Beneath a duplicitous discourse of humanitarian and development assistance to Haiti, economic exploitation continues in the consolidation of the Free Trade Zone and creation of a mega assembly line in Caracol. Sokari Ekine traces this exploitation to the founding of the world’s first black republic in 1804

With the spate of murders and assassinations of unarmed Nigerians in Nigeria by security agents and armed robbers, is it not the time to call for legislation that legalizes self protection by allowing Nigerians to legally possess?

The daylight murder of Dr. Irawo Adamolekun in the city of Lagos with dozens of passersby, AND with IMPUNITY, calls for urgent revision of our gun access laws.

If at least two or three Nigerians who witnessed that shooting had guns, they would have at least prevented that hoodlum from escaping from the scene without trace. In the same vein, many Nigerians would be able to challenge armed robbers that operate in their neighbourhood. In addition the unprovoked maltreatment of civilians by security agents in Nigeria will be limited if such security agent know that the civilian they are about to victimize may possess gun and may be able to defend themselves against unprovoked aggression.

The current debate about gun control in America due to recent spate of violence may be an argument against my proposal, but we have to realize that things are getting out of hand in Nigeria and the Nigerian security agents are not protecting Nigerians. This is the main reason to start looking for alternative ways to ensure protection of Nigerians.

The recent elections point to the increasing legitimation of liberal democracy and suggest a political culture that seems to reiterate Nkrumah’s belief that “the black man is capable of managing his own affairs”

King’s holiday will be celebrated in America next Monday. It is an opportunity for everyone to remember the revered civil rights crusader’s contribution not just to the liberation of African Americans but all oppressed black people in the world

Research on Ikwerre origin does not suggest they are Igbo. But a long lopsided relationship with Igbo led to the loss of Ikwerre identity. They have suffered all kinds of humiliation and marginalization within the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Namibia has scrapped primary school fees, a stark rejection of the World Bank’s neo-liberal fundamentalist education model imposed on the country, which denied many their basic right and resulted in vast social disparities

Besides the bitter political infighting, endemic culture of corruption and the ever-present fear of more tribal and political violence during the upcoming March 4 elections, Kenya’s war on terror has hurt many innocent people

Nigerians are getting increasingly disappointed by President Jonathan’s uninspiring record. Religious leaders could play a greater role in pushing him and other politicians to dutifully discharge the mandate given by the electorate

Until Scott actually campaigns for the office and is elected, any definitive proclamation regarding his recent good fortunate should be tempered

Evidence on the hate crime committed at Addis Ababa University does not point an accusatory finger at students but at an invisible hand, possibly the State. The time has come for Ethiopian youth to lead in national healing

International law protects the inviolability of the integrity and dignity of diplomatic agents and this extends to the property and premises of diplomatic missions. But could there be any exceptions to the inviolability in international law of diplomatic immunity? Should there be?

On the 52nd anniversary of the vicious assassination of Patrice Lumumba, Ama Biney reflects on both the current state of the DRC and Africa, arguing that the Congo is not only a ‘world problem’ but remains critical to the future unity of Africa due to its resources and geo-strategic location

The birthday of Dr Martin Luther King reminds the world that African Americans suffered for centuries under slavery and during the Jim Crow era of legalized segregation. Yet the World Bank continues to target them to this day

During the short life of Patrice Lumumba, before he was savagely assassinated, he committed himself to several important ideas and principles that a new generation of Africans must re-visit

The group Justice for Blacks indicts the World Bank for its racial injustice against its own black staff as America celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday and questions whether the new President of the bank will uphold the caste system of discrimination against blacks or seek to walk a different path that genuinely addresses systemic racial discrimination

Fahamu on behalf of the SOTU coalition is seeking to engage a consultant researcher to conduct assessments in Kenya to determine the level of compliance with and implementation of key commitments in AU protocols, conventions and declarations and the impact of implementation on citizens’ quality of life.

The study seeks to establish the status of ratification, domestication and implementation of AU instruments, policy standards and decisions at country level- best practices and challenges– and strategies to enhance implementation and monitoring. The overall goal of the study is to review the progress of ratification, domestication and implementation made since the previous SOTU reports published in 2010. The outcomes of the study will be used to engage with member states at national and regional levels: country reports will be launched at country level while the continental report will be launched at the African Union Summit in May 2013.

Please click for more details. Use [email][email protected] for correspondence.
The deadline is 15 January 2013.

In the wake of the political uprisings in Egypt, Philip Rizk examines the cost of the revolution in the loss of a family’s son, Ahmed Mahmoud Mohamed Bekheit, killed by the security forces, and argues that this revolution has shown a tendency to create new revolutionaries in the place of every fallen martyr

Following the 7.0 earthquake that annihilated Port-au-Prince and killed thousands of Haitians in January 2010, Ama Biney reviews socio-economic and political developments in the country and argues that the radical Fanmi Lavalas party still resonates with the Haitian majority

Three years after the unprecedented earthquake in Haiti that extinguished at least 300,000 lives and upended millions more, the world is asking the same questions that were posed six months, one year, and two years after January 12, 2010

African states must resolve the conflict inside the Central African Republic in order to avoid further French and US military involvement argues Abayomi Azikiwe