Bereits im letzten Jahr dokumentierte Kasambara die ständige Präsenz staatlicher Sicherheitskräfte bei seinen öffentlichen Auftritten
Ralph Kasambara ist auf freiem Fuß – wieder nur vorerst, wie viele Beobachter befürchten. Der ehemalige malawische Generalstaatsanwalt, der als Menschenrechtsaktivist für seine harsche Kritik an der Regierung Bekanntheit erlangte, erfährt derzeit die Vielfalt staatlicher Repressionen in seiner Heimat. Bereits letzte Woche, als viele Angestellte der Justiz in einen landesweiten Streik traten, war Kasambara mehrfach unter kuriosen Umständen festgenommen worden. Nachdem offenbar ein Anschlag auf Kasambara vereitelt werden konnte, wächst der Druck auf die Regierung. Trotz seiner jüngsten Freilassung erheben internationale Beobachter wie Amnesty International schwere Vorwürfe.
Fish catched off the coast of Zanzibar, Copyright: Imke Stahlmann
In cooperation with the University of Dar es Salaam, the International Institute of Fisheries Economics & Trade (IIFET) will hold their annual conference in Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam. The conference will have the title Visible Possibilities: The Economics of Sustainable Fisheries, Aquaculture and Seafood Trade and will take place from 16-20 July 2012. Weiterlesen »
In October 2010 Nsanje Inland Port was ceremonially presented to the world. Zimbabwe’s Mugabe and Zambia’s then president Banda showed up to stand by their friend Mutharika. Fourteen months passed, the planned business hub serves local fishermen as fishing ground, the construction decays more and more and not even one vessel unloaded its freight. At least the almost two years lasting diplomatic differences seem to be overcome. Weiterlesen »
Neglected Tropical Diseases, screenshot from 'Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases - Ending the Neglect and Reaching 2020 Goals'
The WHO, the UK Department for International Development, USAID, 13 pharmaceutical companies, like GlaxoSmithKline, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World bank continue their global partnership to defeat 10 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by the year 2020. Weiterlesen »
After the Lilongwe Vendors Association in cooperation with the Malawian police last week launched a campaign to clean the city’s streets of youths lounging around, street vendors clashed heavily with anti-riot forces. About 45 suspected persons have been arrested so far and the police claims to have reinstated “law and order” in the streets of Lilongwe. What remains are reproaches and unsolved tensions. Weiterlesen »
GPS coordinates of a fishing vessel, screenshot from "Throught the Net", EJF
Sierra Leone’s fishing grounds are among the richest in West African waters. Thousands of tons of fish are caught in Sierra Leonean waters every year. But not all of them are caught legally. It is estimated that Sierra Leone is losing up to 29m US$ due to illegal activities such as IUU fishing. Weiterlesen »
The Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) has announced an enforced regulation of newspapers. The step raises fears of renewed repressions on the countries media landscape, as especially independent newspapers from abroad could face a total ban in distribution.
A photomicrograph of salmonella typhosus, which causes the typhoid fever - Copyright: kat m research
The first suspected cases occurred in last year’s October. Three months later at end of December already more than 1500 cases of Typhoid had been treated according to Zimbabwean health officials. Only within the first three weeks of this year, another 350 new suspected cases were found. The disease spreads on a daily basis: an average of 30 to 50 cases is reported.Weiterlesen »
Rwandan president Paul Kagame this Thursday February 2nd chaired a Press conference in Village Urugwiro located in Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali. It is the first meeting of this kind this year. Highlighted issues included: Justice, military, Education, and economic issues.Weiterlesen »
Die gewaltsamen Auseinandersetzungen im Norden Malis setzen Staatspräsident Amadou Toumani Toure immer stärker unter Druck. In der Hauptstadt Bamako kommt es zu Ausschreitungen, berichtet die BBC. In einzelnen Berichten ist von Progromen die Rede. Vordergründig geht es um das Verhalten der Regierung im Umgang mit den Aufständischen im Norden des Landes. Im Hintergrund brechen alte ethnische Konfliktlinien auf.
