February | 2012 | Peter "Just Loves Flying"

Senegal Elections: A First Take By John Cambell

February 29, 2012

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Abdoulaye Wade, Africa, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, Senegal, United Nations Leave a comment

http://blogs.cfr.org/campbell/2012/02/28/senegal-elections-a-first-take/

The experience of Ivory Coast should temper unbounded optimism about the elections, however. The Ivorian 2010 polling — the first in a decade — went well. There was a subsequent runoff between the incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara. But, the runoff was marred by irregularities with both candidates declaring victory, setting up parallel administrations, and there was a low level civil war resolved in the end by the UN and the French. The country now appears superficially calm, but divisions persist.

I am hopeful, even optimistic, that there will be no replay of the Ivory Coast scenario in Senegal. The former was characterized by “big man” rule under Houphouet Boigny that in effect stunted the development of a democratic culture. There was a recent history of civil war and the continued existence of parallel armed forces. There are ethnic and religious divisions often bundled together under the rubrics of “settlers” versus indigenes. Valuable commodities — cocoa, oil — distort politics.

Thabo Mbeki on Sovereignty and Democracy in Africa

February 29, 2012

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Africa, African Union, Arab League, Libya, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, United Nations Leave a comment

http://blogs.cfr.org/campbell/2012/02/23/thabo-mbeki-on-sovereignty-and-democracy-in-africa/

Mbeki focuses on Libya while acknowledging that intervention in Ivory Coast also carries many of the same lessons. He recalls the adoption by the African Union Peace and Security Council of a roadmap for the resolution of the Libyan conflict, which secured Qaddafi’s agreement. The AU then forwarded its decision to the UN and the Arab league.

However, the UN Security Council ignored the African Union and took as the justification for its actions the positions taken by the Arab League. It adopted Resolution 1973, which provided the justification for NATO “to intervene in Libya to impose a violent resolution to this conflict, centered on regime change—which was not the intention of Resolution 1973.”

Mbeki charges President Obama, Prime Minister Cameron, President Sarkozy, and the UN with imposing their own solution on an African state. (He denies that Qaddafi was intent on making war on his own people.) It particularly sticks in his craw that the UN gave greater weight to the Arab League than to the African Union; in effect, he accuses the UN of detaching Libya from Africa.

Africa Plans Free Trade Area

February 27, 2012

Peter Singhatey Articles on Africa Africa, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey Leave a comment

Africa Plans Free Trade Area.

Africa’s 54 nations have decided to establish a continental free trade area by 2017, speed up infrastructure development and put related policies and laws in place to boost the integration process. ‘The Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) should be operationalized by the indicative date of 2017, and enhanced intra-African trade and deepened market integration can contribute significantly to sustainable economic growth, employment generation, poverty reduction, inflow of foreign direct investment, industrial development and better integration of the continent into the global economy,’ according to the Declaration on the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa. The document was endorsed at the 18th African Union (AU) summit 23-31 January in the Ethiopian capital.

Social workers do their best for children – Analysis, Opinion – Independent.ie

February 24, 2012

Peter Singhatey Politics People & Society, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey 1 Comment

Social workers do their best for children – Analysis, Opinion – Independent.ie.

THIS week the ‘Daily Telegraph’ ran a story with the headline ‘Irish social workers are horrified by their ruthless English counterparts’. In it, we’re told how a far more humane approach to issues, including child protection and the aim of keeping families together, exists in Ireland.

Playing a dangerous game in Egypt | Transitions

February 22, 2012

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, West Aftica Leave a comment

Playing a dangerous game in Egypt | Transitions.

In December, the Egyptian authorities raided the offices of 17 humanitarian organizations. The police confiscated documents, money, computers. The government, basing its actions on a shameful and draconian Mubarak-era law, accused the groups of receiving illegal funding from overseas and operating in Egypt without proper registration.

African envoy in Senegal to defuse tension – Africa – Al Jazeera English

February 22, 2012

Peter Singhatey African Center for Strategic Studies peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, West Africa Leave a comment

African envoy in Senegal to defuse tension – Africa – Al Jazeera English.

Senegal’s Ndour injured during rally

February 22, 2012

Peter Singhatey African Center for Strategic Studies peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, West Africa Leave a comment

Senegal’s Ndour injured during rally.

Dakar – Senegalese music icon and opposition activist Youssou Ndour was injured in the leg on Tuesday after being hit by a projectile at the scene of a banned rally in Dakar, his entourage told AFP.

Failings left 10 migrants homeless

February 22, 2012

Peter Singhatey World News Middle East, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey Leave a comment

Failings left 10 migrants homeless.

TEN PEOPLE ended up homeless because of failings in the social protection system, a report published today claims. The report, which highlights issues facing immigrants applying for welfare in Ireland, finds that 10 of 54 cases examined ended up with the person becoming homeless. It will be published today by Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton.