Africa Center for Strategic Studies 

Media Review for September 14, 2011

Gambia: 80% of Europe's cocaine transit through West Africa Says Naval chief
The chief of Naval Staff says that records indicate that about 80 percent of Europe's cocaine supply transits through the West African Coast. Commodore Madani Senghore was speaking Monday at the Navy Guard Post near the Ferry Terminal in Banjul during the opening ceremony of the Africa Partnership Station (APS) Training Programme 2011 High Speed Vessels Swift (HSV2) for the Gambia Navy and other security and maritime stakeholders. Daily Observer

 

Jos unrest: Nigerian President Jonathan takes control
Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the military to "take all necessary actions" to stop ethnic and religious unrest in Plateau state. His order to the chief of defence comes a day after two bomb explosions hit the state capital Jos. BBC

 

Nigeria militant group Boko Haram's attacks attract speculation
The signs are ominous: A terrorist group in northern Nigeria claims to have trained with Al Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia, and vows to launch international attacks after a deadly bombing last month of the U.N. headquarters in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. The head of U.S. Africa Command, Gen. Carter F. Ham, has warned of the threat of a pan-African Al Qaeda-linked terrorism network capable of endangering Western interests across the continent. LA Times

 

Guinea reworks its deal with mining companies
Development experts say Guinea's new mining code may be its best chance to ensure the world's largest supplier of aluminum ore gets a fair share of the profits. The question: will the new law be enforced? CS Monitor

 

Fears Grow Over Liberian Election Violence
Concerns over election violence grows as rumors abound that President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is on the verge of bringing in troops from Nigeria to help keep the peace and discourage violence during the October polls. allAfrica

 

DR Congo: Specialised Court for Serious Human Rights Abuses
The Democratic Republic of Congo's parliament this month adopted a bill creating a Specialised Court for serious violations of human rights. The involvement of jurists from outside the DRC in running the court has quickly become a major talking point. IPS

 

Zimbabwe: U.S. Envoy Holds 'Fruitful' Talks With Mugabe
Mugabe yesterday met the United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Charles Ray and the American diplomat expressed his country's eagerness to mend relations with Zimbabwe despite the illegal sanctions Washington imposed on Harare. The Herald

 

Sudan's Bashir promotes Taha to first vice-president and appoints a Darfurian as VP
Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir Tuesday appointed Ali Osman Taha as first vice-president and picked a Darfurian and member of the ruling party as vice-president. Since last July the position of First Vice President remained vacant since the independence of South Sudan. Salva Kiir Mayadrit the former first vice-president has become president of the Republic of South Sudan. Sudan Tribune

 

Attacks in Sudan's Darfur Region Fall 70 Percent in Three Years, UN Says
The number of armed attacks in Sudan's western region of Darfur has declined 70 percent in the past three years, the United Nations-African Union joint special representative, Ibrahim Gambari, said. Gambari said a UN-African Union peacekeeping force known as Unamid, which numbers more than 17,000 troops and 4,500 police officers, has succeeded in bringing stability to the region. Bloomberg

 

American Military Team Visits Libya to Assess Risks of Reopening U.S. Embassy
American forces are back on the shores of Tripoli - albeit in a small way. Four members of the American military are in Tripoli, the Libyan capital, to determine what security measures are necessary to reopen the United States Embassy here, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday. The New York Times

 

Libya: Besieged Bani Walid residents told to flee
Libyan rebels battling the remnants of Muammar Gaddafi's forces in his remaining stronghold of Bani Walid have given residents there two days to leave before a threatened assault. [...] Meanwhile, Saadi Gaddafi, the third son of the toppled leader, was transferred to the capital of Niger, Niamey, after being held in the city of Agadez after crossing the border among with other officials over the weekend. Al Jazeera

 

Gaddafi planned to flood Europe with migrants as final revenge
When the Mukhabarat, Libya's dreaded secret police, came for Mustafa Fauzi his immediate reactions were fear followed by resignation. He had already undergone a brutal experience in prison for human trafficking and this time his ordeal was bound to be even worse. [...] the man had surprising news for Mr Fauzi: not only was he not going to be charged over the latest offence, there was also an invitation to carry on with his work. Muammar Gaddafi wanted to send 100,000 African migrants to Europe, he was told, and it was his patriotic duty to help. The Independant

