AfricaFocus Bulletins with Material on Peace and Security - 2009
Dec 22, 2009 Congo (Kinshasa): Militarization of Mining Well-Entrenched
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/gw0912.php
"The illicit exploitation of natural resources is not a new
phenomenon in eastern DRC. It has characterised the conflict since
it first erupted in 1996 and has been well documented by
non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the United Nations Panel of
Experts and Group of Experts, journalists and others. Twelve years
on, the patterns remain the same, and despite abundant evidence of
these activities, no effective action has been taken to stop this
murderous trade." - Global Witness
Dec 22, 2009 Congo (Kinshasa): Conflict Fueled from Many Sources
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/un0912.php
"Minerals and arms smuggling worth millions of dollars persists in
eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) despite
international sanctions, fuelling rebel strength despite national
army operations, and army and rebel soldiers continue to kill
civilians, according to a new United Nations report that calls on
the Security Council to take action to plug the gaps." - UN News,
reporting on independent Group of Experts on sanctions on DRC
Dec 18, 2009 Africa: New Books from AfricaFocus Subscribers
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/sub0912.php
This AfricaFocus Bulletin has recent books (2008 and 2009) from
AfricaFocus subscribers, including authors, editors, contributors,
and publishers. It's a very substantial list, but I'm sure some
have escaped my notice. If you are an AfricaFocus subscriber, check
this out for your own books and those by the your fellow
subscribers. If you are an author or editor and don't find your
recently published book here, do let me know (at
africafocus@igc.org), and I'll add it below.
Dec 15, 2009 South Africa: 30+ New Books
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/sab0912.php
The most popular of these new books from and about South Africa is
undoubtedly that by John Carlin on Nelson Mandela and the Game
that Made a Nation, now available in two editions as well as in
the newly released Clint Eastwood movie. But probably the one most
in need of greater international attention is the one edited by
Tawana Kupe and colleagues - Go Home or Die Here: Violence,
Xenophobia and the Reinvention of Difference in South Africa. This
photographic and analytic portrayal of the xenophobic violence of
2008 poses fundamental questions about the shape of today's South
Africa.
Oct 23, 2009 Guinea (Conakry): More than an Inquiry?
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/gc0910.php
"Three weeks after over 150 people were killed in a military
crackdown on demonstrators in the capital Conakry, with women and
girls raped, Guineans are coping with the aftermath, some still
searching for disappeared relatives' bodies. Uncertainty and
tension reign." - UN IRIN News, Oct. 21, 2009
Oct 11, 2009 Sudan: Between Peace and War
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/sud0910b.php
The pace of diplomacy on Sudan is increasing, with talks set to
resume on Darfur and active engagement by the African Union, the
United Nations, and the United States in efforts to move Sudan's
Comprehensive Peace Agreement forward as it approaches the last
year of a projected 6-year interim period. But, says veteran Sudan
analyst John Ashworth, in fact the agreement "is not Comprehensive,
nor Peace, nor an Agreement. Its failure could ignite a new war
even more deadly than the two previous conflicts in Southern Sudan.
Oct 11, 2009 Sudan: Policy Debates and Dilemmas
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/sud0910c.php
In the debate on international policies towards Sudan, analysts as
Alex de Waal and Mahmood Mamdani have convincingly critiqued Save
Darfur movement and the International Criminal Court for
counterproductive "humanitarian fundamentalism." After recent years
of alternating bluster and failure to put real pressure on the
Sudanese government from the U.S. under President Bush, the
Obama administration and the "international community" seem to be
gearing up to give diplomacy a serious chance. But the unanswered
question is whether even forceful and skillful diplomacy can
overcome Khartoum's long-practiced strategies for delay and
deception.
Oct 11, 2009 Sudan: African Union Panel Reports
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/sud0910a.php
"Repeatedly during our process of consultation, the Darfurians
insisted that the Panel would fail in its mission if it did not
identify and address what they called "the root cause of the crisis
in Darfur". ... a gross imbalance between a strong centre
and a marginalised periphery, which resulted in political power and
wealth being concentrated in the centre, with the consequent
negative consequences on the periphery." - African Union High-Level
Panel on Darfur
Sep 15, 2009 USA/Somalia: Slippery Slope
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/som0909.php
A U.S. commando raid in Somalia on Sept. 14 reportedly killed Kenyan
Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, accused of links with al-Qaeda and of
responsibility for a terrorist truck bomb at a Mombasa hotel in
2002. It is being applauded as a win by U.S. counter-terrorism
officials, not least for its success in avoiding civilian
casualties. But critical observers warn that its impact could
nevertheless be counter-productive, producing new recruits for
extremist groups in Somalia and reinforcing accusations that the
fragile Somali government is too close to Washington.
