Experts say, although they saluted the speedy French intervention to stop Islamists from advancing to take over the capital Bamako earlier this month, African leaders are not clear about how the deployment of African troops in the vast desert of northern Mali will pan out. They are also divided over whose responsibility it will be to "clean up" once France withdraws…"
To read the full article, visit the Mail and Guardian site here

Morocco takes a step towards gender equality
"Women's rights in Morocco are poised to improve with the probable scrapping of a law allowing rapists of minors to avoid jail by marrying them.

But the road to gender equality in Morocco remains long.

The kingdom was shocked in March 2012 by the suicide of Amina Filali (16) who was forced to marry the man who violated her. For him it was a way under Article 475 of the country's penal code to remain a free man.

On Monday, the country's Islamist government expressed its backing for a Bill to repeal this section of the law…"
To read the full article, visit the Mail and Guardian site here

Getting More Health for the Money: Burkina Faso Tries Outsourcing
"The predominantly rural country of Burkina Faso has initiated an innovative approach to community-based distribution of condoms and contraceptives, as well as health information, in a project spearheaded by UNFPA and involving a wide range of partners, from volunteer health workers and community-based organizations to government ministries…"
To read the full article, visit the UNFPA site here

Rwanda begins adopting austerity measures
"Rwanda has frozen the recruitment of civil servants, citing ongoing reforms within the public service sector.

All public institutions have been asked to suspend hiring of government workers, including support staff. Cases where the recruitment had started, but candidates are yet to be placed in their positions, must also be suspended, according to a memo signed by the Minister for Labour and Public Service, Anastase Murekezi.

The memo does not specify the kind of reforms being undertaken.

The freeze on employment is being seen by many economists as part of the government's wider austerity measures to tackle its budget deficit, occasioned by aid cuts by major donors…"
To read the full article, visit the East African site here

Related Program

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