The foreign minister of Sao Tome and Principe has resigned after coming under widespread criticism for spending nearly US $500,000 of aid from Morocco without reference to other members of the government. Meanwhile, a group of disgruntled police officers firing guns in the air has seized the main police station in the capital to protest at unpaid salaries and poor working conditions, according to the Portuguese news agency Lusa.

Creation of a continental watchdog on education and culture, progress towards the African Economic Community and changes to the African Union corporate identity are expected to dominate this month's AU summit in the Sudan. Heads of state and government of the AU meet in Khartoum, Sudan, from 23-24 January for the sixth ordinary session of the continental body. The conference, to be held under the theme "Education and Culture", is expected to discuss the state of the continent's education sector and consider a proposal by Sudan for the establishment of the African Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (AFESCO).

Political tensions in Swaziland are on the rise following the arrest of 15 pro-democracy campaigners in recent weeks over petrol bomb attacks that were made on courthouses and the homes of various officials last year. The activists belong to the banned People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). They include the secretary general of this opposition party, Bonginkhosi Dlamini, and leading campaigner Mphandlana Shongwe - who was reportedly detained Tuesday.

The inauguration of Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has been the focus of a number of African bloggers this week.

writes that he was deeply moved by the inauguration ceremony. He makes a link between the inauguration and the celebration in the US of Martin Luther King, which took place on the same day.

“It was also not lost on me that January 15th is our (USA) national holiday for remembrance of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. According to the Reverend Samuel Sumo Payne, a Liberian immigrant to the United States who will be participating in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration activities this year in Ohio, Dr. King’s impact on social justice and civil rights reverberated far beyond the shores of the United States.”
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Jewels comments that President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is determined, like Dr King, “to heal a nation and move forward and build bridges between former combatants and victims of the brutal conflict”. Although I appreciate what Jewels is saying here, I do think the linkage with Martin Luther King is somewhat tenuous. The Liberian President, for all her qualities which I sincerely admire, has not been involved in a protracted civil rights or liberation struggle. We are all very excited about having a woman leader in Africa and have high expectations. Nonetheless I believe we should wait and see how she proceeds and deals with these issues before likening her to Dr King or other liberationist struggles.

Fire Angel writes on how excited she was:

“When I first heard about it, I jumped up and down like a little school-girl…At the same time I'm trying not to turn my excitement into wishful thinking, because Sister Ellen has one heck of a job in front of her. Besides having the enormous task of bringing Liberia ‘back to life’, she ultimately represents the African woman and her role in today’s African society.”

Black Looks looks at the impact on African women of Mrs Sirleaf-Johnson’s Presidency. She writes:

“We should not underestimate the significance of this Presidency to all African women. The only event that comes close was the awarding of the Nobel Prize to Wangari Maathai. Just as the Nobel Prize was for Kenya and for Africa, so too is the election of Johnson-Sirleaf for Liberia and Africa. It is not just Liberia's future at stake. The stability of the whole region very much depends on the success of Liberia.”

Continuing with the subject of women in government, Mental Acrobatics writes on the appointment of two women by the newly elected Tanzanian President to two of the most important ministries -

Zakia Meghji, the Minister of Finance, and Asha-Rose Migiro, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

However it is not all good.

“Of the 29 ministers and 31 deputies in his new Government, only five women were appointed cabinet ministers while 10 others were made assistant ministers. That is better than Kenya. Kibaki’s government has 34 ministers and 49 assistants. Only two women are ministers, Martha Karua of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Charity Ngilu of Health and five women are assistant ministers. This is a drop from pre-referendum levels.”

On a completely different note, Africa Unchained points to an article by Stella Orakwue, “Not in Black or White” who calls on Africans to return home.

"What are Africans doing in Europe? Can someone tell me, please? I was brought here as a four-year-old child. If you are reading this and you are an African in Europe, I ask you this: Why are you here? Why did you come? Why did you stay? What are you doing?”

With considerable bitterness she goes on to say:

“I know everything I need to know about Europe: everything that 40 years of hard-won knowledge can bestow about European cultures, English people, British attitudes. And I know this: Europeans do not deserve Africans. We’re too good for them. But hear this, get this: Without us they would be unable, incapable, of running their own countries! How’s that for you. We work, they play. But they treat us like we are nothing, nobodies, dirt. And now they want to destroy our minds so that we can continue to ‘work’ for them like 21st century plantation slaves. Were we ever supposed to live among them?”

Chippla's Weblog also focuses on Europe, this time the myth of Egalité France. He refers to an article in the Washington Post:

“…that calls into question the fabulous concept of egalité in modern France. Yes, egalité does exist but to enjoy its fruits you must be lily white. A golden, brown or dark brown skin is enough to shut you off from certain jobs especially in the service industry. Having the requisite skills is simply not sufficient, one must also have the right skin colour.”

He concludes that racism in Europe is no less than the US and may in fact be worse.

