China has appointed a seasoned diplomat as its special Africa envoy, with a brief to focus on Darfur, the government said on Thursday, amid growing criticism of Beijing's role in Sudan. "The Chinese government has decided to name Ambassador Liu Guijin as a special representative for African affairs," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu told reporters in Beijing.

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government said it's probing the operations of Central African Mining & Exploration Co., a UK-based copper producer, after being approached by South Africa to help with the arrest of a company shareholder. South Africa's Justice Department asked Congo to assist with an arrest warrant for Billy Rautenbach, a Camec shareholder, on charges of fraud, corruption and theft, Victor Kasongo, Congo's vice minister of mines, has said in an e-mailed statement.

Gunmen kidnapped one British and one Kenyan aid worker in northern Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region, officials have said. CARE International said the Briton, who is from Northern Ireland, and his colleague had been missing in the Horn of Africa nation since at least Wednesday. A diplomatic source said the incident did not appear to be terrorism-related.

China defended its approach to the strife-riven Darfur region on Thursday, while pointedly avoiding a war of words with U.S. lawmakers who warned of an Olympics backlash if Beijing did not add to pressure on Sudan. Human rights groups have condemned China over its policies about Sudan's Darfur, where state-linked militia have been fighting rebels, causing widespread bloodshed.

This paper was written by Adam Weiner and Diego Rumiany and it was recently published in the African Technology Development Forum (ATDF) Journal. It is a continuation of "The Logic of Reducing the Global Digital Divide in Sub-Saharan Africa" highlighted in the ICT4D dgCommunity in December 2006.

LA Times reports that shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. have decisively rejected a proposal that would have required the company to sell its $3.3-billion stake in PetroChina Co., a subsidiary of a Chinese government firm that is the largest player in Sudan's oil industry. Berkshire Chairman Warren E. Buffett, who owns about one-third of his company's shares, advised against the proposal, which received less than 2% of votes cast here at Berkshire's annual meeting.

South African ambassador to China Ndumiso Ndima Ntshinga has said that South Africa hopes Chinese companies could invest in the country's infrastructure construction. South Africa welcomes investment from Chinese companies and hopes to expand economic and trade ties with China, Ntshinga told reporters before a reception held to celebrate the 13th Freedom Day of South Africa.

By supporting people in need whatever their religion, nationality or race, CAFOD provides funding and technical assistance to hundreds of locally-run partner organisations striving to fight poverty across the developing world.

This Global Overview by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) provides an analysis of the world wide internal displacement crisis, reflecting developments in 2006. In addition to an analysis of developments at the global level, the report also provides overviews of regional and thematic trends.

This paper published by the Center for International Development examines corruption through the lens of political economy and by building on the large and growing empirical literature on the political behaviour of individuals in low income countries. It particularly focuses on the political behavior of individuals exposed to democratic political institutions and its implications for corruption.

The Italian government flew in 15 tonnes of aid from southern Italy to the town of Baidoa in Somalia on 1 May for distribution by the UN refugee agency to thousands of displaced people in the volatile country. The aid, including 3,200 jerry cans, 2,700 blankets, 20 tents, twn water tanks, four generators, a water purification unit and other non-food items, will shortly be moved to a UNHCR warehouse in Afgooye some 30 kilometres west of the Somalia capital, Mogadishu.

Paul Zeleza writes that the unfolding corruption scandal of the World Bank president, Paul Wolfwitz, is an intriguing and entangled tale of love: the personal love life of Mr Wolfowitz himself, the current love affair between neo-conservatism and neo-liberalism, and the long-standing marriage between capitalism and corruption, the development industry and the military-industrial complex, and the Northern-dominated international financial institutions and the institutionalisation of dependency and poverty in the global South.

This conference focuses on the inter-linkages between China, India, Brazil and South Africa (CIBS) and the global economy, including the impact of these economies on their respective regions. The main themes are growth, trade, international finance, global governance and geopolitics. Comparative studies are particularly welcome. The deadline for submissions is 14 May 2007. Final copies of accepted papers are required by 1 August 2007.

Language Services Associates is presently seeking speakers for African languages for their over-the-telephone interpreter service. In particular they need Fulani, Pulaar, Twi, Somali, Swahili and Yoruba.

Africa Action is seeking a highly qualified and experienced policy professional to head its Department of Policy Analysis and Communications. Africa Action is a leading U.S. organisation that works to change US Africa relations to promote political, economic and social justice in Africa. Closing date: 24 May 2007.

The National Consortium for Study in Africa provides an extensive list of volunteer, research and work opportunities in Africa according to organisations that are predominantly based but not limited to the United States.

When applying for academic jobs, one needs to be aware of the different ways to present themselves as the classic cv and cover letter does not always suffice. In order to prepare yourself for online applications, consider your skills, key words, format and organise your experience in categories.

UNRISD director, Thandika Mkandawire, is to participate in a round table discussion at the 4th Festival de Cine Africano de Tarifa (Tarifa African Film Festival, FCAT) in Spain, 28 April 2007. The round table entitled 'A new "chance" for Africa? New IMF and World Bank programmes and initiatives', aims to focus on the most recent programmes of these two influential institutions with a view to examining their role in the African continent.

Thanks for the very informative article based on facts from empirical data. I think we have an idea as to how we can remedy the problem with some degree of success. First, we must accept that the genesis of our problem stems from lack of education and vision on the parts of our 'forefathers'.

Any leader who negotiates a deal of this magnitude, so lopsided and skewed towards the opposition belongs in the Guinness Book of Records for being of inferior intellect. On the other hand, Liberia's inability to do things right has earned us a place in the infamous category of this book for election fraud. Holding our elected officials to their pledges and not accepting the aged old excuses that 'it will take time', or 'it is on the agenda' would be a good start. The contracts were signed by crooks disguised as government officials. This in essence should make it null and void.

Ms Sirleaf should void the contract and renegotiate the deal fairly.

Jerome Gayman
Florida

China said on Thursday it remained fully committed to investing in Africa, despite a recent spate of violence against Chinese interests there, including the deaths of nine Chinese among the slaughter of 77 people in Ethiopia. "China supports trans-national trade and investment between China and other countries, including those in Africa. This is our set policy, it will not change," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao told reporters.