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News in 'Politics' section

UN official fingers 'quality, credibility' of African elections

October 24, 2012 UN Under Sec. Gen. Carlos Lopes

United Nations Under Secretary General Carlos Lopes has observed that although elections have become more regular in Africa, their ‘quality and credibility are increasingly being called to question’.

Lopes was speaking at the three-day eighth edition of the African Governance Forum convened recently in Gaborone, Botswana.

Liberians closely eyeing US elections

October 24, 2012 US Amb. to Liberia, Deborah Malac

One country in West Africa which follows events in the United States very closely is Liberia, which has a long-standing historical links spanning close to two centuries.

Founded by freed black American slaves in the early 1800s, Liberia has maintained ties with the US since then, with an estimated 500,000 Liberians now said to be living in that country.

Cote d’Ivoire: Ouattara smokes peace pipe with Gbagbo’s kinsmen

October 24, 2012 Ivorian Pres. Alassane Ouattara

Since the end of the post-election armed conflict in April last year, pitting supporters of President Alassane Outarra and ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, the western region of Cote d’Ivoire has been plagued with violence.

Now, President Alassane Ouattara has held a meeting in Abidjan with citizens of Western Cote d’Ivoire, the region of Gbagbo, paving the way for peace and security to reign in that volatile region.

 

Guinea: Deportation of Malians goes diplomatic

October 23, 2012 Guinean PM Mohamed Said Fofana

Mali on Monday sent its Minister for Malians Overseas and African Integration, Rokiatou Guiguini, to Conakry for talks with Guinean Foreign Minister on the recent deportation of 25 Malians for alleged links with Islamists in the north of Mali.

The Malian minister also held talks with Guinean Prime Minister Mohamed Saïd Fofana.

Guinea Bissau: Analyst speaks on ‘coup’ claims

October 23, 2012 Ex.PM Guinée Bissau, Carlos Gomes Junior

At least seven persons were killed in a shootout on Sunday in Bissau, the capital of Guinea Bissau, highlighting that the West African nation continues to be volatile, some six months after a controversial coup removed the government of Carlos Gomes Junior.

The ECOWAS-backed interim government in Bissau has accused former colonial power, Portugal, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries and ex-Prime Minister Junior of being behind the “coup attempt”.

 

S. Leone: Political rallies disrupt schools, commerce

October 23, 2012 SLPP partisans storm Freetown

Political campaigning ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections on 17 November is gaining momentum, but with adverse impact on schools and commercial activities in the capital, Freetown.

This is so when the two leading parties – the ruling All People’s Congress (APC) and main opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) – take to the streets.

AU to deploy 40 observers for Sierra Leone polls

October 22, 2012 Au Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

The African Union Commission has announced it will deploy 40 Election Observers to monitor Sierra Leone’s upcoming presidential and general elections.

The AU Observer Mission to the 17 November polls will be headed by a yet-to-be named former African Head of State, official sources disclosed in Freetown, the capital.

Mali: Growing anticipation of int’l intervention force

October 22, 2012 An armed Islamist soldier in the north

In Mali, there is a heightened anticipation of an African intervention force to be sent to the north of the country occupied by armed Islamist rebel forces since January this year.

This could be as a result of a high level international meeting held last week in the capital Bamako reportedly intended to consolidate plans for the deployment of the intervention force.

Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia reaffirm security ties

October 22, 2012 Pres. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

The leaders of Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire have renewed their commitment to end insecurity along their common borders and promote a spirit of good neighborliness.

Presidents Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Alassane Ouattara of Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire respective, made the commitment at the weekend during a working visit to Abidjan, the Ivorian capital, by President Johnson-Sirleaf.

Nigerian Senate Passes Anti-terrorism Bill

October 19, 2012 Nigeria Senate Pres. David Mark

The Nigerian Senate has passed a new anti-terrorism bill in the wake of a wave of attacks by the Islamists Boko Haram militants in parts of the country.

The new anti-terrorism bill, which was passed on Thursday, amends the Terrorism Act of 2011, provides for the office of the national coordinator of all security agencies responsible to fight against terrorism.