Formerly ‘Africa Recovery’ Department of Public Information Vol. 21 No. 1 April 2007

Africa’s ‘indigenous’ peoples struggle for inclusion

New UN head sets Africa as a priority Congolese media defend democracy UN / Eskinder Debebe

NEPAD e-schools Peace in Great Lakes Gays, lesbians combat bias Freeing child soldiers Also inside United Nations Vol. 21 No. 1 April 2007

FRI UE ENOUVEAU contentsCover article Africa’s ‘indigenous’ people struggle for inclusion ...... 6

Also in this Issue New UN head sets Africa as a priority ...... 3

Freeing child soldiers ...... 4

Improving reintegration of ex-combatants . . . . 5

Congolese media defend democracy ...... 9 The UN’s Radio Okapi ...... 11

Panos Pictures / Sven Torfinn Gays and lesbians combat bias ...... 12 Indigenous Maasai women in at a rally to demand rights. Pledging peace in Great Lakes region . . . . . 18

Departments NEPAD in action Agenda...... 22 Books...... 22 Water betters lives in ...... 14 Briefs...... 23 Internet enriches learning in . . . . . 16 Watch...... 24

Africa Renewal is published in English and French by the Strategic Communications Division Editor-in-Chief of the United Nations Department of Public Information, with support from UNDP, UNICEF and Julie I. Thompson UNIFEM. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or the pub- lication’s supporting organizations. Material from this magazine may be freely reproduced, Managing Editor Writers Ernest Harsch Gumisai Mutume with attribution to “United Nations Africa Renewal,” and a clipping would be appreciated. Michael Fleshman Correspondence should be addressed to: Research Assistant The Editor, Africa Renewal, Room S-955, Marian Aggrey United Nations, NY 10017, USA, Tel: (212) 963-6857, Fax: (212) 963-4556 e-mail: [email protected] Administrative Assistant Distribution Deborah Tomassini Atar Markman

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Africa Renewal is printed on recycled paper. Africa a priority for new UN head Ban Ki-moon sets African issues high on the global agenda

By Ernest Harsch led by a non-African, observed Mr. Ban, for the continent to overcome its unpre- uring his first official trip as UN who is from the Republic of Korea. “But cedented economic crisis. Delegates from Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon like all human beings,” he told the heads Africa, the rich donor countries and other D assured Africa’s leaders that the con- of state, “my origins are in the cradle of parts of the world negotiated a five-year tinent will remain a central priority for the humanity, Africa, and I am proud of that.” UN Programme of Action for African organization. Africa has achieved much The fundamental reasons for the UN’s Economic Recovery and Development. It through “unity of purpose,” he told a sum- emphasis on Africa lie in the continent’s amounted to a pact — unique in UN his- mit meeting of the (AU) unfortunate realities, noted then Under- tory for its focus on just one world region in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 29 January, Secretary-General for Africa Legwaila — in which African countries pledged just four weeks after taking office. “Unity of purpose is also the foundation of Africa’s partnership with the United Nations,” he emphasized, “as we take on the broad range of chal- lenges we share.” Those challenges, Mr. Ban con- Mr. Ban Ki- tinued, include tackling ongoing moon visiting conflicts in Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia the Kibera slum and Sudan, building peace in in Nairobi, countries just emerging from war, Kenya, during combating disease and ill health, his first official reducing poverty, promoting broad- trip as the new based development and countering UN Secretary- the impact of climate change. General. He commented to journal- Samuel Selomé / Reuters ists: “My presence here in the first month of my tenure as the Secretary-General of the United Nations is a strong sign of the growing partnership between the United Nations and the African Union and of the high priority I attach to Africa.” Joseph Legwaila. “People are constantly to carry out sweeping economic reforms Mr. Ban’s trip, his appointment of reminded of the carnage in places like and donors promised to provide more aid an African woman (former Tanzanian Darfur,” he told Africa Renewal. “People and other support. Foreign Minister Asha-Rose Migiro) as are reminded of the AIDS pandemic. At the programme’s conclusion, then deputy secretary-general and his numer- And of course we are always described Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar ous affirmations about the continent’s as the poorest of all continents.” The found that while Africa had undertaken a importance came amidst some concern challenges facing Africa will not be dif- range of initiatives and achieved “notable within Africa that the end of the ten- ferent because the UN now has an Asian progress towards democratization,” the ure of the former Ghanaian secretary- Secretary-General, he said. “Africa will continent’s economic and social conditions general, Kofi Annan, might bring a shift continue to experience the problems it “actually worsened” during that period. in course. As a headline in the inde- has been experiencing.” The General Assembly responded by pendent daily L’Observateur Paalga of drawing up another plan, this time lasting Burkina Faso expressed it: “UN: change A built-in focus a decade, called the UN New Agenda for in men, change in priorities.” Africa became a central priority for the Development of Africa in the 1990s. It Mr. Ban tacitly acknowledged this the UN years before someone from the too achieved disappointing results. worry in his address to the AU summit. continent ascended to the world body’s African leaders then decided to take the After 15 years of being led by Africans highest office. At the urging of African initiative. In 2001 they adopted the New (Mr. Annan and his Egyptian predecessor, countries, the UN General Assembly in Boutros Boutros-Ghali), the UN is now 1986 held a special session to find ways see page 20

APRIL 2007  Pact to end use of children in war States vow to ‘spare no effort’ in freeing child soldiers

By Ernest Harsch the campaign against recruiting child overnments and armed groups that soldiers has been waged by the UN and recruit children into their military NGOs. G ranks should no longer be allowed But in Paris, for the first time, to “slip through the net,” French Foreign numerous governments signed on to Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told a 5–6 that effort, including a number from February conference in Paris. He warned countries where significant numbers of that such “lost children” represent a time children still serve in military forces. bomb that could threaten stability and The African signers, for example, growth in Africa and beyond. included , Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Ishmael Beah, a former child sol- the Democratic , dier from Sierra Leone, elaborated. If Somalia, Sudan and Uganda. young ex-combatants are not rehabilitated, “States bear the primary respon- he said, they are at risk of becoming mer- sibility” for protecting children and

cenaries. “They know how to use a gun. reintegrating them into civilian life, Naegelen Jacky / Reuters [If] there is a conflict next door offering argues the Paris Commitments docu- $100 a day and all you can loot, they will ment. Concretely, doing that includes go back to that.” While rehabilitating child identifying and securing the release of soldiers is not easy, he cited his own expe- all children recruited by armed groups, rience: “I’m living proof that it is possi- “unconditionally at all times, includ- ble.” (See box.) ing during armed conflict.” In other Called the Free Children from War con- words, the act of freeing children from to gain leverage in peace negotiations. ference, the event was organized by the military service should not be dependent In addition, states the document, peace French government and the UN Children’s on a cease-fire or peace agreement, nor agreements must not grant amnesty to Fund (UNICEF). Fifty-eight governments should armed groups be allowed to use commanders or others who have recruited and dozens of non-governmental orga- the presence of children in their ranks or committed other crimes against chil- nizations (NGOs) signed a set of prin- ciples known as the Paris Commitments, The eloquent voice of a former child soldier in which they vowed to “spare no effort to end the unlawful recruitment or use of Ishmael Beah was 12 years old when he was made homeless in 1993 by Sierra Leone’s children by armed forces or groups in all brutal civil war. He was just a year older when he was given drugs and a gun by govern- regions of the world.” ment soldiers and first sent into battle. After three years of fighting — both killing and The UN estimates that about 300,000 being shot at — he was rescued from military service by UNICEF personnel. Sent to a rehabilitation centre, he struggled to regain his humanity. Reentering civilian life was not children (defined as those under 18 years easy, since many in Sierra Leone viewed him and other former combatants with fear and of age) are currently engaged in military suspicion. With most of his family dead, Mr. Beah departed for the US. Sometime after, conflicts in a score of countries, nearly he gave this magazine a harrowing account of his ordeal (see “The road from soldier half of them in Africa. While the Paris back to child,” Africa Recovery, October 2001). At the time, he preferred not be identi- Commitments are not legally binding, fied by his real name, but as “Djibril Karim.” He was then taking courses at Oberlin Col- they do carry significant moral and politi- lege in Ohio and worried how his teachers and classmates would treat him if they knew cal weight, conference participants noted. he had once been a soldier. Foreign Minister Youssouf Bakayoko Mr. Beah subsequently graduated from Oberlin (in 2004) and has been speaking pub- of Côte d’Ivoire called the agreement a licly in his own name before the United Nations and numerous other groups. He became a member of the advisory committee of the Children’s Rights Division of Human Rights “breakthrough.” Watch. In early 2007, shortly before the Free Children from War conference in Paris, he published his memoirs, A Long Way Gone.* It is a well written, unsentimental and har- State responsibilities rowing account of one boy soldier’s descent into — and escape from — hell. A rare Ever since 1996, when Ms. Graça Machel, firsthand account of war from the perspective of a child, the book has quickly become a Mozambique’s former minister of educa- nonfiction best seller. tion, submitted a major UN-commissioned * A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, by Ishmael Beah (Sarah Chrichton Books/Farrar, report on the impact of conflict on chil- Straus and Giroux, New York, 2007; 229 pp; hb $22) dren to the General Assembly, much of

 APRIL 2007 dren. Governments and courts must seek to prosecute those guilty of such acts. Improving reintegration Encouraging such efforts, the International Criminal Court announced just a week of former combatants before the Paris conference that it was open- ing its first trial, that of a militia leader from African experiences help UN ‘refine’ disarmament efforts the eastern DRC accused of recruiting child soldiers. hrough its peacekeeping operations, tive to approach disarmament and reinte- Meanwhile, the conference participants the UN has helped disarm and return gration more systematically. agreed, child soldiers who have committed T to civilian life some 400,000 former In June 2005, the government of Sierra crimes should not be regarded only as per- combatants over the past five years alone. Leone and the UN Office of the Special petrators, but “primarily as victims of vio- Many have been in Africa, including more Adviser on Africa (OSAA) organized in lations against international law.” In line than 72,000 in Sierra Leone, 100,000 in Freetown an international conference on with international standards for juvenile Liberia and 28,000 in Burundi. Some DDR and stability in Africa. justice, authorities should seek alternatives 126,000 are in the process of being demo- Although experts from donor countries to judicial proceedings. bilized in the Democratic Republic of the and international and regional organiza- Congo (DRC). tions also took part, the event highlighted Attention to girls Ensuring that such ex-fighters do not the work of delegations from 15 African The conference singled out the plight of again take up arms is “critical for the countries, which included government girls, many of whom have been abducted stabilization of post-conflict situations,” officials, current and former members of by fighting forces to serve as domestic then UN Deputy Secretary-General Mark national DDR commissions and peace- slaves, and who suffer rape and other sex- Malloch Brown emphasized in December, keeping missions, beneficiaries of DDR ual abuse and sometimes are compelled to when the UN launched its new Integrated programmes, members of armed forces fight. In some groups, girls make up 40 per Disarmament, Demobilization and Re- and representatives of women’s associa- cent of the children recruited, according to integration Standards. tions, civil society groups and communi- UN estimates. “By refining our approach to DDR,” said ties hosting ex-combatants. “Girls in particular are forced to per- Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping By comparing the successes and failures form sexual services,” noted UNICEF Jean-Marie Guéhenno, “we can better help of earlier DDR programmes in Africa, the Executive Director Ann Veneman. As each ex-combatant to ultimately reintegrate participants pinpointed a number of key a result, she added, they are deprived of into society.” The aim, he said, is to have recommendations. Those included empha- “their rights and their childhood.” The them “go from being a cause of insecurity sizing national ownership, paying special Paris Commitments call on governments to a force for growing stability.” attention to the needs of child and women and other actors to “meet the specific In contrast to the ad hoc disarmament combatants, adopting a regional perspec- needs of girls and their children for pro- and reintegration efforts that marked tive and ensuring that the reintegration of tection and assistance.” many early peacekeeping operations, ex-fighters is closely linked to long-term For both girls and boys who have been the new standards seek to foster a com- post-war economic and social develop- freed from military service, long-term prehensive approach. They provide ment plans (see Africa Renewal, October support is essential for their rehabilita- detailed policies, guidelines and proce- 2005). Most of those recommendations tion and reintegration, conference partici- dures for carrying out DDR, from plan- were subsequently incorporated into the pants emphasized. Poor African countries ning and design through mainstreaming integrated DDR standards, Sierra Leone’s often lack the resources to carry out the HIV/AIDS, gender and youth. To ensure UN Ambassador Joe Pemagbi observed at task on their own. “We are calling on the easy access worldwide, the standards the December launch. international community to assist us in and many related documents have been A second conference on DDR in reintegrating the child soldiers into soci- posted on the Web (www.unddr.org). Africa, to be held in Kinshasa, the ety,” appealed Ms. Qamar Aden, presi- Democratic Republic of the Congo, on dent of Somalia’s parliamentary human From Freetown to Kinshasa 12–14 June, will help promote the stan- rights committee. She estimated that some In developing the new standards, 14 UN dards and provide another occasion for 70,000 children have been recruited by all departments and agencies pooled their Africans to draw lessons from their own sides in Somalia’s most recent conflict. expertise and drew on the lessons of more experiences. Organized by OSAA and the While some children may “voluntarily” than a decade-and-a-half of DDR pro- newly elected Congolese government, join an armed group — usually to obtain grammes around the world. African expe- the conference will focus in particular food or protection — “no one is born vio- riences featured prominently in that under- on the complexities of carrying out DDR lent,” Mr. Beah noted in Paris. “No child taking, not only because of the number of operations in Africa’s Great Lakes region, in Africa, Latin America or Asia wants to peacekeeping missions on the continent, which is struggling to emerge from more be part of war.” n but also as a result of an African-led initia- than a decade of war. n

APRIL 2007  ‘Indigenous’ people fight for inclusion Press for an end to discrimination and marginalization

By Gumisai Mutume nied by beatings and the destruction of Despite the court settlement, the he San, the indigenous people of the water sources.” battle is not over. The court ruled that Kalahari Desert in Botswana, won The British colonial government cre- the 189 applicants in the case and their T a major victory in December 2006, ated the reserve, which is 52,800 square children may return to the reserve. Some at the end of the longest and most expen- kilometres — larger than Switzerland — activists, such as members of the First sive court proceeding in that country’s during the days leading up to Botswana’s Peoples of the Kalahari, contend that the history. The High Court ruled that the independence in 1966. Anthropologists ruling should cover all 50,000 San in the state had wrongfully evicted them from maintained that the San had inhabited country. But the government of Botswana a reserve four years earlier and that they the area for at least 40,000 years, but maintains that other San who wish to return could return home. Civil society activ- that their numbers were declining at an may do so only if they apply for and obtain ists around the world hailed the ruling alarming rate. The colonial administra- permits from the state. as a historic precedent for the rights of tion deemed them to be “endangered” indigenous people everywhere, especially and established the CKGR as a refuge. Who is indigenous? The case of the San in Botswana brings to the fore a delicate question in Africa: who is an indigenous person? Some commu- nities claim indigenous status in Africa today on the grounds that their ances- tors resisted the influence of the mas- sive waves of migration of Bantu-speaking agro-pasto- Maasai women ralists who migrated from in Kenya at a western to southern Africa rally to protest beginning around 1000 their political BC. While some were sub- marginalization sumed by those migrations, and the sale of others maintained their their communal distinct linguistic, cultural lands. and social characteris- tics, largely as communi- ties of hunters, gatherers and herders. Later, Arab language and culture spread across northern and eastern Africa.

Panos Pictures / Sven Torfinn And finally, a number of European coun- tries colonized the continent, bringing in Africa, where many governments have After independence, the new govern- their own influences. Those colonial been reluctant to recognize the concept of ment in Botswana encouraged the San to governments often favoured the domi- indigenous rights. move out of the park into state-assisted nant, food-producing populations they The Botswana case stemmed from settlements that were within reach of found in their new colonies and margin- the San’s eviction from the Central modern services such as schools and alized the “aboriginal” peoples, as some Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), one clinics and where they could assimi- historians refer to the indigenous people of the world’s largest reserves, in 2002. late into modern society. But many San that had settled on the land before the In response to a class action suit filed by refused, preferring to remain in a natu- Bantu. the San that same year, the court ruled ral habitat where they could continue to Most governments that came to power that the government had acted “unconsti- live as hunters and gatherers, as they had following independence have been reluc- tutionally” and “unlawfully.” According done for thousands of years. Finally, the tant to acknowledge claims to rights, to Mr. Rupert Isaacson of the Indigenous government decided to evict 3,000 San especially political rights, on the basis Land Rights Fund, a San advocacy from the reserve, setting off the legal that a particular community regards itself group, “The removals were accompa- action. as indigenous. After all, government offi-

 APRIL 2007 cials argue, all black Africans consider what label we place on ethnic communi- themselves indigenous to the continent. ties that maintain traditional lifestyles and Mr. Nigel Crawhall, director of livelihoods, there is no doubt that many the Indigenous Peoples of Africa of these communities are Coordinating Committee (IPACC), says vulnerable to labour and Ms. Adophine the argument for recognizing indigenous sexual exploitation.” Muley, rights does not rest on historical prece- Many such groups representing dence. Communities arising from the are struggling with the the Twa Bantu migrations, he acknowledges, are encroachment of farming “pygmies” of just as African as everyone else. “The into their areas. Others the eastern claims of indigenous peoples need to are threatened by conser- Democratic be seen in the context of their system- vation policies intended Republic of atic discrimination and marginalization” to protect species of ani- the Congo, at a under contemporary political and eco- mals and plants, but that UN press nomic conditions. forbid local communi- conference on “It was colonialism that brought new ties to hunt or gather. indigenous issues. economic and political structures that Their languages and Hollyman Stephenie / UN reinforced the power of agricultural peo- ways of life are being ples over herders and gatherers, and set eroded. “The hesitancy down the rules of who had access to the of governments to address the issue of state apparatus,” Mr. Crawhall explains. internal difference full force may be due This meant that during colonial rule, to a need to promote national cohesion,” agricultural peoples had easier — if still says Ms. Khaminwa. Giving a commu- very limited — access to education, nity special protection, she adds, might People’s Rights, a continental body, health care and other social services that be perceived as political favouritism. to recognize that the concept of indig- were almost completely denied to indig- The fears of African governments are enous peoples is applicable in Africa. In enous communities. When colonialism not baseless. Insurgents and politicians 2003 the commission adopted a report ended, it was these educated elites that have all too often dwelt on ethnic differ- of the commission’s Working Group on were able to take over the institutions of ences to mobilize support against their Indigenous Populations/Communities, political and social power. competitors. Claims by different ethnic which acknowledged that “certain mar- communities over land and mineral rights, ginalized groups are discriminated Bottom of the hierarchy often justified on the basis of historical against in particular ways because of At the bottom of the colonial hierarchy precedence, have frequently contributed their particular culture, mode of produc- were nomadic hunters and gatherers. They to armed conflict. tion and marginalized position within the often withdrew into less hospitable envi- state …[a] form of discrimination that ronments, such as deep forests and deserts. ‘A legitimate call’ other groups within the state do not suf- In the worst cases, as in colonial South The UN estimates that there are about fer from. The call of these marginalized Africa, recalls Mr. Crawhall, European set- 370 million indigenous people in more groups to protection of their rights is a tlers tried to virtually exterminate the San. than 70 countries around the world. legitimate call to alleviate this particular “They were hunted on horseback, killed They are among the most marginalized form of discrimination.” with diseases, families were destroyed and people in economic, social and cultural The adoption of the report, in theory, children were given to other people as ser- terms. Despite the challenges, the world’s subscribed all 53 member governments vants,” he told Africa Renewal. indigenous people have scored notable of the commission to the aims of pro- Among Africa’s many indigenous achievements in their efforts to reclaim moting indigenous rights. But in reality, peoples are the hunter-gatherer forest rights during the last decade, designated the majority of countries continue to peoples (“pygmies”) of central Africa, by the UN as the International Decade struggle with putting such concepts into nomadic pastoralists such as the Maasai of the World’s Indigenous People (1995- practice, explains Ms. Lucy Mulenkei, and Samburu in East Africa, the San in 2004). That period saw many changes in director of the Indigenous Information Southern Africa and the Amazigh people Africa, notes Mr. Crawhall. One of the Network in Kenya. While a number of (Berbers) of North Africa and the Sahel. most profound was “the rise of an orga- African governments argue that rec- “We may not all agree on the defini- nized civil society representing diverse ognizing indigenous rights will foster tion of indigenous or the categorization of indigenous peoples from one end of the ethnic tensions, “we who are working communities as indigenous,” notes Ms. continent to the other.” among indigenous communities still Angela Khaminwa, a Nairobi-based expert These civil-society groups lobbied say we want to have these people rec- on social inclusion policies. “Regardless of the African Commission on Human and ognized in order to deal with issues of

