AIDS Conference Wraps Up in Vienna

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IAS Pr The International AIDS Conference wrapped up in Vienna Friday, with the first African president taking the helm of the International AIDS Society. Dr. Elly Katabira of Uganda said he will press rich countries to fulfill promises of funding for universal access to care for people living with HIV.

Dr. Katabira has worked extensively in the field of care and to support people with HIV. He said improved healthcare access for HIV patients will be his top priority during his two-year tenure as IAS president.

"I am going to continue, where IAS has been, to encourage people - particularly the G8 and the G20 countries - to honor their commitments to put in funds so that there is increased access," said Katabira.

More than 33 million people worldwide are HIV positive. In Vienna, some 20,000 scientists, advocates, experts and people living with the virus met to review progress and shortcomings in the global fight.

Prevention

On the prevention front, South African scientists Salim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim reported a promising breakthrough after successful clinical trials of the first microbicidal vaginal gel for women. Quarraisha Abdool Karim spoke with VOA about the study's findings.

"What we found in the study was that women who were assigned to the tenofovir gel arm had 39 percent protection against getting infected compared to the placebo group," said Karim. "Those women who used the gel more than 80 percent of the time when they had sex as we advised them to had 54 percent protection. So that's quite a powerful effect."

Treatment

On the treatment front, UNAIDS debuted 'Treatment 2.0', a strategy to expand access to HIV prevention and treatment. The initiative aims to avert an additional 10 million deaths by 2025.

There were also several rallies and events highlighting this year's theme of "Rights Here, Right Now" - urging governments to ensure the health and human rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS, including groups that are often discriminated against such as intravenous drug users, prisoners, sex workers and the homeless.

In sessions, participants discussed topics such as eliminating HIV transmission from mother-to-child; the links between HIV and tuberculosis, the emergence of HIV in people over age 50, and the need for more resources for the fight against AIDS.

Accomplishments

The conference also provided an opportunity to display new AIDS prevention and treatment innovations, such as American Doctor David Tomlinson's device for safe and sterile circumcision of baby boys. Studies show male circumcision can cut the female-to-male HIV transmission by up to 60 percent.

This year's conference was held in Vienna to highlight the growing HIV rate in nearby Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which is fueled by intravenous drug use. At the conference, participants were urged to sign the "Vienna Declaration", which says the criminalization of illicit drug users is fueling the epidemic and calls for a full policy reorientation.

The next AIDS conference will be held in Washington, DC in 2012.

President Jakaya Kikwete dissolves Parliament towards elections

PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete on Friday dissolved the Parliament of Tanzania to facilitate the country's parliamentary and presidential elections slated for October 31, this year.

The parliament dissolved this evening after its last questions and answer session this morning according to a parliamentary timetable. Already the country's budget for the 2010/11 fiscal year has sailed through.


President : Jakaya Kikwete in Parliament

Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Mustafa Mkulo's 11trl/- budget estimates were approved by the House on Tuesday. An announcement early last month that the Budget session would last for only five weeks caused an uproar with complaints that the decision would deny the MPs enough time to debate the crucial issues in the estimate's income and expenditure proposals.

However, Job Ndugai (Kongwa - CCM), who is one of the Parliament Chairpersons, described the budget session, which was the shortest in the country's history, as effective and productive. He said issues were discussed precisely and the 2010/11 budget was endorsed smoothly with priority once again going to the agriculture, infrastructure, education, health and tourism sectors.

National Assembly Speaker Samuel Sitta said before the start of the session last month that the Parliament had been literally forced by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) into reducing the Budget session period to a mere five weeks instead of the usual two months or more. The move was tailored to pave the way for preparations of the general elections.

The nation is eager to hear President Kikwete, who during his first five years term in office, has addressed Parliament only twice. This will be the third time. And, the agenda that is likely to come on top today will be about the general elections. As Tanzanians prepare for the 2010 general elections on October 31, it is evident that most MPs will have an uphill task to retain their positions.

The reason is in the open for anyone with eyes to see -- the stiff opposition is already making inroads into the political arena, especially within the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
Names such as 'vuvuzelas' have emerged and have been tagged on outsiders, who have already come forward to express their intentions of challenging incumbent MPs.

For some MPs this does not augur well and the fear of losing their seats is mounting.
Already, some of the major political parties have nominated their presidential candidates and are putting in place systems that will pick parliamentary and civic candidates.

The Ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) endorsed incumbent President Jakaya Kikwete on Sunday after a Special Congress voted overwhelmingly for him to vie for the nation's highest office. Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) has already endorsed Mr Muttamwega Mgaywa to contend for the presidential post.

As it waits to be dissolved, the nineth Parliament will go down into the annals of history as one of the most effective and transparent. It has as well impressed by the fast action of the House to increase women representation.

It is during this Parliament that events in Tanzania's political scene were seen as taking place so rapidly as the House of Assembly appeared to be running in a fast mood, exactly as promised by Speaker Samuel Sitta.

Mauritania: France chase al-Qaeda militants

Al-Qaeda militants in Mauritania are being chased with the help of France, the European nation has confirmed. Mauritanian troops received "technical and logistical" support from France in a raid against the terrorist network. Several suspected militants were reportedly killed in the operation.

The group targeted has refused to negotiate over a French hostage kidnapped in the region in April, the French defence ministry said. It said the raid was aimed at stopping an attack against Mauritania, according to the BBC.

Spanish reports said a raid to free the hostage, Michel Germaneau, had failed. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) had threatened to kill Mr Germaneau.

It was not immediately clear where the raid had taken place, though Reuters news agency cited Malian officials saying that military aircraft had been coming and going and shots had been fired in the north of Mali.

Western nations have been training security forces in West and North Africa to help them tackle AQIM but they do not normally admit being involved in operations.

Guinea sends peacekeepers to Somalia

African Union announced on Friday that Guinea is ready to send a battalion of force to Somalia to join the AMISOM mission in that country. "We have today a full commitment with Guinea for a battalion," AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping told reporters in Kampala.

It is the first pledge made at the AU summit in Uganda, where more than 30 head of states are discussing Somalia issues as the top agenda of the summit.

"We are going to quickly top the 8,000 mark... I think the current trend could take us over 10,000," Ping said.

There are currently more than 6,000 troops in the African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which was first deployed in 2007 and currently consists only of Ugandan and Burundian soldiers.

The regional leaders have already agreed to send 2000 troops to complete the 8000 troops the African Union promised to send to Somalia in 2008.

They also recommended that an additional 20,000 peacekeeping force from UN should be sent to Somalia, where Al-Qaeda linked group, who claimed the responsibility of serious attacks at Kampala, controls most.

AU had already requested Djibouti, Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria to send peacekeeping forces to Somalia.

Somali government are battling with Al-Qaeda-inspired Al-shabaab fighters who run most of southern Somalia and government controls a few areas in the capital Mogadishu, where Uganda and Burundi sent 5,000- strong peacekeepers.

Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu retires

Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu to bow out of public life later this year to lessen his commitments. Emeritus Tutu disclosed during a media briefing in Cape Town, saying instead of growing old gracefully at home with his family; too much of his time had been spent at airports and in hotels.

"The time has now come to slow down, to sip rooibos tea with my beloved wife in the afternoons, to watch cricket and rugby and soccer and tennis, to travel to visit my children and grandchildren, rather than to conferences and conventions and university campuses," he said.

The good-natured Tutu, who became a global figure and used his church pulpit to help bring down apartheid will turn 79 on October 7 but retired more than a decade ago from his post as the Anglican archbishop of Cape Town.

He has established a peace foundation, advised political leaders, served in a council of retired global statesmen and women and had been an active public speaker.

