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S. Leone CSOs deliberate on int’l arms trade

October 26, 2012 Sierra Leone burns arms after 11-year civil war

Civil society groups in Sierra Leone have been discussing the international Arms Trade Treaty and how it relates to their country.

The West African nation went through 11 years (1991-2002) of civil war that left over 50,000 killed, scores amputated and basic social services destroyed, but has now enjoyed peace for a decade.

Sierra Leone: OSIWA props CSOs’ role in upcoming polls

October 25, 2012 Joe Pemagbi, OSIWA Sierra Leone Office head

The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) is lending support to a number of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to play effective participatory roles in Sierra Leone’s 17 November presidential and general elections.

According to Joe Hindovei Pemagbi, Country Officer and Head of office Sierra Leone, bodies benefiting from OSIWA support include the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to educate voters on the electoral process.

Africa can feed itself, earn billions, avoid food crises, says WB

October 25, 2012 A farmer tilling the land in E. Africa

A new World Bank report says Africa’s farmers can potentially grow enough food to feed the continent and avert future food crises if countries remove cross-border restrictions on food trade within the region.

The continent would also generate an extra US$20 billion in yearly earnings if African leaders can agree to dismantle trade barriers that blunt more regional dynamism.  

 

Young African researchers discuss children, youth issues

October 24, 2012 AQ young African Researcher

A three-week training course for young researchers to strengthen their analytic capacities on issues affecting children and youth in Africa and globally is underway in the Senegalese capital, Dakar.

The training is initiated by the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and brings together participants from across the African continent.

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.

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.

 

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.

Liberia launches cancer awareness campaign

October 22, 2012 Liberian women march against cancer

Liberia has launched a campaign to combat breast and cervical cancer and increase public awareness about the disease.

The head of the Liberia Cancer Society, Juanita Neal says people are needlessly dying from the disease in the country due to ignorance.

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.

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.