July 02, 2009
Niger: U.S. Criticizes Tandja's Bid to Keep Power
President Mamadou Tandja has undermined Niger's efforts over the last 10 years to advance good governance and the rule of law, President Barack Obama's spokesman said on… Read more »
July 01, 2009
Africa: Obama Administration Tackling Wide Range of African Issues - Johnnie Carson
After a slow start on Africa, the Obama administration is picking up the pace. President Barack Obama will make his first stopover in a sub-Saharan African country next week when… Read more »
Rwanda: On Independence Day, Not Quite Free?
As Rwanda celebrates its independence on Wednesday, it stands as one of those African countries which appears on the face of it to be working well, despite pursuing a homegrown… Read more »
June 29, 2009
Africa: Zuma is Out of Step With History
Just ahead of this week’s African Union summit in Libya, South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has advocated an old and discredited approach for dealing with African… Read more »
June 27, 2009
Somalia: U.S. Ships Small Arms, Munitions to Govt
The United States has shipped about 40 tons of small arms and munitions to Somalia in the last two months to help the country’s transitional government fight off a challenge… Read more »
June 26, 2009
Somalia: Militant Islamists Try to Draw Kenya Into a Trap
As Somalia's transitional government fights for its existence and the region's governments debate how to respond, guest columnist Daniela Kroslak argues strongly against another… Read more »
June 24, 2009
Africa: Carson Outlines Four Key Areas of Obama Africa Policy
The United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, promised Tuesday that he will "remember to listen and not forget to learn." Read more »
Africa: Business Engagement Critical to Global Health, Says Obama Adviser Gayle Smith
Gayle Smith, a senior foreign policy adviser to President Obama and senior director for relief, stabilization and development at the National Security Council, addressed the… Read more »
June 22, 2009
Zimbabwe: Reforms 'Irreversible' Tsvangirai Tells British PM
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe told his British counterpart in London on Monday that his country was engaged in "an irreversible process" of consolidating democratic… Read more »
June 21, 2009
Africa: Egypt, South Africa Hold Their Own in Confeds Cup
Africa's two contenders in the Confederations Cup - the curtain-raiser to next year's World Cup - are riding high after doing relatively well in the first part of the tournament. Read more »
June 20, 2009
Madagascar: Region Appoints Chissano as Mediator
Southern African leaders have responded to the deadlock in talks over Madagascar's future by appointing former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano as a mediator to lead an… Read more »
June 18, 2009
Madagascar: Regional Leaders Call Emergency Summit
Southern African leaders will begin an emergency summit in Johannesburg on Friday to discuss the deadlock in talks to end the political crisis in Madagascar. Read more »
South Africa: Bafana Bafana Stage a Comeback
South Africa is back on course to qualify for the second round of the Fifa Confederations cup after a 2-0 win over New Zealand. Read more »
June 17, 2009
Gabon: Delay in Presidential Elections?
Government and opposition parties in Gabon are discussing delaying presidential elections to enable the updating of voters' rolls, according to the Kinshasa newspaper, Le… Read more »
Zimbabwe: Is Tsvangirai's Optimism Enough?
I gained a new appreciation for Morgan Tsvangirai’s unique position recently. I had the good fortune of attending his first on-the-record event hosted by the Council on… Read more »
Africa: Continent's Soccer Teams Put Up Good Show
Although South Africa and Egypt, Africa's representatives at the Confederations Cup, failed to win maximum points in their first games, they are still very much in the tournament… Read more »
Egypt: Fifa Reject Egypt's Complaint Over Goal
Fifa have rejected a complaint that the penalty which won Brazil its match against Egypt in the Confederations Cup on Monday was awarded on the basis of a video replay. Read more »
June 16, 2009
Central African Republic: International Court Charges DRC's Bemba
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has committed for trial the former vice-president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Jean-Pierre Bemba, on charges of war crimes… Read more »
Zimbabwe: Finding White Rhodesia in the American West
The writer Alexandra Fuller is best known in southern Africa for two books which portray with vivid and – for one who grew up in the same milieu – discomforting… Read more »
June 15, 2009
South Africa: Spectre of Corruption Threatens Democracy
Recent events in South Africa and Britain show that despite the fact they are regarded by many as examples of good governance, political leaders in both countries are struggling to… Read more »
Malawi: Madonna's Newly-Adopted Child Prepares to Leave
As pop star Madonna prepares to fly her newly-adopted Malawian child to New York, the child's father has reportedly given up efforts to keep her in Malawi. Read more »
June 13, 2009
Zimbabwe: Obama Boosts Tsvangirai, Cold-Shoulders Unity Govt
President Barack Obama has welcomed Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to the Oval Office in Washington, DC, with a U.S. $73 million aid package for Zimbabwe. But he refused to give… Read more »
June 12, 2009
Malawi: Court Allows Madonna to Adopt Child
A Malawi appeals court has given pop star Madonna the right to adopt a second Malawian child. Read more »
June 11, 2009
Africa: Campaigners Attack Italy, France Over Aid
A global anti-poverty advocacy group attacked Italy and France on Thursday for failing to live up to their promises to help Africans improve their education and fight hunger and… Read more »
South Africa: United States Relations - The Political Dimension
The following is a paper as prepared for delivery by Moeletsi Mbeki at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, DC on June 10, 2009. The paper was presented as part of a conference… Read more »