Aug 4, 2009 USA/Kenya: What Kind of Partnership?
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/ken0908s.php
"Many people had hoped that Kenya's 2007 presidential elections
would cement Kenya's democratic progress and would provide a solid
foundation for the country to break out of its economic doldrums
and begin to achieve some of its enormous economic potential.
Instead, the 2007 elections brought trade and commerce to a halt,
polarized the country along regional and ethnic lines and for a
brief moment nearly brought the country to the edge of civil war."
- Johnnie Carson, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa
Aug 4, 2009 Kenya: National Government of Impunity?
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/ken0908.php
On July 30, only days before this week's visit of U.S. Secretary of
State Hilary Clinton to Kenya, the first stop on her 7-country
Africa trip, the Kenyan Cabinet decided to reject special prosecution of
those responsible for post-election violence in 2007 and 2008,
whether under a domestic special tribunal or by the International
Criminal Court (ICC), to which the case has been referred. Kenyan
human rights advocates have been scathing in their critique of the
Cabinet decision, and will be closely parsing the signals from
the Clinton visit.
Jul 21, 2009 USA/Africa: After the Speech
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/usa0907a.php
President Obama's speech met with mixed reviews. In Africa as well
as in the United States, there was applause for the criticism of
corrupt African rulers and the inspiring rhetoric calling for
Africans to take responsibility for their future. But many
commentators also called for a reality check.
Jul 10, 2009 USA/Africa: Obama in Ghana, What Kind of Change?
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/usaf0907.php
President Barack Obama's trip to Ghana, beginning today, will be
rich in symbolism. But those hoping for a new
direction in U.S. Africa policy are tempering their hopes with
skepticism. The issue posed, parallel to that in other policy
spheres, is to what extent change will remain symbolic or reflect
substantive shifts, even if small, away from U.S. policies based on
unilateral geostrategic goals or unexamined economic policy
assumptions.
Jun 24, 2009 USA/Uganda: Recovery from Conflict?
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/ugan0906.php
"We applaud the commitment of the bill [in the U.S. Congress] to
bring about stability and development in the region. However, we as
the Acholi religious leaders whose primary concern is the
preservation of human life, advocate for dialogue and other
non-violent strategies to be employed so that long term sustainable
peace may be realized. Let us learn from the past experiences where
we have seen that violence only breeds more violence." - Acholi
Religious Leaders Peace Initiative
Jun 12, 2009 Nigeria: Delta Violence Past & Present
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/nig0906b.php
"It is impossible to separate the actions of the oil multinationals
operating across the Niger Delta from the actions of the Nigerian
government in the region. ... In exchange for the oil removed from
the Niger Delta, the oil companies, with the support of the
Nigerian state, have left behind an ecological disaster, reducing
whole towns and villages to rubble, causing death by fire and
pollution, and the guns of the Nigerian military." - Sokari Ekine
and Firoze Manji
Jun 12, 2009 Nigeria: Midterm Results Disappoint
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/nig0906a.php
"Every Nigerian hopes Yar'Adua's administration will start
delivering those political goods which every society is entitled
to, and what Yar'Adua promised in his Inaugural Address. But the
strength of the hope dwindles with each passing day. As Nigerians,
we must raise our voices to demand for these goods, and pray for
our leaders to appreciate that they are in office to solve societal
problems - not just to make a few friends, relations and cronies
better off." - Nasir El-Rufai
Jun 1, 2009 Africa: Economy and Human Rights, 1
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/hr0906a.php
"Our first demand in our new campaign ["Demand Dignity"] is to the
G-2 leaders, USA and China. The United States does not accept the
notion of economic, social and cultural rights while China does not
respect civil and political rights. We call on both governments to
sign up to all human rights for all." - Irene Khan, Amnesty
International
Jun 1, 2009 Africa: Economy and Human Rights, 2
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/hr0906b.php
"There is still an enormous gap between the rhetoric of African
governments, which claim to protect and respect human rights, and
the daily reality where human rights violations remain the norm.
