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Offering immunity to leaders of countries or rebel movements was never a popular idea, but it has taken a battering this year. There are currently a handful of cases under review: Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, the Lord’s Resistance Army’s leader Jospeh Kony and Tanzania’s ex-President Benjamin Mkapa. Former Liberian President Charles Taylor finds himself sitting in lock-up in the Hague as Special Court prosectors chase after his hundreds of millions of dollars previously held in foreign banks. It now seems that prosecutions will become the norm, even if promises of asylum are given.
But not all cases can be treated in the same way. Taking a lesson from Taylor, leaders facing charges of corruption or extrajudicial killings may choose to hold on to power if they face prosecution. Few leaders give up power voluntarily in Central Africa.
The MDC had offered to allow President Mugabe to retire in peace, but changed its tone as the situation deteriorated. Even if Mugabe were given immunity, it would raise questions about what would happen to the people who planned and carried out the Matabeleland killings in the early 1980s. Kony has been unwilling to sign the latest peace deal because there are few guarantees that President Museveni can offer when there are outstanding warrants for Kony at the International Criminal Court and Uganda’s High Court.
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 Rendez-vous in Accra, Ghana
The next WAIPA World Investment Conference (WIC) will take place in Accra, Ghana, April 18-21. The WIC will be part of the World Investment Forum (April 19-22), which is organized jointly by the Government of Ghana, UNCTAD and WAIPA. The Forum will be attended by a large number of both Government representatives and executives from the corporate world.
The Forum will be followed by UNCTAD XII (April 20-25). The theme of UNCTAD XII is “Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of Globalization for Development”.
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 Africa Trade & Investment 2008
April 3-4, 2008
The Bay Hotel
Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
Exporta returns to Cape Town in April for its second annual forum on African trade and investment. The event will once again pull together an unsurpassed grouping of expert speakers: government ministers, finance heads from leading telecoms, power, energy, transport and ports companies.
Areas covered will additionally include financial and risk services, infrastructure, private equity, collateral management and security, agribusiness, corporate governance and legal issues.
Delegates will also be treated to a wine tasting evening at South Africa's oldest vineyard, the Groot Constantia.
Conference fee: GBP £650.00
Conference fee for exporters/importers of physical goods: GBP £200.00
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Join the first Europe-Africa Business Summit from April 28th - 30th , 2008 in Hamburg
NEPAD Council, one of the main political and economic development
organisations for Africa, announces the upcoming Europe Africa Business
Summit 2008. The business summit is scheduled for April 28-30 at the
CCH in Hamburg and will focus on the creation of direct business to
business transactions on both continents.
Participants of the summit can expect top-class speakers ranging from
politics, diplomacy, economy and business. Meanwhile, renowned
ambassadors, governors and vice presidents from diverse African states
have confirmed their presence and will take a prominent part of the
venue.
The objective of this unique business event will be met through
one-on-one meetings, by matching Medium or Small Enterprises (SMEs)
that are looking to actively engage in cross-continental trade and
investment with different companies.
Together with the agenda announcement, the official registration has
started and invites interested companies and delegates to enlist for
the venue. Until March 31, there is an early bird fee of € 700 for the
full package. The registration process is done online via http://www.europeafricabusinesssummit.org/index.php?id=29.
With the registration for EABS, participants will be permitted to the
opening and plenary sessions, workshops and lighthouse project
presentations, technical excursions, face-to-face business meetings and
also to a visit of the exhibition area.
Registration details, exhibition documents, booking information and further details are available from www.eabs.info.
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We Are Together - in cinemas from 7 March 2008
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We Are Together
March 7 sees the
much-anticipated cinematic release of what is set to be this year's
most heart-warming documentary. Filmed over three years, We Are
Together tells the remarkable and moving story of a group of AIDS
orphans from South Africa who use the power of song to overcome
hardship and loss. With unforgettable characters, soaring music and a
plot full of surprises, We Are Together has been wowing audiences at
film festivals around the world, winning an impressive 13 international
awards last year, including Audience Awards at both Tribeca and
Edinburgh!
We Are Together is the debut film from Rise Films co-founders Teddy Leifer and Paul Taylor.