APRIL 2007  marginalization and so forth,” she told 2006, then UN Secretary-General Kofi determination was in direct contradiction Africa Renewal. Annan described it as the product of to efforts to integrate indigenous people Under pressure from organizations “many years of complex and at times con- into the mainstream of society. The dec- representing indigenous people, some tentious negotiations.” The declaration, laration was divisive, he argued, isolat- countries have made significant progress, he said, was “an instrument of historic ing groups and inciting them to establish she notes. Recently, Burundi amended its significance for the advancement of the their own institutions alongside existing constitution to guar- rights and dignity of central ones. antee representation the world’s indig- The General Assembly delayed the in the national assem- enous peoples.” adoption of the declaration until its next “The claims of indigenous peoples bly to the indigenous The expected session, in September 2007. The failure need to be seen in the context Twa people, who live adoption of the dec- to approve the draft declaration surprised of their systematic discrimination in several countries in laration by the UN many observers because in June 2006, and marginalization” under Africa’s Great Lakes General Assembly African and other states had adopted contemporary political and region. In neighbour- economic conditions. in November of that it at the UN Human Rights Council. ing , the gov- year, Mr. Annan “We feel very sad about the failure to ernment is working —Nigel Crawhall, Indigenous Peoples of noted, would be adopt the declaration,” says Ms. Mu- Africa Coordinating Committee with the main Twa a major achieve- lenkei, a member of Kenya’s indigenous organization to inves- ment. But that was Maasai community. tigate war crimes per- not to be. Namibia Ms. Mulenkei notes that many of petrated against them during the 1994 and other African countries, joined the concerns that African countries are genocide, in which an estimated one third by , New Zealand, now bringing up have been debated for of all Twa in that country were killed. and the US, blocked the adoption of a long time, over two decades of nego- Elsewhere in Africa, Cameroon recog- the agreement. tiations. She believes the real reasons for nizes “pygmies” and nomadic pastoralists The Namibian representative to the blocking the resolution are political and as indigenous people. The government meeting explained that some of the dec- economic. Many of the countries oppos- agreed to comply with policies to compen- laration’s provisions ran counter to the ing the declaration fear that it would sate and resettle indigenous people affected national constitutions of a number of give indigenous people the authority to by the construction of the Chad-Cameroon African countries. However, he added, reclaim land and seek compensation for oil pipeline, an initiative supported by the declaration was of such critical centuries of discrimination. private investors and the World Bank. importance that it was only “fair and “All these years that the discussions lifted a ban on the teaching of reasonable” to defer its adoption to on the draft declaration have been going the Amazigh (Berber) language in schools allow more consultations. on, we barely had African governments and has set up a national commission to Kenya’s representative said the decla- participating,” Ms. Mulenkei says. “And formulate policies on indigenous language ration contained a number of contradic- then at the last minute they come in and and culture. tions. For instance, it talks of “self-deter- say no to the draft declaration. This takes mination” as if it were referring to people us back many years.” But, she adds, it Contentious negotiations living under colonial rule. In his country, is now too late for governments to break The Decade of the World’s Indigenous he said, all citizens enjoyed the right the momentum. She foresees more People also helped activists focus their to self-determination. Another African progress on indigenous rights in the attention on the creation of a Permanent delegate noted that the concept of self- near future. n Forum on Indigenous Issues at the UN and draft a declaration on the rights of indig- enous peoples. The Permanent Forum, Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which held its first meeting in 2002, gath- ers annually at UN headquarters to give a The draft declaration addresses individual, collective, cultural and identity rights. It voice to the world’s indigenous people at extends to indigenous people the rights to education, health and employment. It also grants them the right to self-determination, to maintain their distinct political, legal, eco- an intergovernmental level. nomic, social and cultural institutions and to enjoy all the rights contained in the Universal Representatives of indigenous peo- Declaration of Human Rights. ple and the international community As with other UN declarations, it is not legally binding. But upon adoption it would set first began working on the declaration international standards on the treatment of indigenous people. It calls for resources to on the rights of indigenous people in promote indigenous culture and languages, confirms the right of indigenous peoples to 1985. The draft was completed in 1993 lands, territories and resources and recognizes their right to their means of subsistence (see box) and has been under negotiation and development. The declaration outlaws discrimination against indigenous people and since then. On the International Day of states that if their rights are violated, they are entitled to just and fair redress. the World’s Indigenous People in August

 APRIL 2007 Congolese media defend democracy Press freedom and responsibility go hand in hand

By Michael Fleshman siding almost exclusively” with ince its founding in 1998, the non- the president’s party. governmental watchdog group S Journaliste en danger (JED) has won Media’s role vital international recognition for its tenacious The stakes in the DRC were high. defence of press freedom in the The 1994 genocide in neigh- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the bouring Rwanda had touched off vast central African country battered by more than a decade of both inter- decades of dictatorship, ethnic division nal conflict and war. But when inflammatory report- and external ing fuelled political violence in the capital, intervention in Kinshasa, in August 2006, threatening the DRC (for- elections, the JED found itself in merly Zaire). Reading the unusual position of calling for Estimates of newspapers in stronger control of abuses by the media by the number of Kinshasa: Media the official regulatory agency, deaths caused groups are along with more aggressive enforcement by violence, striving to of ethics standards by professional disease and improve their media bodies. the collapse quality and Within a week of the violence, the of basic ser- professionalism. rights group convened a meeting of the vices run as country’s main journalists’ associations high as 4 mil- and media houses to demand an end to lion. A fragile biased coverage of political events, peace agree- Nesbitt Christine / AP even-handed enforcement of media laws ment was signed in 2002 and by the official Haute authorité des opened the way for the largest média (HAM) and the relaunch of an UN peacekeeping operation in industry-wide “tribunal of peers” to history, the UN Organization monitor compliance with standards of Mission in the DRC (MONUC), accuracy and fairness. which has nearly 20,000 interna- efficient media are a guarantee for public In a post-election analysis of media tional soldiers and civilians. freedoms, the smooth running of democ- coverage during the campaign, the Despite the UN presence, ethnic con- racy and social cohesion.” During the JED found that some newspaper, radio flict continued in the eastern part of the election campaign, they noted, the media and television outlets were acting as country, and the election period itself would be essential in helping voters “gain a “propaganda press committed to defend- was marred by clashes between support- insight into the profiles of public figures ing the political interests of its own candi- ers of the incumbent, President Joseph and politicians, as well as into their pro- dates and demonizing its political adver- Kabila, and those of a former rebel leader, grammes. . . . This enables the public to saries,” in a country where many private Mr. Jean-Pierre Bemba. Mr. Kabila was express itself credibly during electoral media companies are owned by candidates declared the winner of presidential runoff and consultative events.” and political parties. elections in October 2006 that Congolese The media were especially important in The press freedom group charged and international observers declared gen- a country the size of Western Europe with that some coverage resorted to “shame- erally free and fair. few roads and railways, 1.5 million people fully exploiting macabre images” of the Many saw the role of the media as uprooted from their homes by violence violence, “inciting revenge and accusa- vital to the success of the transitional and no experience of political pluralism tions, justifying crime and . . . cementing period that began after the signing of or elections. The large distances and high political tensions” between ethnic groups, the December 2002 accord. In a resolu- cost of travel, weak and poorly financed parties and regions throughout the elec- tion adopted earlier that year at protracted political parties and the continuing pres- tion campaign. “Worst of all,” the report peace talks known as the Inter-Congolese ence of armed, partisan militias in some charged, “state-owned radio and television Dialogue, the warring parties declared areas meant that traditional campaigning stations took part in the general decline by that “independent, free, responsible and by candidates and party officials would be

APRIL 2007  limited. That placed an even greater burden course in June 2006 for 15 Congolese they may not even be aware of it — serve on the media as the main vehicle for voter provincial journalists, a programme that as a platform for the warlords, who use education and political campaigning. included background on the electoral pro- the rivalry between different ethnic groups Freedom of expression and the press, cess, meetings with senior transition offi- in Bunia and the DRC only for their own largely unknown during the dictatorial cials and the head of the national electoral profit. . . . The hate speeches of the conflict 30-year rule of , was commission, and training in interviewing, would not have had the same effect if the entrenched in the transition constitution. recording and editing techniques. media had not agreed to play the role of Article 27 established individual freedom But in the end, noted Ms. Julia Craw- mouthpiece” for the opposing sides. of expression. Article 28 guaranteed press ford, Africa director for the New York– In a special report on the DRC in freedom, limited by the need to “safeguard based Committee to Protect Journalists 2004, the CPJ observed that national and public order [and] morality” and the rights (CPJ), “while some media in the DRC local officials sometimes exceeded their of others. Clause 29 established a public have played an important role” in the pro- authority under the transitional constitu- tion to censor and punish unfavourable or incendiary reporting — taking radio and television stations off the air and threaten- ing legal action against reporters in con- travention of the agree- ment. The international press freedom group also Some Congolese documented instances newspapers and of continued harassment broadcasters and assault of journalists have worsened by militias and political political tensions parties throughout the by disseminating transition. “hate” messages. Nor was the official media oversight body, the HAM, immune to criti- cism. In its November analysis of the media, the JED charged that “the struggle against incitement to hatred and violence, while

AP / Schalk van Zuydam noble in principle, has allowed the media regulator to exercise systematic cen- “right to information.” It also required cess, “there were a lot of problems and a sorship of the privately owned media, state-owned media to be objective and lot of irresponsible reporting.” Much of the thereby restricting the democratic debate impartial and to provide fair access for media, particularly in Kinshasa, she said, so greatly needed during the election “a plurality of opinions.” Oversight and were strongly partisan, and, in the view period, while the state-owned media has regulation of the media was entrusted to of many international and local observ- been usurped by the ruling party.” the HAM, an official body composed of ers, sometimes fanned sectarian divisions According to a report by the non- all parties in the transitional unity govern- through slanted or false reporting. governmental International Crisis Group, ment and headed by a respected journalist Encouragingly, Ms. Crawford told based in , the HAM shut down a and award-winning rights campaigner, Mr. Africa Renewal, “many DRC press free- pro-government radio and television sta- Modeste Mutinga. dom organizations, particularly JED, spear- tion in 2005 for 15 days for broadcast- headed the effort to highlight abuses, even ing a politician’s comments describing ‘Irresponsible reporting’ as they advocated for more press freedom a mixed-race opponent as “a bat — half Training increased in an effort to prepare and greater professional responsibility.” mouse, half bird” and urging government the Congolese media for its new role as an Many of the worst abuses seemed to partisans to “trap it, burn it and eat it.” The instrument of democracy. The JED and the occur at moments of crisis. During heavy same station broadcast another speaker’s other media organizations sponsored many fighting between ethnic militias in the east- call on party supporters to grab opposition briefings and seminars for reporters, broad- ern town of Bunia in 2003, JED President leaders and “burn them with tyres around casters and editors on the elections and Donat M’baya Tshimanga reported, the their necks.” In contrast, two opposition the media’s ethical and professional obli- Congolese media generated extensive cov- newspapers were shuttered for 90 days for gations. The German Konrad Adenauer erage of the violence, but without sending contentious but less inflammatory reports Foundation conducted a 12-day training reporters to the scene. “The media — and alleging ongoing allegiances between Mr.

