Formerly ‘Africa Recovery’ United Nations Department of Public Information Vol. 20 No. 4 January 2007

‘Blood diamonds’ or assets for peace?

Bringing leaders to justice for rights abuses

Rape in war: Congolese women confront the pain Panos / Teun Voeten

Big leap in China-Africa ties School feeding programmes Stand Up campaign for MDGs Combating ‘hidden hunger’ Also... United Nations Vol. 20 No. 4 January 2007

FRI UE ENOUVEAU contentsCover article Conflict resources: from ‘curse’ to blessing ...... 17 ‘Stop blowing the gifts of nature’ ...... 19

Also in this Issue

Big leap in China-Africa ties ...... 3

Congolese women confront legacy of rape . . . 4 Lowe Paul / Panos

Africa ending impunity for rights abuses . . . . 7 African Union: Try African leaders in African courts . . . . . 8

Millions of activists for a day ...... 10 Guard at an illegal diamond mine in Angola during the country’s civil war.

NEPAD in action Departments Food keeps African children in school...... 12 Agenda...... 23 Woman storekeeper boosts Malawi farming. . . . 13 Books...... 23 Combating Zambia’s ‘hidden hunger’...... 14 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. Itai Madamombe Correspondence should be addressed to: The Editor, Africa Renewal Room S-955, United Nations, NY 10017, USA, Tel: (212) 963-6857, Fax: (212) 963-4556 Research Assistant e-mail: [email protected] Marian Aggrey

Administrative Assistant Distribution Shelly Edelsburg Atar Markman

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Africa Renewal is printed on recycled paper. Big leap in China-Africa ties Beijing offers continent more aid, trade and business

By Ernest Harsch ike other African leaders, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi returned L home from a three-day summit in Beijing with enthusiastic praise for his hosts and an armful of new economic agree- ments. More Ethiopian agricultural prod- ucts would be allowed into China duty-free, he revealed, and China had pledged some $500 mn for various development projects in Ethiopia. “China is an inspiration for all of us,” he added. “What China shows to Africa is that it is indeed possible to turn the corner on economic development.” Dalziel Elizabeth AP/ Fifty years after China established its first diplomatic ties with an African country, the third summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was held 3–5 November. It marked the biggest-ever gathering between Chinese and African Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the opening of the China-Africa summit in Beijing. leaders. All 48 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China took part — with most of their delegations led by matured by the end of 2005, for the 31 summit in Egypt in 2009, is an important presidents or prime ministers. In addition, highly indebted and least developed vehicle for dialogue on Africa’s behalf, hundreds of African businesspeople went countries (LDCs) in Africa that have noted UN Under-Secretary-General and for a two-day trade exhibit immediately relations with China (an amount esti- Special Adviser on Africa Legwaila following the summit, eager to explore mated at around $1.4 bn) Joseph Legwaila, who represented the UN new market outlets in the most populous • Further open China’s markets to at the meeting. The forum, he said, lends country in the world, which has one of the exports from African LDCs by a “strong voice” to the UN’s work to pro- fastest growing economies. increasing from 190 to 440 the num- mote African interests among developed ber of products receiving zero-tariff countries, including on aid, debt relief, ‘New type’ partnership treatment market access and support for Africa’s Building on several years of growing ex- • Train 15,000 African professionals, anti-poverty efforts. changes between China and Africa, the double the number of Chinese gov- summit approved a three-year action plan ernment scholarships given annually No strings to forge a “new type of strategic part- to Africans (to 4,000) and send 100 During visits to several African countries nership.” That partnership, the plan says, senior agricultural experts and 300 earlier in the year, Chinese President Hu would be based on pragmatic coopera- youth volunteers Jintao reiterated his government’s long- tion, equality and mutual benefit. The plan • Build 30 hospitals, 30 malaria treat- standing “policy of non-interference in pledges that China will: ment centres and 100 rural schools. other countries’ internal affairs.” On that • Double aid to Africa by 2009 (to about China also vowed to support the basis, all African governments that have $1 bn) African Union, the continent’s regional diplomatic ties with China were invited to • Set up a $5 bn China-Africa develop- organization, including by building a new the Beijing summit, no matter what their ment fund to encourage Chinese com- convention centre at the AU headquarters records on democracy or human rights. panies to invest in Africa in Addis Ababa. It likewise reaffirmed its That stance elicited some criticism, in- • Provide $3 bn in preferential loans and commitment to the New Partnership for cluding from human rights groups and $2 bn in preferential buyer’s credits to Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the AU’s donor agencies. African countries development plan. Some African commentators have • Cancel all debt stemming from Chinese The Forum on China-Africa pointed to shortcomings in China’s eco- interest-free government loans that Cooperation, which will hold its next see page 22

JANUARY 2007  Congolese women confront legacy of rape War and sexual violence leave survivors in desperate need

By Mary Kimani If there had been peace, this would not have happened to us,” says Kasoke “ Kabunga. Like thousands of other women, Kasoke and her daughter were raped by armed militiamen in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Her daughter died. Kasoke survived, but contracted HIV/AIDS. Their tragedy is the female face of 10 years of war in the DRC, which has claimed more than 3 million lives and dis- placed another 3.5 million people. Today, a AP / Gary Knight / VII / Knight Gary / AP handful of courageous Congolese women are seeking to help Kasoke and other rape survivors find solutions to the many prob- lems facing them. Rachel Kembe, a medical doctor, is one of those providing help. In 1997, when hundreds of women from the Masisi and A rape victim recovering in a hospital in Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ruchuru areas were arriving in the town Rape has often been used as a weapon of war in the region. of Goma with serious injuries, she and five other professional women came together in turn, spawned new armed militias. The resources are not nearly adequate for this to assist them through the Association victims were mostly civilians, and fighters task,” she told Africa Renewal. nationale des mamans pour l’aide aux routinely raped and tortured women. ANAMAD calculates that with as little déshérités (ANAMAD, National Mothers’ In 2004–05, the UN and non-govern- as $200,000 it could provide basic shel- Association to Aid the Dispossessed). mental organizations estimated that as ter for the neediest women, improve the “We contributed US$20–50 every many as 100,000 women had been raped makeshift school the group is running for month,” Ms. Kembe explains. “That is in the entire eastern DRC. the women’s children and pay teachers’ how we initially began our work. Today salaries for three years. “We already have we have 2,500 rape survivors from Goma ‘Our resources are not adequate’ the land,” explains Ms. Kembe. “We man- and the surrounding villages that we have The survivors struggle with many different aged to get the regional officials to allocate assisted in one way or another.” But the legal, medical and livelihood problems. us what we needed. The only problem now number keeps growing. Twenty-seven-year-old Nyota Mbulu was is money to do it.” Rape, she adds, “is like a weapon in this gang-raped by four militiamen in Uvira. war.” UN estimates confirm the extent of Her parents and husband were killed. She Mutual support the practice. In October 2006, UN Under- fled to Goma, losing everything. Nyota Some women, among them Marie Do- Secretary-General for Peacekeeping also contracted HIV/AIDS and is in the natien, have tried to ease their problems Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno reported terminal stages of the illness, too weak to by living together. Ms. Donatien is origi- that 12,000 women and girls had been work for a living. She is constantly being nally from Bukavu, on the shores of Lake raped in the previous six months alone. evicted for rent arrears on the small room Kivu, a beautiful area that was terrorized Congo’s war began when militia and ANAMAD found for her in Goma. during the war by three armed groups that armed forces presiding over the 1994 Most times, Ms. Kembe is able to raise attacked villages, looted houses, destroyed genocide in neighbouring Rwanda were enough money to get Nyota settled back property and raped women. overthrown and fled into civilian refu- in. But within Goma alone, ANAMAD She was raped in her husband’s pres- gee camps in the eastern provinces of the is working with about 500 rape survivors ence — a tactic common in Congo’s war DRC. From those camps, they repeatedly facing similar problems. ANAMAD has and during the Rwanda genocide. The goal attacked the new government in Rwanda, built makeshift housing for 38 displaced of that practice, experts state, is to maxi- prompting the Rwandans to strike back in women and their children, but Ms. Kembe mize the humiliation of the women and 1996, setting off a regional war. That war, wishes she could do much more. “Our their communities and to “end resistance”

