international archives (143)
(GIN) - With insurgents gaining ground across Somalia everyday, Somalians should be allowed to choose the path to peace, according to a regional expert based in Nairobi. “The success of the insurgents is a reflection of the desire of ordinary Somalis to end the anarchy, coupled with the TFG's [transitional federal government] inability to restore order,†said Timothy Othieno, a regional analyst at the London-based Overseas Development Institute.
“Somalia's U.S.- backed government is not on the brink of collapse; it has already collapsed,†said Abdi Ahmed Dhuhulow, a parliamentarian allied to Somali's Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, this week. In the past two months, insurgents opposed to foreign forces have taken control of more than a dozen localities. “It would be wise to allow the Somalis to decide how they want to design their own state. I am not saying to neglect Somalia, but not interfere in their 'state-making' processes,†Othieno said. According to the United Nations, some 3.5-million Somalis will urgently need help by the year's end.
(GIN) – President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for U.S. Treasury Secretary could have far reaching consequences for Africa. [Obama recently named Timothy Geithner, currently president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as his new Treasury Secretary.] Little opposition has been expressed toward Geithner, but two other members of Obama’s economic team – Paul Volcker and Lawrence Summers - are drawing critical comments from some Africa watchers.
“One of Barack Obama's leading advisors has done more damage to Africa, its economies and its people than anyone I can think of in world history, including even Cecil John Rhodes,†said Patrick Bond, director of the Centre for Civil Society in Durban, South Africa, referring to Volcker, who Obama recently named to become chairman of his Economic Recovery Advisory Board.
ExxonMobil and Africare have announced a joint $1.75 million three-year project designed to empower rural women in southern Chad by developing their entrepreneurial capacity in small business development and income generation projects, obtaining micro-credit, and accessing markets. The project will be the largest single contribution to-date under the ExxonMobil Foundation’s Educating Women and Girls Initiative for a women's economic development project.
“We launched the Educating Women and Girls Initiative because an extensive body of research demonstrated that expanding education and resources for women and girls is one of the most effective ways to promote health and economic development,†said Rex W. Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer, Exxon Mobil Corporation. “As one of the largest direct foreign investors in Africa, ExxonMobil understands it makes sense to foster economic growth and improve health on the continent. It is good for our employees, our neighbors and our customers.â€
Just a year ago, Castro took over leadership from his brother Fidel Castro who is ailing. Castro sent a message to the U.S. government from a Venezuela summit.
“We have sent word to the U.S. government in private and in public that we are willing to discuss everything — human rights, freedom of the press, political prisoners — everything,†read Raul Castro’s message.
Mrs. Obama clearly made an impression with the 82-year-old monarch - so much that the smiling queen strayed slightly from protocol and briefly wrapped her arm around the first lady in a rare public show of affection. It was the first time Mrs. Obama - who is nearly a foot taller - had met the queen. The first lady also wrapped her arm around the monarch's shoulder and back.
Dr. Jeanne Toungara, associate professor of History at Howard University, gives direction to panelist Radha Muthaih, VP Strategic Partnerships and Alliances, CARE, Kechi Anah, MD, MPA, Africare, and Kim Knowlton, Dr. PH Senior Scientist, Health & Environment Program, Natural Resources Defense Council, NRDC at the 2009 Women’s Empowerment Conference held at the National Geographic Society on Fri., May 8. Photo by Roy LewisAccording to its organizers, the goal of the conference was to promote the empowerment of women and gender equality as issues central to U.S. development policy in Africa; and to develop new ideas and joint framework for continued engagement toward aid effectiveness in the areas of governance, security, health, and the environment. Other specific agenda for the conference is to develop partnerships with NGOs, think tanks, faith-based groups, and academia to further public and political discourse on the challenges facing women in Africa and to promote and reward successful efforts.
African Socialist International (ASI) Courtesy PhotoMuse is the alleged teenage Somali pirate who is being tried in the U.S. as an adult. ASI members contend that Muse is 15-years-old, but other sources put his age at anywhere from 16 to 19-years-old. However, according to Diop Olugbala, an ASI member and chair of the African Liberation Day Steering Committee, the fact that Muse is being tried at all is the main cause of outrage.
Kenyan pirate negotiator Andrew Mwangura may be portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in a bio-pic. Courtesy Photo
His Excellency Erastus Mwencha Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission addressing a press conference during his weeklong visit to Washington DC. Looking on is Her Excellency, Ms. Amina Salum Ali, First Permanent Ambassador of the African Union Mission in Washington DC. African Photo By Chinazor Onianwah What comes to mind now at the mention of Africa are challenges such as combating malaria and the AIDS/HIV epidemic, despotic regimes in Zimbabwe and Sudan and the failed state of Somalia that gave rise to piracy along the ‘Horn of Africa’. These challenges also include mediating in civil wars in the Congo, economic issues such as improving the standard of living of millions of impoverished, uneducated Africans, ecological issues such as dealing with recurring famines, desertification and lack of ecological sustainability.
Jacob Zuma Courtesy PhotoThough the 67 years old Jacob Zuma won’t be officially elected President until May 6, 2009, his African National Congress (ANC) landslide victory (65.9%) assures his victory.
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