The Nigerian Senate this week declared the $45million loan granted to Ghana and Sao Tome by President Obasanjo as illegal, noting that the money was taken out of public funds without satisfying the requirements of the 1999 constitution. Obasanjo was also found to be in breach of the due process necessary in such transactions.

The opposition to Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki has been meeting, leading to the most significant shake-up in Eritrean politics for many years. Opposition groups, which have been notoriously disunited, have come up with a common set of objectives, which could - for the first time in years - begin to pose a greater challenge to the president's hold on power. Since achieving independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has been a one party state.

Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders wrapped up their summit on Tuesday by adopting key guidelines on holding free and fair elections, bidding farewell to two long-serving heads of state, and admitting Madagascar as a "candidate member". The guidelines stipulate that SADC members will uphold full participation of citizens in the political process, freedom of association, political tolerance, equal access to state media for all political parties, equal opportunity to vote and be voted for, and voter education.

Recent reports of political skirmishes between the ruling FRELIMO party and the main opposition, RENAMO, ahead of Mozambique's general elections in December, are a cause for concern, say analysts with the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA). RENAMO this week accused the government of moving police units to Maringue in the central province of Sofala, a RENAMO stronghold where its leader Afonso Dhlakama is based, after clashes between the political rivals in the neighbouring town of Inhaminga.

The United Nations has suspended peace talks with the Burundi rebel group which claimed responsibility for massacring more than 160 Congolese Tutsi refugees, a spokeswoman for U.N. operation in Burundi said on Tuesday. A regional summit on the country's shaky transition to peace was due to be held in Tanzania on Wednesday and political analysts said they expect the regional leaders to recommend severe action against the FNL.

According to UNICEF, chronic poverty is the main reason for an estimated 1 million children not attending school on the giant Indian Ocean Island, but efforts are now underway to equip the youth with income generating skills. Last week, 258 out-of-school youth "graduated" from the DESCOL initiative, a project operating in 17 districts in the central Antananarivo region. Each district identifies local entrepreneurs who transfer their skills, such as baking, motor mechanics or tailoring, to young apprentices.

Corruption in Zambia has reached levels that cannot be ignored, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Amusaa Mwanamwambwa, has observed. Speaking at the opening of a parliamentary anti-corruption workshop the Speaker said that recent studies showed that levels of corruption had worsened and that "apart from inhibiting investment, corruption creates an intolerable environment for ordinary citizens, who have to pay bribes to access social and health facilities, official documentation and justice, to which they are entitled."

The Central African Republic's President, Francois Bozize, who seized power in a coup last year, vowed last week that the country would hold free and fair elections as planned by January next year. Speaking in an address to the nation, he declared that: "The government, the national transitional council and myself are doing everything to ensure the electoral calendar is adhered to."

Even when not at war in a military sense, countries are generally engaged in a struggle for economic power and players in the international system are increasingly regarding the health of their economies as a priority. Despite the Cold War having long ended, the primacy of insecurity - the infinite striving for security - has not. It is presently manifested in both economic and psychological realms, as countries seek to increase economic competitiveness and to reduce unemployment within their borders.

Historically, the goal was to secure and extend the physical control of territory, and to gain diplomatic influence over foreign governments. Today's corresponding geoeconomic goal is not to attain the highest possible standard of living, but rather the conquest and protection of desirable roles in the global economy.

There will be long-term (perhaps permanent) 'winners' and 'losers' in today's battle for the system's power positions, with the spoils of victory including; industrial supremacy, technology and information leadership, and the economic capacity to sustain a modern military. The losing states, on the other hand, will face the problems resulting from reduced fiscal resources, reduced economic growth and a smaller economic pie, permanent relegation to the ranks of 'the resource extraction/branch plant/cash-crop economies', second-rate technology and information systems, and a lack of the economic means to escape the poverty cycle.

Africa and the world would be better off if women's rights were given their rightful place on the continent. The African woman has so much to contribute to the development effort of this beautiful continent.

Rebecca Nyarkoa Anim-Appiah, Ghana

I think Eva Dadrian’s article (Pambazuka News 169) is important insofar as it highlights the need to control these mercenaries. Emphasis was put on the use made by African governments of these illegal forces; however, greater emphasis should be put on the danger they pose for those legitimate governments and leaders in Africa (see Kibaki in Kenya) that do not toe the line of the "developed" world. But again it goes to the heart of the problem: Why Africans do not establish something workable? Why trust is not built among countrymen to run their own things? Aside from mercenaries and inequality, the problem is the so-called leaders. Thank you for a great online product.