According to SAPA the Nobel peace laureate would no longer be available for media interviews. He will continue to offer his support however for his peace foundation but plans to step down from a university post and his work with a UN commission on preventing genocide.

"As Madiba said on his retirement: 'Don't call me, I'll call you'," he said.

Reiterating that introducing Mandela as president of South Africa was one of the greatest moments of his life.

"I said to God, 'God, if I die now, I don't really mind'."

Tutu was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1984. He served as Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996 and chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Political Queers demands Malawi to repeal gay laws

Global leaders are on Malawi's neck to repeal homosexual and prostitution laws. The southern African country frowns on the act and culprits could land in jail.

The President of the Austrian Aids Society and Aids 2010 co-chairperson, Dr. Brigitte Schmied, strongly said countries such as Malawi need to respect the rights of gay and prostituting people by instead channeling resources to their treatment and care.

"Treatment, not persecution, prosecution and criminalization, is demanded. Repeal the homosexual laws," she emphasized. They believe such a move will help countries respond positively to the fight against HIV and accomplish the Universal Access to HIV care, treatment and support.

Minority and vulnerable groups, she added, are obstacles to controlling HIV/Aids in the world.

Dr. Julio Montaner, President of the International Aids Society (IAS) and Director for British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/Aids 2010 co-chairperson also called for African countries to decriminalize sex work.

"Sex work is work," he said. "There can be no end to the pandemic unless we secure full protection of human rights for those most vulnerable to HIV and Aids."

Malawi's laws criminalize prostitution and homosexuality. The two are also regarded as un-Godly acts that require divine intervention and practitioners are scorned upon by family members, the community, religious circles and the government.

Recently, an openly gay couple was pardoned in a presidential move after being arrested late last year. Prostitutes are also rounded up and arrested. Some are forced to undergo involuntary HIV testing.

Human rights activists demand that minority rights be recognized and that laws be made clear.

``Ghana can host 2026 World Cup``

Ghana can be the second African country to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026 after South Africa, according to the Chief Executive Officer of Anator Holding Company Limited Alfred Woyome. He said hosting the event is a huge opportunity for any nation who wins the bid to put up development projects.

The global showpiece returns to Africa in the next 16 years and Ghana can be the second African nation to host it.

He further explained that they create the chances for countries to build their infrastructures to a standard of developed nations and help raise the standard of living of their citizens.

Woyome told Asempa FM: “Ghana is in a good position to host the World Cup but it is just that we have not realized it and we all think it is impossible but I believe it is something when we plan very well we can execute.

"We have to believe in what we want to do and implement a good development plan for the next sixteen years where we can spend about 22 million dollars to host the world

African artistes accuse Shakira

FIFA World Cup 2010 song Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) written and performed by Colombian-born singer Shakira is stirring copyright controversies. Initially, it aroused some consternation among some Africans, especially those in the music world, why an African artiste was not chosen to do a song destined for a World Cup hosted in Africa.

But now, it’s getting deeper as some African musicians have begun to accuse Shakira of plagiarizing the rhythm and lyrics of Waka Waka, and are demanding compensation for copyright infringement.

First, the Cameroonian mid-80s musical group Golden Sounds (now called Zangalewa) publicly accused Shakira of using without permission their 1985 title “Zangalewa”, which now sounds “Saminamina” in Shakira’s remix.

Speaking to the Cameroonian publication Cameroonechoes, Golden Sounds’ member Jean Paul Zé Bella said they were shocked to hear their song on radio and television being performed by Shakira at the World Cup, but it also brought pride and recognition to them.

“Shakira is a world-class artiste, and watching her perform our song is a great honour but they needed to take permission from us first,” Zé Bella said. “Now that it has happened, we need our share of the sales and rights, and we have started the procedure right from Cameroon to South Africa.”

Immediately after Golden Sounds’ proclamation, another African singer this time from Cote D’Ivoire - Kéké Kassiry – said Waka Waka belonged to him originally. In an interview with Ivorian newspaper Notre Voie, Kassiry declared that he recorded his version in 1986 and duly registered its right with a copyright society in France.

“The song remixed by Shakira was in my 1986 album titled “Abidjan”. It was recorded in Paris and still clearly bears my name as the copyright owner at la Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique (Sacem) (the society of authors and composers of music) in France,” Kassiry said.

“The Cameroonian group Golden Sounds is also claiming right to the song, but I have the proofs that I was the first to record that song. However, I have contacted Golden Sounds and we’re in the process of sorting this out so Shakira and her producers pay us our due share,” he said.

But the song “Zangalewa” actually was not originated by these copyright claimants. According to Golden Sounds’ Zé Bella himself, it was a marshal chant sung by Cameroonian sharpshooters during the Second World War. But it had remained a folk-song until they (Golden Sounds) waxed it into a regular studio album.

Zé Bella also confirmed that Shakira was not the first artiste to remix that song, that it was first heard outside Cameroon when an American studio adopted it as soundtrack for one of its films.

This is not the first time Cameroonian musicians are having brouhaha with the Western showbiz. Popular jazz artiste from Cameroon Manu Dibango had once accused the late Michael Jackson and Rihanna for using without permission his refrain “Oh se nu samana tu sa,” from Dibango’s “Soul Makossa” album released in the early 80s, according to Jeune Africque and French national radio RFI.

FBI jets in to help Uganda

Five people have been arrested in connection with two bomb blast incidents in Uganda's capital Kampala. The death toll had risen to 76 after two more victims died at the Mulago hospital.

Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) agents are already in Uganda to augment investigation into last Sunday night’s terrorist attacks which killed 74 people on the spot while watching the World Cup finals.

The State Minister for Internal Affairs Matia Kasaija told Parliament that the government had arrested five people but did not touch on their nationality. However, military sources said the suspects were “nationals from three African countries”, and they are being held at a location in Kampala. Our source said: “None of the suspects talked in English”.

The FBI investigators flew in from Nairobi, Kenya, Kasaija said and “came to assist by providing initial bomb forensics to assist the Ugandan authorities.” The FBI and DS will be assisting security agencies here with “all aspects of the bombing investigation, to include: forensics, evidence collection, and analysis.”

Somali al-Shabaab Islamists linked to Osama Bin Laden’s al Qaeda network claimed responsibility on Monday for the attacks.

Power is not inherited - Karim Wade

Karim Wade, son of Senegalese president, has denied accusations that he is poised to 'inherit' power from his dad. "It is not the intention of the President of the Republic, Mr Abdoulaye Wade, nor my intention to make a monarchical devolution of power," he said. "'Power is not inherited it is merited."

With elections less than two years away, the issue of who succeeds the 84-year-old president is the subject of heated debate in the Senegalese press. Opponents of Wade accuse him of preparing his son for a possible takeover due to the fact that the African statesman has openly endorsed the “good leadership qualities” of his son.

The Senegalese Press Agency has quoted young Wade as saying that the idea of devolution of monarchy in Senegal is an insult to the Senegalese people. Karim was speaking to a U.S. television network on the eve of celebrations marking the July 14 national holiday of France.

''Those who attempt to evoke devolution of power and monarchical charges are unaware of the history of Senegal,'' he said, reminding his opponents that the right to choose a successor to President Wade rests in the hands of the Senegalese people. He said that anyone who wants access to the “highest office” must travel the country and present their projects and vision to the people, and that “Senegalese, freely and transparently, will decide whether or not to entrust them.”

As a state minister, the lengthy nature of Karim’s portfolio - Minister of State for International Cooperation, Urban and Regional Planning, Air Transport, and Infrastructure, suggests a lot about the amount of influence he commands in government. Opponents say his father pays him more attention. And he appears to be a more frequent traveler than every government official in Senegal. Allegations of corruption against both him and his father abound in the local media. Last month, there were allegations of “unfair” budgetary allocations to his ministry.