... So many people are living in utter destitution; so few of them
have any chance to free themselves from poverty. Their dire
situation is exacerbated by the failure of governments in the
Africa region to provide basic social services, ensure respect for
the rule of law, address corruption and be accountable to their
people." - Amnesty International, 2009 annual report
May 25, 2009 Africa: Arms & Air Transport
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/arms0905.php
"Air cargo companies involved in illicit or destabilizing arms
transfers to African conflict zones have also been repeatedly
contracted to deliver humanitarian aid and support peacekeeping
operations, according to a report released today by the Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The report reveals
that 90 per cent of the air cargo companies identified in arms
trafficking-related reports have also been used ... to transport
humanitarian aid, peacekeepers and peacekeeping equipment." - SIPRI
May 14, 2009 Africa: New Books 2009
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/nb0905.php
This issue of AfricaFocus features brief notices of 15 books
published so far in 2009 that I think AfricaFocus readers are
likely to be interested in. This listing, including 10 on
continent-wide issues or countries outside South Africa and 5 on
South Africa, is far from comprehensive. But it includes a good
selection of thoughtful analyses by both African writers and
experienced non-African observers of the African scene.
Apr 21, 2009 Rwanda: Genocide Anniversary Reflections
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/rw0904.php
"Before the 10th anniversary, the international movement known as
Remembering Rwanda was motivated by a fear that the genocide was
being forgotten by the rest of the world. That concern has proved
premature. Rwanda is probably as well known today as any tragic
event very far from western countries, and causing direct harm to
none of them, can be. ... Yet at the same time, as in virtually
every other genocide, denial is alive and kicking." - Gerald Caplan
Mar 25, 2009 Kenya: Crisis Renewed
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/ken0903.php
"I am shaken. I am shocked. And that is, apparently, the intent.
For all of us to be shaken. For all of us to be shocked. For all of
us to hear the threat, heed the warning. The threat and the warning
implicit in last week's assassinations of Kingara Kamau and John
Paul Oulu of the Oscar Foundation." - L. Muthoni Wanyeki, Kenya
Human Rights Commission
Mar 18, 2009 USA/Africa: Making Peace or Fueling War
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/fpif0903.php
"Will de facto U.S. security policy toward the continent focus on
anti-terrorism and access to natural resources and prioritize
bilateral military relations with African countries? Or will the
United States give priority to enhancing multilateral capacity to
respond to Africa's own urgent security needs? If the first option
is taken, it will undermine rather than advance both U.S. and
African security." - Daniel Volman and William Minter, in new
special report from Foreign Policy in Focus on AFRICOM and
alternative policy frameworks.
Mar 9, 2009 Sudan: Into Uncharted Territory
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/sud0903.php
"Sudan has entered uncharted waters as a result of the ICC
[International Criminal Court] arrest warrant against President
Omar al Bashir. And indeed it is a nothing less than roll of the
dice, a gamble with unknown consequences. Yesterday marks a turning
point. We cannot say for sure in which direction Sudan will turn
but there are many reasons to be fearful." - Alex de Waal
Mar 1, 2009 USA/Africa: Waiting for Change
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/usa0903.php
"While low visibility for Africa policy may not be entirely
unexpected, considering the multiple crises the President faced
entering office, it has disappointed many who had hoped the
administration might quickly mobilize the high level attention that
is needed to spur action on vital issues." - Reed Kramer,
Feb 16, 2009 Somalia: First Steps in a New Direction
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/som0902.php
"The shortcomings of [the previous U.S.] approach are abundantly
clear: violent extremism and anti-Americanism are now rife in
Somalia due in large part to the blowback from policies that
focused too narrowly on counter-terrorism objectives. The new U.S.
national security team must make a clean break by defining and
implementing a long-term strategy to support the development of an
inclusive Somali government." - Ken Menkhaus
Jan 28, 2009 Congo (Kinshasa): Risky Steps towards Peace
http://www.africafocus.org/docs09/pk0901.php
The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has
announced that it is providing logistical support for the joint
Congolese-Rwandan military operation in eastern Congo, to maximize
protection of civilians and reintegration of rebel forces into the
Congolese national army. MONUC was not informed of the operation in
advance, and there are real fears for the consequences for
civilians. Nevertheless, most observers see the move, reflecting
new agreement between Rwandan and Congolese governments, as a
prerequisite for more fundamental peace-making measures.
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