 JANUARY 2007 by instilling fear. Such women are often violence, agrees. She noted in an inter- Transport also collapsed during the subsequently rejected or abandoned by view with IRIN, a UN humanitarian news war. Most people can travel only on foot. their communities. Ms. Donatien’s own service, that the world’s response to grow- Mia Nyisa, from Siraro, walked six days husband left her when she became preg- ing evidence of massive rape in conflict after being raped before she reached help nant, although they have since reconciled. has largely been helpless shock and hor- in Goma. “They operated on me at DOCs The experience gave Ms. Donatien, ror. “It’s as if it’s something new. [People [Doctors on Call] centre,” she told local who now lives in Goma, the inspiration ask] ‘How can this atrocity be happening?’ non-governmental organization (NGO) per- to set up an organization, Mamans organ- Well, it can because of impunity, because sonnel. “They had to remove my uterus.” isées pour le développement et la paix of a lack of programming, a lack of stan- Groups like Doctors on Call provide (MOADE, Mothers for Development and dards for intervention and so on.” free emergency support for those who can Peace), through which women like her can Ms. Ward challenged those with get to the towns. But their budgets are too find mutual support. What they lack in resources to stop asking how such things small to provide free treatment for long- resources, they make up for in solidarity. can happen and start asking how to deal term problems or other ailments. Mia got MOADE members in Goma pool their with them. free treatment the first time, but follow-ups resources to rent 15 rooms, each hous- required minimal fees that she could not ing 12-16 people. Sharing space provides Medical assistance afford. “I still suffer a lot of pain. They help more stability than each would have alone. Rape survivors often suffer serious inter- with what they can, but it is difficult.” But the rooms are often crowded and the nal injuries requiring extensive surgical With the end of large-scale hostilities in women are frequently sick and unable to intervention. But getting such help is dif- 2000, NGOs have brought some assistance work. Sometimes, despite their combined ficult. Even before the war, the DRC’s to local health centres. The International efforts, they too face eviction. health care system was run-down and un- Rescue Committee (IRC) provides train- Ms. Rayika Omar, the director of derfunded because of corruption and mis- ing in rape support to medical staff in rural African Rights, an organization helping management. Many hospitals had no wa- health centres. However, trainees may end rape survivors in Rwanda, recently noted ter or electricity. Some lacked roofs and up with the knowledge, “but no resources, that in Central Africa such “women’s asso- windows. Doctors and nurses often were medicines and equipment to actually do ciations are, at present, the main source of not paid or supported by the government. the work,” Ms. Kembe points out. assistance for rape victims and women The war worsened the situation. UN agencies and NGOs active in the living with HIV/AIDS.” Unfortunately, Militias looted beds, medicines and equip- DRC have presented to donors a joint she added, the groups have received only ment, especially in rural areas, where 70 initiative to help prevent sexual violence “intermittent, partial or temporary assis- per cent of the population lives. Today, against women and children, as well as to tance in the face of persistent, all-embrac- outside the towns of Goma and Bukavu, aid victims. In 2004 they estimated that ing and terminal problems.” few rural health centres can deal with rape $30 mn would be needed for the work, Ms. Jeanne Ward, a researcher with an injuries. Personnel often lack the training which would include medicine for those ad hoc consortium of UN and non-gov- to handle major internal tearing, let alone with HIV/AIDS. Donors and the govern- ernmental agencies working on sexual HIV testing and management. ment are still considering how to imple- ment the initiative.

Anti-retroviral drugs

A psychol- There is a huge gap between ogist (left) the HIV medications needed counsels a and what is available. If rape Congolese victims can take certain drugs rape within 72 hours of an assault, survivor: that can offer some protection More ser- against infection. Such drugs are vices are available in a few NGO-sup- needed to ported hospitals in the towns, help such but not in rural areas. women Rape survivors with HIV/ with their AIDS must also struggle to physical obtain anti-retroviral medicines and mental or antibiotics to deal with oppor- traumas. tunistic infections. Nyota is one

AP / Bryan Mealer of the few HIV-positive rape survivors in Goma on anti-retro-

JANUARY 2007  viral medication, which is provided by the resistance and the same drugs cannot help least twice that,” says Ms. Kembe. Action NGO Médecin du monde. any more.” Aid International notes that there are no Out of the 260 HIV-positive women Honorine Nyolo works for Action Aid clinicians in Goma, Edward Kakande, supported by ANAMAD, only six are International in the DRC. Her organization the group’s country director, told Africa currently on anti-retrovirals, notes Ms. is trying to improve the income-generating Renewal. “At present, those helping the Kembe. “The resources to do the same for abilities of rape survivors, so that they can women are counsellors, usually with only the others are simply not available.” meet their nutritional needs. a few weeks of on-the-job training.” A survey in 2004 by Amnesty “We took 100 women from MOADE Impunity and injustice The trauma is often made worse by the fact that few rapists are ever punished. Most militia forces in the DRC do not A woman have official uniforms; they typically in eastern wear T-shirts and camouflage trousers. Congo So it is hard to tell members of one who was group from another, let alone identify gang- an individual attacker, making it dif- raped ficult to prosecute. by militia Impunity is not unique to the DRC. fighters in In neighbouring Rwanda, more than 2002. As a result, 100,000 women are believed to have she has been raped during the genocide. “It is contracted not easy to take the matter to court on HIV. your own,” says Mariana Mukakarisa, a rape survivor. “People in the com- munity might not know you were

Reuters / Euan Denholm raped. The idea of standing in public and talking about it is hard. . . . There International found only one experimen- and 100 women from ANAMAD,” Ms. is the shame and stigma. It’s hard.” tal anti-retroviral programme in Bukavu, Nyolo told Africa Renewal. “We gave Gaudelive Mukasavasi, who works run by Médecins sans frontières and cooperative loans so that they can engage for the NGO Reseau des femmes helping designed to help some 150 women. The in commerce.... They say this has helped Rwandan rape victims, says that trauma human rights group noted that the medica- them. But it was a very small project, has made the women bitter and withdrawn. tion, costing $29 per month, was simply about $20,000 to each group. And now the “We have tried to encourage the women too expensive for the NGOs to provide project is over.” to testify in the local courts, but many are more or for people in the area to buy on Ms. Kembe argues that the women reluctant,” she told Africa Renewal. their own. Amnesty International argued need a programme that lasts longer than Documenting rape has met with that either cheaper drugs should be made six months. “We noticed that nearly 70 per some success and encouraged some available or donors should make a greater cent of them had problems returning this Rwandan rape survivors to testify at the financial commitment. money because urgent needs crop up: rent, UN’s International Criminal Tribunal for school fees and medical fees. They need Rwanda, based in Tanzania. Their testi- Livelihood problems something longer-term if they are to sus- mony helped convict two former govern- Even with cheaper drugs, however, pov- tain themselves.” ment officials who had orchestrated rapes erty presents other hurdles. For anti-ret- during the 1994 genocide. roviral drugs to be effective, those taking Psychological trauma In the DRC, prosecuting rapists has them need to be on an especially healthy In the midst of the daily challenges of find- also been challenging. “There is a lot diet, since the medicines can be physically ing food, clothing, shelter and medication, of impunity in the Congo,” Ms. Kembe overwhelming for someone who is not the psychological trauma the women have notes. “We have lodged many complaints. eating well. And women like Nyota can suffered is often overlooked. And it is not We have even identified the perpetrators barely afford food. only the women who need psychological of the crimes. We report to the police and “Taking these drugs on an empty stom- help, explains Ms. Donatien. “Our men then a few days later you see them free. ach is not good,” says Ms. Kembe. “The and children saw us raped. They too suffer This is especially the case if they are mili- women end up feeling weak and very ill from great trauma and need assistance.” tary or former combatants.” and stop taking the dosage, which makes ANAMAD has 12 non-professional things worse because the virus develops counsellors in Goma, “but we need at see page 22

 JANUARY 2007 Africa ending impunity for rights abuses Former presidents of Liberia and Chad face trial