Genuine support

Despite all these accusations against him, there is hardly any room to ignore the existence of a genuine support among Senegalese for the young man who rarely engages in argument of succession, AfricaNews reporter said.

He strives hard not to leave his opponents with any chance to question his ability to deliver. He has presided over the landmark establishment of Senegal Airlines, after the liquidation of the troubled Air Senegal International. Air Senegal has since completed a deal for the acquisition of a fleet of new aircrafts. There is a new state-of-the-art airport in completion, road construction works and countless other projects are ongoing. These, coupled with the bad message emanating from an increasingly divided opposition, make the prospect of a President Karim Wade even higher, our reporter added.

On the new challenges to democracy in Senegal, Karim argued that ‘‘beyond the values of freedom and equality that we must consolidate and develop, we also have the requirement to address complaints of citizens in the economic and social'' spheres. And in doing so, he said, ''the main challenge is to eradicate poverty by creating jobs.”

According to Karim, democracy is an everyday struggle. ''In the field of democracy as in other areas of life, nothing is permanent,'' he said.

Paying homage to his father, he cited President Wade’s achievements in terms of empowering the women of Senegal, and urged ''the new generation” to endeavor to “live up to these democratic requirements.”

Wade promises free energy for Africa

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade has said that African industries are at risk of vanishing if Europe harnesses the potential of the sun as they will have the added advantage of producing at cheaper cost, making any competition from the continent less likely.

Africa, he said, must initiate the ‘battle of the sun.’

The Senegalese leader told the weekly Francophone magazine, Les Afriques, that with the support of all stakeholders he could provide the rest of the continent with free energy.

“ECOWAS has just given me a mandate to produce solar energy for all of West Africa. This design of solar power for energy independence through solar energy is what I have proposed in Copenhagen,” he said.

ECOWAS mandate

Wade’s elaborate Copenhagen Solar power proposal was finally endorsed by African leaders at the recently concluded 38th ordinary summit of ECOWAS in Cape Verde. The endorsement followed a presentation by the Senegalese leader in which he cited the wealth of sunshine and the existence in Africa of the largest desert in the world (Sahara) as justification for the sub region to tap into these virtually free resources to meet its energy needs.

A "special resolution on solar energy," released at the end of the Cape Verde summit, acknowledged the potential of Wade’s solar energy proposal and mandated him to pursue it for the region. The regional leaders urged member states to assist in providing technical and financial experts to President Wade 'in view of establishing the Commission on solar power that shall operate under his chairmanship and authority.'

“Solar energy is unique in that the investment is expensive initially, but after three years it decreases … So I can say I'm going to offer free energy to the continent,” Wade told Les Afriques in an exclusive interview.

The Senegalese leader said the energy consumption of Africa is 70,000 megawatts, and he added that with a 100,000-megawatt plant, “we could have energy self-sufficiency for fifteen more years.”

“I have the financial arrangement, I will not reveal it for no, but I told them that in time I will,” Wade said. He added that he’d already met with some Senegalese engineers and those of other countries regarding the project, and that President Lula of Brazil had promised to put an engineer at his disposal for the project.

Africa’s energy consumption

According to the ECOWAS secretariat, the Africa region has one of the lowest energy consumption rates in the world with only 20 per cent of households having access to electricity. In the statement at the end of the Cape Verde summit, it said the region has only exploited 16 per cent of its 23,000 MW large scale hydro power potential.

The heads of states therefore urged member states to facilitate Wade's work by instructing all institutions involved in solar energy in the region to provide him with all the statistical information needed for the successful conclusion of the study.

13 African leaders appeal for support

Thirteen African Heads of State have written to government leaders in donor countries, appealing for financial support to make Education for All (EFA) a lasting legacy of the World Cup 2010 for all children in Africa. The leaders include the Presidents of Benin, Burkina Faso and Central African Republic.

The rest are The Gambia; Ghana; Mauritania; Mozambique; Niger; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Togo and Rwanda and the Prime Minister of Lesotho.

In a letter to their counterparts in donor countries, the leaders emphasized the need for education which serves as a tool in reducing poverty and creating an overall healthier and skilled population.

A statement from the Accra Office of the World Bank on Tuesday said: “Unfortunately, despite impressive gains in enrolling children into schools in African countries and primary school completion rates and external aid for education in low-income countries was faltering.”

The statement added: “These African government leaders ask in particular support for the Education for All Fast-Track Initiative (EFA-FTI), which is seen as a key ally in their efforts to provide a quality education to all boys and girls in their countries.”

The EFA-FTI has provided support to education in 24 African countries and has helped to enrol 19 million more children in school in these countries.

The completion of a full course of primary school for all children by 2015 is one of the eight Millennium Development Goals, which was discussed at a 1GOAL Education for All Summit in South Africa convened by South African President Jacob Zuma on the day of the World Cup finals.

It marked a culmination in efforts led by the 1 Goal Campaign of football’s world governing body, FIFA, to push basic education in Africa higher up on the global agenda. Progress on the education goals will also be a key topic of a UN Summit in September 2010.

The Leaders in their letter called for increasing support to FTI which would help to reach the millions of children around the world, about half of them in Sub-Saharan Africa, who still did not go to school.

An estimated 14 million out-of-school children, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa, live in countries seeking support from EFA FTI this year and next.

Since its creation in 2002, EFA-FTI has grown to become a global partnership endorsing the education plans of 41 low-income countries around the world, including 24 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

To date, EFA FTI has granted US$ 2 billion to support the education strategies of developing countries. These funds have helped to train more than 300,000 teachers, construct 28,000 classrooms and to distribute over 200 million textbooks.

Angelina Jolie visits Ghana - Report

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie is embarking on a high profile but tight-lip visit to West African nation Ghana, an entertainment newspaper reported.

According to an entertainment newspaper News-One, Jolie is expected to touch down Thursday, July 15 on a United Nations assignment.

Accompanied by other international stars, the star would this weekend be attending some high profile events in Ghana, some of which are scheduled to take place in the State House, African Regency Hotel and the plush Citizen Kofi entertainment spot.

The newspaper said organizer of the programme the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) do not want to make any fuss about the visit, perhaps as a top surprise to Jolie’s fans in Ghana. Jolie according to deep sources will be attending Kenny Gee’s Ball at the State House on Friday and an after party at Citizen Kofi.

Time and other details of her arrival are still being kept away from curious minds. Jolie is United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and has been touring Third World Countries, calling for greater international attention and assistance to needy countries.

Born Angelina Jolie Voight in June 4, 1975, she has, through acting, received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. She promotes humanitarian causes and is noted for her work with refugees as a Goodwill ambassador to the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees (UHNCR). She has been cited as one of the world’s most attractive people, as well as the world’s most beautiful woman, titles for which she has received substantial media attention.

Factbox: Israel and Iran compete for African

Here is a snapshot how the two countries have been competing for good relations and trade with Africa in the last year.

ISRAEL: -- According to Israel's Ministry of Industry and Trade, in 2009, Israeli exports to Africa totaled some $1.06 billion, a 38 percent decrease from 2008 when exports reached $1.47 billion. The ministry blamed the global financial crisis for the decline. Imports from Africa in 2009 totaled $1.5 billion.

-- South Africa last month announced that it was recalling its ambassador to Israel for consultations following the killing of nine activists on a Gaza-bound aid boat.

-- In February 2010, Kenya and Israel held talks about security in Kenya. During the talks, the Kenyan security minister appealed for assistance from Israel to fight against groups he referred to as Somali jihadists.

-- Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and a business delegation visited Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and Ghana in a week-long tour in September 2009. Israel said the trip was aimed at developing ties and countering Iran's influence.

-- Lieberman signed an international cooperation deal with his Nigerian counterpart as well as with regional body ECOWAS for Israel to help in food security, water resources and the fight against desertification. Nigeria also signed a $25 million deal with Israel Shipyards for the construction and delivery of two Shaldag patrol boats.

-- During a Lieberman's visit to Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni said that the relations between Uganda and Israel were good and revealed that the Israeli government would launch a special agricultural program in the east.

-- Israel is heavily involved in oil-exporting Equatorial Guinea, where it provides security for the government and is building a $100 million hospital complex.

-- Mining magnates Dan Gertler and Benny Steinmetz have multi-billion dollar investments in Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea, respectively.

-- Mauritania, straddling black and Arab Africa, severed diplomatic ties with Israel in March 2010, completing a process that began in 2009 in response to Israel's attacks on Gaza. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has praised the move.

-- In March 2009 the New York Times reported that Israeli warplanes attacked a convoy of trucks in Sudan in January to block a suspected arms delivery to the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza.

* IRAN:

-- Last month Senegal's commerce minister welcomed Iran's proposal to carry out infrastructure projects in the west-African country, including road, railway, port and airport construction, at the fourth meeting of Iran-Senegal joint economic commission in Tehran, Fars news agency reported.

-- Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe told Iran's Ahmadinejad in Harare in April 2010 that Zimbabwe backed Iran's controversial nuclear program and accused the West of seeking to punish the two countries for asserting their independence. Zimbabwe denied reports that it had signed an agreement allowing Iran to mine its uranium.

-- Zimbabwe and Iran signed cooperation agreements in the fields of energy, science and technology and agriculture. A month later a Zimbabwe-Iran joint tractor manufacturing project, Motira, started operating at the Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries assembly plant, with at least 60 units having been rolled out to date.

-- In April Ahmadinejad visited Uganda to lobby for support for his country's nuclear development. Uganda has increased its ties to Iran recently and President Yoweri Museveni visited Iran in 2009.

-- Museveni announced that Iran had agreed to assist Uganda in the construction of an oil refinery. Iran also agreed to help train Ugandans at the country's University of Petroleum Studies.

-- In April 2009 Kenya said it expected revenue from tea, its number two hard currency earner, to rise following a marketing deal with Iran.

-- One month earlier Iran announced it would supply Kenya with four million metric tons of crude annually. The two countries also signed deals on loans, water supply and direct flights between the two.

-- In October 2008 a report by U.S. based activist group Human Rights First revealed that Iran and Russia had joined China and others as direct weapons suppliers for Sudan after a U.N. embargo was imposed in 2004. The report said Iran's total arms sales were over $12 million to Sudan, including tanks. That was consistent with information from Western diplomats, who have said that Tehran was selling Sudan arms to cement ties and deepen military cooperation. The report was dismissed by Sudan.

Seacom moves repair deadline

SEACOM, the broadband cable operator, said yesterday that a major fault in its cable north of Kenya would be fixed only around July 22, more than a week later than first hoped.

Seacom was greeted with fanfare when it launched last July, as South African internet users looked forward to improved connectivity and lower prices thanks to the end of the monopoly on international bandwidth held by Telkom ’s SAT3/SAFE cable.



But the Seacom cable failed near Mombasa on July 5, leaving many households without international internet access for several days.



Connections were restored late last week when internet providers secured bandwidth through SAT3/SAFE, but this temporary solution is understood to come at considerable cost.



Seacom initially said it would fix the fault within six to eight days, but was forced to lower its sights after realising the depth of the cable at the problem point.



“We found the cable was about 4700m deep — that’s one of the deepest parts of the system,” said spokesman Suveer Ramdhani. “The cable ship we’d planned to use wouldn’t be able to cope. We needed a more sophisticated ship, which added to the delay.”

Seacom now believed the problem was caused by the failure of a “repeater” — a device that amplifies the signal carried — but a partial break of the cable could also be to blame.

Mr Ramdhani said he was confident repairs would be finished by July 22 but admitted bad weather could cause further delays.

MWeb, one of the internet providers affected by the problem, had now resumed normal levels of service, said Andre Joubert, GM of its business services division.

4 Arrested in South Africa Trying to Sell Nuclear Device

South African police say they have arrested four men in the capital, Pretoria, for attempting to sell what they describe as an industrial nuclear device to undercover officers.

The men - all South Africans - were arrested Friday at a Pretoria gas station, where they attempted to sell the device for about $6 million.

Police say Interpol was also involved in the operation. They did not say where the device came from or for what industrial purpose it is used, but did say it contained radioactive material.

The officials say the four will appear in court soon to face charges of possession of a radioactive device, as well as health code violations for handling radioactive material in public.

Rwanda's Kagame to Face 3 Challengers in Election

Rwandan President Paul Kagame addresses the crowd at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali during the Liberation Day ceremonies marking the 16th anniversary of the end of the Genocide, 04 Jul 2010

Rwandan President Paul Kagame will face three challengers in next month's presidential election.

Rwanda's electoral commission said Wednesday that four candidates, including the incumbent, are cleared to run in the August 9 ballot.

Deputy Parliament Speaker Jean Damascene will run as candidate of the Social Democratic Party. Senator Prosper Higiro will represent the Liberal Party. The Prosperity and Concord Party put forward the only female contestant, Alvera Mukabaramba.

The commission says some people who were expected to run, including opposition figure Victoire Ingabire, did not submit applications.

Critics have accused President Kagame of stifling opposition and freedom of expression ahead of the poll. Rwandan authorities arrested Ingabire in April and accused her of working with rebels to destabilize the country.

The presidential election will be the second since the 1994 genocide, in which Hutu extremists killed an estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

President Kagame and his ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front won the first election in 2003.

The official Rwanda News Agency says the candidates will have 20 days to campaign, beginning July 20. It says the election commission has set aside the next two weeks for any issues and complaints it may have to rectify before the election.

Africa: New transatlantic cable to boost ICT

A submarine cable linking West Africa to Europe which recently went live has been hailed as huge plus to the information and communication technology industries in Africa. The 7,000 km long fibre optic Main One Cable runs from Portugal to Nigeria and Ghana, and also branches out to Morocco, the Canary Islands, Senegal and Ivory Coast.

The wholly African and first privately owned submarine network cable in West Africa Main One Cable Company had said “the cable will deliver unprecedented broadband capacity to West Africa, more than ten times what is currently available (South Atlantic Terminal, SAT-3).”

Editor of Nigeria Communications week, Ken Nwogbo said “with the landing of main one, more people are going to get off SAT 3 and hook up to main one and provide channels where other people can now take-off and deliver faster, more affordable internet to the end user.”

The Main One Cable Company said “with its cable system now turned on, Main One is poised to champion a communications revolution in Africa impacting businesses, governments and individuals by providing higher bandwidth and exceptional speeds at a lower cost.’’

But how soon can the undersea cable translate into cheaper and faster Internet for citizens of West Africa and Africans in general?

Using Nigeria as a case study, Nwogbo said, ‘‘There are certain things that have not been put in place, such as the distribution from point of landing to the various homes and offices… they are not really in place, so the benefits will not start showing as quickly as planned…we expect the benefits coming out in the next five to six months.’’

There are currently several undersea cable projects in Africa, and Nigeria-owned telecom company Globacom has just announced the completion of its Glo 1 submarine optic fibre cable.

