http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/355/mar20_01_liberianature.gifThe blog on natural resource issues in Liberia by
reprints an article which questions why American presidential candidates are ignoring Africa:

“Fraught with intractable violence, interminable disease and abject poverty, Africa is traditionally observed by policymakers through a humanitarian lens. However, the continent's emerging geo-strategic importance transcends such condescending colonial overtones to command the attention of the United States beyond the moral, humanitarian and security imperatives.

Distracted by long-winded plans to end the war in Iraq, one is hard-pressed to detect any semblance of serious interest on the websites of American presidential candidates that goes beyond ending the genocide in Darfur or supporting HIV/Aids initiatives in Africa…

The US strategy of indifference towards Africa's ever-growing importance is counterproductive and potentially dangerous…

To believe that one leader's ‘audacity of hope’ can transform Washington's audacity of indifference first requires all citizens to become the change they want to see. Americans deserve to hear more from their presidential hopefuls about their vision regarding the land of hope, Africa.”

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/355/mar20_02_afrodissident.gifhttp://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/355/mar20_03_rakotomalala.gifRakoto Malala writes about an ongoing campaign to end early marriage practices in Ethiopia:

“As part of International woman’s day, several prominent Ethiopian artists came together to fill a 100-meter-long canvas with new paintings that promote the campaign to end early marriage practices in Ethiopia. 30 artists including Desta Hagos, Alem Teklu and Bekele Mekonen contributed to the painting that was part of events organized by UNFPA in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Population Council, and the patronage of Azeb Mesfin, wife of the Ethiopian prime minister the UNFPA representative noted that:

‘Early Marriage is one of the prevalent forms of gender-based violence in Ethiopia with negative consequences on women's and girl's reproductive health, including maternal deaths, fistula, HIV/AIDS and other negative psycho-social problems’ …
…
Studies showed than 50% of young girls fifteen or younger are forced into marriage in the province of Amhara alone despite the legal marriage age being set at 18.
However, the representative pointed out in her speech that the Ethiopian Government has made the fight against gender inequality a top-priority and that great improvements have been achieved.”

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/355/mar20_04_myblogcatchup.gifKatch Up comments on President Gaddafi’s recent statement that President Museveni of Uganda should rule as long as he is popular:

“I find it OK if you ask me. Gaddafi has a maxim that if you are popular with your people why leave them hanging? Why not give it to 'em all the way to the end?...

Reigning till kingdom come would thus be better but if. Only if the ruler is accountable enough. Kagame and Museveni are resplendent in the cloak of democracy but they don't practise it. They jump in whenever it is convenient to sort things out regardless of some funny laws that are only there to be obeyed without serving the public.

The problem is finding this leader who can be trusted. If we can then I go Gaddafi’s way. In Africa a home should always allow a father to streamline things but reasonably. Those who lord it unreasonably are not the example here.

Museveni and Kagame are not the perfect guys here but they are the closest I get to my support for the idea of putting democracy in books but bending it when a good reason comes over.”

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/355/mar20_05_siasaduni.gifSiasa Duni focuses on President Museveni’s reaction to land claims by the Kingdom of Buganda:

“In what has now come to characterise the President's speeches on the land question in the country, Museveni took another swipe at Mengo, the seat of Buganda Kingdom, describing officials pushing for the return of the now obscure 9,000sq miles of land, as opportunists. "I normally tune in to CBS (Buganda's radio -Central Broadcasting Service) when I have time. And you hear all this trash. They are just opportunists whose intention is only 'naalira wa?' (What is in it for me?)," he said. Museveni took time off to remind delegates that his administration reinstated traditional and cultural institutions in the country, with the sole aim of reviving lost glory and custom, before concluding that the traditional leaders have failed "and I will oppose them because I am still here."
[…]
Only last week, the Coordinator of Security Services in the country, Gen. David Tinyefuza, told Parliament that the army will not hesitate to intervene in settling civil strife in the country, a proclamation that has now been understood as a warning to anyone who stokes tribal hatred over the land debate.

Already, Buganda and the central government have locked horns over the proposals which the latter believes will help curb incessant illegal evictions in the country. Mengo insists it will only legitimise land grabbing. Commenting on the land debate, Museveni said "the talk about tribalism and division is absolute nonsense and we shall oppose them."

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/355/mar20_06_grandioseparlor.gifhttp://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/355/mar20_07_dibussi.gif

I recently came across an interesting article about the recent wave of riots that have rocked a number of countries, which gives credence to Abrahamsen's argument. Thus, while acknowledging the well-documented internal / political reasons for the recent riots in Cameroon, the article also points to externally-dictated liberal economic policies as one of the main culprits. Which leads us to wonder - rhetorically of course - if Cameroon is now being run ("governed" would be an inappropriate word in these circumstances) from Washington, DC by donor agencies...”

* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at http://www.pambazuka.org/