 

As Qaddafi's supporters flee, Libya fallout could impact Darfur
A key Darfuri rebel commander who took refuge in Libya is now back in the region. His return could destabilize an uneasy peace between the rebels and the governments of Sudan and Chad. CS Monitor

 

Empty village raises concerns about fate of black Libyans
This town was once home to thousands of mostly black non-Arab residents. Now, the only manmade sound is a generator that powers a small militia checkpoint, where rebels say the town is a "closed military area." What happened to the residents of Tawergha appears to be another sign that despite the rebel leadership's pledges that they'll exact no revenge on supporters of deposed dictator Moammar Gadhafi, Libya's new rulers often are dealing harshly with the country's black residents. Mc Clatchy

 

Libya's interim council still hasn't won SA's OK, okay?
South Africa has not recognised the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) and will not do so until specific conditions are met, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday. This was in line with policy agreed upon by the African Union (AU), he added. However, at least 20 AU member nations have independently acknowledged the legitimacy of the NTC, including Botswana, Nigeria and Ethiopia. Mail and Guardian

 

Why Turkey's Erdogan Is Greeted like a Rock Star in Egypt
Erdogan, in Egypt on the first leg of his Arab Spring tour that includes visits in Tunisia and Libya, was received like a rock star by thousands of adoring supporters at Cairo's airport when he flew in late on Monday. His three-day trip comes at a particularly inopportune time for Cairo's new bosses, who are increasingly seen - by tens of thousands of young revolutionaries who led February's revolution - as a throwback to their old boss. Time

 

Washington did not want Egypt's revolution: Obama advisor
The United States did not want a revolution in Egypt, and only when it was evident Hosni Mubarak had lost control did the Obama administration then started supporting the revolutionaries, said Dalia Mogahed, executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies and an advisor to President Barack Obama. "Even now, many in the United States still think that Mubarak's presence was better for American interests, since he did everything they asked for," she told Egyptian newspaper al-Akhbar. Al Arabiya

 

South Africa: Zuma, Mogoeng, and Malema
Anxiety levels in the South Africa business community, which has a large white component, are probably rising. President Jacob Zuma, against the advice of the formal opposition Democratic Alliance and numerous human rights advocacy organizations, has appointed Mogoeng Mogoeng as chief justice of the Supreme Court. Opponents have accused him of being homophobic and chauvinistic, as I blogged last week. The Council on Foreign Relations

 

Algeria's Bouteflika to end state TV and radio control
Algeria has announced sweeping media reforms to allow private radio and television stations to exist for the first time since independence in 1962. The moves comes as the government battles to contain popular protests against the lack of freedoms, high unemployment and corruption. The cabinet also approved plans to drop prison sentences for journalists convicted of libel. BBC

 

Kenya kidnap victim being held on Somali island
Judith Tebbutt, the British woman kidnapped from her exclusive Kenyan lodge, is being held on an island in southern Somalia by armed pirates who are expected to issue a ransom demand within days, The Daily Telegraph has learned. The Telegraph

 

Benefits of Africa and India Trade Relations
African nations and India are emerging with a lot of similarities and building strong relationships, which benefits them all. Much of the economic activity between African countries and India is being led by the private sector out of India. This is unlike China's relationship with Africa, where the government is leading the charge. Africa The Good News

 

Malawi: Child labour: the tobacco industry's smoking gun
At the height of the tobacco harvest season, Malawi's lush, flowing fields are filled with young children picking the big green-yellow leaves. Some can count their age on one hand. One of them is five-year-old Olofala, who works every day with his parents in rural Kasungu, one of Malawi's key tobacco growing districts. When asked if he will go to school next year, he shrugs his shoulders. The Guardian

 

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Please note: The following news items are presented here for informational purposes. The views expressed within them are those of the authors and/or individuals quoted, not those of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, the National Defense University, or the Department of Defense.
 
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