There is a new story about political intrigue, firings, scandal, corruption, and crime reverberating through South Africa with the issue of an arrest warrant and suspension of National Police Commissioner (and head of Interpol) Jackie Selebi. This might represent Thabo Mbeki's stiffest political challenge yet, which is in itself saying something.
The Mail & Guardian editorializes hopefully on the prospects of Africans developing African solutions to African problems, using the Ibrahim Index as a springboard and less hopefully on the Salebi mess.
Meanwhile, recent data from an internal ANC audit of party membership indicates that Jacob Zuma is the front-runner for the party's presidency. One wonders if this sort of news might not hasten Cyril Ramaphosa to leave the private sector and return to public service. Ramaphosa, who has remained steadfast that he will not run for the ANC leadership, stands as my (mild) upset candidate to emerge with the party and national presidency.
What are the odds of reforming Nigeria's corruption ridden oil industry? The Economist lays out the long odds.
The Boston Globe has an editorial about how scientists increasingly can trace DNA — “genetic markers” — to tell us a great deal about not only the origins but also the movement of human beings from our earliest origins in Africa to today.
Is South Africa indifferent to the Darfur crisis? Pambazuka News believes so. There is little question that the country ought to be doing more to address the situation. Also at PN, Rotimi Sankore presents a rather sophisticated cri de couer about the Zimbabwe situation in which, ultimately, Robert Mugabe's endless reign of power is the crucial problem.