By Michael Fleshman ‘A powerful message’ he world took a giant step towards These moves have been hailed as eliminating impunity for human the beginning of a new era of ac- T rights abuses on 9 November when countability for abusive political the International Criminal Court (ICC) leaders in Africa and an important opened its first official hearing, in a case blow against impunity for official against a Congolese militia leader. Unlike misconduct around the world. temporary and specially created tribunals UN Secretary-General Kofi An- like the International Criminal Tribunal for nan declared that “the capture Rwanda, the ICC is the world’s first perma- and trial of Mr. nent international criminal court, with the Taylor will send a authority to try and convict individuals for powerful message Capture serious human rights violations wherever to the region and of former they occur. Africa is expected to feature beyond that impu- Liberian prominently on the new court’s docket, with nity will not be al- President investigations also under way into alleged lowed to stand and Charles abuses by members of the rebel Lord’s that the rule of law Taylor Resistance Army in Uganda and combat- must prevail.” Mr. reported by ants in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Reed Brody of the newspapers Africa’s own efforts to hold senior non-governmen- in Sierra government officials and rebel leaders tal group Human Leone, Panos / Jenny Matthews Jenny / Panos accountable for torture, murder, rape and Rights Watch, who where he other serious crimes against humanity is also an attorney faces war also marked new milestones in 2006. In for some of Mr. crimes March, Nigerian authorities arrested for- Habré’s alleged charges. mer Liberian President Charles Taylor and victims, welcomed transferred him to the authority of a special the Senegalese an- court in Sierra Leone. He faces charges nouncement as “an stemming from war crimes committed important step in the right direction.” nearly 800 victims of human rights abuses. there by rebels said to have been equipped, But political and legal obstacles to the In 1992 a Chadian government commis- supported and controlled by him during prosecution of government leaders for sion of inquiry found that Mr. Habré was that country’s civil war. The charges range serious human rights violations remain responsible for the deaths of 40,000 or from terrorism, rape and murder to mutila- formidable. Governments are often loath more people and for the widespread use tion and the use of child soldiers. It was to take up cases outside their borders, of torture. Although the commission rec- the first time a former African head of state particularly when the accused are heads ommended that Mr. Habré be charged and had been arrested and charged with human of state who traditionally enjoy immunity tried in a Chadian court, the government rights abuses committed while in office. from prosecution for acts committed in declined to take up the case amid fears of Four months later, Senegal announced office. In some instances, guarantees of violence from Mr. Habré’s supporters and plans to try former Chadian President immunity are demanded by combatants in concerns about meeting international stan- Hissène Habré for the torture and murder of exchange for laying down their arms. In dards for a fair trial. suspected political opponents during his eight others, differences between national and In 2000 the AVCRP went to court in years in power. Mr. Habré was overthrown international legal systems and the absence Senegal, accusing the former president of in 1990 and fled into exile in Senegal, where of competent institutions can pose vexing responsibility for crimes against human- until now he has successfully evaded pros- questions of jurisdiction and procedure. ity. Although the judge ruled in AVCRP’s ecution. In November Senegalese President In Mr. Habré’s case, the long effort to favour, the indictment was later dismissed Abdoulaye Wade announced the formation bring him to trial began within months by Senegal’s highest appeals court. It ruled of a commission to prepare for the trial, of his overthrow and flight to Senegal in that Mr. Habré could not be charged in which will require changes in some domes- 1990, with the creation of the Association Senegal for crimes said to have been com- tic laws, as well as international technical des victimes des crimes et de la répression mitted in another country. Three of Mr. assistance and financing. politiques au Tchad (AVCRP), a group of Habré’s alleged victims then went to court

JANUARY 2007  AU: Try African leaders in African courts feel it is their intention to keep us waiting so long that we die without seeing justice. In January 2006 the African Union (AU) established a committee of seven eminent Afri- It is very sad.” can jurists to review the case of former Chadian President Hissène Habré. In its report, Persuading Senegal that it has the legal the panel declared that “there is urgency in sending strong signals throughout Africa obligation and moral responsibility to try that impunity is no longer an option.” It found that: Mr. Habré was difficult, acknowledged • Political office offers no immunity from prosecution for human rights abuses. Mr. Richard Dicker, director of the inter- • Trials must proceed in accord with international fair trial standards. national justice programme for Human • African leaders should be tried in African courts whenever possible, or on African Rights Watch. But the problem is not lim- territory by ad-hoc tribunals, including those convened by the AU Assembly. ited to Africa. “National courts around the • All African signatories to the UN Convention Against Torture have jurisdiction in world are reluctant to try former heads of cases of serious human rights abuses. Countries that have not adopted the con- state for crimes not committed on their ter- vention must do so. ritory,” he told Africa Renewal. With the • The AU judicial organ, the African Court, should be granted jurisdiction to hear Senegalese announcement, however, “we criminal cases and provided a “rapid response mechanism” for timely action finally have the prospect for an African against impunity. domestic court to put on trial a former head of state accused of the most serious in Belgium, where it was possible to try vice-president Suleymane Guengueng. crimes that can be committed under inter- him under legislation permitting Belgian “What means do they have?” The AVCRP national law. If that happens, it will be a courts to try individuals for heinous human is not insisting that Senegal try Mr. Habré, significant breakthrough. The implications rights offences wherever they are commit- he continued, “but for them not to deny us are very exciting.” ted. It was not until September 2005, how- his trial” in another venue. ever, that Belgium issued an international “The best solution,” Mr. Guengueng No sanctuary arrest warrant for Mr. Habré and requested told Africa Renewal, “is to extradite him to Mr. Taylor’s day in court appears to be his extradition from Senegal. Belgium. If the AU is firm in its decision more certain. But his case too has been to fight impunity, that is laudable.” Yet marked by difficult political choices be- ‘On behalf of Africa’ five months after Again the Senegalese courts demurred, the AU decision, with the country’s appeals court ruling he noted, “noth- that it lacked the authority to carry out the ing has been done Belgian request. Amid indications that up to today…. It Belgium would take Senegal to the In- doesn’t give one ternational Court of Justice for failing to confidence that meet its obligations under the UN Con- this action will vention Against Torture, President Ab- take Africa in the doulaye Wade referred the matter to the direction of no African Union (AU) at the end of 2005. impunity. I don’t Following the recommendations of a think their deci- special judicial review committee (see sion will material- box above), the AU mandated Senegal ize…. We victims on 2 July 2006 to “prosecute and ensure that Hissène Habré is tried, on behalf of Africa, by a competent Senegalese court Widows and with guarantees for a fair trial.” The mothers of political victims pan-African body also pledged to assist demonstrating Senegalese authorities and urged African in N’Djamena, countries and the international community the capital to support the effort. of Chad, to After years of delays, however, the demand that

issue for Mr. Habré’s alleged victims is Hancock Stephanie former President less about where and by whom he will be Hissène Habré tried, and more about if and when. “We as be tried for his the victims don’t think that it is the AU or abuses. Senegal with their limited resources who can try Habré,” said AVCRP founder and

 JANUARY 2007 tween justice and stability, national sover- tuary offer as a diplomatic necessity and Human Rights Watch’s Mr. Dicker eignty and international jurisdiction, and refused to expel him in the absence of acknowledged that there can sometimes be even potential venues for the trial itself. a formal request from a democratically a tension, “but not an opposition,” between Mr. Taylor was elected Liberia’s presi- elected Liberian government. the need for criminal accountability and the dent in 1997 after a bloody civil conflict. Liberian authorities, however, were political imperatives of peacemaking. “But Fighting resumed in 1999. In August 2003, notably reluctant to have Mr. Taylor back it’s a serious misstep to trade away justice with rebels closing in on the Liberian on Liberian soil. Indeed, Mr. Taylor does in the hope of reaching a peace settlement. capital, Monrovia, Mr. Taylor accepted not currently face charges there. Speaking For peace to be durable, there must be jus- an offer of safe haven from Nigerian at her first press conference as president in tice for the most serious offences.” President Olusegun Obasanjo as part January 2006, Ms. Johnson-Sirleaf said that of a peace agreement. The arrangement she did not want Mr. Taylor’s fate “to be Justice for all? allowed Mr. Taylor to evade prosecution the issue that constrains us or the issue that Part of the challenge of bringing presi- for alleged complicity in atrocities com- causes us not to be able to do what we have dents to trial, he noted, lies in the gaps mitted in neighbouring Sierra Leone by to do here for the Liberian people.” Mr. between sovereign national courts, which a rebel force known as the Revolutionary Taylor’s prosecution, she noted pointedly, remain the cornerstone of the world’s jus- United Front. An international tribunal was therefore of secondary importance to tice system, and a body of international established by the UN and the Sierra Liberia “even though it may be of utmost jurisprudence and institutions still very Leonean government, the Special Court concern to the international community.” much in its infancy. Ideally, he said, “na- for Sierra Leone, had issued a warrant for Even his transfer to Freetown into the tional courts would try individuals for his arrest earlier that year. Nigeria’s offer custody of the Special Court for Sierra egregious human rights crimes, even those of sanctuary was particularly strongly Leone proved only a temporary leg of Mr. not occurring on their territory or involv- criticized in the North, where many gov- Taylor’s winding journey towards justice. ing their citizens,” using doctrines such as ernments and human rights organizations Within days of his arrival, the Special universal jurisdiction. International courts demanded that the former Liberian presi- Court requested that the trial be moved to like the ICC and the Rwanda and former dent face justice. ICC facilities in the Hague to allay secu- Yugoslavia tribunals, he noted, “are courts Mr. Taylor was finally detained by the rity concerns among the region’s govern- of last resort, becoming involved only Nigerian police and turned over to Liberian ments. Although Mr. Taylor will still be when national courts are unable or unwill- authorities in March 2006 at the request of judged by the Special Court, it took three ing to assume jurisdiction.” Liberia’s newly elected President Ellen months to work through the diplomatic It was also important for justice to be Johnson-Sirleaf. Mr. Taylor was trans- and legal details of the transfer, including seen to be done. Part of the challenge for ferred to Sierra Leone, and then on to a Security Council resolution authorizing the future, he asserted, is to ensure that the the Hague, in the Netherlands, where he the shift and an agreement by the UK to evolving system of international justice awaits trial on 11 war crimes charges by imprison Mr. Taylor if he is convicted. see page 11 the Special Court, a unique “hybrid” tri- bunal composed of Sierra Leonean and international judges and staff. Multiple jurisdictions But initially there was little enthusiasm A mix of national and international tribunals has emerged to overcome the political and juris- in West Africa for bringing Mr. Taylor to dictional obstacles hampering prosecution of human rights violators. They include: trial — in part because of fears that his National courts — Mandated under national law to try domestic and international human supporters, some of whom were then still rights abusers in accordance with international treaty obligations and evolving legal doc- armed and disaffected, could destabilize trines of “universal jurisdiction.” fragile peace and reconstruction efforts in Hybrid courts — Created by agreement between the UN and a host country. These are the war-ravaged region. There were also composed of both national and international judges, attorneys and staff and permit national concerns that his handover could prolong justice systems, with assistance from the international community, to try cases of serious other conflicts by persuading combatants abuses occurring within their borders. The Special Court for Sierra Leone is the first hybrid. they could not rely on promises of amnesty Ad-hoc international tribunals — Temporary courts established by the Security Council. or asylum. Despite the Sierra Leone war- Staffed by international jurists and other personnel, these are empanelled when national rant, Ghanaian authorities had declined to courts are unable or unwilling to try suspects charged with war crimes and other serious arrest Mr. Taylor in Accra in 2003, since offences committed during specific conflicts. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda he was there to attend crucial peace talks. is one. In the face of heavy political pressure International Criminal Court – Established by treaty, the ICC is the world’s first permanent from Washington — the US Congress tribunal mandated to try individuals charged with gross human rights violations in countries once offered a $2 mn reward for Mr. recognizing ICC jurisdiction or caused by citizens of those states. Cases may be referred to the court by participating states, the Security Council or the ICC prosecutor. As of 1 Novem- Taylor’s arrest — Nigerian President ber 2006, 103 countries were party to the ICC statute, including 28 in Africa. Olusegun Obasanjo defended the sanc-

JANUARY 2007  Millions of activists for a day Stand Up campaign seeks to garner public support to fight poverty

By Gumisai Mutume countries due to poverty n October, more than 23 million peo- and help to promote ple — some 3.6 million of them in economic develop- I Africa — set a world record by liter- ment,” says UN Special ally standing up to bring attention to Advisor on the MDGs persistent global poverty and to prompt and head of the UN world leaders to act on their promises to Millennium Campaign eradicate the scourge. The message of Jeffrey Sachs. “It would the Stand Up Against Poverty campaign, just take having our coordinated by the New York–based UN eyes opened. It would Millennium Campaign, reached people at take some attention. more than 11,000 events in over 80 coun- It would take a break- tries — cricket fans in Jaipur, India, music through in our country lovers at a concert in Harare, Zimbabwe, [the US] from doing children in school in Lebanon and soccer nothing to doing some- supporters in Mexico. Organizers timed thing, because we really the global campaign to coincide with other are, essentially, doing events marking the International Day for nothing right now.” the Eradication of Poverty. The campaign there- “Together, we sent a clear message to fore asked ordinary peo- our political leaders that we are going to ple to do the least they

keep pushing them to deliver on aid, on could — stand up and Prinsloo Karel / AP debt cancellation, on trade justice and to read a statement ask- provide good and accountable govern- ing leaders in industrial ments,” said Mr. Kumi Naidoo of the and developing nations Global Call to Action Against Poverty to keep their promises. (GCAP). An alliance of community orga- But a number of par- nizations, faith-based groups, trade unions ticipants interviewed Kenyans bang spoons against plates during an October 2006 and campaigners in over 100 countries, by Africa Renewal at “Stand Up” anti-poverty rally in Nairobi. GCAP was one of the organizations sup- an event in New York porting the Stand Up campaign. said they did not under- Stand Up served as a reminder to the stand how their efforts would translate into in many countries, but most people have 189 world leaders who gathered for the poverty reduction in poor countries. “How not even heard about them. A 2005 2000 Millennium Summit at the UN in does my standing up put food in the mouth EuroBarometre survey, conducted by the New York that they are nearing the half- of a starving child in Africa?” asked a UN European Commission, found that only way mark to 2015 — the date by which staff member who requested anonymity. 12 per cent of citizens in that region have they pledged to attain a number of targets heard about the MDGs and that “real” in the fight against poverty. Known as the Broader campaign awareness of the issues may even be Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), By asking individuals to take simple ac- lower. Another study in Canada reports the targets include a reduction in child tions, Stand Up gave ordinary citizens the that 62 per cent of those who had heard mortality, primary education for all chil- chance to become campaigners, explains about the MDGs could not say what they dren and progress in the fight against HIV/ Ms. Sylvia Michuli, communication co- were about. AIDS. Stand Up also demanded debt can- ordinator in the Africa office of the UN Stand Up was a useful tool to educate cellation for poor countries, more and bet- Millennium Campaign in Nairobi, Kenya. citizens because “it was very easy for ordi- ter aid, government accountability in both The idea, she says, was to use Stand Up nary people to get involved,” Ms. Michuli North and South and “fair” trade rules to as a symbolic gesture to draw global at- told Africa Renewal. “We managed to get allow developing countries to take better tention to poverty and the MDGs. more than 3.6 million people in Africa advantage of world trade. More than five years after the involved, the first time we have been able “It does not require heroism to help Millennium Summit, its goals and issues to do this.” In addition, she says, it was save the lives of people dying in poor are not only far from the electoral agenda not an isolated event, but part of a broader