Finally AFrican Bullets and Honey comments on the latest “save an African from poverty” scheme. This one is advertised at Lastminute.com under their “Feel Good Gifts” section called Farm Africa. Here you can “Buy a sheep, a goat or some chickens”.

“So you’re not Gordon Brown and you can’t cancel the debt of the Third World. But with lastminute.com and Farm Friends you have the chance to do something amazing, just by buying a gift for a friend (or even for yourself). You can choose a sheep, a goat or a brood of chickens. Of course, they won't be delivered to you or the person you're buying the gift for. Instead, they'll get a really cute model of the chosen animal, while Farm Africa will give the real animal to a poor African farmer, who is struggling to feed his family. Just a few pounds buys the greatest gift of all - a happier, healthier future. A goat, for example, provides milk to fight-off malnutrition and any excess can be sold to pay for medicine or schoolbooks.”

Bullets & Honey comments: “Imagine how good you will feel when you add a good deed to your vacation. Not only will you be helping a worthy cause like poor African farmers or abandoned kitties, but your lucky recipient will receive a gift pack with information about the charity and a unique gift to open on their special day.”

You could of course change the name from “Farm Africa” to “Do good and be guilt free”!

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, [email protected]

This article discusses how most NGO's begin with a visionary individual who identified a need that wasn't being filled and obtained enough funds to start a small organization. The visionary then raises more money, hires more project staff, and grows the organization by working extremely hard and relying on a growing circle of funder contacts. The article goes on to discuss how to make the transition from fund raising to development.

The aim of the World Bank Small Grants Program is to strengthen the voice and influence of poor and marginalized groups in the development processes, thereby making these processes more inclusive and equitable. Thus, it supports activities of civil society organizations whose primary objective is civic engagement of the poor and marginalized populations.

I would like to thank you for a fine job - in difficult times. As all of us grow increasingly concerned about the more and more desperate situation that so many fellow Africans are facing, it is immensely helpful to have such a valuable source of information, and it keeps up our spirits to see and be linked with so many people who are struggling fiercely to turn things around. Thanks to the Pambazuka team.

WITNESS is seeking a Development Associate to assist the Development and Special Projects Manager with all aspects of the development department. WITNESS uses the power of video to open the eyes of the world to human rights abuses. By partnering with local organizations around the globe, WITNESS empowers human rights defenders to use video as a tool to shine a light on those most affected by human rights violations, and to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools of justice. Since its founding by Peter Gabriel and others in 1992, WITNESS has partnered with groups in more than 60 countries, bringing often unseen images, untold stories and seldom heard voices to the attention of key decision makers, the media, and the general public -- prompting grassroots activism, political engagement, and lasting change.

Just as developing countries are beginning to overcome some major hurdles in their quest to expand trade with industrial countries, another is rearing its head. As a result of agreements negotiated at the World Trade Organization (WTO), traditional trade protection measures such as tariffs and quotas are falling away. But to some extent they are being replaced by domestic technical regulations that permit countries to bar products from entering their markets if the products do not meet certain standards.

Dear Thabo Mbeki,

In your message to the South African people this week introducing the ANC’s local government manifesto you spoke about many vital issues that are close to our hearts and urgently in need of the government’s attention. You spoke of halving unemployment and poverty, of speeding up service delivery and increasing local government efficiency and accountably. All admirable aims, but where is your plan for addressing a health crisis that threatens to wipe out millions of South Africans?

You speak of your commitment to realizing “the goal of a better life for all” and to ensuring that “all South Africans are fully able to enjoy the full dignity of freedom” without once acknowledging the reality that by 2014 many millions of South Africans may not be around to enjoy a better life or the benefits of democracy because they will have died of treatable AIDS-related illnesses.

AIDS is already taking a devastating toll in lives in this country and yet in the entire manifesto, HIV/AIDs makes one cameo appearance, featuring third in a list of diseases that government promises “fewer people will be victims of” in the coming decade. That is simply not enough when six and a half million South Africans are infected with HIV, more than any other country in the world, and the majority of them don’t even know it.

How much longer do the South African people have to wait before you make fighting this epidemic a priority for your government that features in every manifesto you issue and in regular public statements? This level of commitment and openness has had proven impacts in countries like Botswana, Uganda and Kenya, often in more resource-poor settings than South Africa.

According to the latest UN AIDS Epidemic Update, the stigma attached to HIV and AIDS remains perhaps the most difficult obstacle to effective HIV prevention. Instead of attempting to reduce stigma by speaking openly and frequently about AIDS or taking the step of publicly testing and so setting an example to those who look to you for leadership on this issue, you have more than likely contributed to stigma by remaining resolutely silent on the topic.

This manifesto is yet another missed opportunity to put HIV and AIDS at the top of your agenda and uppermost in the minds of the people you are asking to assist you in building “a better life for all.” So far, people have responded to this epidemic to the extent that they are able to. Grandmothers are using their pensions to care for their orphaned grandchildren; village and township women with only the most basic health training are providing door-to-door home-based care to AIDS patients for little or no salary; and community-based organizations depend on private donations to feed and care for people sickened by the virus.