Mohamed Mohamud, Somalia

As chilling new details emerged about the gruesome massacre of some 150 Congolese civilians at a refugee camp in Burundi on Friday, the United Nations refugee agency has reported that the country's Government has agreed to authorize a secure camp away from the border for newly arrived refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

UNICEF eastern and southern Africa regional director Per Engebak has said there would be in excess of 20 million HIV/AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa by 2010. Engebak said there would be four countries in Southern Africa where the orphan generation would represent in excess of 30 per cent of child population.

In March 1999, the establishment of The Daily News put an end to the media's one-sided presentation of Zimbabwe's political situation, and gave the opposition an important channel of communication. Ragnar Waldahl demonstrates how this alternative to the state-run media gave voters access for the first time to competing accounts of the state of political affairs, and made the 2000 election the most exciting and open in Zimbabwe's short history.

Southern African ministers are to recommend that no action be taken against Zimbabwe despite a recent African Union report detailing human rights abuses committed by President Robert Mugabe's government. In a report prepared ahead of the Heads of State summit, the Southern African Development Community's foreign affairs ministers say they are opposed to sanctions but propose that the region should be more active in ensuring that Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections in March next year are fair.

The United Nations Secretary General, has accused Uganda of violating the arms embargo imposed on the Democratic Republic of Congo rebel groups. The embargo-monitoring groups of experts established under the Security Council resolution 1533(2004) compiled the 48-page report. The study was conducted between April and July this year. The report said Uganda still supports two Congolese armed groups; Forces of Armed Congolese (FAPC) of Commander Jerome Kakwavu and Party for the Safeguard and Integrity of Congo of Chief Kahwa.

Zimbabwe’s crisis is not only political and economic; the signs of social disintegration are everywhere, says this article on the site www.sokwanele.com. “Nightly, street children as young as five or six seek the “protection” of older children who act as pimps; cold, hungry and homeless farm workers huddle against each other on the roadside where they have been dumped like a pile of rubbish; a young girl of sixteen with a blank stare cuddles her baby, conceived when she was raped in a youth militia camp; an adult rushes her dying parent to the hospital, because it is cheaper to transport the living than the dead; she will not return when the parent dies, because she cannot afford to bury her; an elderly grandmother weeps when told that a foreign donor will no longer supply food aid – her thirteen grandchildren whom she is keeping have nothing else to eat.”

South Africa is a country with a poor human rights record. This is an understatement. We are a country trying to make right the wrongs of that history - this is also an understatement. But the task is difficult because we come to it scarred by the legacy of our colonial and apartheid history, by the consequences of the systematic denigration and dehumanisation of the majority by the minority. Colonisation laid the foundations of many of the ills that beset our society, apartheid perfected and legislated this base, and even claimed god's blessing for it. We play out still what we did to each other, and learnt from each other, before 1994, no matter which side we fought on (or even if we thought we weren't fighting on any side at all!).

Balanced against our Constitution, our strengthening economy, our increasing global stature, our beautiful country and its wonderful people lie some horrible truths. We have a very high rate of rape and sexual abuse. We have the highest rate of rape homicide in the world (Martin, L, 1999, reporting on her research at the Salt River Mortuary). We have an extraordinarily high rate of family murders. Violence within our communities is endemic. Our HIV crisis is deepening, depleting the economically active population and leaving increasing numbers of children without adult care-givers. Millions of South Africans live in deep poverty, and we have one of the highest (and growing) gaps between the “haves” and the “have nots”. All over South Africa, children are taking turns to eat. Within this context, children are increasingly vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and neglect.

We say that children are our future. The fact is, they are also our present, and their future (and ours) is shaped by present reality. If we are truly to become a whole and humane society, we have to give the next generation a better shot at it. We have to proactively put in place and resource a national agenda which redresses our horrendous past and levels the playing fields. We have to ensure a country “fit for children” (one of the many international promises we have made) - and in so doing, create a country fit for all of us. We know this - why else have we ratified several international conventions which commit us to the protection and promotion of the rights of children?