Nwogbo said broadband initiatives like this would increase Internet access and create many opportunities for ICT users in Africa.

“A lot of opportunities will be thrown up by this multiple broadband initiatives, and for the students they can now get to the virtual library and source the relevant, contemporary and up to date materials for their course work, you will see the springing up of small ghost offices and then it will generally be affordable to use the internet like what we have in India, America, Canada and all the rest of them,” said the ICT publisher.

Shakira tips Spain to win WC 2010

World music super star Shakira feels Spain deserve to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. "I think the Spanish team is quite amazing. And I support them big time. It's my moral duty, I'm Hispanic and I have to support the Spanish team," the Colombian pop singer said. She will be performing tonight at the Soccer City.

Speaking to FIFA.com ahead of the finals, she said she has fallen in love with both football and her South African hosts.

What has struck you most about being in South Africa?
Shakira: I think this whole month that I spent in South Africa has been so inspiring, so stimulating, one of the happiest months of my life in recent years. It's been so exciting to wake up every morning looking forward to the matches, looking forward to the newspaper just to open the sports section because I became such a football fanatic. The people of South Africa are definitely the highlight of this World Cup. They're amazing, they're so joyful, expressive and affectionate. I've been feeling the love since the first day I arrived, every day more and more. For the first time of my life, I arrived at immigration and I saw the immigration officers actually dancing and singing the Waka Waka. It's been such an amazing experience.

Have you been to any games?
Shakira: I've been to three. I went to the first game right after the kick-off concert, Mexico-South Africa. I went to Argentina-Nigeria and to Spain-Paraguay. And tomorrow, Spain-Netherlands.

Which teams have you been following?
Shakira: Of course I was supporting the Latin teams. I think they've played an amazing role in this World Cup. Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil. But I think the Spanish team is quite amazing. And I support them big time. It's my moral duty, I'm Hispanic and I have to support the Spanish team.

Can you give your prediction for the Final?
Shakira: I wouldn't dare to predict the score but I think you have to believe the octopus. So whatever Paul says, I'll go with him.

Have you learned anything from practising and performing with the South African group Freshlyground?
Shakira: Absolutely. Freshlyground are such an amazing group. Zolani's voice is very unique, it's incredible. I love their flavours and how they combine different influences and pop music. They're just an amazing talent. I've been so pleased to work with them and to count on their talent for the Waka Waka song.

What is your best memory of the tournament?
Shakira: One of the most memorable moments I've experienced was when I was stuck in traffic going to the Argentina-Nigeria match and I saw people in the street, coming out of their cars, dancing and singing, and giving me so many hugs. I have never received so many hugs in one month! They're so affectionate, so sweet. All the time, you see a smile on their faces and that is quite inspiring. It has definitely shaped this World Cup. It has also influenced the entire environment, the surroundings and the tourist mood as well. Because I think the tourists feed from the locals' energy. And the locals have been so kind to them that no one can complain. You've seen that spirit of integration, respect and tolerance on the field and in the stadium too. You see how the soccer players hug themselves after a match, how the fans are completely in harmony with the football fans of the opposite team. I think that happens because this World Cup is being held here in South Africa. That influences everyone's state of mind in so many ways.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell is to testify at Charles Taylor Hearing

Supermodel Naomi Campbell is to testify at the war crimes trial of the former Liberia President Charles Taylor, according to a spokesperson. She is alleged to have received diamonds from the former warlord in 1997 and would grant audience to the court on July 29.

A spokeswoman said in a BBC report: "She is a witness who has been asked to help clarify events in 1997. Miss Campbell has made it clear that she is willing to help the due process of law.

"For avoidance of doubt, she is not being accused of any wrongdoing and is not on trial."

The report said prosecutors want to know whether Ms Campbell received diamonds from Mr Taylor at a reception hosted by Nelson Mandela in South Africa in 1997.

In an interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Ms Campbell neither confirmed nor denied that she received gems, instead saying: "I don't want to be involved in this man's case. He has done some terrible things, and I don't want to put my family in danger."

US actress Mia Farrow, who Ms Campbell allegedly told about the gift, may also testify.

Taylor has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges at the UN-backed tribunal.

East African Leaders Pledge Urgent Military Help for Somalia

Supporters of Al-Shabaab shout slogans during a demonstration in the Suqa Holaha neighborhood in Mogadishu, Somalia. The demonstration was organized by Al-Shabaab group which is fighting with the Somali government. The demonstrators were carrying placards written with slogans against African Union peace keeping Force, 5 Jul 2010.

A hastily-called summit of East African leaders has ordered the immediate dispatch of 2,000 additional troops to Somalia to reinforce the beleaguered African Union peacekeeping mission.

Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed made an urgent plea to an extraordinary summit of East Africa's Intergovernmental Authority on Development, known as IGAD.

Speaking through an interpreter, the Somali leader said his fragile government is facing its most dangerous phase from al-Qaida-linked insurgents who control much of the country.

"The Somali state is facing a very hard attack from the terrorist groups, which are allied with al-Qaida," Mr. Ahmed said. And the delay in supporting Somali government gives time and support to the other side to be strong. The Somali government with what is in its hand is not able to face the challenges of the terrorist attacks."

Within hours, the leaders of Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Uganda responded with a pledge of immediate military assistance to strengthen the African Union mission known as AMISOM.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin read the summit communique: "Decides to deploy 2,000 peacekeepers under AMISOM to Somalia immediately ... and decides to work with all parties including AMISOM and the U.N. Security Council to raise 20,000 troops to be deployed throughout the country."

There was no immediate word on where the additional troops would come from. AMISOM has an authorized strength of 8,000, but has not been able to attract more than 5,000 Ugandan and Burundian troops.

Diplomats say all the reinforcements will come from IGAD members, raising the possibility that troops from neighboring countries such as Ethiopia might be included. Ethiopia sent several-thousand troops to support the Somali transitional government in 2006, but they withdrew two years later after many Somalis objected, calling the Ethiopian presence an obstacle to peace.

Aware of Somalis' hostility to Ethiopian intervention, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution discouraging neighboring countries from sending troops.

But IGAD Executive Secretary Mahboub Maalin tells VOA there is nothing to prevent the inclusion of Ethiopian forces in a regional contribution to AMISOM. "Why shouldn't they be? If the heads of state think IGAD needs to mobilize 2,000 troops and Ethiopia is a key member of IGAD, so what? Why do you have to exclude them?" he stated.

Maalin says he expects the 2,000 additional AMISOM troops to be in Somalia within weeks. "It was directed that the troops be dispatched immediately after the summit. In IGAD, when we talk about immediate, we mean immediate immediate, and therefore, the troops are not going to be troops that require training," he said. "These are troops already serving in various member states."

The urgent summit was called following increased clashes between al-Qaida backed militants and Somali government forces backed by AMISOM. As many as 40 people, mostly civilians, were reported killed in fighting in Mogadishu during the past week.

IGAD officials estimated 200,000 Mogadishu residents have fled their homes since the beginning of this year as fighting intensified.

Uganda Opposition Bemoans Lack of Transparency in Oil Industry

The minority leader in Uganda’s parliament says President Yoweri Museveni’s government has not been transparent in handling the prospecting for oil ahead of the administration’s proposed law to manage the country’s oil industry.

Professor Ogenga Latigo said opposition parliamentarians are concerned that government officials have hijacked the lucrative oil sector for their own benefit and to the detriment of the entire country.

“We as the opposition are extremely concerned about the way the government of Uganda and President Yoweri Museveni is handling the oil issue. We are dealing with a government that is extremely corrupt and there is no way that we can believe that all the agreements with their defects are not probably done deliberately to ensure that individuals and the people in power benefit from these sales,” he said.