10 APRIL 2007 Kabila and neighbouring Tanzania, where vision” and is often marked by “a total dis- money wants to hear” and bring the pro- he grew up. Overall, concluded the JED, regard for ethics and professionalism.” fession into public disrepute. “a large number of Congolese media failed Part of the explanation is financial, Reforming the DRC’s economic to live up to their role.” as the steady decline in the country’s and political culture to allow the media Although the JED’s primary role is economic and social fortunes has taken to play their part in development and to protect press freedom and individual an inevitable toll on the media indus- nation-building will be a major challenge journalists from government censorship try. Printing presses and broadcast- to the nation’s journalists, its fledgling and harassment, noted Ms. Crawford, the ing equipment are often decades old, democratic government and the inter- organization has always pursued “a dou- expensive to operate, difficult to repair national community. In his conclusion, ble-pronged approach: shouting to local and maintain and inadequate for meet- Mr. Kabemba argues for a top-to-bot- and international media about abuses by ing the information needs of a popula- tom overhaul of the industry, including the authorities . . . but at the same time tion of more than 50 million. Neither massive retraining of staff, investment pushing for more responsibility in the state television and radio nor the scores in modern printing presses and trans- journalism profession.” of private stations transmit nationally, mitters, refurbishment of the education That approach was in large part a as antiquated equipment and chaotic system, adoption of new media laws and response to serious abuses by the media, regulations limit their broadcast range. pay scales that can help insulate the press she said. But in addition, “the JED has Dire poverty is another major obsta- from undue political influence and the also said on numerous occasions that cle. Few of the country’s nearly 3,000 temptation of le coupage. the entire press corps could find itself trained journalists earn a living wage. “The DRC is the principal reservoir being penalized for the excesses of only Instead, journalists are paid to write sto- of world strategic minerals which are the some sections of the media.” Improving ries by the individuals or organizations envy of both regional and international the quality and accuracy of reporting in they are covering — a practice known as powers,” Mr. Kabemba concluded. The the DRC, she observed, was one way le coupage (literally, “blending”). “Most country “needs to be protected by a truly to protect the press from government journalists go around searching not for democratic state. . . . The media holds the interference. news but for people who can pay them crucial key in promoting the culture of to publish their stories,” Mr. Kabemba democracy and good governance, but it Entrenched obstacles wrote. The resulting stories invariably needs the necessary support to play its role Despite the problems, the Congolese reflect “what the person who pays the efficiently and correctly.” n media produced a body of sound report- ing and the transitional institutions often worked well in moving quickly against The UN’s Radio Okapi abuses. According to many observers, Given the shortcomings of the DRC’s national media, the dangerous divisions among the tattered condition of the Congolese Congolese and the enormous territory to monitor, the UN peacekeeping mission media meant that the situation could attaches great importance to the use of media to promote reconciliation and democ- have been much worse. racy. One result has been Radio Okapi, the innovative official MONUC radio station In a detailed survey of the state of established jointly with a Swiss non-governmental organization, Fondation Hirondelle. the Congolese media commissioned Staffed almost entirely by Congolese journalists, Radio Okapi states that its mandate is by the South African Institute for the “to inform the Congolese public and the international community of the process of the Advancement of Journalism in late 2004, political transition” and to serve as a “communication relay” between MONUC and the Congolese public. Mr. Claude Kabemba observed that Broadcasting in the DRC’s five main languages and able to reach virtually every corner while the DRC media was “one of the of the country through its network of transmitters, relay towers and shortwave equipment, most diverse and free on the continent, Radio Okapi is the only media outlet with national reach. Its slogan, “breath of the DRC,” the quality of information and the role of was soon associated with reliable news reporting and unbiased programming about the the media in the democratization process transition to democracy. leaves much to be desired.” In contrast to much of the local media, Radio Okapi’s reporters are comparatively well Despite the presence of more than 200 paid and rigorously trained in journalistic ethics and reporting standards. Le coupage different newspapers, 52 private television — accepting payment in return for favourable stories — is forbidden, as is editorializing networks and some 250 private and com- on behalf of parties or individuals. The station pioneered a number of journalistic firsts in munity radio broadcasters, in addition to the DRC, including political debates, fair access to airtime for political parties and scien- tific opinion polling. state radio and television, Mr. Kabemba Radio Okapi’s status as MONUC’s official radio outlet has insulated editors and asserted that few “capture the reality of reporters from political influence and freed the station from dependence on wealthy the society.” Instead, these media outlets patrons eager to promote their political views. Its emphasis on political impartiality, finan- reflect “the political, religious and ethnic cial independence and high professional standards make it a model for journalism in the inclinations of their owners.” The profes- transition to Congolese democracy. sion itself, he said, is “divided and without

APRIL 2007 11 African gays and lesbians combat bias An ‘invisible’ minority seeks legal safeguards, acceptance

By Michael Fleshman laws nor the prevalence of custom can cial harassment, arbitrary detention, public he international campaign for equal ever justify the abuse, attacks, torture and stigmatization, extortion and even assault rights for homosexuals and other sex- indeed killings that gay, lesbian, bisexual because of their sexual orientation. These T ual minorities took a step forward on and transgender persons are subjected to minorities include lesbians, homosexual 14 November when South Africa became because of who they are or are perceived men (often referred to as “gay”), bisexuals the first country in Africa, and the fifth in to be.” and persons of one sex who identify pri- the world, to legalize same-sex marriage. The “shameful silence” with which marily as members of the other (known as “This country cannot continue to be a homophobic violence is greeted by gov- “transgendered”). prisoner of the backward, time-worn preju- ernments and society, she told delegates dices which have no basis,” declared Discrimination, isolation, repression ruling African National Congress Bias and stigmatization against homo- parliamentarian and Defence sexuals and other sexual minorities in Minister Mosiuoa Lekota in urging Africa is rooted in deeply held cul- passage. “Culture is not static.” tural and religious values. They can The new law, adopted by a 230– be accompanied by abuses, are too 41 vote, was welcomed by gay and often enforced by vigilante violence lesbian activists in South Africa and are sometimes enshrined in law. and around the world as a signifi- In one widely reported instance, cant advance for equal rights. But the UN Human Rights Commission it is not a trend. Conservative reli- found Cameroon in violation of gious and political leaders in many its treaty obligations after police countries still strongly oppose equal arrested 17 men at a Yaoundé night- rights for homosexuals, includ- club believed to be frequented by ing same-sex marriage. The week members of the gay and lesbian com- before the South African move, munity and held nine for more than a same-sex marriages were banned year. One of the detainees, a 30-year- in eight US states, although simi- old man living with HIV/AIDS, died lar proposals were defeated in a 10 days after his release. dozen others. In Nigeria, President Prosecutors initially charged the introduced leg- men with “homosexuality,” although islation in 2006 that not only bars that is not itself a crime in Cameroon. same-sex marriages but criminalizes Seven of the men were later con- anyone who “performs, witnesses, victed under the country’s anti-sod- aids or abets” such ceremonies. Sex omy law, although no evidence of between men in Nigeria, defined iAfrika Photos / Jeremy Jowell any sexual activity was presented. as sodomy, was already punishable Gay pride march in South Africa: African gays and lesbians are In a letter to the New York–based by up to 14 years in prison, reports challenging discrimination and prohibitions. International Gay and Lesbian Human the non-governmental International Rights Commission (IGLHRC), a Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA). to a Montreal human rights conference, is senior government official said that homo- the “ultimate rejection of the fundamental sexuality was not acceptable in society and ‘Ultimate rejection’ of human rights principle of the universality of rights.” defended the arrests as necessary to pre- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights In Africa, according to a 2000 study serve “positive African cultural values.” Louise Arbour noted in August 2006 that by the ILGA, homosexuality was illegal In Uganda, five men were arrested in worldwide, more than 80 countries crimi- in 29 countries and enjoyed legal protec- October 2006 under the country’s colo- nalize consensual sexual relations between tion in just 10. Although sexual minori- nial-era anti-sodomy law, which can bring persons of the same sex — including seven ties are gradually winning recognition life imprisonment upon conviction. The in which the punishment can be death. and protection of their rights under the arrests followed by months the publica- “There is no doubt that these laws violate UN International Covenant on Civil and tion in a Kampala magazine of a list of 45 international human rights standards,” she Political Rights and other human rights men alleged to be homosexuals. The editors said. “Neither the existence of national treaties, they remain at great risk of offi- acted, they claimed, “to show the nation ...

12 APRIL 2007 how fast the terrible vice known as sod- ‘Un-African’ claims challenged tation that the new wife would bear chil- omy is eating up our society.” The publi- Much of the stigma attached to homo- dren by a male partner and create heirs. In cation was denounced as “homophobic” sexuality in Africa has been justified by the relationships examined in the study, the by Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), a opponents on broad religious or cultural complexities of gender roles were more a human rights organization in Kampala. It grounds, with assertions that same-sex source of amusement than tension in the said the men now lived “under unbeliev- relationships are able fear of being arrested, ostracized by condemned in the “Neither the existence their families or sacked from their jobs.” Bible or Qur’an of national laws nor the It was not the first time Ugandan activ- or that they never prevalence of custom can ists linked hostile articles in the press to occurred in pre-colo- ever justify the abuse, victimization. In 2005, local government nial African society. attacks, torture and officials raided the home of SMUG chair- Religious scholars indeed killings that gay, person Juliet Victor Mukasa, seized files on both sides of the lesbian, bisexual and and papers and briefly detained another issue are still debat- transgender people are activist after a state-owned newspaper ing, sometimes bit- subjected to.” called on police to “visit the holes men- terly, the proper — Ms. Louise Arbour, UN tioned in the press, spy on the perverts, interpretation of High Commissioner for arrest and prosecute them.” scriptural references Human Rights

to homosexuality. UN / Mark Garten ‘Highly vulnerable’ Recent research Nor is family or community necessarily a by African and Northern academics, how- community, and, at least within Gikuyu haven. In testimony at the UN Council on ever, is challenging the assertion that tradition, acceptable. Human Rights, Ms. Mukasa, a transgen- homosexuality was imported to Africa by Other researchers have found tradi- dered person, described her life as a mem- colonialism and is not compatible with tra- tional homosexual and bisexual practices ber of this “highly vulnerable” commu- dition and culture. among men in some African cultures as nity: “In Africa, transgendered people are To be sure, same-sex relationships can well, and words for homosexuality, gay seriously punished for being who they are. raise a host of issues in societies where men and lesbians in a large number of I was always being beaten by my father for marriage and family are intimately bound indigenous languages. ‘behaving’ like a boy. In school the same up with access to land and property, inher- Some Gikuyu women in same-sex story. . . . I became the laughingstock of itance rights, community status and even relationships have expressed a sense of the village and expelled myself because of political stability. In an interview with liberation from male domination and of the humiliation. the UK Independent newspaper, a South equality within the marriage. One female “In church I was once stripped naked African traditional healer, Mrs. Nokuzola “husband” told researchers: “I don’t have before a multitude of people. The pastor Mndende, lamented the difficulty of a man, but I have a woman who cares for ‘saw’ the spirit of a young man inside me applying traditional practices to same- me. I belong to her and she belongs to me. and they burnt my clothes and shoes in sex couples: “There’s the issue of lobola And I tell you I don’t have to worry about order to kill the male spirit. . . . As a trans- [a traditional dowry paid to the family of a man telling me what to do.” gendered person, it is constantly demanded the bride]. Normally the man pays it. In In the view of many such researchers, of me to explain and justify why I do not this case who’s going to pay?” The pros- the traditional African family was quite fit into other people’s idea of what a man pect of same-sex households being child- adaptable, and sometimes encompassed or a woman should be.” less and thus complicating long-standing a range of same-sex relationships, entered A gay Nigerian man, who refused to inheritance and family practices is another into for economic, romantic and emotional provide his name for fear of reprisal, told concern raised by traditionalists. reasons. IGLHRC in early 2006 that “a team of But research among the Gikuyu people policemen in Lagos came to my apartment of Murang’a district in central Kenya by Out of the shadows and took me away to an unknown place Wairimu Ngaruiya Njambi and William Despite the risks, a slowly growing number for two days. I was beaten beyond rec- O’Brien found traditional acceptance of of African gays and lesbians, encouraged ognition and am still receiving treatment “woman-woman marriage” when such by the spread of democracy and galva- for the head injury I received. I was dehu- relationships brought children into house- nized by the need to combat the spread of manized and paraded naked to the press. holds or eased disputes over inheritance HIV/AIDS, have emerged from the shad- My money, ID card and shoes were taken. of land and other property. In one case, ows to confront stigma. In recent years gay Eventually I was released without being they reported in 2000 in a scholarly arti- and lesbian advocates have become more charged and tried. My only offence was cle in the US National Women Studies visible — challenging legal discrimination that I am gay. I no longer live in Nigeria. I Association Journal, a childless woman cannot go back there.” married a younger woman with the expec- see page 21

