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| African Press Round-up |
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United States cut funding for condoms in Marie Stopes’ African clinics 
Saturday, 4th October 2008
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is halting distribution of contraceptives to family planning clinics run by Marie Stopes International (MSI) in Africa. The US government accuses the UK based charity, which provides sexual and reproductive healthcare in 40 countries worldwide, of condoning forced abortions in China. MSI is the main implementing agency in China for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). In a letter to MSI's chief executive officer Dana Hovig, the American aid agency said that UNFPA's work in China "supports the Chinese national family planning programme". MSI strongly denies that it supports forced abortion or coercive sterilisation in China or elsewhere. Hovig criticised the move by the US government. "At a time when governments have pledged to increase their commitment to improving the health of women, only the Bush administration could find logic in the idea that they can reduce abortion and promote choice for women in China by causing more abortions."
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COUNTRY:
Africa
SOURCE:
The Guardian
THEMES:
Health
NGOs
China (Chinese interests in Africa) |
Key genocide trials depend on judicial reforms
Saturday, 4th October 2008
The Rwandan government is trying to persuade the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) to allow three high-profile genocide suspects to be tried in Rwandan courts. Earlier this year, the ICTR, located in Tanzania, ruled against applications to transfer the trials to Rwanda. The three separate rulings cited concerns over the independence of the Rwandan judiciary, detention conditions, and witness protection. The findings dented Rwanda’s chances of securing the extradition of 97 other suspects who have fled the country. "Most of those wanted are still free in many European countries and in North America," said Tharcisse Karugarama, Rwandan minister of justice. Martin Ngoga, a senior Rwandan prosecutor, refuted claims that the country needs to overhaul is judicial system. He said, "Rwanda has already put in place all the necessary mechanisms to guarantee the international legal rights of the accused to a fair trail ...... many of those who committed genocide have already been convicted in Rwanda and all trials have been carried out with fairness and impartiality." The country is submitting written appeals against the three rulings. |
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COUNTRY:
Rwanda
SOURCE:
IPS (Inter Press Service)
THEMES:
Crime/Justice
Conflict
International Agencies (UN, WHO, etc) |
Mbeki agrees to resume Zim mediation
Friday, 3rd October 2008
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki agreed to resume his mediation efforts in Zimbabwe, following talks with South Africa’s new President Kgalema Motlanthe. In a statement, President Motlanthe said, “our government has full confidence in Mr Mbeki’s ability to build on the historic successes already made in the power-sharing negotiations under his mediation”. Talks between the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and ZANU-PF stalled over the division of key ministries in the unity government. The MDC claim that President Mugabe refuses to relinquish key ministerial posts, thought to be the defence, home affairs, state security and finance ministries. But Patrick Chinamasa, chief negotiator for ZANU-PF denied that the talks were in difficulty. "Anyone who says there is a deadlock is being mischievous. There is commitment on all of us to make this work," he said. |
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COUNTRY:
Zimbabwe
SOURCE:
The Mail and Guardian
THEMES:
Conflict
Political Parties
Elections |
Government and envoys clash on ECK visas
Thursday, 2nd October 2008
Kenya’s foreign minister Moses Wetang’ula reacted angrily to attempts by the US and European Union (EU) to force the resignation of Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) chief Samuel Kivuitu. Wetang’ula said, "I am outraged, as most Kenyans are, by the audacious and blatant breach of protocol by some ambassadors, who reportedly visited the chairman of ECK and demanded his immediate resignation, short of which he would face travel ban to their respective countries." He went on to say, "such shameless blackmail, applied through open disregard of established norms of conduct of diplomats, in favour of a style and tone reminiscent of colonial mindset, is an insult to the Kenyan public." An Independent Review Commission into the disputed December 2007 elections, led by former South African judge Johann Krieger, exonerated the ECK from poll rigging, but called for the establishment of a new electoral management body. The EU and US have expressed support for the recommendations made in the report. Wetang’ula said he does not contest the findings of the Krieger report. "I am not defending Kivuitu and his team, I am simply protecting our sovereignty." |
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COUNTRY:
Kenya
SOURCE:
The Nation
THEMES:
Conflict
Elections
Corruption / Anti-corruption |
Manuel reappointed, inflation up
Friday, 26th September 2008
South Africa’s new president Kgalema Motlanthe moved quickly to reappoint Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, only days after he resigned from the cabinet. Manuel resigned, along with a host of other cabinet ministers, following the decision of the Executive Committee of the ANC to ‘recall’ Thabo Mbeki from the national presidency. The move is intended to reassure investors worried about a major shift in policy in the South African economy. President Motlanthe told Parliament, "mine is not the desire to deviate from what is working. It is not for me to reinvent policy." Manuel is a highly respected internationally, and has been one of the main reasons behind the country’s longest period of sustained economic growth. Lucy Bethell, currency strategist at the Royal Bank of Scotland, said, “I think it's a welcome step because obviously the market wanted to see Manuel in charge and policy continuity ..... [But] the fact that Mbeki was ousted may show that the left wing is growing in influence ... and that may weigh on sentiment." |
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COUNTRY:
South Africa
SOURCE:
The Mail and Guardian
THEMES:
Elections
Political Parties
Foreign Investment |
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