2011 in Liberia was all about the elections and although they could not be deemed a complete success because of the opposition’s successful, but ultimately fruitless boycott– 2011 was still a very good year for Liberian democracy. The year was also very good to Liberia’s President Sirleaf, Africa’s only female head-of-state who garnered a Nobel […]
The Foreign Policy Association has asked the blog team to write year-end summaries and even provided a nice little template for us to follow. So, without further ado: Summary of the Past Year What an extraordinary year 2011 has turned out to be. The U.S. appears to have successfully navigated a year of extreme turbulence […]
The Congressional supercommittee charged with finding trillions of dollars in debt reduction has failed in their mission, opening the door to a drastic reduction in the U.S. federal budget. Like most people I would assume that debt reductions would take place in a calm and orderly manner, with decisions on reductions made by adults who […]
Al Jazeera is reporting that three people have been killed in in an exchange of gun fire with riot police in Monrovia. There are also reports of injuries to several UN peacekeepers, part of the 8000 strong UNMIL mission which has been in the country since 2003. It is still not clear whether the boycott […]
The Wall Street Journal recently ran a piece detailing some of the methods behind China’s expansion into the African continent. The informative article not only does a nice job detailing specific cases of African and Chinese government business partnerships, but ties in how what is being exchanged it not just money and goods, but also […]
The Economist recently ran an article that highlights the tension between spending on foreign assistance and domestic political support for it. Prime Minister David Cameron, who ran on a platform supporting more aid and has insulated it from the cuts he has levied on almost every other part of government, is the latest to find […]
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent visit to Africa received extensive attention in the Indian media. Prime Minister Singh attended the second India-Africa Forum Summit in Addis Ababa on May 24th and 25th and visited Tanzania thereafter. The visit was used not only to demonstrate India’s commitment to Africa’s development needs but also highlight the strategy […]
THE ROAD TO DEAUVILLE, FRANCE 2011 G-8 SUMMIT: President Barack Obama arrives in Europe today beginning a six-day trip that seeks more resources to promote and support the pro-democracy movements in the Middle East’s Arab Spring, a trip to Ireland, an address before the British Parliament to “re-set’ US-European relations, and a G-* Summit in Deaville, Fr to discuss integrating Suub-Saharran Africa into the Global economic framework.
The World Economic Forum spoke to over 500 companies from around the world May 4-6, 2011 about Africa’s huge economic growth potential. The forum opened with a call for Africa to rethink its global role. “You can no longer talk about the old Africa,” said South African President Jacob G. Zuma. “We need to develop […]
Earlier this month, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s reminded the world of the unchanged US support for Morocco’s “serious, realistic, and credible” compromise autonomy proposal to end the three-decades old Western Sahara conflict. Days after, two more countries officially withdrew recognition and support of the “Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic” (SADR) “the pseudo country” run […]
Yesterday the Associated Press ran an interesting article on President Obama’s plans to increase engagement with Africa in 2011. President Barack Obama is quietly but strategically stepping up his outreach to Africa, using this year to increase his engagement with a continent that is personally meaningful to him and important to U.S. interests. Expectations in […]
Recent attempt by global terror outfits seeking to target European interests have heighted fear within the EU that an attack in the region seems an increasing possibility. Driven by these fears there has been a renewed effort to evaluate the regions counter terror initiatives. This has led the EU’s Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove to […]
The day after I post something about the upcoming independence referendum in Sudan, election problems boil over in two other countries on the continent. The Guinean military has proclaimed a state of emergency following a disputed election earlier this month, and reports are emerging of a military coup in Madagascar this morning. On November 7, […]
Brazil’s state-controlled Banco de Brazil and its rival Bradesco have agreed to acquire stakes in BES Africa, a Banco Espirito Santo (BES) holding company that makes investments in the African continent. The joint venture is intended to expand the Brazilian banks’ international operations and benefit Brazilian businesses operating in Africa. The move follows similar steps taken […]
I’m planning to devote Wednesdays to simple solutions that have a big impact in Global Health. In anticipation of World Malaria Day (April 25th), I thought I’d highlight some of the latest research on insecticide-treated nets and some of the simple solutions that are being utilized to get them where they are needed most. […]