10 JANUARY 2007 effort by a coalition of anti-poverty groups Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan erty reduction and long-term develop- “to put sustained pressure on governments and the US agreed to write off the debts of ment, they need to “shift from dependency to deliver on their promises.” the world’s poorest countries and double on passive, uninformed public support for aid flows by 2010. While the MPH cannot aid to a more critically aware constitu- ‘An invitation to citizens’ be directly credited for this, it did play a ency at home,” says the Organization for In 2005, GCAP held a series of events role in mobilizing pressure on the G-8, the Economic Cooperation and Development similar to Stand Up. It asked ordinary study says. (OECD), a group of 30 rich countries, in citizens around the world to wear white its own assessment of public views on wristbands and demand that their govern- Complex issues poverty. Currently, public discussion of ments act against poverty, explains Mr. Such campaigns, however, only go so and education about development are not Henry Malumo, coordinator of the GCAP far in educating people on the complex a top priority in OECD countries, and this coalition in Zambia. “It was an invita- issues of debt, trade, aid and develop- must change, notes the report, MDGs, tion to citizens to take their rightful place ment. Even after the MPH, people’s un- Taxpayers and Aid Effectiveness. OECD and demand good governance,” he told derstanding of poverty and development countries now spend about 0.26 per cent Africa Renewal. He says that for too long issues remains shallow, the study notes. of their aid budgets on educating the pub- Africans have been passive recipients of For example, many people believe that lic about aid and development issues, well flawed policies designed by their govern- development assistance is an expression below the 3 per cent they have agreed is ments and international partners. of sympathy and solidarity with victims necessary for this purpose. The first of the GCAP-led events, the of humanitarian crises, rather than part The authors of the OECD study, Ms. Make Poverty History (MPH) campaign, of a long-term commitment to fighting Ida McDonnell and Mr. Henri-Bernard was held before the July 2005 summit of global poverty. Because people see de- Solignac Lecomte, recommend “the the Group of Eight (G-8) industrialized velopment assistance as mere charity, building of a constituency in Northern nations in Gleneagles, Scotland. Two oth- aid budgets are often the first to be cut in countries by engaging people in a deeper ers were staged later that year, before the times of economic difficulty. debate about development that could World Summit at the UN and the World If political leaders from rich donor be sustained even after the ‘debt-relief Trade Organization’s ministerial meeting nations are genuinely committed to pov- bubble’ is gone.” n in Hong Kong in December. Whether such campaigns achieve Ending impunity and the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. the desired results is the subject of an “Over time,” Mr. Dicker predicts, from page 9 ongoing study, the Public Perceptions of “international justice will become a more Poverty survey, funded by the UK gov- is not seen as an instrument of Northern level playing field.” ernment’s Department for International power — with only the leaders of poor, Development. The study finds that in weak countries held to account in the National courts, international justice general the proportion of the public in courts of the mighty. The primacy of national courts in protect- the UK saying they were “very con- While much of the focus of the cam- ing human rights makes strengthening cerned” about poverty in poor countries paign against official impunity is currently legal systems in post-conflict and devel- rose sharply in July 2005 following the on Africa, it is not limited to the continent. oping countries an urgent priority, Mr. MPH activities. However, it declined in In Europe, an international tribunal is Dicker says. “In many places the courts the second half of the year, returning to continuing to hear charges against leaders simply lack the expertise, resources and pre-2005 levels. This may mean that such of the former Yugoslavia for abuses com- infrastructure to meet international trial campaigns need to be sustained in order mitted during that country’s civil conflict. standards and give real meaning to the to maintain public interest on these mat- Before former Chilean President Augusto idea of the rule of law.” Until local courts ters, the survey notes. Pinochet died in December, victims and can successfully prosecute such cases, the Similarly, a majority of those inter- investigators pressed to bring him to trial world will need a mix of national and in- viewed in the Public Perception of Poverty for torture and executions committed in ternational institutions tailored to specific survey reported awareness of the G-8 the wake of his 1973 coup. circumstances and supported by the UN immediately after the MPH campaign, Nor may officials of the most powerful and its member states. compared to a small minority previously. countries necessarily remain exempt. In “Let’s keep in mind how new all of this Without knowledge of the G-8, the study mid-November, a group of international is,” he says. “It has really only been in the says, it would have been difficult to pur- human rights organizations headed by the last 15 years that these various courts have sue political dialogue on the international New York-based Centre for Constitutional emerged. One size doesn’t fit all, and for causes of underdevelopment or highlight Rights filed charges in a German court that reason we need a number of different the role of the donor community in the alleging that some senior US government approaches. We have a long way to go, but fight against poverty. officials are responsible for torture and it’s still a dramatic departure from business At the Gleneagles summit, the UK, other crimes related to the “war on terror” as usual in the 20th century.” n

JANUARY 2007 11 NEPAD IN ACTION Food keeps African children in school NEPAD supports school feeding programmes

By Itai Madamombe ary education and improve the relevance of school curricula year ago, Fatouma would watch other children run to to Africa’s development. school while she stayed behind to care for her younger A brothers and sisters. But a mere $34 per year helped ‘They become better students’ the shy eight-year-old Senegalese girl take her place among “Children like Fatouma are the future scientists and econo- students in the Tambacounda region in the eastern part of the mists who will usher Africa to prosperity,” Mr. Gentile re- country. Poor children are enrolling and staying in school, cently told Africa Renewal. “But on empty stomachs, they enticed by the daily meals they receive. become easily distracted and have problems concentrating “When I wake up in the morning, I get ready to go to school on their schoolwork. They become better students when their very quickly because I know that good food is waiting for me,” bodies are well nourished and healthy. The incentive of get- says Fatouma. “I’m happy that I can spend the whole day at ting a meal also reduces absenteeism. Most significantly, per- school learning and I don’t have to walk the long way home formance improves and drop-out rates decrease.” hungry. I like eating rice every day. In my family, we eat rice Without enough nutritious food, explains Ms. Gaby Duffy, only two or three times a year.” the head of the WFP feeding programme in Senegal, Fatouma Jean-Noel Gentile, the deputy Senegal country director of did not grow to be as healthy as other children her age. She looks five, instead of her eight years. When Fatouma started attending school, she was so weak from hunger that by the School time she walked the 6 kilo- feeding metres to school, she was programmes too tired to learn. help keep Poor nutrition is a big children problem in central and in school southeastern Senegal, and create where the WFP has the markets for bulk of its school feed- poor food ing programmes. The farmers. economy declined in the 1990s, leaving many with little to eat. Farming was weakened further by the

WFP / Edward Parsons arid conditions there. Most of the people there the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), says the daily meals are subsistence farmers — struggling to grow enough corn, given at the school motivate parents to enroll their children groundnuts, millet and beans to feed their families. and encourage the students to remain there. The WFP funds most of the programmes, but parents pay CFA 300 francs, Encouraging farmers about US$0.60, per month for condiments and fish. Those NEPAD, with the WFP and other partners, is linking school who cannot afford to pay help to prepare the food or provide feeding directly with agricultural development. The scheme, wood for cooking. officially known as the Home-Grown School Feeding pro- The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), gramme, insists on buying from local farmers the rice, beans, a vision and strategic framework adopted by African leaders wheat, dairy and other ingredients used to prepare the food in 2001, refers to education as an important step in reviving children are given in schools. It therefore reduces malnutri- prosperity on the continent. NEPAD officials are working with tion while providing local farmers with the opportunity to sell partners such as the WFP to get every child into primary school their produce to participating schools. by 2015. Together, they also hope to expand access to second- see page 16

12 JANUARY 2007 NEPAD IN ACTION Woman storekeeper boosts Malawi farming NEPAD seeks to bring fertilizer nearer to villagers