We have a golden and possibly never-to-be-repeated opportunity of giving that next generation their chance, their shot at it. We have this opportunity because we are currently formulating a new dispensation for children. We are poised to put into place a Children's Bill which will provide the framework within which children will be born and raised for the next 20 to 30 years.

We need this Bill to achieve a great deal, because we know that, in the end, prevention is better than cure, and it's cheaper in every way. We need a Bill which:
- articulates and legislates our international obligations to protect and promote the rights of children;
- places great emphasis on primary prevention and early intervention;
- provides a framework and the means of supporting families to raise physically and emotionally healthy adults;
- enhances the capacity of communities to take greater responsibility for vulnerable children;
- ensures the availability of appropriate, trained and resourced early intervention services; - maintains tertiary-level intervention services for children for whom there is no alternative within their homes and communities - which must include services to facilitate healing and rehabilitation;
- ensures the protection of the most vulnerable children - those living in poverty, those living in violent and abusive homes, those who are disabled or chronically ill, those affected by HIV, those living and working on the street.

If we put our resources and energy into building the capacity and wherewithal in families to raise children who can and will become self-sustaining and productive members of a peaceful, just and democratic society, we will truly fulfill the promise of our young democracy. This means they must have access to nutritious food, shelter and warm clothing, primary health care and education, irrespective of the ability of their parents to provide these things. If we put our resources into developing and maintaining good systems for identifying children and families at risk, and give additional support at that point, we increase the possibility that the family will be able to provide the basics for their children, thus preserving the family and decreasing negative effects of being taken into care.

If we are creative and more flexible (although no less careful) about where we place those children for whom it is impossible to remain in their family homes, the chance of them growing up in an environment conducive to future happiness is greater.

And if we put our resources into a criminal justice system focussed on restorative justice, victim empathy and rehabilitation, we reduce the number of children who grow up shattered by rape and sexual abuse, by violence in their homes and communities.

What will it cost? I have no idea, although I know that it will be expensive. But we have to try to afford it. Sound prevention strategies can cost around nineteen times less than failure to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation. A study undertaken in Michigan came to this conclusion after considering factors including birth weight, infant mortality, special education needs, protection services, foster care, juvenile and adult criminality, and social services (Caldwell, R: Child Abuse Prevention: Michigan's' Experience, 1992). We cannot claim to be unable to afford it when the medium and long term advantages will save us so much in financial and human terms.

As the Children's Bill moves through Parliament in August, we urge all concerned to think very carefully about what is put into place, and what we can and cannot afford. We have the opportunity here to make right the wrongs of our traumatic past, and to facilitate an environment for healing and recovery. I trust we are brave enough to do it.

* Carol Bower is Executive Director of RAPCAN

* Please send comments to

The Kenyan Newspaper, The East African Standard, is alleging that two companies associated with top politicians are to clinch the tender to import 180,000 tonnes of relief maize. Originally six companies were supposed to be picked to import the maize, but according to the newspaper, lobbying by the politicians might have secured it for the two companies. The announcement of the winning companies was due last Monday, but has been delayed by the Government.

SMS FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS

* Use your mobile phone to sign the petition in support of the ratification of the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa. Send a message to: +27832933934, with the word ‘petition’ and your name in the message. You will only be charged the cost set by your network provider for sending an international SMS. More information http://www.pambazuka.org/petition/smssocial.php or sign online at http://www.pambazuka.org/petition/

HOW TO SUPPORT THE SMS PETITION

* Send text messages to your colleagues and friends alerting them to the petition and informing them how to sign by SMS. You can also use email and word of mouth to help spread the word.

* Distribute leaflets about this initiative. If you work in a human rights or social justice organisation in Africa, volunteer to distribute leaflets for us about the petition to your networks and contacts. Send your details to [email protected] and we will post you pamphlets to distribute.

Selected headlines:

* Conflicts and Emergencies: Oil profits behind West’s tears for Darfur
* Human Rights: AU decision should not undermine African Court, Amnesty says
* Women and Gender: Women’s discrimination a global concern
* Elections and Governance: Zimbabwe: Changes to politburo
* Development: G20 leaders succumb to divide and rule tactics
* Corruption: Zimbabwe: Secrecy could threaten access to food
* HIV/AIDS: Senegal: Renewed focus on Aids
* Education: The tragedy of Africa’s education
* Social Welfare: Zambia: Finance minister debates social findings
* Books and Arts: WS: A Life in Full