Africa Blogging This Week: Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Morocco, DRC

This is Zimbabwe (http://zimpundit.blogspot.com/2006/03/arm-cache-political-faux-pas.html) comments on the latest conspiracy theory that the Harare government is “falling apart”. This time it is the release of one of the eight arrested on suspicion of plotting to kill Mugabe. “MDC's Brian James, a treasurer for the party's Manicaland structure was released yesterday, but gagged from spewing details about how porous the investigation still is.” The investigators are busy weaving more spin on the assassination plot:

“…alleging that the suspects planned to pour oil on the highway connecting Harare and Mutare shortly before Mugabe was to drive on the road on his way to his birthday celebration in the Eastern town. This would, the cops allege, cause the presidential motorcade to slip which would kill the president.”

Adefunke on Adefunke (http://adefunke.blogspot.com/2006/03/blogging-perhaps-in-my-mother-tong…) discovers a blog in Yoruba and writes on the exciting possibility of blogging in her mother tongue, Yoruba, and recalls her great excitement at finding Yoruba google:

“I remember the first time I used Yoruba Google, I saw the link in the bottom of an email I got from a friend and rushed right over in my browser. Of course I immediately IM’ed PC (my 'Partner' in 'Criminal') and we had a lengthy discussion about the site and its usefulness. Once the initial wow effect wore off, it became obvious that Yoruba Google for now would be a bit limited in the help it could render to anyone wishing to do more than search for common Yoruba words on the Internet.”

Jangbalajugbu – Homeland Stories - (http://www.edwardpopoola.com/blog/?p=60) comments on the two week closure of his university, Obafemi Awolowo University in Ife, in the middle of term exams. The closure was deemed necessary, supposedly to avert developing the unrest amongst students that had started as a result of one Muslim student breaking up the watching of pornographic videos in the student hall.

“Things degenerated from being an ordinary explanation into a big fight. The fight continued till early in the morning and the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Rogers Makanjuola had to intervene. He spent hours trying to settle the grudges. With the fear that the fight could escalate, the university authorities decided to close down the school…Students are to leave the University before 4pm on Sunday. Mobile policemen have already been positioned at the University gate to ensure that students comply with the instruction. By the time you read this, I should be out of the campus too. So sad.”

Agarthon Rwasi (http://agathonrwasa.blogspot.com/2006/03/tanzania-leads-pr-offensive-on…) a blog devoted to exposing the war crimes of Burundi’s FNL leader Agarthon Rwasi, comments on the Tanzanian government’s support of Rwasi in providing him with the platform to speak and promote his agenda.

“A few days ago Rwasa held a press conference in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Once again, no attempt was made by the Tanzanian authorities to arrest him over his involvement in the August 2004 Gatumba massacre, and the hundreds of other atrocities for which he is responsible. Once again, the FNL leader made hollow promises about a purported willingness to end the killings and seek the path of peace. And again, Reuters and other news agencies have failed to make any mention of the FNL's ongoing atrocities, presenting Rwasa simply as a political leader.”

Redeem Ethiopia (http://redeemethiopia.blogspot.com/2006/03/ethiopias-oil-curse.html) comments on the commencement of oil exploration in Ethiopia, warning of the developing “marriage of convenience developing between the present illegitimate Ethiopian government and Asian oil interests”. He makes comparisons between this discovery, the discovery and curse oil has brought to Nigeria and the situation in the Sudan where the power of oil is located in a few elite unscrupulous leaders.

“The Ethiopian government is still a few years away from raking in oil revenues to the extent where it can decline international financial support thus neutralizing the efforts of the democracy oriented Ethiopian Diaspora and other concerned governments that are urging it to stop the bloodshed and leave power.”

“The comparison with Sudan is not being made in vain. Bashir and Meles’ close friendship is a long sighted partnership in pursuit of a common goal – namely the extortion of national wealth for the benefit of a few with the protection of global powers that find this arrangement only too convenient from the perspective of controlling these weak governments. China’s protection of Bashir’s government in the UN Security Council as well as in various other international political mediums is being carried out in the interest of fueling China’s tremendous economic growth but has left the majority of Sudanese punished beyond reprieve.”

Black Looks (http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks/2006/03/193_immigrants_.html) reports on the recent deaths of West African migrants hoping to reach Europe via the Canaries. Some 48 men died just off the coast of Mauritania which has now become the new staging port for migrants as Morocco closes off it’s borders. The numbers of migrants reaching Spain has gone up by a staggering 200% in the past 12 months despite the risk of death and the unknown. According to Spanish newspaper El Pais there are presently some 10,000 people waiting to make the crossing from Mauritania to Grand Canaria and Tarifa in Andalucia on the Spanish mainland.

Le Blog du Congolais (http://congomania.afrikblog.com/archives/2006/03/14/1520610.html) calls on possible presidential candidate Mr Tshisekedi to run in the forthcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He writes that there is only 9 days left to register and hopes Tshisekedi will do so for the sake of the country.

“À vous Monsieur qui représentez tant d’espoirs pour tout un peuple, et à tous vos conseillés, je vous pose cette question que nous sommes, udépeistes et non membres de l’UDPS, congolais résidents et congolais de la diaspora, nombreux à poser : Monsieur Tshisekedi, alors que la Nation vous attend, vous, qu’attendez-vous donc » (the nation waits on you – but for what do you wait?)

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks,

* Please send comments to [email protected]