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni

This comes after Revenue Watch Institute (RWI), a U.S.-based think tank group, reportedly said the government’s proposed law lacks provisions for competitive bidding for oil exploration and production licenses which it said allows for direct applications to be made to Uganda’s energy minister without any more scrutiny.

President Museveni’s government is scheduled to present a proposed Petroleum law to the country’s legislature that will enable the resumption of oil exploration.

But opposition leader Latigo said the government took unilateral decisions without consulting parliament.

“I can tell you this, much of the lucrative oil concessions have already been given…I can assure the people of Uganda that we will do our best and we will fight to ensure that first there is transparency. Secondly, that nothing is left out of that law, including taxation, and thirdly that the benefit of the oil industry, when developing Uganda, will reach the common Ugandan,” Latigo said.

In 2006, Uganda struck commercial quantities of oil reserve, which experts estimate is over two billion barrels. The oil find is located along the country’s border with neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

But President Museveni’s government suspended licensing in 2007, saying it wanted to first put in place robust legislation for the petroleum sector.

Supporters have rejected allegations of corruption often leveled against government officials and have challenged the opposition to provide evidence of the administration’s alleged complicity in the oil sector.

Supporters say the government is putting in place structures to ensure transparency and fairness so that Ugandans will benefit from the oil revenue.

But, Opposition leader Latigo said the government has resisted all suggestions that will ensure transparency in Uganda’s growing oil sector.

Senegal riots over electricity cuts

Riot broke out in the city of Mbour, about 80km from the Senegalese capital Dakar when protesters took to the streets denouncing frequent power cuts. The protesters settled for the local branch of the national water and electricity company, Senelec, where they destroyed materials belonging to the company in demonstration of their anger.

Outnumbered by the rioters, the few police present at the scene failed to prevent the damages.

Power cuts have become a chronic problem in Senegal, with the authorities hardly able to give any plausible explanation.

However, the local media Thursday reported that officials of Senelec blamed “bad weather” for the current spate of outages.

Prior to the commencement of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Senelec raised hopes among electricity consumers in Senegal with the announcement of a CFA 21 billion investment in the energy sector as a means of ensuring convenience throughout the period of the tournament. But it never worked.

A senior workers union member, Lamine Diarra, told Music superstar Youssou Ndour’s RFM radio that the blackouts were in fact related to bad quality of fuel used in the machines. He accused the authorities of spending money on exceptional poor quality of fuel that is dangerous for the engines of the machines.

Meanwhile, the so-called Collective of Imams in Dakar has issued a warning, according to Sen24heures.com, threatening boycott of payment of electricity bills if the situation continued.

Cameroon: Gov’t denies homosexuals claim

Cameroon's government has rejected the claim by a gay asylum seeker in the UK that he would face persecution if he returned home but only claims the claimant was simply using the law as an excuse to claim asylum in Britain.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court in London ruled in favour of the man, and a similar claimant from Iran.

Homosexuality in Cameroon is punishable by up to three years in jail.

However, Cameroon's communications minister told the BBC homosexuals were free to behave as they wished in private without any harassment.

"Homosexuality is forbidden by the law, there is no doubt. But what I can emphasise is the fact that no homosexual is persecuted in Cameroon"," Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma said.

"Do you think he is the only gay person in Cameroon?"

The two men who have won the right to claim asylum in the UK and been refused by the previous British government.

That decision was backed by a lower court, on the grounds that they could avoid ill-treatment by keeping their sexuality secret or behaving discreetly.

But the Supreme Court judges ruled that this was a violation of their human rights.

The applicant from Cameroon, who is only identified as HT, had been told he should relocate elsewhere in his country and be "more discreet" in future.

He had been attacked by an angry mob at home after being seen kissing his partner. He has been fighting removal from the UK for the past four years.

"Some people stopped me and said 'we know you are a gay man'," HT earlier told the BBC.

"I cannot go back and hide who I am or lie about my sexuality.

"If I go back I will live my life in fear."

HT and the applicant from Iran, where homosexual acts are punishable by death, will now have their cases reviewed by immigration tribunals.

Ghana: Abedi Pele's son leads U-20

The technical coach of the Ghana's Under-20 team has invited five Europe-based players for this month's 2011 African Youth Championship qualifier. Jordan Ayew, third son of football legend Abedi Pele, has been handed a call after justifying himself with French champions Olympique Marseille.

The other four include a 17-year-old striker Richmond Boakye-Yiadom who scored on his Serie A debut for Genoa last season. Italy-based pair Daniel Kofi Agyei of Fiorentina and Palermo wunderkind Afriyie Acquah are expected to strengthen the midfield.

James Bissue, for Hapoel Be’er Sheva in Israeli completes the list of Euro-based players invited for the international assignment.

Meanwhile, the Black Satellites host Namibia on 25 July in the first leg qualifying round tie.

Ghana beat Cameroon 2-0 to lift the 2009 Africa Youth Championship trophy in Rwanda.

Chambas: ACP countries must broaden tax base

The Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas has emphasized the importance of mobilising internal resources to broaden existing tax bases to be efficient to attain economic growth and reduce poverty.

Speaking as one of the panelists during the launch of the 2010 African Economic Outlook (AEO) in Brussels, under the theme ‘Mobilisation of Public Resources, Tax Governance and Aid in Africa’, Dr Chambas said that increasing tax revenues also means that the taxation systems must be reformed.

Dr Chambas wanted the reforms to focus on following aspects: continued enlargement of the tax base by taxation suited to the rural sector, subjecting the informal sector to taxation and streamlining tax breaks and customs benefits. He added also the need for strengthening policies and strategies for the mobilization of resources by enhanced performance by tax and customs departments, better organization of the various financial control systems and fighting corruption, fraud and tax avoidance.

The AEO Report also finds that strategies towards more effective, efficient, and fair taxation in Africa typically lie with broadening the existing tax base. Policy options include cracking down on fraud and evasion, removing tax preferences, particularly for large corporations and traders, dealing with abuses of transfer pricing techniques by multinationals and taxing extractive industries more fairly and more transparently.

Welcoming the Report, Dr Chambas said that the AEO is a tool for economic development in the continent. He commended the Report and those who helped to produce it, in particular, the African Development Bank and the OECD. ACP is one of the key partners of the project.

According to the AEO, the global crisis brought a period of relatively high economic growth in Africa to a sudden end: Africa’s GDP growth was slashed from an average of about 6% in 2006-2008 to 2.5% in 2009. Given the pace of population growth this means that growth of per capita GDP came to a near standstill. Average growth is expected to rebound to 4.5% in 2010 and 5.2% in 2011, although the recession will leave its mark.

Dr. Chambas was also thankful to the EU for being part of the launch stating that the ACP Group is please to contribute, by way of its intra-ACP resources, to the financing of the publication.

Zambia, Brazil sign pacts to increase trade

Zambia and Brazil have signed a series of developmental pacts aimed at solidifying the two countries' growing bilateral ties.

The developmental agreements were struck at a special event held at State House in Lusaka in the full view f Zambian President Rupiah Banda and his visiting counterpart Luiz Lula da Silva.

The eight agreements will focus on improving corporation, abolish visa requirements, enhance bio-energy support and improve technical education between the two countries.

Lula da Silva is in Zambia as part of his African tour. He heads a huge contingent of Brazilian entrepreneurs and investors.

Commentators say the South American head of state is in Africa to fetch for raw materials to satisfying diminishing sources in his country.

Similar missions to Africa have been undertaken Iranian and Chinese leaders in recent past.

