Africa: Upcoming Conference 'to Make the Connection' between U.S. and Continent - Hope Masters
The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation Africa Policy Forum: a Vision for the 21st Century to be held in Atlanta in September, aims to help build a U.S.-Africa dialogue based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. It will encompass cultural discourse as well as talks on business and national security issues. Hope Masters, CEO of the Sullivan Foundation, spoke with Saratu Abiola and Carine Umuhumuza of allAfrica.com about what informed her approach to the conference, and what she would like to see in the future regarding U.S.-Africa relations.How does the conference tie in to what the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation is trying to achieve?Our overarching purpose is to build a bridge, to make the connection between African Americans, in particular, but really people of the African Diaspora in general, to connect us all back to the continent. Traditionally we have chartered planes and taken people to the continent. We believe now that the bridge goes both ways. We've been trying to get the bridge across to the continent but now with brilliant young people, there's so many people coming back and forth.
Africa: Obama Team 'Actively Engaged' to Promote Progress, Carson Says
President Barack Obama will host some 120 African youth leaders from 40 African nations in Washington next week, part of a commemoration of 50 years of independence for 17 countries. The President's Forum is intended "to deepen and broaden our understanding of the trajectories of African societies, and to reflect on how the next generation are building their communities' and their nations' futures ? just as their predecessors did in the era of independence from colonial rule," the White House said in a statement.
Zimbabwe: Party Leaders Claim New Progress Made on Political Agreement
The country's three political leaders are reported to have agreed to drop several outstanding issues, which have been crippling the coalition government, and to focus on only three related to senior appointments.
Sudan: Security Council Extends Darfur Peacekeepers' Mandate
The Security Council today voted to extend by another year the mandate of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur, where violence once again rocked a large camp for people uprooted by the conflict in the war-ravaged Sudanese region.
Congo-Kinshasa: Clashes in East Uproot Nearly 90,000
Local authorities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are reporting that almost 90,000 people have been uprooted from their homes following recent military operations in the region, the United Nations humanitarian arm said today.
Kenya: New Constitution Divides Nation
Less than three years after a closely fought presidential election plunged Kenya into widespread violence and displaced thousands, the country is bracing itself for another crucial and equally divisive ballot, this time on a new constitution.
Liberia: World Bank Gives U.S.$63 Million Grant
The World Bank has provided US63 million (Sixty Three Million United States Dollars) grant to the government of Liberia for the implementation of Employment and skills projects in the country.
Zimbabwe: 'Impunity-Riddled,' in Spite of Govt - Report
A number of international legal organizations have warned that the current dire state of the legal and justice system in 'impunity riddled Zimbabwe' has continued to decline, despite the formation of the coalition government.
Malawi: Innovative Campaigning by Women Candidates
You will find Beauty Kasonda on her campaign trail at funerals, weddings, church functions or just about any local gathering in her community. Kasonda does not have the sort of funding her male counterparts have for campaigning in the country's November 2010 elections but she is not letting that stop her.
Kenya: Reform Cleric Slams Church in Constitution Row
With just five days to Kenya's landmark referendum on a new constitution, the country's most well-known reform cleric Reverend Timothy Njoya, attacks Christian Church leaders for campaigning against the draft constitution in the vote next Wednesday.
Southern Africa: U.S. Congress Considers New Law on Zimbabwe
Africa Action, the oldest human rights organization focused exclusively on Africa, celebrates the introduction of the Zimbabwe Renewal Act of 2010 (H.R. 5971) in the House of Representatives.
Somalia: UN Refugee Agency Calls on Saudi Arabia to Stop Deporting Somalis
The United Nations refugee agency today called on Saudi Arabia to halt deportations of Somali refugees and asylum-seekers to the conflict-stricken capital, Mogadishu, where dozens of civilians were killed in escalating clashes this week.
Southern Africa: Realising Trade in Virtual Water
The vegetables Omphemetse Monyi sells at the Francistown bus rank come from 400 kilometres away in South Africa. One approach to development might seek to replace her suppliers with local farmers, but Southern Africa's water managers are considering the merits of reinforcing a regional trade in "virtual water".
