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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.

 

Author plans to drive handicaps to tell own stories

November 5, 2012 Some physically challenged students

Author Pa Abdou Sarr says a prime goal is to lead people with disabilities to create their own media content, rather than being simply passive consumers.

A physically challenged himself, Sarr says this is the driving force behind his effort to develop a film based on a book he published earlier this year on the difficulties facing disabled people.

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. 

Rights group slams state of Liberian prisons

November 2, 2012 A prison in Liberia

A prison watch and advocacy group in Liberia has decried the appalling conditions of holding cells and prisons across the country.

In its latest report, Rescue Alternatives Liberia (RAL) described police cells as having poor ventilation, unsanitary conditions and improper roofing as the worst case scenarios.

IMF advises Nigeria to cut spending

November 2, 2012 Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Nigeria needs to reduce spending to avoid putting pressure on the crude oil benchmark of US$75 per barrel.

The Nigerian House of Representative wants the fuel price pegged at US$80 per barrel.