APRIL 2007 13 NEPAD IN ACTION Water betters lives in Tanzania Access to clean water critical to NEPAD development goals

By Itai Madamombe nants and some cattle. The UN Development Programme o one in Lusala needs to walk more than 400 metres (UNDP) — which also funded the water project in Lusala in search of water anymore. Fresh water gushes from — said lack of water made it hard for villagers to take care N taps at 11 drawing-points right within the Tanzanian of their animals. Contaminated water also caused most of community. For years, shortages sent women and children, the village’s health problems, further deepening poverty in the main collectors, several kilometres away each day. The the community. drudgery was worsened by the hard-rock terrain they had to climb carrying heavy pots back to their hilltop village, Not difficult or expensive located about 700 kilometres southwest of Dar es Salaam, Across Africa, cholera, typhoid, dysentery and other diseases the Tanzanian capital. kill thousands each year. African leaders, through their develop- “Life is much better now that I have clean water near my ment blueprint, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development house,” Elizabeth Mtweve, a villager and mother of four, (NEPAD), have identified water scarcity as one of the factors told Africa Renewal. “I don’t walk all day in the heat to find undermining the continent’s development. NEPAD provides an overarching framework for efforts to ensure that households, schools, farms, hospitals, industries and other important operations have enough water to meet their needs. African countries have agreed to bring safe, clean water to With water within no more than taps nearby, 15 minutes walking villagers no longer have distance for their to walk so citizens. far to fetch The Tanzanian water. government, with support from UNDP, responded to the water problems that plagued Lusala village. UNDP reports that the scheme uses gravity to tap water from a higher point, so that it naturally flows down through Reuters / Jiro Ose two intake pipes into a 75-cubic- water. In three to five minutes you fill your bucket by turning metre reservoir. From there, it is distributed via ground a tap. The water project has saved every woman in Lusala pipes to 11 points where people simply turn on taps to fill a lot of hardship and time.” their containers. “My children, and even myself, used to fall sick because of dirty water,” she adds. “Now we don’t run to the hospi- African leaders, through NEPAD, have identified tal complaining of diarrhoea anymore. With clean water, we water scarcity as one of the factors undermining enjoy good health.” the continent’s development. Lusala’s estimated 4,000 inhabitants depend on farm- ing for a livelihood, and their farm income partially funded “Such water schemes are not difficult or too expensive to the water scheme. People grow coffee and bananas to sell. set up,” Nehemiah Murusuri, the UNDP country coordina- Maize and beans are also popular, as both subsistence and tor in Tanzania, told Africa Renewal. “You use the natural cash crops. Villagers raise chickens, goats, small rumi- pull of gravity, so no complicated machines, no pumping is

14 APRIL 2007 NEPAD IN ACTION

necessary. The maintenance is also very cheap and easy. Apart from the rare bursting of a pipe or replacing a loose tap, there is nothing much needed once you set it up.” Bringing fresh water to Lusala, Villagers though not cheap, work was not prohibitively together to expensive. The proj- build and maintain ect, Mr. Murusuri their water noted, cost the equiv- system. alent of US$40,000 — a figure that would have likely quadru- Ouma Sam / Pictures Panos pled had private contractors implemented it. Instead, commu- nity members, with technical guidance from government water surveyors and engineers, built the reservoir, installed pipes and provided all the necessary labour. the number of people reporting waterborne diseases. Women Every family in Lusala was allocated a portion of a 9.4 have more time to focus on income-generating activities.” kilometre trench that needed to be dug in order for the Such water projects can be replicated easily in other pipes to be installed, explains Dominicus Mganwa, chair- villages, notes Bedoumra Kordje, director of the Africa person of the Lusala Development Association, which was Water Facilities at the African Development Bank. There are formed by villagers to organize their participation in the scheme. The association is today responsible for collecting “We are not only putting a water project in place, water fees from users. The money is used to repair equip- but also contributing to NEPAD and the Millennium ment when needed. Development Goals to improve water, governance and health and to reduce poverty.” Coming together —Nehemiah Murusuri, UNDP Tanzania country coordinator “Working together, problems came up here and there,” Mr. Mganwa notes. This was particularly the case when “trying to decide what we wanted and who was responsible for what. many successful initiatives to supply safe water for domes- But in the end we learned to resolve our differences. This has tic and industrial needs, he told Africa Renewal. But efforts benefited the whole community.” fall short of what is needed to promote lasting socioeco- The availability of clean water, he continues, has nomic development. changed the village in unexpected ways. “Since water is “There is no question that the availability of fresh water nearby, people have started small brick projects, so now is one of the most critical factors in development,” says Mr. you see good quality houses, all over Lusala, replacing Kordje. “Yet Africa enjoys only about 3 per cent of its annual mud and pole huts. This we did not expect, but we are renewable water supply, compared to over 80 per cent in the very pleased.” .” African countries, he adds, need to improve Two years after the completion of the water project, Mr. storage and distribution to help the estimated 300 million Murusuri of UNDP says, the benefits have indeed been people who do not yet have access to clean water. multifaceted and have helped make progress towards the “We must ensure water is available,” says Tanzanian goals set by African leaders in other areas. “We are not President Jakaya Kikwete. “You can do anything you want only putting a water project in place, but also contribut- to improve the infrastructure, but if there is no water, then it ing to NEPAD and the Millennium Development Goals to amounts to zero work.” The government aims to bring clean improve water, governance and health and to reduce pov- safe water to within 400 metres of every Tanzanian house- erty. People learned to reach agreements through demo- hold by 2015. For Lusala village, thankfully, that is no longer cratic means. Hospital records show a significant drop in another goal waiting to happen. n

APRIL 2007 15 NEPAD IN ACTION Internet enriches learning in rural Uganda NEPAD e-schools connecting students to the world

By Itai Madamombe us find information we need on anything. International football t was hard to squeeze into the classroom. Dozens of students matches, how to protect yourself from HIV/AIDS — it’s all clustered around computers, checking news on their favou- there,” Paul told Africa Renewal. I rite football teams in the World Cup tournament. Hardly African governments recognize the pivotal role information remarkable: some 30 million people were watching the games and communications technologies (ICTs) play in accelerating worldwide. economic growth and social development. The Internet, tele- What is different is that Bugulumbya is in rural Uganda, phones, computers, radios and televisions have the potential to which for years has remained fairly untouched by advances foster regional integration, as promoted by NEPAD. in world tech- nology. But the Useful skills school made Students like Paul are the focus of the e-schools initiative. Its purpose is to provide every student with at least basic skills and the means to use ICTs to better his or her life, get better-paying jobs and help develop the continent. “We have many intelligent students here in rural Uganda, and many parts of Africa, who might not get the chance to get Even in rural into top universities simply because they are poor,” commented schools John Busima, the headmaster of Bugulumbya. “But if we give NEPAD them useful skills, through initiatives like this by NEPAD, they project is will create not only their own livelihood, but also help their connecting countries to develop.” students Bugulumbya, like many rural schools in Africa, had no to the electricity, Mr. Busima noted. NEPAD officials, the Ugandan Internet and government and a consortium led by the Hewlett-Packard (HP) expanding computer company provided the school with computers, fur- their learning niture, electricity and all the equipment necessary to create an horizons. e-school. The community — teachers, students and parents — banded together to plaster and paint the buildings. Within weeks, the school was fixed up. “Our school does not look the same,” the headmaster said. “We are a three-hour drive from the country’s capital, Kampala. We had no hope of being connected to the [electricity] grid. But headlines in now we have a generator to run the computers, we have DSL, July 2005 when television, the Internet. We feel equal to the rest of Uganda, and it became the indeed the world.” very first insti- Web-surfing might seem like a luxury for a continent strug- iAfrika Photos / Rodger Bosch tution to receive gling with poverty, disease and other basic needs. But experts computers under the electronic-school (or “e-school”) initiative at a recent NEPAD-sponsored conference in Nairobi, Kenya, of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). warned that development will be seriously hindered if Africa “We are experiencing the world from our classroom,” fails to bridge the ICT gap that separates the continent from beamed a 17-year old student, Munhana Paul Rogers. During developed countries. Despite improvements, only 2.5 per cent breaks and after school, students closely monitored the latest of Africa’s 800 million people have Internet access, compared news and scores. Though most of his favourite teams from with 17.8 per cent in the rest of the world, the experts noted. Africa were knocked out of the competition early, Paul says Bugulumbya was the first of 120 schools to receive comput- there is a lot to be happy about. ers and Internet services during the first phase of the e-schools “Since Bugulumbya received computers, we see a big dif- project. According to the e-Africa Commission, which coordi- ference in the way we learn. When you have the Internet, it’s nates all NEPAD communications technology activities, this like you have another five teachers in the classroom. It helps first phase is a one-year demonstration stage in 20 African

16 APRIL 2007 NEPAD IN ACTION

countries. Each country will choose six schools to try out the programme. Some 150,000 African teachers and stu- dents, the commission says, will benefit from the new computers and Internet access, and, in some cases, phones, fax machines, radio and television. Teachers are being trained to pre- Teacher pare and present material in the most interest- showing ing ways to their pupils. secondary students

‘We cannot afford to do less’ how to use Sattlberger Chris / Pictures Panos “This initiative is necessary because every- computers. where else in the world, this is what govern- ments are doing,” says Henry Chasia, the commission’s deputy executive chairperson. “In Africa, we cannot afford to do less because to do so is to tamper recklessly with our future.” The demonstra- tion phase, he adds, will help governments determine the type of equipment and training they will need. It also will initially supply the necessary equipment and training will highlight the best ways to overcome any difficulties. to students and teachers. Governments will then take over Bugulumbya is already providing lessons. The biggest chal- the administration. lenge, Mr. Busima said, is fixing the computers when they NEPAD promoters hope that with enough money, up to break down. Some teachers and students received training, but, 600,000 institutions — and ultimately all African primary and notes the headmaster, the school needs a full-time technician secondary schools — will be transformed into e-schools. with a solid background in computers. Access to information and communications technologies can The school is also waiting for all the computers promised in empower everyone, from businesses to communities, Olivier July 2005. “So far we have received only 12 of the 48 comput- Suinat, managing director of HP Africa, told Africa Renewal. ers promised,” he said. “We have 300 students and things will “It has every potential of transforming Africa. For this reason, be much better if we get the rest.” HP is proud to head up a consortium on behalf of the NEPAD Countries participating in the first phase were selected e-schools initiative.” from those that joined NEPAD’s voluntary African Peer Bugulumbya, he added, is an excellent example of what Review Mechanism, which allows participating African NEPAD and its partners can do to encourage students to learn. countries to monitor and evaluate each other’s political With the Internet, geography need no longer isolate rural and economic management. Thirteen private companies schools from the rest of the world. n

New Partnership for Africa’s Development

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) was adopted as the continent’s main development framework at a July 2001 summit meeting of African heads of state. According to NEPAD, attainment of Africa’s long-term development goals is anchored in the determination of African peoples “to extricate themselves and the continent from the malaise of underdevel- opment and exclusion in a globalizing world.” It calls for a new relationship between Africa and the international community, in which the non-African partners seek to complement Africa’s own efforts. The United Nations, Group of Eight industrialized nations and various donor countries have pledged to do so. For Africa to develop, argues NEPAD, three conditions must prevail: • peace, security, democracy and good political governance • improved economic and corporate governance • regional cooperation and integration. NEPAD further identifies several priority sectors requiring special attention and action: • physical infrastructure, especially roads, railways and power systems linking neighbouring countries • information and communications technology • human development, focusing on health, education and skills development • agriculture • promoting the diversification of production and exports. Many of the required resources will initially need to come from outside the continent, although African governments are redoubling efforts to mobilize more domestic resources. “Africa,” states NEPAD, “recognizes that it holds the key to its own development.”

