Can Zuma reform the African Union?

By: ralph geeplay

South Africa's delegation celebrates in Addis Ababa as D. Zuma is elected

Ten years after its creation, this year the African union (AU) took a bold step, and chose a woman to lead the continental body in what was a mile stone and a much contested electioneering process that saw South Africa Home Affairs Minister elected to the continental top post. Dlamini Zuma has her hands full: the African Union is not a governmental bureau, as her past experiences suggest, and the level of work that needs to be done on the continent as far leadership and vision are concern are huge. Again, vision and leadership has been lacking since 1963 when the fore runner, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which the AU replaced came into effect, but many believe Madame Dlamini Zuma has the credentials and the requisite attitude to make the AU relevant.

Why Johnson Sirleaf is Wrong

By: ralph geeplay

Peace Laureate President Sirleaf

Introduction: The Liberian Government is yet to act on the much heralded Truth and Reconciliation Commission report, often cited by international experts and meant to addressed the nation's reconciliation process. For reasons best known to the Unity Party led government, the report has been shelved and the chairman of the Commission have fled the country claiming threats to his life from the powers that be. Cllr. Verdier claims can not be taken lightly, Sirleaf own aide that once headed the procurement commission was gunned down in the country, and those who murdered him in cold blood are yet to be brought to justice. In June 2008, this writer raised issues with Sirleaf that her actions or inaction to ignore the commission were atypical to the political peace Liberia sought in the aftermath of war [most of the major actors including Sirleaf would later appear before the TRC].  But back then, her refusal to meet the TRC  almost left it on one leg, and today, the simmering effects of violence, discontent, and trauma from a war weary people is still evident in the Liberian society, with perpetrators and victims living side by side while warlords responsible for gruesome crimes are serving in her government, while Liberia's borders see armed gangs determined to profit from war. It is being re-posted with minor edits.

How China's Approach Beats the West's in Africa

Introduction: Stephan Richter in this piece puts forward compelling arguments you can hardly dispute. China's increasing involvement on the continent is analysed and Richter hit the right punches and delivered a well written article that is easy to read, yet brilliant.
                                                   
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent 10-day tour across Africa represented a strategic caving-in of sorts. In many of the places she visited, the Chinese had gotten there first. In fact, China is everywhere in Africa these days, both exploiting the continent's vast natural riches and pursuing infrastructure projects long promised but never quite delivered by the West.

Gwynne Dyer: The fate of Africa

                          

Introduction: This piece on Africa from Gwynne Dyer is a must read. His perspectives and insights leaves much to think about...

Can African nations grow their economies faster than their populations?

Good news from Africa: After two decades of bloody anarchy, Somalia is finally on the mend.

There is something resembling a government coming into being in Mogadishu, with much help from African Union troops.

Bad news from Africa: the situation in Mali is awful.

Sugarcoating 133 Years of Americo-Liberian Dominance

Introduction: Liberia has a tradition of appointing national orators on its independence day, a custom that stretches back to the country's foundation. This year speaker was Dr. Elwood Dun a Liberian academic. Here is Samuel D. Tweah Jr. critique of Dun's "Renewing our national promise," in which he disagrees fundamentally with Dun's interpretation of Liberia's history. Tweah  accused Dun of sugar coating the past, and being less candid about the historical national narrative which culminated in Liberia's founding. Says Tweah, "Dr. Dunn makes several troubling and baffling assertions which are teased and fleshed out...the Professor summarizes 133 years of political wrongdoing as prejudice. This is gross, tendentious understatement that has to be challenged. And more to the point, he uses ‘prejudices’ alongside ‘preferences’ as if to argue that ‘preferences’ define or connote the positives of the era while ‘prejudices’ explain the negatives." Both Dun and Tweah's posits are worth reading...

NFF says Steven Keshi job is on the line!

By ralph geeplay

The Eagles

The Nigerian Super Eagles coach, Steven Keshi is about to lose his high paying job if he fail to beat the Lone Star of Liberia and qualify the Eagles for Afcon finals next year in South Africa, Nigerian football officials are saying. Echoing the Nigerian football house sentiments quite recently was Mike Umeh, the vice president of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

Augustine Ngafuan and Liberia’s economy diplomacy

By: ralph geeplay

Liberia’s Foreign Minister (FM) Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan comes to the foreign minister  position with a core strategic objective for promoting Liberia policy initiatives by advancing what he and Sirleaf on many occasion have termed the “the economy diplomacy,” of the Unity Party led administration. The West African state which is still reeling from almost two decades of civil strive wants to build bridges with investors and foreign governments by winning investment to the country as it advance peace, and thereby, over all create stability.