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News in 'Politics' section

S. Leone: WIPSEN female observers for November polls

November 6, 2012 WIPSEN Exec. Dir. Leymah Gbowee

Women Peace and Security Network Africa (WIPSEN) will deploy a dozen observers to monitor the presidential, parliamentary and local council elections in Sierra Leone on 17 November.

The group first deployed an all-women election observer mission in 2005 during the Liberian elections.

Nigerians react to Boko Haram’s call for talks

November 6, 2012 Some members of Boko Haram sect

An invitation reportedly issued by radical Islamic group Boko Haram to hold talks with the Nigerian government led by prominent Nigerians has surprised many, particularly given the movement's reputation for extremism and violence. 

The invitation has met mixed reactions in Nigeria, with the Parliament Speaker, Aminu Tabuwai welcoming the initiative.

Nigerian gov’t rejects Boko Haram conditions for talks

November 5, 2012 President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria

The Nigerian Presidency has rejected offers for talks from the Islamist sect Boko Haram based on conditions the group has given to end a three-year spate of violence that mainly comprises bombing of civilian targets.

The conditions include that former military leader Gen. Muhammed Buhari is a part of the talks and that the group’s second-in-command joins the negotiating team for the meeting it wants held in Saudi Arabia.

 

Nigeria: What's Boko Haram’s reason for a Buhari mediation?

November 5, 2012 Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

The radical Islamist group Boko Haram has called for a dialogue with the Federal Government to end the three-year insurgency and has invited Gen. Muhammed Buhari to lead the mediation.

The group also named five others, including its second-in-command, Abu Abdulazeez, to be part of the meeting at its preferred venue - Saudi Arabia.

New Report urges ‘urgent’ action to protect integrity of elections

November 5, 2012 Kofi Annan, Chair GCEDS

Urgent national and international action is needed to protect and promote the integrity of elections, according to a new report by the high-level Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security.

The report, Deepening Democracy: a Strategy for Improving the Integrity of Elections Worldwide, finds that most elections are deeply flawed, providing nothing but a “false veneer of legitimacy”.

 

S. Leone: 7 candidates boycott presidential debate

November 5, 2012 Julius Maada Bio

Only two of the nine candidates in Sierra Leone’s presidential election slated for 17 November showed up at the weekend for the second debate on the platforms of the political parties in the capital, Freetown.

Front-runners, incumbent President Ernest Koroma of the All People’s Congress and Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio of the main opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party, led the boycott.

Future democracy in Africa depends on youths, say experts

November 2, 2012 Carlos Lopes, ECA Executive Secretary

Experts at the International Conference on Youth and Democratization convening in Addis Ababa agree that African youth are in the vanguard of political and governance changes in the continent.

It is therefore essential to promote youth participation in political processes and decision-making, the experts noted. 

Ivorian gov’t confirms relocating political detainees

November 2, 2012 Ivorian PM Jeannot Kousdio-Ahoussou

Following a barrage of contradictory statements this week over the treatment of political prisoners in Ivory Coast, the government has confirmed it shifted some detainees for ‘security reasons’.

Ivorian Prime Minister Jeannot Kouadio-Ahoussou said the transfers were necessary and partly intended to protect the prisoners, many of whom are former soldiers and supporters of ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, from threats of abduction.

Nigeria: Will parliament amend the constitution this time?

November 1, 2012 Nigeria Senate Pres. David Mark

Though efforts at amending Nigeria’s Constitution have always experienced hiccups, the National Assembly has of late embarked on a project to do just that - amend the organic law.

Using what has been referred to as “a piecemeal mode” of constitutional amendment through a committee, the project proposes that Nigeria’s elections be open to independent candidates for greater political participation.

Cote d’Ivoire: OSIWA roots for post-conflict justice

November 1, 2012 Young Ivorians being held in detention

The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) has launched a project aimed at establishing legal and judicial support for the victims of Cote d’Ivoire's post-election violence that ended in April 2011.

The violence involving supporters of ex-President Laurent Gbagbo and incumbent President Alasanne Ousttara, left over 3,000 people killed and thousands who suffered human rights abuses.