APRIL 2007 17 Pledging peace at Great Lakes summit In a region emerging from war, cooperation remains a challenge

By Michael Fleshman mental protection and fforts to consolidate peace in Central human rights. The pact’s Africa’s war–ravaged Great Lakes area four main areas are:

Etook another step forward at the end Peace and security: of 2006 with the adoption of the com- Signers must renounce prehensive Pact on Security, Stability force in regional rela- and Development in the Great Lakes

tions, abstain from Njuguna Anthony / Reuters Region. The agreement was signed by sup-porting or toler- the heads of state of 11 countries in ating the presence of Nairobi on 15 December and came just armed dissidents of weeks after another significant regional other states, cooperate milestone, the successful presidential elec- in disarming and dis- tion in the Democratic Republic of the mantling existing rebel Congo (DRC). movements, control Three leaders sign pact at Great Lakes summit. From left: Rwandan The region plunged into widespread regional arms transfers, Prime Minister Bernard Makuza, DRC President and armed conflict in the chaotic aftermath eliminate and prevent Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza. of both genocide in Rwanda in 1994 and hate speech and eth- the overthrow of the dictatorial govern- nic discrimination, and the property rights of returning refugees ment of Mobutu Sese Seko in the DRC, prosecute war crimes and crimes against and displaced persons, establish regional then called Zaire, in 1997. By 2003, when humanity, particularly sexual violence early warning and disaster prevention a transitional government took power in and abuse of women and girls. systems, and guarantee access to basic the DRC as part of a UN–backed peace Democracy and good governance: The services for populations affected by agreement, eight African countries and a signatories must establish or abide by conflict and natural disasters. score of independent rebel groups were the rule of law and respect for human ‘Long and difficult’ path involved in the fighting. The protago- rights; enact or strengthen constitu- nists included Rwandan and Ugandan tional systems based on a separation of The pact is the product of a six-year, forces seeking to overthrow the DRC powers, political pluralism, regular and African-led diplomatic process aimed at government, Angolan, Zimbabwean credible elections and transparency in reducing mutual suspicions between area and Namibian troops fighting alongside political and economic governance; and governments and establishing a legal and government soldiers, Burundian troops establish a regional council on informa- political framework for addressing the operating in the Congo against their tion and communications to promote region’s pressing economic, security and own rebel opponents and anti–govern- free expression and media rights. humanitarian problems. The first break- ment Rwandan militias in the eastern through came in 2002 in South Africa, DRC, in addition to local ethnic militias Economic development: Parties to the when the parties to the Congo conflict (see box, next page). agreement must end or prevent the ille- agreed on a cease-fire, the withdrawal of gal exploitation of natural resources, foreign forces and the establishment of Four priorities, many challenges respect national sovereignty over natu- an interim government. The signers of the pact (Angola, Bu- ral resources, establish the Great Lakes In 2004, regional leaders responded rundi, the Central African Republic, as a “specific reconstruction and devel- to a UN Security Council call for the Congo Republic, the DRC, Kenya, opment zone,” harmonize national and region-wide talks by attending the first Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and regional economic policies, cooperate International Conference on the Great Zambia) pledged to cooperate in four in projects relating to regional energy, Lakes Region in Tanzania. That summit areas: security, democracy and gov- transport and communications, and adopted the Dar es Salaam declaration, ernance, economic development, and enhance commerce and development outlining the terms of a comprehensive humanitarian and social welfare. They among border populations to promote regional settlement. It was at the second agreed to detailed region-wide proto- regional integration. international conference in December cols and programmes of action for each. Humanitarian and social welfare: The that regional leaders agreed on the The assembled leaders also pledged to signers must protect and assist internally final details of the pact. The process develop joint approaches to HIV/AIDS, displaced populations in line with inter- has been supported politically and the empowerment of women, environ- national standards, protect and respect financially by a 28-country Group of

18 APRIL 2007 Friends that includes South Africa, the Failure ‘not a choice’ In an interview, the head of the confer- US, Nigeria, and many members of the Although the complex peace agreement ence secretariat, Tanzanian Ambassador European Union. is fragile, there are signs of progress. In , told Africa Renewal In a message delivered to the sum- early February southern Sudanese authori- that while implementing the pact is “a mit on behalf of then Secretary-General ties ordered Ugandan rebel forces out of huge challenge,” there are prospects Kofi Annan, Under-Secretary-General the country, accusing them of mounting for “quick dividends” in a number of and Special Adviser on Africa Legwaila attacks inside Sudan. Several weeks later, areas, “including the establishment of Joseph Legwaila noted that “the Great the DRC’s newly elected President Joseph joint security management of common Lakes region has witnessed some of the Kabila told a meeting of Great Lakes borders,” the creation of “transborder bloodiest wars in the world. The coopera- parliamentarians that the area’s conflicts development basins” to ease poverty and tive mechanism embodied by this interna- were “blocking development” in the area. discontent along porous and insecure tional conference reflects the centrality of “Open war has come to an end, and dia- national boundaries, and early-warning the regional dimension in finding solutions logue has become the method of resolving mechanisms for conflict prevention and to the various conflicts.” He acknowl- conflicts,” he said. He added that his gov- humanitarian emergencies. edged that negotiations “proved to be long ernment is closely monitoring continuing “The signing of the pact was seen as and difficult because of the magnitude peace talks in Uganda and Burundi. a new beginning for the Great Lakes and complexity of the problems” and cau- According to press reports, the DRC’s region and indeed the African conti- tioned that the hardest part — implementa- armed forces have sought to expel the nent,” Ms. Mulamula said. But success tion — still lies ahead. remaining Rwandan rebels from its ter- will hinge on adequate funding for the The responsibility for implementation ritory and complete the demobilization agreement and its development pro- rests with the governments of the Great of former combatants. Some 20,000 grammes and on the political will of Lakes, aided by a conference secretariat UN peacekeepers remain in the DRC regional leaders to respect its provisions. that reports to a regional committee of to assist the new government with “The world has witnessed the devastat- cabinet ministers. This committee in turn security. A 6,000-strong UN force com- ing effects of war and intractable con- advises the heads of state, who will meet pleted its peace mission in Burundi at the flicts in this region,” she concluded. in summit every two years. Civil society end of 2006. “Failure is not a choice!” n groups are expected to participate locally through national implementing bodies. Funding for the secretariat will come Africa’s first ‘world war’ from mandatory assessments on signatory The Great Lakes region earned the unenviable title of host to “Africa’s first world war” after countries and donor funding. The pact also the collapse of the Mobuto dictatorship in 1997 triggered a scramble for control of the vast, establishes a Reconstruction and Develop- Lake mineral-rich Zaire (later called the Democratic Republic of the Congo). But the ongoing cri- Albert ment Fund, to be financed by donors and sis in the Great Lakes is really a series of interlocking conflicts involving virtually all of the Great Lakes governments and managed by countries in the region. Relations between the Sudanese and Ugandan governments, for the African Development Bank. The fund example, were badly strained by allegations of Ugandan backing for the rebel Sudan Peo- will help underwrite reconstruction, devel- ples’ Liberation Army and charges that the Sudanese in turn supported the Ugandan Lord’s opment and regional integration projects. Resistance Army insurgency that has taken more than 10,000 lives, displaced 2 million people and fuelled the kidnapping of upwards of 25,000 chil- CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC SUDAN dren into the rebel army. Uganda hosts nearly 200,000 Suda- nese refugees, plus tens of thousands more Congolese and Rwandans,Lake which places an enormous strain on Uganda’s Turkana UGANDA modest resources. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, CONGO KENYA Tanzania — among the poorest countries in the world — has REPUBLIC Lake for yearsVictoria hosted more than 600,000 refugees from countries RWANDA in the Great Lakes. As of early 2006, Zambia and Kenya DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC sheltered an additional 300,000. OF THE CONGO BURUNDI In the DRC alone, upwards of 4 million people died

TANZANIA from violence, starvation and disease, 1.3 million refu- gees decamped to neighbouring countries and 4 million internally displaced people, including 1.4 million children, were driven from their homes. Many tens of thousands of women and girls have been raped and sexually assaulted ANGOLA over the course of the brutal conflict (see Africa Renewal, ZAMBIA January 2007). UN / Africa Renewal

APRIL 2007 19

Lake Lake Nyasa Africa: UN priority Africa,” she noted, “carry an enormous Being from Africa, Mr. Annan had a from page 3 and disproportionate burden of ill health particular advantage in speaking bluntly and premature death.” She pledged the to African leaders about issues they Partnership for Africa’s Development WHO’s help in strengthening Africa’s were not always comfortable addressing. (NEPAD), an African-led plan to achieve weak national health systems. During his first year in office, he urged continental peace and development. African leaders, in especially forceful “The Africans for the first time decided Passing the torch terms, to do far more to safeguard and that they were not going to wait for the As his decade as Secretary-General drew advance human rights. Such rights, he General Assembly to come up with a to a close, Mr. Annan reflected on the said, “are not a luxury of the rich coun- plan,” explained Mr. Legwaila. “The accomplishments and disappointments of tries for which Africa is not ready.” Africans realized that they themselves his tenure. Among his greatest achieve- Citing the concept of a “responsibil- would have to take their destiny into their ments, he believed, was focusing global ity to protect,” he repeatedly encouraged own hands.” attention on the fight against poverty, African leaders to act against genocide The General Assembly welcomed through the MDGs campaign. and other massive human rights violations this African commitment. Rather than drafting another UN plan, it decided in No- vember 2002 that the inter- national community should instead support Africa’s own The outgoing efforts, through NEPAD. UN Secretary- In September 2005, lead- General, Kofi ers from across the globe Annan, urged assembled at UN head- Africans to quarters to review progress work with his in reducing global pov- successor erty and achieving other to advance Millennium Development Africa’s cause. Goals (MDGs) for human well-being. Noting that Debebe Eskinder / UN Africa lags particularly far behind in reaching the MDGs, they included a special section in the summit “outcome document,” highlighting the continent’s specific requirements. They reiter- ated international support for NEPAD In an address to the General Assembly in neighbouring African states, contrary and pledged more aid, debt relief, trade in September 2006, Mr. Annan recalled to their earlier tendency to remain silent opportunities and other assistance. “We that when he first took office in 1997, he about such abuses. And he strongly urged reaffirm our commitment to address the felt that the world faced three main chal- African leaders to speak out frankly and special needs of Africa,” the world lead- lenges: ensuring that globalization would publicly about HIV/AIDS and to devote ers declared. benefit all humanity, healing the disorder greater efforts to combating the pandemic. For the many different parts of the of the post–Cold War period and promot- In December, following Mr. Ban’s UN system, Africa has become a built-in ing human rights. selection as the new Secretary-General, priority. Much of the UN’s peacekeeping While these challenges were global, he Mr. Annan urged Africa’s UN represen- and humanitarian work concentrates on said, they also concerned him directly, as tatives to work with his successor “to Africa. The UN Development Programme an African. “Africa was in great danger of advance Africa’s cause and agenda within (UNDP) devotes about half of all core being excluded from the benefits of glo- the organization.” Mr. Ban, in turn, programme spending to Africa — some balization,” he said. “Africa was also the pledged to build on his predecessor’s $680 mn in 45 sub-Saharan countries in scene of some of the most protracted and legacy. He vowed to concentrate on the 2005 alone. brutal conflicts. And many of Africa’s peo- goals already set for the UN, rather than Dr. Margaret Chan, who took office ple felt they were unjustly condemned to find “new frontiers to conquer.” as the new director-general of the World be exploited and oppressed, since colonial Health Organization (WHO) in early rule had been replaced by an inequitable The ravages of war January, announced that her two chief economic order on the global level and As Mr. Ban learned firsthand during his goals would be to improve the health of sometimes by corrupt rulers and warlords Africa trip, the UN’s agenda on the conti- women and of Africans. “The people of at the local level.” nent is a highly ambitious one. No goal is