By Itai Madamombe must begin with addressing its severely depleted soils. n a small farming plot not far from her grocery store, Improving agriculture is a priority under NEPAD, Africa’s Dinnah Kapiza points at the different types of fertilizers, development framework. In June, NEPAD promoters held O explaining how each should be used. Local farmers gather a Fertilizer Summit in Abuja, Nigeria, that brought together around her, asking ques- tions about the pros and cons of each brand she sells at Tisaiwale Variety Shop in Mponela, 60 kilometres Fertilizer from the Malawian capital, and seed Lilongwe. distribution The 58-year-old busi- in Malawi: nesswoman is one of a new Shopkeepers breed of “agro-dealers,” can help who not only sell products, supply farm- but are certified to advise ers not only customers on how to best with inputs, Morgan Steve / Images Alamy use them. but also “We don’t want them to agricultural just buy,” Ms. Kapiza told advice. Africa Renewal. “We want them to know the best fer- tilizer to use for their needs and how to use it. You can’t just use chemicals any way you want. Most are fatal. As trained agro-dealers, we have dem- heads of state and diverse stakeholders. Subsequently, they onstration plots. When people ask about a specific product, I adopted 12 action points that included taking concrete steps, can say: ‘Please come and see; it’s right here and this is what by 2007, to improve farmers’ access to fertilizers by develop- you do’.” ing agro-dealer networks in rural areas. She adds: “Because I help them with farming tips, they return to buy my supplies. So it is advertising, as well as helping peo- Helping farmers ple. We are improving farming methods, therefore food security Aaron Kamwaza is one of the farmers who has benefited and economic welfare. Everybody benefits in the end.” from improved agro-dealer networks. He grows maize, groundnuts and vegetables near Ms. Kapiza’s store. Easier Struggling for food access to fertilizer, says the farmer, has boosted his yields. Small-scale farmers in Africa are struggling to meet food “The soil here is very, very poor. Without feeding it fertil- needs. Poor soil, notes Maria Wanzala, an expert with the New izers, you get little out of it,” Mr. Kamwaza said. “This is why Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), is one of the I’m happy the store sells everything we need right here in our major reasons they cannot produce enough food to supply the village. It saves us extra money and time. We don’t have to more than 204 million people on the continent who suffer from go to the city.” hunger and malnutrition. If farmers do not have supplies, they cannot do anything “Africa loses the equivalent of over $4 bn worth of soil with their knowledge, says Richard Chapweteka, the country nutrients per year,” Ms. Wanzala, the NEPAD’s fertilizer director of the Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs (CNFA). adviser, points out. “Yet small-scale African farmers use little The organization seeks innovative ways to boost rural incomes or no fertilizer to nourish the impoverished soil. They use only by empowering farmers and entrepreneurs. about 8 kilogrammes per hectare, versus a world average of With funding from the Rockefeller Foundation in the US, 100 kilos per hectare.” CNFA started a guarantee fund to help grocery store owners, Reducing hunger on the continent, stresses Ms. Wanzala, see page 16

JANUARY 2007 13 NEPAD IN ACTION Combating Zambia’s ‘hidden hunger’ NEPAD and partners fortify food with vitamins and minerals

By Itai Madamombe “We became concerned when the latest government research he majority of children in Zambia eat a meal at least once revealed that 66 per cent of all Zambian children under five or twice daily. But despite a full stomach, many lack nutri- years of age suffer from vitamin A deficiency and 63 per cent T ents essential for their physical and mental development. lack enough iron,” Mr. Siamusantu told Africa Renewal. The Zambian government is fighting this “hidden hunger” by fortifying maize meal, the staple food, with life-saving vita- Maize fortification mins and minerals. In response, the government launched a programme in 2006 “A child can eat three meals per day, but still have prob- to fortify all commercially milled maize with iron, vitamin A, folic acid and zinc. Legis- lation, Mr. Siamusantu says, is also expected by February 2007 Checking to mandate that all maize meal a child’s sold in stores contain these es- weight: sential vitamins and nutrients. Adding By controlling deficiencies in vitamins children, says Amanda Marlin, and other the communication manager for nutrients to the foundation Global Alliance basic foods for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), can bolster African nations can jump-start overall development in a short period. health and Set up to foster efforts to fill the nutritional micronutrients gap, GAIN is help- standards. ing fund the project in Zambia. “Anytime you talk about development, you are talking years of work. But with food Reuters / Jacky Naegelen fortification, you see results in a short period,” Ms. Marlin lems,” says Mr. Ward Siamusantu, who manages the country’s says. “NEPAD leaders are supportive of these efforts, because Maize Meal Fortification Programme. “A few doses short of they’ve seen it work in Europe and America and they said, vitamin A or iron, and you throw away a child’s ability to do ‘Let’s make this happen in Africa’.” their best in life. Impaired children will grow up to be impaired Several countries in Africa, she says, already have fortifica- adults, costing Africa billions of dollars in lost productivity.” tion programmes, but GAIN, NEPAD and other partners aim to African leaders, through the New Partnership for Africa’s expand them to 47 countries over three years. It makes sense to Development (NEPAD), are at the forefront of continent- tackle the problem on a regional scale, Ms. Marlin continues. wide efforts to infuse micronutrients — vitamins and minerals Because food is traded between countries, it is important to — into maize meal, salt, flour, oil, sugar, soy and other foods. ensure that food from across the border is all fortified. One of the goals of NEPAD, the framework guiding Africa’s “The beauty of this project is that we don’t ask people to efforts to accelerate development, is to ensure that all citizens change their habits,” she says. “People resist big diet changes. are healthy enough to contribute their full physical and mental We enhance whatever is already an important part of their diet.” potential. This was a lesson Zambia had to learn, confirms Mr. Micronutrient deficiencies debilitate minds and bodies, says Siamusantu, who said the country at first fortified sugar with vita- a report by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Vitamin and min A, but found that sugar “was not commonly consumed and Mineral Deficiency. The lack of iron alone, the report says, is we realized it was better to go for the staple food, maize meal.” so widespread in adults that it is lowering overall labour pro- The Millers Association of Zambia, which is made up of ductivity, resulting in estimated losses of up to 2 per cent of 33 of the country’s top producers of maize meal, has agreed to GDP in the countries most affected. add vitamins and minerals to its products. The executive offi-

14 JANUARY 2007 NEPAD IN ACTION

cer of the association, Mr. Harrison Banda, says that at first the manufacturers worried that the additives Fortifying might affect the qual- food ity of the maize meal and improves therefore hurt business. children’s “We were concerned how health and the vitamins and minerals their ability Peter Arnold, Inc. / Jorgen Schytte Jorgen / Inc. Arnold, Peter would affect the taste, smell to learn. and quality of our product. But we have been assured it won’t be a problem.” Consumers, Mr. Banda adds, had concerns of their own. “Some people worried that this was a ploy by Western governments to experiment on them. They said, ‘Why is this not given to their own people?’ the private sector.” The association, he says, reaches about 60– There were rumours that this would cause infertility. Through 70 per cent of the country. The remaining, more remote parts of education campaigns, people now know that even in America the country are serviced by small-scale millers. and Europe, they eat fortified food. They know it’s good for But across Africa, notes Mr. Steven Lauwerier, a UNICEF them and their children.” programme officer in Côte d’Ivoire, it is in remote rural areas that people are most in need of nutrient boosting. “In towns you have ‘A noble project’ a direct impact, because people rely on commercial food,” he Millers received machinery from GAIN, but need to purchase points out. “But these products do not penetrate poor rural areas. the vitamins and minerals out of pocket, raising another public There, fortification cannot be used alone. You have to comple- concern that they would pass the costs on to consumers. But ment it with more community-based nutritional programmes.” that is not the case, Mr. Banda says. “Our production costs will The Zambian millers’ association, Mr. Banda says, is work- go up by only 3 per cent and this is a small sacrifice given what ing to bring rural millers on board, if additional funding can be is at stake. Once our fears concerning quality were allayed, we secured. “The vitamin doses needed per tonne of maize meal wanted to be a part of this. We support the reasons behind this are very, very small. We cannot allow [the lack of] a few grams project and feel it’s a noble project that should be supported by of vitamins to set Africa back.” 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 redou- bling efforts to mobilize more domestic resources. “Africa,” states NEPAD, “recognizes that it holds the key to its own development.”