Kenya: Land Issues That Just Won't Go Away
With only days to the constitutional referendum in Kenya, the issue of land - ownership, quantity and usage - remains the most controversial, with proponents and opponents suggesting different interpretations of land rights detailed in the draft.
Kenya: Odinga Accused of Insulting Language
PRIME Minister Raila Odinga has been named among the politicians making "unsavoury, derogatory and insulting" remarks during the campaigns before referendum on the proposed constitution on August 4.
Côte d'Ivoire: Yellow Fever, Dengue Kill at Least Three
Ivorian health officials are vaccinating people against yellow fever in Abidjan, the commercial capital, and two other major cities, after the disease killed two people and struck nine others in recent weeks.
Kenya: 'Yes' Commands 68 Percent Referendum Vote- Poll
Sixty eight per cent of Kenyans will vote for the proposed Constitution, according to a survey released just five days to the referendum.
Africa: Addressing the Role of Religion in HIV Response
At a church compound in Nairobi's Mathare slum, women and their children line up for food rations. Among them is Zipporah Mueni, an HIV-positive mother of five.
Liberia: Deputy House Speaker Charged With Felony
When Deputy House Speaker Tokpa Mulbah allegedly ordered the brutal flogging of police patrolman Lexington Beh late last month, darted into the sanctuary of his mansion with police in tow, got the spontaneous help of CDC officials and foot-soldiers to help him escape arrest, and claimed to be politically victimized by the Sirleaf Administration, it was all politics ? Liberian style. And the day went to the swift. However melodramatic and revealing that police-deputy speaker encounter was, it did very little to shield and give the deputy speaker the carte blanche immunity he and his supporters assumed he has or should have. The deputy speaker came to that grim reality this week, when only the agility of his lawyers stood between him and an arrest order on criminal charges. The Analyst, reports.
Uganda: Toxic Algae Hits Lake Victoria Waters
Toxic algae has been found on Lake Victoria, a senior government official said yesterday.
Nigeria: Interpol Wades Into Senator's Marriage to Minor
The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to furnish it with information on Senator Ahmed Yerima's alleged marriage to a minor.
Nigeria: Senate Passes Harmonised Electoral Bill
The Senate yesterday passed the conference report of the Electoral Act (INEC) 2006 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2010.
Nigeria: How to Repatriate U.S.$400 Billion Stolen Fund
The African Diaspora Initiative (ADI) says Nigeria will recover a whopping $400 billion looted public funds if the Federal Government grants unconditional amnesty to present and former government officials willing to repatriate such funds from foreign countries.
Nigeria: Team Reach U-20 Women's Final
Nigeria national U-20 women's team, the Falconets yesterday continued their impressive run in the FIFA organized football tournament by edging out hard fighting Colombians 1-0 to book a place in the finals to be decided this on Sunday.
Africa: UN Official Warns Terrorism and Organized Crime Increasingly Linked
Terrorism in Africa is increasingly linked to organized crime, and the continent's governments must take stronger steps to try to break those connections, a senior United Nations official said as he called for countries worldwide to broaden their anti-terrorist strategies beyond involving only the military and law enforcement agencies.
Kenya: President Assures Rift Valley Residents on Land Issues in Constitution
President Kibaki on Friday pleaded with residents of Rift Valley to join other Kenyans in passing the proposed constitution, saying there was no clause that would legalise seizure of land by the government.
Africa: Assistant Secretary-General Calls on Partners to Adopt Civil Paths to Peace
Acclaimed academics and experts attending a United Nations round table on peace in Asia last week heard how the Commonwealth is striving to help policymakers resolve "deep seated conflicts" around the world.
Cameroon: Public Services Must Act as Catalyst for Growth - Prime Minister
African countries need to sustain on-going reforms, in order to enhance the recent economic progress in the continent, says Philemon Yang
Nigeria: Grounded by Graft 50 Years After Independence, Says Waziri
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Farida Wazirir, has regretted that Nigeria has performed very badly, 50 years after Independence, because of the crippling effect of corruption and other related vices.
Congo-Kinshasa: UN Rushing Aid to Flood-Stricken Areas of North-Western Region
United Nations agencies are providing urgent assistance to areas of north-western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after devastating floods, which have destroyed nearly 300 homes and left an estimated 1,500 people homeless.