Through the Rise Foundation, a registered charity, the two have pledged
to donate all proceeds from the film and accompanying soundtrack to
support the Agape orphanage featured in the film and other AIDS related
charities in South Africa.
To watch the trailer, hear the music, find out about screenings or just to learn more about the film please visit www.wearetogether.org
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Interview with Baaba Maal | Interview with Femi Kuti |
Links to other websites
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Africa-wide
Africa Intelligence
Newsletter published in Paris by Indigo Publications
allAfrica.com
Comprehensive round-up of news from around the continent from a wide variey of sources
AfricaFiles
A network of people committed to Africa through its promotion of human rights, economic justice, African perspectives and alternative analyses.
Tree Aid
Tree Aid funds work Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Northern Ghana and Mali. It has a vision to see thriving, self-reliant communities in Africa's drylands.
Rough Guides
The guides cover more than 200 destinations around the globe, including more than half of Africa.
africanOz
African Australian online resource, with links and info on events, news, music, travel & more.
African Union
Africa’s principal organization for the promotion of accelerated socio-economic integration of the continent.
Committee to Protect Journalists
An independent, nonprofit organisation dedicated to the global defence of press freedom.
Amnesty International
Amnesty International works to improve human rights through the actions of ordinary people around the world.
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world.
Make Poverty History
Join the band of people who are taking action to make poverty history.
Congo-Kinshasa (DRC)
L'Avenir
Daily newspaper published in Kinshasa, available in French, English and Spanish
Côte d'Ivoire
Le Jour
Daily newspaper published in Abidjan
East Africa
The East African
Business-oriented regional newspaper published weekly in Nairobi by the Nation Group
Ethiopia
Addis Tribune
Weekly newspaper published in Addis Ababa
Ghana
Accra Mail
Published twice weekly in Accra
Kenya
The Nation
Daily news from Kenya
Liberia
The Perspective
Liberian opposition magazine published in the States in Atlanta, Georgia
The Analyst
Independent daily newspaper
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Namibia
The Namibian
Daily newspaper published in Windhoek
Nigeria
Gamji.com
The Daily Trust andWeekly Trust available through Gamji.com, news from northern Nigeria
The Guardian
Nigerian independent daily newspaper published in Lagos
This Day
Nigerian independent daily newspaper published in Lagos
Vanguard
Nigerian daily newspaper published in Lagos
South Africa
Business Day
South Africa's daily business newspaper
The Daily Mail & Guardian
Daily electronic 'cousin' of South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper
Southern Africa
SouthScan
Bulletin of Southern African Affairs published in London
Sudan
Art for Darfur
Sudanese artist Khalid Kodi urges us not to ignore his country:
'By not looking, we abandon the child, the man, the woman and indeed, the nation.' 25% of the selling price of artworks and photographs from this site goes to Médecins Sans Frontières in support of their work in Darfur.
Sudan Tribune
News site about Sudan: wires, featured articles, analysis, comment, press releases, and reports.
Protect Darfur
A coalition of civil society groups set up to call for all actions necessary to increase protection for vulnerable civilians in Darfur.
Vigilance Soudan
Organisation created by people militating for human rights in Sudan. Supplies information to raise awareness about the situation in Sudan.
Sudan Organisation Against Torture
An independent non-governmental human rights organisation whose primary objective is preventing torture and challenging impunity.
Uganda
The Monitor
Privately owned daily newspaper published in Kampala
New Vision
Uganda's largest daily and Sunday newspaper published in Kampala
Zambia
The Post
Zambia's most popular and confrontational independent newspaper
Zimbabwe
The Financial Gazette
Leading financial weekly newspaper
SW Radio Africa
The independent voice of Zimbabwe on medium wave
The Zimbabwean
Published in the UK and edited by Wilf Mbanga, it is now the biggest selling weekly in Zimbabwe.
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 Refugee Voices - Building Bridges
A unique album produced by Senegalese maestro Youssou N'Dour featuring refugee artists from nine African countries. Profits go to refugee education. Order it fromSterns Music(search for 'Refugee Voices'). |
 Scenarios from the Sahel
A collection of short films about HIV/AIDS based on the ideas of children and young adults in three West African countries and directed by internationally acclaimed African directors. Visit theGlobal Dialogueswebsite to find out more. |
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