Tragedy of too many power seekers in Africa

By Robert Asketill The war against Khartoum is political and ideological, but increasingly it looks as if it must be won or lost on the battlefield under the influences of a massive oil potential that will keep the Western powers interested in who governs. During April, the fighting focused on the town of Talodi, South Kordofan’s capital and we had Brigadier-General Mahana Bashir, the officer in charge of the SPLA-North camp who stated that 4,000 troops are currently in training, all volunteers. “We are fighting a just war defending our people, defending our land. We were, with Western power influence, forced to split from Juba’s Sudan.” His statement makes little … Continue reading

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Tanzania and the BAE scandal – A statement beyond satire

By Sarah Hermitage A recent statement from Tanzania’s most senior anti-corruption officer Edward Hosea that no Tanzanian was involved in the BAE scandal was remarkable. What is even more remarkable is the fact that the statement has attracted no comment from the British government or international media. Britain’s Department for International Development and the Commons’ International Development Committee, who worked tirelessly on behalf of the Tanzanian people to organize the payment directly to the Tanzanian government amidst staunch opposition, have also failed to respond to this extraordinary comment by the head of Tanzania’s Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB). The extent of rising corruption in Tanzania under the Kikwete … Continue reading

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Understanding the source of Sudan’s problems

By Robert Asketill If we are to see how the so-called super powers have and are destroying the efforts made by Africans to improve their countries after shaking off colonisation, in itself a courageous decision often with considerable loss of life, we can usefully today watch the struggles this month in both north and south Sudan as they have to stand up to an expected foreign media attack. It might be useful for any discussion on foreign power interference by readers to have a sketch look at the Sudan.  Although colonised by the British, the Sudan as we knew it governed from Khartoum, clearly was ready for its independence long … Continue reading

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Sutherland-Addy’s importance to the enlightment movement

By Kofi Akosah-Sarpong Prof. Esi Sutherland-Addy, of the University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies, floating of a Ghana Cultural Forum to some sort of differentiate and integrate the Ghanaian culture for progress, once again, enhances the on-going enlightenment movement. For now, as the Ugandans say, deeds speak louder and make words nothing, as Ghanaians realize their culture in relation to the progress game. Sutherland-Addy gives remarkable sense to the enlightenment undertaking, not necessarily because of her statues as a university don and her vast global reach, but, really, because of her advanced age. The importance of Sutherland-Addy’s age in the enlightenment crusade is that she has the settled mind … Continue reading

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Why the sabre-rattling of both Sudans is causing unease in region

By Robert Asketill A committee of British members of parliament are on their way to the Sudan with an object to see that the newly created South Sudan and the North seek peace between each other.  We know that the two parties may well be determined to avoid a full-scale war, yet clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA — South Sudan’s army) and the subsequent bombing around the oil-rich town of Heglig in Unity State are a clear indication that both sides are resorting to military action in lieu of effectively laying down their weapons and resolving outstanding post-independence issues, mainly on the … Continue reading

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Tough road ahead for Juba

By Robert Asketill US President Barack Obama spoke this week with South Sudan’s  President Kiir to urge him to build on the recent achievements of the nationality and citizenship agreements initialed by South Sudan and Sudan, and to express hope that the two countries’ heads of state would meet soon at a summit, as they had previously agreed.  President Obama also expressed concern about the growing tensions between South Sudan and Sudan, especially the violent clashes along their shared border and renewed fighting in Southern Kordofan State.  Mr Obama underscored the importance of avoiding unilateral actions, and asked President Kiir to ensure that South Sudan’s military exercises maximum restraint and … Continue reading

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Kony2012: Rejecting the single story of Africa

By Heather Yundt When Invisible Children’s KONY2012 campaign video received more than 100 million views in less than a week, it got people talking. Journalists, academics, and activists fervently applauded and criticized the video. Under the scrutiny of the public eye and the weight of near-instant, contentious fame, Invisible Children campaigner and video star Jason Russell broke down. There is no question that all of this was newsworthy. The story was replete with heroes and victims, celebrity and tragedy, and, of course, controversy. This was a story with legs. With each news story, the video was embedded into another website and the number of views continued to rise. Some media … Continue reading

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Time for brave leadership in both Sudans

By Robert Asketill The Southern Sudan State now struggling for recognition has from all reports become an open market for neighbouring states along with a rush of bankers who will certainly have to be watched before this new country finds itself immersed in deep corruption. But has the new Sudan the experts who can sniff out corruption?   Its banking system is already in the hands of the Kenyans, Ugandans, and Ethiopians who have little consideration of the internal divisions and are most unlikely to care about what is happening in the country, except about its oil, and they have a clear field to operate with the present acute shortage of … Continue reading

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Why all Assange bashing is no good for journalism

By Mark Lee Hunter Julian Assange has been a remarkable source for mainstream media. So why has he been so ill-treated in return? There are many accusations levelled at him and his organisation, and whatever their bases, none of them justifies the reactions. And this hurts journalism as a whole Over the past several months leading figures of the news industry have lined up at journalism conferences and in the MSM (“mainstream media”) to hammer Julian Assange’s reputation. Astonishingly, the people bashing the founder of Wikileaks are the same people who relentlessly pursued and used him as a source. Protecting the source is what reporters in general and investigative reporters … Continue reading

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Libyan justice system under scrutiny

By Huda Biuk Questions have been raised in regards to the efficiency of Libya’s justice system after the new government formally requested that Abdullah Senussi, former intelligence chief, be extradited to Libya where he could face trial. Senussi is also wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes committed during last year’s conflict, and by France for his involvement in a 1989 attack on a French plane. Some may argue that it shouldn’t matter where Senussi faces trial, as long as he is faced with justice. However, many Libyans will argue otherwise. Former chief of intelligence and brother in-law of Muammar Gaddafi, Abdullah Senussi was well known to … Continue reading

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