SUDANSOUTH SUDANCHINA Beijing faces both ways 4th May 2012 Paloch, South Sudan: A man examines a leaking oil pipe line at a pumping station built next to his village on land that was once used for agriculture. Sven Torfinn / Panos Image courtesy of Panos Pictures Pressure is mounting on President Hu Jintao’s government to use its commercial ties with Juba and Khartoum for constructive diplomacy South Sudan’s government and ruling party have welcomed the billions of dollars in promised investment that resulted from President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s April visit to Beijing, but they are calling for China to take a more active role in the resolution of the conflict. As its first Independence anniversary draws near, South Sudan is turning still further to the East for the investment and development support it needs. This is less a political decision than an economic one: with instability continuing and low-level conflict growing with Sudan, most Western companies remain cautious about doing much more than reconnoitre.
SUDANSOUTH SUDANCHINA Eight billion dollars, a mike and no peace 4th May 2012 Image courtesy of Panos Pictures View site Border clashes between Sudan and South Sudan brought an early close to Salva Kiir Mayardit’s trip to China, originally due to end on 28 April. After a session with President Hu Jin...
KENYASOUTH SUDANASIA Threats to Lamu lifeline 4th May 2012 Image courtesy of Panos Pictures View site Conflict between the Sudans, lack of consultation with local people and regional politics could undermine the massive project As the conflict between the two Sudans escalates, plans continue for the oil pipeline and new port at Lamu. Japan’s Toyota Tsusho Corporation, the leading investor and the first co...
CHINAAFRICA Redback takes on greenback 4th May 2012 African countries will be among the first to adopt the Chinese renminbi as a reserve currency South Africa, China’s largest trading partner on the continent, looks set to be the first African nation to join the 20 other countries and regions that have swapped currency in de...
GHANACHINA NDC hopes for Beijing election bonanza 4th May 2012 Vice-President Mahama’s April trip to Beijing sealed a position of primacy for China and paves the way for more oil-backed loans Just twelve months after the start of commercial oil production, Ghana has mortgaged its lucrative oil marketing monopoly to Unipec via the state-owned Ghana National Petroleum Cor...
CHINAAFRICA South Bank challenge to IMF and World Bank 4th May 2012 The 28-29 March New Delhi summit of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries debated establishing a BRICS development bank – the South Bank – to give the...
INDIAAFRICABRIEFING Coal is hot 4th May 2012 Southern Africa is now the major frontier of coal exploration for Indian energy companies. Khopoli Investments, a subsidiary of India’s largest private power producer, Tata Power, ...
ZIMBABWEINDIA Steel while the iron is hot 4th May 2012 Essar’s investment in the former ZISCO operations have slowed again as negotiations over access to mining rights delay development Essar’s deal for rehabilitating NewZim Steel (formerly the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company) is teetering on the brink of collapse.
TAIWANAFRICA Ma’s labours lost 4th May 2012 Little was gained and little lost during Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou’s first African tour on 7-18 April. Far outscored in the contest with China for diplomatic recognition, Ma...
SENEGAL Macky Sall 4th May 2012 President of Senegal Macky Sall was sworn in as President on 2 April. His victory in the second-round runoff ended Abdoulaye Wade’s twelve years in power, along with his attempts to secure a third term...
JAPAN Akihiko Tanaka 4th May 2012 President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) In April, the Tokyo government named political science professor Akihiko Tanaka as President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the country’s development agency. He suc...
INDIA Amarendra Khatua 4th May 2012 India's Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan In late March, seconded from the External Affairs Ministry where he headed the passport division, Amarendra Khatua was appointed Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan to mediate ...
CHINA Hui Liangyu 4th May 2012 Vice Premier, China Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu championed cooperation in agriculture, mining and infrastructure on his tour through Namibia, Uganda and Zimbabwe in early April. Hui is one of China’s fou...