Nigerian caught with 70 dead babies

A man has been nabbed with a bag containing more than 70 dead babies in Nigeria. He is alleged to be evading morgue and burial fees. According to media reports he was employed by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital to take the corpses to a cemetery and was arrested while dumping them.

The BBC said a hospital spokesman said it was co-operating with police investigations into the incident.

The report said many families are too devastated to deal with the dead babies and others cannot afford morgue fees, so abandon them outside hospitals. Hospitals hire contractors to bury the corpses.

A police preliminary investigation also led to the arrest of some workers in the Department of Morbid and Anatomy at the teaching hospital, said Lagos state police public relations officer Frank Mba.

He also said that the suspect had not intended to use the bodies in any rituals.

"We are sure that the suspect is neither a ritualist nor a murderer nor a trafficker. Other contending issues like corruption and abuse of office will be investigated," Mba added.

The hospital described the incident as an embarrassment to the organisation.

Farmers in Malawi win WFP bid

For the first time ever in Malawi a farmers' organization, made up of over 95,000 smallholder farmers, has won a competitive bid this week for the World Food Programme (WFP).

According to WFP statement, this purchase of 50 metric tons of maize was part of WFP's Purchase for Progress (P4P) initiative, an innovative project that uses WFP's purchasing power to connect smallholder farmers to agricultural markets, helping them to successfully compete for bids and improve the lives of their families and communities.

P4P has now been launched as a pilot in 21 countries – including Malawi – and this historic purchase was made from the Grain and Legumes Association through an emerging commodity exchange - the Agricultural Commodity Exchange for Africa (ACE) – located in Lilongwe.

“WFP is working with the ACE to help them to sell their surplus by attracting more traders, leading to a more competitive and transparent market. WFP has already bought over 3,100 metric tons of food commodities through ACE.

“As well as supporting the commodity exchange, P4P is also buying directly from farmers' organizations and helping them meet market standards. In one of these transactions, WFP purchased almost 41 metric tons of maize purchased from the Chikwatula Farmers' Organization. The maize was used in WFP's school meals programme,” reads part of the statement

With their profits, the organizations have been able to buy pallets to improve storage conditions and prevent spoiling and have invested part of their earnings in seeds and fertilizers for the next harvest. Overall, WFP in Malawi has bought a total of 3,145 mt of commodities through P4P, including maize, maize meal, corn-soya blend and pulses.

WFP has been buying food in developing countries for many years. Now it is taking that one step further with P4P, a pilot programme in 21 countries funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation, European Commission, Governments of Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Luxembourg, United States of America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Launched in September 2008, P4P links WFP's demand for staple commodities with the expertise of a host of partners who support farmers to produce food surpluses and sell them at a fair price. By 2013, at least half a million smallholder farmers – mostly women – will have increased and improved their agricultural production and earnings. By raising farmers' incomes, P4P turns WFP's local procurement into a vital tool to address hunger.

UN: HIV/AIDS on the Rise in Middle East, North Africa

A Morrocan child looks at a sign on a Casablanca beach where an outreach campaign against AIDS is held, organized by the Morrocan Youth Association Against AIDS (AMJCS) (2002 file photo)

For years, the lack of reliable data on HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa led regional governments to believe they had somehow managed to escape the epidemic. But a new United Nations report shows that numbers are on the rise: more than 400,000 people are currently living with HIV across the Middle East and North Africa region, or MENA. Of those, 68,000 need anti-retroviral treatment, but only 14 percent are actually getting it. The rest may not even know they are infected.

Hind Khatib is a regional director of the U.N. Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS or UNAIDS. She has just returned from a two-day conference in Dubai, where regional leaders gathered to discuss the issue.

Khatib: It's still low prevalence, but you know we've just put out the synthesis report, which was an epidemiological study of HIV and its evolution in the region, and the report says that probably, at least for the near future, we'll never have an epidemic of HIV in the region. But still, there is evidence that HIV is growing among key populations. The key populations as defined by the study are the people who are mainly drug injectors, men who have sex with men, and sex workers.

So we thought that it's timely, especially that this year, there was a great effort by UNAIDS invested in the region to ensure that all the countries will actually report and live up to their commitments made to the 2001 Declaration in the U.N. General Assembly Special Session on HIV. The national reports clearly, from 20 countries out of the 21 countries in the region, Iraq was the only country that could not report, for understandable reasons - all 20 countries have shown that they have weak programs, weak surveillance, and that the coverage is very, very poor.

So yes, while we have national AIDS programs, while countries are attempting to draw up their national strategies, coverage, in terms of treatment, voluntary counseling and testing and even prevention, is very, very poor. So we thought this was the time to actually convene policy makers together with civil society with small communities of people living with HIV, to get together under one roof and start talking [about] what's next.

Hilleary: What's the biggest obstacle to people getting tested and treated for HIV/AIDS in the MENA region?

Khatib: It's stigma. Stigma and discrimination. People are afraid. I mean, I think that knowing how HIV basically gets transmitted is something that people are afraid, that people know that they have had extra-marital sex-the whole concept of men who have sex with other men--it's a big taboo, and the region does not want to admit that we have these groups. They don't want to admit to a lot of extra-marital activities.

So I think it's very much cultural and related also to religion and Islam, and people, you know, like to believe that we don't have such conducts here. But I think slowly, slowly, people here are that HIV is very much home-grown. Up until now, it has been the perception, 'Oh, we got it from outside.'

I think that with a lot of advocacy and, as you know now there is a good amount of popular faces, popular stars that also engage in HIV, whether it's through UNICEF, and recently UNAIDS has appointed its first regional Goodwill Ambassador [Egyptian actor Amr Waked was recently named the first UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa region by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS], and we are very happy that he's coming out loud, speaking about stigma and discrimination, speaking about the rights of our key populations, speaking about the time to act, speaking about the right policies, targeted action. But I think there is a lot the region still needs to do to reduce fear.

Hilleary: What does the U.N. plan to do with the data it has gathered now?

Khatib: First, I think we are working with countries on improving the national strategies. So it's much more targeted and it doesn't address HIV as if it's a generalized epidemic. What's next is actually to have concerted efforts to bring up awareness, because if you don't bring awareness to all different targeted groups, including the health workers. Even if you do confidential testing, you will need the people who run those services to bring awareness and educate people. It's just educating.

Al-Shabab Vows Jihad Against New Troops

Al-Shabab fighters which are fighting with the Somali government, provide security during a demonstration in Suqa Holaha neighborhood in Mogadishu, Somalia, 05 Jul 2010

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The Somali insurgent group al-Shabab has vowed to wage "holy war" against any new peacekeeping troops sent to assist the Somali government.

Al-Shabab held rallies in Beledweyne and three other towns Wednesday, where speakers denounced East African nations that have pledged to send an additional 2,000 troops to Somalia.

Witnesses say militants went door-to-door and forced people to attend the rallies.

The regional bloc known as IGAD, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, pledged the troops on Monday after a plea for help from Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

Al-Shabab and another insurgent group, Hizbul Islam, are battling the government for control of the capital, Mogadishu.

The government controls only a few areas of the city with the support of a few thousand African Union peacekeepers.

Al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam are trying to topple the government and set up a strict Islamic state.

Somalia: Attack kills two World Cup fans

A bomb explosion that ripped through a house where World Cup fans were watching the Spain-Germany semi-final game on Wednesday night killed two fans, according to eye witnesses.

“One died on the scene and another a bit later from injuries while three people were also wounded,” Mohamed Abdi told AfricaNews.

The bomb was hurled into a house at Elasha biyaha, near Mogadishu, where thousands of displaced Somalis live. Abdi said that another blast hit a nearby station controlled by the Hizbul Islam militias.