But there is only so much people can do considering that in most cases they lack the training, resources, life-saving medications and financial support that only the government can provide.

If you really want to honour and uphold your much touted “People’s Contract,” why not begin with acknowledging the scale of the HIV/AIDS crisis and then truly working in partnership with the people to address it.

A new constitution for this war-ravaged Central African nation was approved by a landslide vote, paving the way for historic presidential and parliamentary elections in March, according to electoral results released late Wednesday. The balloting in December approved a charter that grants greater autonomy to mineral-rich provinces and lowers the minimum age for presidential candidates from 35 to 30 - allowing an election bid by 34-year-old President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled since his father's 2001 assassination. Electoral commission chief Appolinaire Malumalu said 84 percent had voted in favor of the constitution, compared to 16 percent against.

The termination of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) on 1 January 2005 has had a devastating impact on the fragile, emerging, textile economies of many African countries. In Lesotho, for example, in the period between January and June 2005 at least 10 textile factories shut down, leaving over 13,000 people jobless, a huge figure for that small country of some 2.2 million inhabitants (and where the textile industry employed some 54,000 people before the ending of the MFA). Daniel Maraisane, the General Secretary of the Lesotho Clothing and Allied Workers' Union (LECAWU), has been leading the trade union struggle for over 20 years. He discusses the impact of the ending of quotas on Lesotho's workers and gives some insights into the role of trade unions in Africa.

Countries that have committed grave human rights abuses should not have a seat on a new Human Rights Council as that would undermine the UN's credibility, US Ambassador John Bolton said Wednesday (January 11). South African envoy Dumisani Kumalo said he was optimistic and noted "there is beginning to be movement" on the size and selection process for the council.

"The African Union should not reward the sponsors of crimes against humanity," said Peter Takirambudde, Africa director of US-based Human Rights Watch. "How can the African Union be seen as a credible mediator in Darfur if one of the warring parties hosts its summit and becomes the head of the organisation as well?" With preliminary meetings beginning for next week's African Union (AU) summit in Khartoum (January 23), it is still undecided whether the host government will also chair the organization for the next year.

In 1999 the Organization of African Unity, now African Union, declared 1999 - 2009 the African Decade for Persons With Disabilities. Halfway through this decade, it is time to take stock of what has been achieved. The image that emerges from this survey shows the many gray areas, with millions of disabled living in poverty, seclusion and unable to assert their rights. If Africa lags behind in recognizing the value of people with disabilities it is also true that community based initiatives are reaching out to more people than ever. There are today many positive initiatives both from governments and local communities. Awareness campaigns and active government lobbying are changing the fate of people with disability in the continent.
Related Link:
UN to produce documents in Braille
http://www.hrea.org

Malawi is a poor country: close to 65 percent of the rural population live on less than US$ 0.60 per day and 48 percent of children are malnourished. The first Malawi Social Action Fund (MASAF) aimed to reduce such high poverty levels. It was introduced at a time when the country was transitioning politically to multi-party system. A review shows that despite the difficulties of this period, the social fund performed well.

“I entered parliament having been elected as an independent candidate. I thought and hoped there would be a chance to raise and debate substantive issues that matter most to the people. I expected to air them fully in the parliament and transmit my concerns to the public through the media. But currently what is happening in parliament is that we, non-EPRDF parliament members, are blocked. We are not allowed to propose motions and raise issues for discussion. We cannot put issues on the agenda. We are not given enough time to make our different voices and opinions to be heard. We have no opportunity to transmit our views to the people through mass media. Taken together, the parliamentary working procedure is wholly non-accommodative and uninviting”.

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, who has promised to crack down on corruption, has appointed Suzanne Rich Folsom to head the bank's anti-corruption unit, according to a notice to member countries. Folsom, a US national, has been acting director of the World Bank's Department of Institutional Integrity since October 2005 following the departure of Maarten de Jong .She joined the bank in 2003 as counsellor to then World Bank President James Wolfensohn and will retain that post as well under Wolfowitz.

The African Union (AU) has said it backs proposals for a UN peacekeeping force in the Darfur region of Sudan, despite opposition from its government. A senior AU official said it was not down to Sudan to dictate what action was taken to end violence there. Sudan's foreign minister said money spent sending a UN force would be better used helping the current AU one. The AU has warned the UN that it may be forced to hand over its Darfur peace mission because of a lack of funds.

President Kibaki has okayed a demand by the country's anti-corruption chief for Kieni Member of Parliament, Chris Murungaru to declare and account for his wealth. The sacked Transport Minister has further been summoned to appear before the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission on February 16 as it probes the mega-billion shilling Anglo Leasing scam, the biggest scandal in President Kibaki's tenure so far.