JANUARY 2007 15 NEPAD IN ACTION

School feeding developing plans for a Home-Grown School Feeding project from page 12 in that country. In Senegal, 115,000 students in the regions of Kaolack, This provides market incentives to farmers to grow more. Fatick and Tambacounda currently receive meals. The initia- They also save money as they do not have to travel far to mar- tive also aims to reach an additional 120,000 students in 350 kets. Previously, Ms. Duffy says, food was bought from outside schools in the southern Casamance region. because local farmers were often not able to grow enough high- quality crops. African leaders, under the NEPAD framework, ‘Simple but concrete’ are helping farmers to get better-quality seeds and tools to meet “Providing a meal at school is a simple but concrete way to the continent’s food needs. give poor children a chance to learn and thrive,” Ms. Duffy In addition to boosting student nutrition and providing farm- emphasizes, noting that “in Fatouma’s case, teachers have no- ers with a local market, the initiative is improving the economic ticed a dramatic improvement. She is regaining her weight and welfare of local community members. Many now have jobs she can concentrate better during lessons. Every lunch break processing and cooking food for the students. They are hired, she eats, chatting away with her friends. She does not have to according to the WFP, to turn wheat into high-protein biscuits, go hungry again.” cook meals and wash utensils. Also, students clean the food The benefits are also felt by poor households that are now warehouse and utensils. relieved of having to scratch for food. When Fatouma gets So far, nine countries — Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, home, she says, she no longer presses her mother for food. Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal and Zambia “Now that my child has a good meal every day at school,” — are participating in the first phase of the NEPAD initia- Fatouma’s mother said. “I don’t have to worry about leaving tive, which is designed to provide meals to about 674,000 my work to prepare lunch and breakfast. I have more time for students. The initiative also provides technical assistance to my own work and less worries about finding money and food Ghana and Uganda. A team from Nigeria’s NEPAD office is for her breakfast and lunch.” n

Malawi storekeepers Prospects looking up from page 13 Things are looking up so much that she now employs four people: two cashiers and two men to guard the store. Confi- like Ms. Kapiza, add agricultural products — such as fertilizer, dent and enthusiastic about her future, she is hardly recogniz- seeds, small tools and pesticides — to their shelves. able as the same woman who thought her world had come to a In 2000, Mr. Chapweteka said, the Malawian government standstill seven years ago when her husband died. Ms. Kapiza commissioned a study into problems faced by farmers. “They opened the store soon after to help with income to care for her found that the distance the farmers travel to buy seeds, fertilizers 10 children. Her hope now, she says, is to open at least two and other supplies is a big handicap. We started training store- more shops. keepers, giving them the means to procure products so farmers “When you are determined to do something, do it and mean can get what they need at their doorstep and cut down on travel it. Don’t say: ‘Because my husband is gone, I should give up.’ costs and time.” This is my advice to women,” she said. “CNFA gives the credit, Credit guarantees, he says, are paramount to storekeepers but we provide the hard work.” like Ms. Kapiza who cannot get bank loans. The CNFA pro- The guarantee fund, Mr. Chapweteka observes, has worked vides credit against which they can purchase supplies from well. “We have had, over the last five years, less than 5 per participating companies in Malawi, such as Pana, SeedCo and cent default out of 450 agro-dealers, which is insignificant. Omnia Fertilizers. We are happy with the system. Programmes that work, like “It was difficult to get a loan, as I needed collateral,” this one, need to happen on a much larger scale — pilot proj- recalls Ms. Kapiza. “With the credit guarantee, companies ects will not take us anywhere. Continent-wide action, under gave me goods. In 30 days, I must pay them back. I always NEPAD, will hopefully open new opportunities and markets pay on time. In the end they gave me even more than what that motivate farmers.” CNFA could guarantee.” Ms. Wanzala, the NEPAD fertilizer expert, concurs: “The Ms. Kapiza says she serves an area of about 9,000 people. Malawi project illustrates one of the actions NEPAD is trying to At first she sold household essentials such as bread and cooking promote. A woman like Dinnah Kapiza bettering her income as oil. But business was slow, so she diversified. “There has been a one of the best agro-dealers in her area, while helping farmers 70 per cent increase in sales since I added seeds, pesticides and get fertilizer, is an example of exactly what we are working to fertilizers to my store.” achieve all over Africa.” n

16 JANUARY 2007 Conflict resources: from ‘curse’ to blessing Transforming an African war risk into a peace asset

By Ernest Harsch report, more than 1,000 kilometres away break the links between conflict and natu- or years, Nigeria’s oil-rich southern in the town of Gaoua in Burkina Faso, ral wealth. Whether as objects of competi- delta region has been the scene of about 150 demonstrators armed with cut- tion or sources of military financing, notes F repeated armed clashes among local lasses, clubs and bows and arrows tried to UN Under-Secretary-General and Special residents, dissident groups and the mili- march to a meeting of the newly elected Adviser on Africa Legwaila Joseph Leg- tary and police. The fighting has claimed municipal council. Police blocked the waila, natural resources have played a many lives and sporadically disrupted the march, but a dozen protesters were able to “negative role” in many of Africa’s blood- country’s main export sector. present their grievances to the provincial iest wars, from Sierra Leone and Liberia to Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). To highlight the problem, Mr. Legwaila’s Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) organized a three-day experts’ group meeting in Cairo, Egypt, in June 2006. The experts — who included representatives of governments, the UN and other regional and international orga- nizations, civil society groups, academics and the private sector — recommended measures to strengthen international and national controls to prevent natural resources from financing warring fac- tions. They also suggested steps to reduce domestic conflicts over access to natural wealth, including “responsible, just and

Panos / Paul Lowe economically productive resource man- agement” by African governments, with Guard at an illegal diamond mine in Angola during the country’s civil war. “equitable distribution of wealth to all How can such resources be turned towards peace and development? stakeholders, in particular local commu- nities.” With such an approach, the experts The unrest has been stoked by popular high commissioner. They demanded that argued, the exploitation of natural resources frustrations over poverty, pollution and the authorities send police to halt illegal can be better directed towards improving heavy-handed security tactics. The area’s gold mining on a hill considered sacred by society as a whole, by reducing competi- “vast oil wealth has barely touched peo- the local Lobi community. tion and transforming natural wealth “from ple’s lives,” noted the UN Development Meanwhile, in the northern part of a peace liability to a peace asset.” Programme (UNDP) in a July 2006 neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, a rebel fac- The presence of a valuable natural report on human development in the tion controls a large open-pit diamond resource is not, by itself, a “curse” des- Niger Delta. mine in the town of Seguela. It is one of tined to incite conflict (see box, page Many local residents believe that the several producing diamonds — estimated 19). Rather, argues University of London government, military and foreign oil com- to be worth more than $20 mn — that have lecturer Abiodun Alao, the central issue panies are not doing nearly enough to cor- been smuggled into Mali and Ghana to is how such resources are used and the rect this situation. “People know that they help fund arms purchases, in violation of money they generate is distributed. “The will not be allowed to enjoy the benefits UN sanctions. future of the continent,” he wrote in a of our oil unless they fight,” one rebel background paper for the Cairo meeting, leader in Warri told an investigator for the Breaking the links “depends largely on how well it manages International Crisis Group, a non-govern- As part of their broader efforts to secure these resources. Taking a broad look at mental research and advocacy organiza- peace and development on the continent, natural resources and conflict in Africa, it tion based in Brussels. Africans and their international partners seems obvious that at the centre of most of The same month the UNDP released its are focusing increasingly on ways to the problem is governance.”