Präsident Toure muss versuchen, ein Auseinanderdriften der verschiedenen Bevölkerungsgruppen im Land zu verhindern. Ansonsten droht in Mali ein lang anhaltender blutiger Bürgerkrieg.
Gestern Abend kam es nach dem Spiel al-Masry gegen al-Ahly zu enormen Gewaltausbrüchen. Über 70 Menschen starben. Beobachter rätseln über das ausgebliebene Eingreifen der Sicherheitskräfte und vermuten den regierenden Militärrat hinter der Katastrophe.
According to information provided by the internet project oAfrica.com the social network facebook acquires still strong growth rates, especially in some African countries like Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria.
“Although every African citizen may not have Internet access for over a decade, African digital opportunities are rapidly expanding”, writes Tim Katlic, the founder of oAfrica.com
Last year Madonna and her charity Raising Malawi still cancelled their ambitious plans of building a girls academy for at least 400 girls. Now Raising Malawi announced the provision of 300.000$ for the building of 10 new schools in Malawi. Weiterlesen »
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, currently called the devastating situation in Sudan and South Sudan a “massive humanitarian emergency”.
Die erste Runde des Afrika-Cups ist gespielt: Überraschungen gab es wenige, Tore fast genauso wenig, choreografierte Torjubelszenen dafür zu Genüge. Weiterlesen »
Waiting in front of the Bolemba health centre, Copyright: Pierre Holtz for UNICEF
New research, ‘Induced abortion: incidence and trends worldwide from 1995 to 2008′ , published by the Lancet Medical Journal online last week, shows that contrary to a decline in Western countries, the rate of unsafe abortions is rising in South America and Africa. The report makes clear that women living in countries where abortion is prohibited are at risk. Aim of the research was the collection of data to monitor the progress of maternal health and access to family planning according to the UN Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG 5). Weiterlesen »
Fans aus Ghana feiern als Gastgeber des Afrika-Cup 2008 die Black Stars - Copyright: Jake Brown
Heute startet in Gabun und Äquatorial-Guinea der Africa Cup of Nations. Viele hoch gehandelte Mannschaften konnten sich gar nicht erst qualifizieren. Die Frage lautet nun, ob Überraschungsteams wie Niger ihre Form beweisen und dem großen Favouriten Elfenbeinküste ein Bein stellen können.
Bei gewaltsamen Auseinandersetzungen zwischen Tuareg und Regierungstruppen im Norden Malis sind nach Angaben aus der Hauptstadt Bamako 47 Menschen ums Leben gekommen.
Dem Norden Malis droht eine lange militärische Auseinandersetzung” (Ulrich Delius, Afrikareferent der Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker)
A report reveals close ties between former Liberian president Charles Taylor and the CIA. Taylor is currently awaiting verdict in his trial at the International Crime Court in The Hague on account of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the civil war in neighboring Sierra Leone.
Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, John Gara - Copyright: imvano.com
During a transnational seminar Norwegian investores have described Rwanda’s investment climate as excellent for doing business comparing to many other African countries in only 17 years after the genocide.
Currently more than 700 police officers from all over Rwanda participate in the so called Selection Assistance Test, commonly known as SAT. The test is a pre-requisite for all police officers before they are deployed in UN peace keeping missions.
The incidents occurred for the first time on this week’s Tuesday in Malawi’s capital city Lilongwe: Supposed young street vendors attacked women who were wearing trousers, short skirts or leggings which are currently in fashion. Several Malawian newspapers as well as Internet mediums reported of ugly scenes throughout Malawi’s largest cities on Tuesday and Wednesday. Weiterlesen »
One day after resignation, a former employee of Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors without borders went back to the compound in the Somali capital of Mogadishu where he killed two international aid workers.
While one of the victims was killed immediately, the second died during surgery later that night. MSF is ‘deeply shocked by this tragic event’:
Die erste Runde des Afrika-Cups ist gespielt: Überraschungen gab es wenige, Tore fast genauso wenig, choreografierte Torjubelszenen dafür zu Genüge. 