20 APRIL 2007 of the continent lags far behind, Mr. Ban Ban Ki-moon, a seasoned diplomat noted in his AU address. He reported that Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the eighth UN Secretary-General, has more than 37 years of expe- he would soon convene a working group rience in public service. Among his prior positions, he was the minister of foreign of African stakeholders, international affairs and trade of his native Republic of Korea, as well as chief national security organizations and donors — a “coalition adviser. During the 1970s, he was first secretary for his country’s Permanent Mis- of the willing” — to develop an action sion to the UN in New York and director of the UN Division at the Foreign Ministry’s plan to advance the MDGs in Africa. headquarters in Seoul. While ambassador to the UN in Vienna in 1999, he served as Addressing the effects of climate chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization. In 2001-02 he was chef de cabinet of the Republic of Korea’s change will be a major focus of his presidency of the General Assembly. Mr. Ban has also been active in inter-Korean global agenda, Mr. Ban has affirmed relations, in 1992 as vice-chair of the South-North Joint Nuclear Control Commission frequently since taking office. In Addis and in 2005, while foreign minister, as an architect of a landmark agreement aimed at Ababa, he noted that the impact of cli- promoting peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. mate change “will fall disproportionately on some of Africa’s poorest countries.” He cited UN estimates that 30 per cent more important than achieving peace and of the continent.” Most serious at the of Africa’s coastal infrastructure could be security, he affirmed. Addressing the AU moment is the crisis in Sudan’s western inundated by rising sea levels linked to summit in Addis Ababa, Mr. Ban recalled Darfur region, “the largest humanitarian global warming, that more than a quar- his own childhood experience in war- crisis in the world.” Mr. Ban met with ter of Africa’s habitats could be lost by torn Korea, which showed him “how war Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir dur- 2085 and that tens of millions of people robs individuals of the chance of building ing the African summit in an effort to could be in jeopardy. “The time has come a decent life and whole societies of the secure the Sudanese government’s sup- for the rest of the world to assist African chance to prosper.” port for a hybrid UN-AU peacekeep- countries in adapting to the effects of a To help achieve a more peaceful ing force in Darfur. “The people of warming planet.” future for Africa, Mr. Ban noted that Darfur have waited much too long,” the Given the numerous problems and the UN currently has more than two- Secretary-General stated after the meet- enormous potential of Africa, Mr. Ban thirds of all its peacekeepers worldwide ing. “This is just unacceptable.” assured Africans that their concerns will stationed there. As of January 2007, there Because of the spillover of the vio- be at the top of the international agenda. were nearly 55,100 uniformed peace- lence in Darfur into neighbouring Chad, “The success or failure of the United keeping troops and police on the ground Mr. Ban proposed in a report to the Nations in the coming years,” he said in in six African missions — in Côte d’Ivoire, Security Council in February that the Addis Ababa, “will be determined largely the Democratic Republic of the Congo UN also authorize a mission of up to on this continent.” n (DRC), Liberia, Sudan and the Western 11,000 peacekeepers for eastern Chad, Sahara, and on the Ethiopia-Eritrea to deter cross-border attacks and protect border. 120,000 displaced Chadians and 232,000 Gays combat bias In addition, Mr. Ban reported that the Sudanese refugees. from page 13 UN had just allocated $35 mn from its new Peacebuilding Fund to help consoli- From poverty to climate change in the courts and at the African Union, date peace in Burundi (another $35 mn Combating poverty and promoting eco- asserting their rights under international was allocated to Sierra Leone in March). nomic and social development are also law and the African Charter for Human He also reaffirmed the UN’s support daunting tasks for Africa, and the new and People’s Rights and claiming a place for helping the AU build up its own UN Secretary-General took the occasion in Africa as Africans. capacities for peacekeeping and conflict of a visit to the Kibera slum in Nairobi, In February 2004, 22 homosexual, resolution. Kenya, to highlight them. “I feel very bisexual and transgender organizations Some countries are demonstrating much humbled by what I am seeing now,” from 16 African countries called on their notable progress. The DRC, in the wake of he said during the visit. “That makes leaders to “safeguard our real situations its first democratic elections in 40 years, me resolve again my firm commitment and our basic rights. We, African lesbians, is now a “true source of hope for all of to work for the improvement of living gays, bisexuals and transgendered people, Africa,” Mr. Ban stated during his visit to conditions, education, water, sanitation, do exist — despite your attempts to deny that Central African country. Liberia also housing — all these are the challenges our existence. “shines as an example,” he said. which we must overcome.” “Political leaders promote hatred But the conflicts in Côte d’Ivoire and While some African countries have against us to solidify their own political Somalia have been more intractable, the achieved reasonably strong economic situations,” they continued, but “we have Secretary-General acknowledged, and growth rates and are making progress and have always had a place in Africa. . . . “bleed like open wounds on the face towards at least some of the MDGs, much We demand that our voices be heard.” n

APRIL 2007 21 21–23 May 2007, Accra (Ghana) — Ghana tional Quality and Productivity Center (IQPC). Investment Forum. Contact Peter Ankrah, tel Contact Noxi Mshumpela, tel (27-11) 669 5106, (233-21) 665125, ext. 300, e-mail , website gipc.org.gh>, website ments/CBC_Advert.htm> 19–20 April 2007, Hanover/Hamburg 7–8 June 2007, Nairobi (Kenya) — 2nd Annual WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE (Germany) — 2nd Energy Africa Forum. African HIV/AIDS Clinical Update and Lead- Organized by Afrika-Verein (German African ership Development Conference. Sponsored 20–23 February 2007, Kigali (Rwanda) — Business Association) in cooperation with the by Valley AIDS Council. E-mail , website Conference, under the theme, “Gender, Nation Building and Role of Parliaments.” Contact ducers’ Association. Contact Walter Englert, tel 12–14 June 2007, Kinshasa (DRC) — Inter- Soni Kanamugire, tel (250) 0883 0629, e-mail (49-40) 41 91 33 15, e-mail , website de>, website Demobilization, Reintegration and Stability 20–22 April 2007, Uppsala (Sweden) — in Africa. Organized by the UN Office of the Informalizing Economies and New Orga- Special Adviser for Africa and the govern- 12–15 March 2007, Sandton (South Africa) nizing Strategies in Africa. Organized by the ment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. — 2nd Annual Peacekeeping, Reconstruc- Nordic Africa Institute. Contact Ilda Lourenço- Representatives of governments, national DDR tion and Stability Operations Africa. Contact Lindell, tel (46) 18 56 22 02, e-mail , website exchange experiences. Contact Mieko Ikegame, co.za>, website tel (1-212) 963-1937, fax (1-212) 963-3892, e- 22–24 March 2007, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) 27–29 April 2007, Washington, DC (USA) mail — 5th Annual Spring Conference of Ghana — African Civil Society Forum. To explore Physicians and Surgeons Foundation, focus- 13–15 June 2007, Cape Town (South Africa) the best ways to partner with the African Union, ing on medical education and health policy in — on Africa 2007. UN Economic Commission for Africa and the Ghana. Contact Kwasi Debra, tel (1-301) 552- E-mail , website , website monAfrica2007/index.htm> for Development Policy Management. Fax (41- 22) 301 2000, e-mail , website Finance International Forum. Tel (41-22) 731 — Force Preparation: Combat and Mission 98 91, fax (41-22) 731 98 92, e-mail , website operations in Africa. Organized by the Interna-