The Hizbul Islam militias confirmed the attack but declined further details.

The group killed to fans in June and arrested dozens when they raided a house in which the occupants were watching the World Cup matches.

The Al-Qaeda linked group of Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam which control most of southern Somalia and parts of Mogadishu have declared the global football showpiece ongoing in South Africa un-Islamic.

AfricaNews reporter said the ban is too harsh on Somali football lovers who have been waiting for the first African World Cup. Others are relocating to the government controlled areas to enjoy the beautiful game.

China to build $8b oil refinery in Nigeria

A deal has been signed between China and Nigeria for the Asian country to build an $ 8 billion oil refinery near the city of Lagos in Nigeria. This is just one of China's huge investments in Africa.

According to the Voice of America, Nigeria’s Lagos state Governor made the made the announcement Tuesday 5 July 2010, saying that 80 percent of the money is coming from China and the other 20 percent from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

This new refinery, reports say, is expected to produce some 300,000 barrels of oil a day in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos state.

The Lagos refinery is said to be part of a larger deal to build three new refineries and a petrochemical complex in Nigeria. The new projects are expected to increase the country's production of refined oil from 450,000 barrels to 750,000 barrels per day.

Nigeria is one of the world's biggest oil producers, but its current refineries operate far below capacity because of aging equipment and poor maintenance.

Ghana: Chinese captain, crew charged

The Chinese captain and seven crew members on board the merchant vessel MV Rui Ning 3 from which three Ivorian stowaways were allegedly dumped into the high seas of Ghana in spite of their pleas have been charged before the High Court in Sekondi.

The perpetrators have been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit crime, to wit, attempted murder and murder following the discovery of compelling evidence on the vessel as mentioned by the two victims who survived the incident, according to the Daily Graphic,

The accused are the Captain, Li Zibin, 48; the chief officer, Jiang Hong, 38; a steward, Liu Song, 24; an engineer, Tian Shengju, 39, a sailor, Zheng Jungi 28; an electrician, Zhao Nuitao 26; an engineer, Wang Junxing, 37, and the second chief officer, Zhou Youg Joan, 34.

On their first appearance in court, the eight were refused bail and the case was adjourned to Tuesday, July 13, 2010.

Omar Secei, 33, and Djiba Kamarah, 22, the two survivors who spent more than 12 hours on the sea and were rescued by a Ghana Navy ship after being spotted by some fishermen are in police cells.

Asked why the police were still keeping the two in cells, one of the prosecutors said they were witnesses and so if they were released to go back to Cote d'Ivoire, it would be difficult to get them to testify as prosecution witnesses.

The two stowaways have, however, protested against their continued incarceration, arguing that it violated their rights under the United Nations and ITF Seafarers regulations.

The lead prosecutor, Ms Patience Klinogo, a Chief State Attorney, prayed the Court, in her objection to the bail application that it would be dangerous to grant the suspects bail, since they could jump bail.

She said the offence was a serious one and its punishment could be beyond 20 years in jail and even a life sentence, and, therefore, the bail application should be dismissed.

Earlier in June, the Ghana Naval patrol team impounded a vessel and investigated a case of cruelty on the high seas in which three Ivorian nationals were alleged to have been thrown into the ocean by the captain of a Chinese vessel.

One of the Ivorian nationals Kamara recalled that, they joined the ship in Cote d'Ivoire and thought the vessel was bound for the United States the merchant ship however proceeded to Takoradi to load a cargo of bauxite believed to be destined for China.

The victims disclosed to the police that they had evidence, made up of black plastic bags they had used in stealing food and a hat they had used to clean their footsteps to prevent their being discovered.

The captain allowed a search on the vessel and the hidden items were found.

Kenya: Protesters demand MPs slash salaries

Several Kenyans marched through Nairobi in protest against huge pay rises the country's parliamentarians have awarded themselves. The protesters decried the legislators' move as immoral and demanded they slash their salaries by half rather than lifting them by 25 percent a month.

Already among the best-paid in the world, some MPs say the fact their salaries are about to be taxed justifies the speedily debated increase.

"Public service should not be for selfish gains. Ninety percent of them are only serving themselves. They have to reduce their salaries by 50 percent and pay tax as any other citizen," Bamgi Ndolo of the Civil Society Congress told Reuters.

Many Kenyans are furious their MPs have voted to adopt a report that would hike their own salaries at a time poorly paid public workers like teachers are clamouring for better pay and east Africa's largest economy recovers from the global downturn.
Their new monthly salary would far outstrip the country's GDP per capita of 57,887 shillings per year.

As the boisterous but peaceful protesters -- fewer in numbers than the demonstration's organisers had hoped for -- chanted "thieves" outside parliament, police had to escort some parliamentarians into the assembly building.

Normally, the next step would be for Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta to incorporate the proposed rise into a bill to be passed by parliament.

Kenyatta, however, has already criticised the increase and said there is no provision for such a raise in the 2010/11 budget. But analysts say the legislators could blackmail him by refusing to pass his budget until they get their way.

Critics of Kenya's lawmakers point to live coverage of parliamentary proceedings, which at times shows a distracted assembly.
"Some people are working hard, earning less than 250 shillings per day. The politicians want to put the tax of these people into their accounts while we can see them sleeping in the chambers," said one protester, Emily Achieng.

Nigeria: Gunmen release kidnapped sailors

Gunmen in Nigeria who kidnapped 12 foreign sailors in the volatile Niger delta region have released the sailors.

The spokesman of the Nigerian Navy, David Nabaida, is quoted as saying the 12 men were put on a fishing trawler and taken into the navy's care.

Unidentified gunmen reportedly kidnapped the sailors late Friday after attacking a German cargo ship, off the Niger Delta coast. One crew member was shot during the incident.

The captured sailors included men from Germany, Lithuania, Russia, and Ukraine.

The Niger Delta is Nigeria's oil-producing region. Local militants have carried out numerous attacks on the oil industry since late 2005, while demanding that residents get a larger slice of oil revenue.

Attacks and kidnappings by the militants have cut Nigeria's oil production.

Mbeki blamed for 330,000 deaths

A recent Harvard School of Public Health study in SA said 330,000 deaths were caused by former President Thabo Mbeki's 1999 decision to declare available drugs toxic and dangerous. A prominent South African Aids activist said he should be called to account for his decision to block HIV medication.

Zackie Achmat said Mbeki had ignored the scientific evidence. Mbeki's spokesman referred media enquiries to the government, but no spokesman was available to comment.

Achmat, who leads the Treatment Action Campaign, which successfully lobbied for the eventual reversal of government policy, claimed Mbeki had “blood on his hands,” according to a BBC report.

He called for him to be summoned to a judicial inquiry or the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

'Major obstacle'

The study, published on 20 October, said that as a result of Mbeki's policies, nearly 35,000 babies were also born HIV-positive between 2000 and 2005.

The former president had failed to roll out the drugs which could have prevented mother-to-child transmission, said the researchers. The study, led by Dr Pride Chigwedere, accused the South African government of "acting as a major obstacle in the provision of medication to patients with Aids".

The authors said that under the leadership of Mbeki, the government had restricted use of donated anti-retroviral drugs and blocked funds for more than a year from the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

To estimate the benefits they say were lost to South Africans because of the failure to provide appropriate drugs between 2000 and 2005, the researchers looked at a number of factors.

These included:

• the number of patients who died without receiving treatment
• the relative cost of the drugs and the resources available
• comparative treatment programmes in Namibia and Botswana.

Since the former president was replaced in September 2008 a new health minister, Barbara Hogan, has been appointed and she has been praised by Aids campaigners for tackling the HIV issue with determination.