Transitions in Namibia: Which Change for Learning to Compete in African Industry: Whom? ed. Henning Melber (Nordic Africa Institutions and Technology in Development Institute, Uppsala, Sweden, 2006; 250 pp; pb by Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka (Ashgate Publish- SEK290, $37.50) ing, Williston, Vermont, USA, 2006; 208 pp; hb $99.95) Ending Africa’s Wars: Progressing to Peace, eds. Oliver Furley and Roy May (Ashgate Pub- Aid and Influence: Do Donors Help or Unbowed: A Memoir by Wangari Maathai lishing, Williston, Vermont, USA, 2006; 258 Hinder? by Stephen Browne (Stylus Publish- (Knopf Publishing Group, New York, NY, USA, pp; hb $99.95) ing, Herndon, Virginia, USA, 2006; 192 pp; pb 2006; 320 pp; $24.95) $32.50, hb $110) L’Afrique à l’ère du savoir: science, société et Africa after Gender? eds. Catherine M. Cole, pouvoir by Jean-Marc Ela (L’Harmattan, Paris, Côte d’Ivoire: un plaidoyer pour une prise Takyiwaa Manuh and Stephan F. Miescher France, 2007; 410 pp; €29, FF190) de conscience africaine, ed. Claude Koudou (Indiana University Press, Indiana, USA, 2007; (L’Harmattan, Paris, France, 2007; 148 pp; pb 344 pp; pb $24.95, hb $65) Entre la postmodernité et le néo-pragma- €13.50, FF89) tisme: Histoire de la philosophie africaine, Le double agenda de la R-D Congo: Tri- Livre IV by Grégoire Biyogo (L’Harmattan, Escaping Poverty’s Grasp: The Environ- bus ou nation? by Ghislain Kitenge Mpange Paris, France, 2006; 252 pp; €18.50) mental Foundations of Poverty Reduction by (L’Harmattan, Paris, France, 2007; 100 pp; pb David Reed (Stylus Publishing, Herndon, Vir- €9.60, FF63) Etats et sociétés fragiles – Entre conflits, ginia, USA, 2006; 224 pp; pb $35, hb $85) reconstruction et développement, eds. Jean- Education scolaire et lien social en Afri- Marc Châtaigner and Hervé Magro (Karthala, Legacies of Power: Leadership Change and que noire by Marcus Ndongmo (L’Harmattan, Paris, France, 2007; 560 pp; €25) Former Presidents in African Politics, eds. Paris, France, 2007; 306 pp; pb €27, FF177) Roger Southall and Henning Melber (Nordic He Didn’t Die Easy: The Search for Hope Africa Institute, Uppsala, Sweden, 2005; 350 Towards a New Map of Africa, eds. Camilla Amid Poverty, War and Genocide by Mary pp; pb SEK240, €25) Toulmin, Ben Wisner and Rutendo Chitiga W. Kimani (iUniverse, Inc., Lincoln, NE, USA, (Earthscan, London, UK, 2005; 350 pp; £16.99) 2006; 172 pp; pb $15.95, hb $25.95) Corporate Social Responsibility and Interna- tional Development: Is Business the Solution? Children at War by P.W. Singer (University of La succession d’Eyadema: Le perroquet by Michael Hopkins (Stylus Publishing, Hern- California Press, CA, USA, 2006; 278 pp; pb de Kara by Charles Debbasch (L’Harmattan, don, Virginia, USA, 2006; 224 pp; hb $39.95) $16.95) Paris, France, 2006; 190 pp; €17) Against Global Capitalism: African Social Leashing the Dogs of War: Conflict Man- History Making and Present Day Poli- Movements Confront Neoliberal Globaliza- agement in a Divided World, eds. Chester A. tics: The Making of Collective Memory in tion by E. Osei Kwadwo Prempeh (Ashgate Crocker, Fen Osler Hampson and Pamela Aall South Africa, ed. Hans-Eric Stolten (Stylus Publishing, Williston, Vermont, USA, 2006; (United States Institute of Peace Press, Wash- Publishing, Herndon, Virginia, USA, 2006; 300 198 pp; hb $99.95) ington, DC, USA, 2007; 800 pp; pb $45, hb $75) pp; $39.95) The Media and the Rwanda Genocide, ed. Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go L’illusion tragique du pouvoir au Congo- Allan Thompson (Pluto Press, London, UK, to War by Jimmie Briggs (Basic Books, New Zaïre by Kambayi Bwatshia (L’Harmattan, 2007; 480 pp; pb £19.99, $29.95, €30, hb £60, York, NY, USA, 2005; 188 pp; hb $24.95) Paris, France, 2007; 256 pp; pb €22, FF144) $95, €90)

22 APRIL 2007 new investments of $1 bn to mine Liberia’s knowing that their nation’s early indepen- substantial iron ore reserves and rehabili- dence and statehood were an inspiration to tate related infrastructure. That decision, the freedom struggles of people all over said the president, could spark interest in Africa,” said Mr. Ban, who was repre- the country by other transnational corpora- sented in Accra by his Special Adviser on Education key to tions — it “sent a message that not only is Africa Legwaila Joseph Legwaila. women’s progress Liberia back, but is back in business.” n Ghana has since also played a leading role in peacekeeping worldwide, as one Marking this year’s International Women’s of the top 10 countries contributing troops Day, 8 March, the UN Children’s Fund Ghana celebrates 50 years to UN peace operations. Ghanaians have (UNICEF) said that education is the key served in UN missions in the Democratic to addressing discrimination and violence On the 50th anniversary of Ghana’s inde- Republic of the Congo, Timor-Leste, against girls and attaining the Millennium pendence — the first colony in sub-Saharan Lebanon, Liberia and Sierra Leone, among Development Goals. Educated girls are Africa to achieve its freedom — UN other countries. “Many Ghanaians have better equipped to protect themselves Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon lauded made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their against life-threatening diseases such the country for setting an important prec- lives in the cause of peace,” said Mr. Ban. as HIV/AIDS, are more likely to give birth edent for the rest of the continent. “Ghana “To them and to your nation, the United to healthy babies who will survive and grow can look back proudly at that moment, Nations owes a debt of gratitude.” n into adulthood, tend to delay marriage and are more likely to have fewer children. “Despite progress, we continue to live Global activists plant ‘seeds of hope’ in Nairobi in a world where millions of girls remain More than 50,000 activists descended on Nairobi, Kenya, in January for the seventh out of school, engaged in exploitative World Social Forum (WSF). “The issues that emerged were very important — water, labour, are trafficked, are vulnerable to human rights, the question of illegitimate debt, housing and many more,” said Ms. Wan- HIV/AIDS and are targets of sexual vio- gari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner and an environmental and women’s lence,” said UNICEF Executive Director rights activist in her native Kenya. “I am sure we have planted the seeds of hope. But Ann M. Veneman. the challenge remains of “Economic development is enhanced in what we shall do when societies where both girls and boys are edu- we go back home.” cated,” she said. “We need accelerated efforts The first WSF was to help ensure that girls go to school and held in Porto Alegre, Bra- zil, in 2001, as a counter- n can learn and study in safe environments.” force to the World Eco- nomic Forum, a gathering of top business and polit-

Donors endorse Liberian plan ical leaders held annually Torfinn Sven / Pictures Panos in Davos, Switzerland. The international community has strongly It has since grown into backed Liberia’s post-conflict plans an annual event at which by pledging to forgive $700 mn of the activists critical of the nation’s foreign debt. This relief from the impact of globalization seek to mobilize public US and other major creditors will enable support around issues of Liberia to use the resources for develop- economic, environmental Activists at World Social Forum in Nairobi denounce foreign debt. ment, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said and social justice. The del- at the Liberia Partner’s Forum, hosted by egates in Nairobi, who came from more than 100 countries, met under an “open space” the World Bank, in Washington, DC, in at Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Complex. By design, the forum, whose slogan is February. The forum also brought prom- “Another world is possible,” functions without officers, spokespeople or resolutions. ises of grants from the US ($200 mn over In Nairobi, the activists took their dialogue, poetry, drama and protests to the city’s 2.5 two years), the European Commission million slum dwellers as a show of solidarity with the poor. “To fight the numerous African ($100 mn), Ireland ($20 mn), Britain ($19 problems like poverty, it was clear that with the wealth of Africa’s resource persons and social actors, we must start with local communities . . . offering people in African regions mn) and Sweden ($16 mn). The response the possibility of playing a leading role in their own recovery,” noted Ms. Sheila Muwanga, signaled “strong endorsement” of Liberia’s deputy director of the non-governmental Foundation for Human Rights Initiative. “The so- post-conflict reconstruction plans, Ms. called ‘poor people’—yet very intelligent and innovative—must be consulted and heard Johnson-Sirleaf commented. in order to tap ideas on how to preserve their common goods . . . as well as strengthen In addition, the world’s largest steel human, social and political rights in every country.” company, Arcelor Mittal, has announced

APRIL 2007 23 and for diversifying and expanding kets.” The study examines the attractive- business activities on the continent,” ness of the six sectors in nine sub-Saharan says Mr. David Bridgman of MIGA. countries — Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, In a new report, Snapshot Africa, the Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, agency argues that given low current Tanzania and Uganda. Snapshot Africa is Global WARMING investment levels in textiles, apparel, food the fifth in a series of analyses by MIGA to Africa urges more action and beverage processing, horticulture, guide investors with “hard to find” infor- tourism, and call centers, “a first-in advan- mation on conditions in potential invest- on climate change tage awaits those investors ready to move ment areas and help governments develop African leaders are urging richer nations to into these relatively underdeveloped mar- creative ways to attract foreign partners. n do more to curb global warming. In a joint statement issued at a January 2007 sum- APPOINTMENTS mit meeting of the African Union (AU) in Khartoum, Sudan, they appealed for com- Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro of the United Republic of Tanzania has been pliance with international agreements, such appointed deputy secretary-general of the UN by the Secretary-Gen- eral. She is the first African to hold this influential office. She previously as the Kyoto Protocol, to reduce emissions

served as Tanzania’s minister of foreign affairs and minister of commu- Garten Mark / UN of gases that contribute to climate change, nity development, gender and children, as well as an elected member including carbon dioxide. “We will con- of Parliament. As foreign minister, she chaired Council of Minister’s tinue to demand that countries which have meetings of the International Conference of the Great Lakes (see page not ratified the Kyoto Protocol do so,” said 18) and was president of the UN Security Council in January 2006. the statement. More than 160 countries so Mr. John Holmes of the UK is the UN’s new under-secretary-general for far have signed the protocol, under the humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator. As a career diplo- UN Framework Convention on Climate mat since 1973, he has served in various capacities, including as private Change, which commits them to reduc- secretary for overseas affairs and diplomatic adviser to Prime Minister ing practices that lead to global warm- John Major. In 1999, he was awarded a knighthood, mainly in recognition ing. Notable exceptions include the US of his role in the Northern Ireland peace process. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. and Australia. UN Holmes was ambassador to Portugal, and subsequently to France. The 53-member AU, the continent’s The UN Secretary-General has appointed Mr. Kiyotaka Akasaka of premier political body, also called on Japan as under-secretary-general for communications and public infor- industrialized countries to respect the prin- mation. At the time of his appointment, Mr. Akasaka had been deputy ciple of “pay as you pollute,” rather than secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and letting developing countries shoulder dis- Development since August 2003. He first joined Japan’s Foreign Min- proportionate costs. Africa, experts point istry in 1971 and was his country’s ambassador to the UN in 2000-01. OECD out, contributes the smallest amount of He also held posts at the World Health Organization from 1993 to 1997. emissions, but will suffer the greatest con- Mr. B. Lynn Pascoe of the US assumed the post of under-secretary- sequences of climate change. “In causing general for political affairs on 1 March 2007. In his 40-year career in the US global warming, [developed] countries are Foreign Service, Mr. Pascoe held positions on the Soviet and desks, committing aggression against us,” said was deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, Ugandan President . was a special negotiator for regional conflicts in the former Soviet Union

Experts at the summit also urged UN / Mark Garten and served as ambassador to Malaysia and, most recently, to Indonesia. greater cooperation among African coun- The UN Secretary-General has appointed Mr. Muhammad Shaaban of Egypt as tries to ameliorate the consequences of under-secretary-general for General Assembly affairs and conference management. n climate change. Previously he served as Egypt’s assistant foreign minister for European affairs, and was ambassador to Denmark, Lithuania and . In 1997-98, he was assistant foreign Foreign Investment minister for African affairs, in charge of managing his country’s relations with African Africa ripe for ‘first-in’ investors states and regional organizations. The UN Secretary-General has appointed Mr. Ibrahim Gambari of Nigeria as his Sub-Saharan Africa is fast becoming a special adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Issues, at the rank of more attractive and hospitable destina- under-secretary-general. Previously he was under-secretary-general for political affairs. tion for investors, reports the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), Mr. Jan Egeland of Norway has been named by the Secretary-General as his special an arm of the World Bank Group. adviser on the prevention and resolution of conflict, at the under-secretary-general Despite the many challenges for busi- level. With more than 25 years of experience in humanitarian operations and peace pro- cesses, he served as under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency ness in Africa, there are “consider- relief coordinator from 2003 to 2006. able possibilities for new investments,

24 APRIL 2007