JANUARY 2007 17 Cleansing ‘blood diamonds’ gled out of Sierra Leone annually. other participants in OSAA’s Cairo meet- There is perhaps no better-known symbol The illegal export of diamonds from ing, SaferAfrica recommended strength- of the link between African resources and northern Côte d’Ivoire is another indica- ening the ability of governments, NGOs, conflict than diamonds, evocatively called tion of the limitations. Unless such prob- civil society groups and others to more “blood diamonds.” Because they are lems are resolved, warns Global Witness, effectively monitor compliance with the small, diamonds can be easily transported an advocacy NGO, the Kimberley Process certification scheme and urged govern- and smuggled. The high price they fetch risks becoming “little more than a paper- ments to penalize and punish violators. on world markets can buy many arms, pushing exercise.” Partly in reaction to the pay fighters or otherwise sustain Transparency and ethics military activities. Besides strengthening Kimber- In Sierra Leone’s decade-long ley, the OSAA experts’ group pro- civil war, the fiercest fighting was posed that similar schemes be ex- over control of that country’s dia- tended beyond diamonds to cover mond fields. Diamonds smuggled other valuable natural resources. from Sierra Leone also helped That is beginning to happen, in finance one side in the war in part thanks to NGO advocacy. neighbouring Liberia, as did illegal Since 2002, a broad coalition exploitation of Liberian timber and of 300 civil society groups and iron ore. In Angola’s war, each side NGOs has been waging a cam- had a ready source of revenue — paign called Publish What You the government controlled offshore Pay (PWYP), designed to pres- oil fields, while the rebel UNITA sure multinational oil companies movement sustained itself for years to operate more transparently by through illegal diamond mining. publicly revealing the details of Thanks to campaigns by inter- their oil contracts in Africa and national non-governmental orga- elsewhere. The aim is to make it nizations (NGOs) and wide media harder for company or government coverage of the phenomenon, the officials to engage in corrupt acts, Kimberley Process was launched in a problem that often contributes

2000. It is a UN-backed scheme to VII / Knight Gary / Press Associated to domestic political tensions over stop the illegal trading of diamonds how oil revenues are allocated. and other gems from conflict zones, The NGO Global Witness has with scores of diamond-produc- specifically highlighted the case of ing and -trading countries now Angola, where some government belonging to the initiative. Under officials, according to estimates the arrangement, all diamond ship- by the International Monetary ments from participating countries Fund (IMF), siphoned off $4 bn must be accompanied by a cer- in oil revenues into private off- tificate of authenticity specifying A 13-year-old boy carries a sack of earth and rock at a diamond shore accounts between 1998 and their origin. Experts at the main mine in Mbuji-Mayi, the Congolese “diamond capital.” 2002. Since then, the government diamond exchanges in Belgium has requested technical assistance and elsewhere conduct scientific from the World Bank to help it tests of the diamonds’ composition to try to situation in Côte d’Ivoire, a 15 November improve transparency in its oil sector. verify where they came from. Participating plenary meeting of the participants in the Not all countries that have formally countries pledge to punish violators. Kimberley Process agreed to closely mon- joined the initiative have actually followed In some countries, the Kimberley itor all diamond exports from West Africa, up with practical steps “to prove that they Process has had an impact. In Sierra Leone, with technical information on geological are managing their oil revenues transpar- only a mere $1.2 mn in diamonds was origins required in each shipment out of ently,” notes Mr. Christian Mounzéo, of the legally exported in 1999, but by 2005 the the region. coalition’s chapter in the Congo Republic. figure had risen to $140 mn, as the certifi- One inherent weakness in the Besides pressing for full disclosure, he cation scheme encouraged more miners to Kimberley Process, argues SaferAfrica, also urges his own government and other sell their diamonds to authorized dealers. a South African NGO, is that it is volun- African oil producers to establish special But the process has major shortcomings. tary, depending on the willing cooperation oil revenue accounts designed to benefit Experts estimate that between $30 mn and of governments, companies and diamond “future generations,” as Norway has done. $160 mn worth of diamonds are still smug- dealers. Not all are so willing. Along with Mr. Mounzéo and other PWYP campaign-

18 JANUARY 2007 ers have suffered legal harassment as a of their own officials and employees. With 2004 study by a research group on African result of their activities. large sums of money involved, armed mining at the University of Quebec in In 2003, the UK government launched factions and smugglers can often pay off Montreal, Canada, the economic auster- the Extractive Industries Transparency ministers, licensing authorities, customs ity policies recommended by the IMF Initiative (EITI), which seeks to improve officers and border guards. During Sierra and World Bank in the 1980s and 1990s management of revenues from oil, gas and Leone’s civil war, rebels were frequently weakened overall state capacities in many mining. Primarily, it encourages multina- able to trade diamonds for weapons from African countries. Although some of those tional corporations to be more transparent the very government commanders and policies have since been modified with the and accountable in their mining opera- soldiers who were supposed to be fighting aim of rebuilding state institutions, recent tions. More than 20 countries — 14 of them. reforms in Africa’s mining and investment them in Africa — have formally joined Even in countries at peace, mining, codes have conceded so many incentives the initiative. However, notes Prof. Alao, timbering and other extractive activities to mining companies that national govern- its success depends “on the willingness are difficult to regulate. According to a ments have little regulatory control and their of multinational corporations and even incumbents in power to open all the rel- evant files to public scrutiny.” ‘Stop blowing the gifts of nature’ Some major companies have pledged to When the Cold War ended, there was some initial optimism that armed conflicts in Africa be more open in their dealings, but many would decline with the absence of the old ideological divides between East and West. While remain reluctant, citing competitive pres- some conflicts did gradually wind down, new ones also erupted, often insurgencies or civil sures, the need for business secrecy and wars among contending political forces within the same country. As a result, not only politi- governments’ desire for confidentiality. cal analysts but also economic researchers began to look at non-ideological factors, such Moreover, the Cairo experts’ group noted, as ethnic and economic competition. some mining companies, especially in the Some of these researchers, including a team led by Mr. Paul Collier at the World Bank, extractive industries, show little regard for detected a strong correlation between the outbreak of armed conflict and a country’s depen- the social and environmental risks of their dence on one or two readily exploitable natural resources, such as diamonds, gold or oil. The operations. The experts urged corporations presence of profitable resources was also seen as a factor in the spread of high-level corrup- tion, a further source of conflict and public resentment. to implement ethical codes of conduct and From this research emerged two broad concepts that were taken up by both policymakers the governments of the companies’ home and the media: that the very presence of valuable natural resources often serves as a “curse” countries to hold them accountable for their that generates conflict, and that insurgent forces frequently are motivated less by genuine practices abroad. African governments grievances than by “greed” for money from the control of natural wealth. were asked to require the companies to Both explanations have been criticized as simplistic. According to Prof. Wayne Nafziger develop sustainable development plans to of Kansas State University in the US, natural resources, by themselves, are not a curse. “Of safeguard the environment, provide ben- course,” he adds, “there’s bad stewardship of resources.” efits to local communities and contribute Mr. Rory O’Ferrall, director of external affairs for the De Beers diamond mining group, to national development priorities. agrees. At a panel discussion on natural resources in African least developed countries orga- nized by the Office of the Special Adviser for Africa (OSAA) in September, he emphasized that possessing diamonds or other minerals is not a curse. “It all depends on what you do State capacities with them.” He cited as an example Botswana, a major African diamond producer, which is Even where African governments are a “shining example” of good governance and judicious use of diamond revenues. “Let’s stop willing to better supervise and regulate blowing the gifts of nature and focus on what we’re doing with them.” their countries’ natural wealth, they of- Under-Secretary-General Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, who heads OSAA and is himself ten are unable to do so very effectively. from Botswana, made a similar point, adding that “the curse is the people who abuse” Especially in countries that are involved natural resources. in conflict or struggling to recover from Participants in OSAA’s June 2006 experts’ group meeting in Cairo also considered the war, notes Prof. Alao, there is “a genuine “greed versus grievance” view of conflict as a distortion. They argued that it tends to over­ emphasize the influence of natural resources on the behaviour of rebel groups and draws lack of institutional capacity to effectively insufficient attention to how poor government management of resources can contribute to monitor the vast swaths of territories conflict and human rights abuses. where natural resources are deposited.” Rebels in Sierra Leone and Liberia were widely believed at the time to have been primarily Some resource-rich areas may be near motivated by “greed.” But later investigations by several researchers, including Mr. Paul Rich- poorly controlled borders, such as the ards of Wageningen University in the Netherlands, found that while rebel commanders did diamond mines in Sierra Leone and Libe- benefit from access to diamonds, timber and other natural resources, most young people who ria and the mining regions in the eastern joined the rebel ranks were not driven by a desire for the spoils of war. Instead, they sought DRC. Others are in difficult terrain, as in to oppose abuses by government authorities and traditional chiefs or rebelled in the hopes of Nigeria’s swampy Niger Delta. altering rural tenure systems that denied them access to land. In both countries, as in Côte d’Ivoire and elsewhere, wrote Mr. Richards in a recent essay, “reform of rural rights seems as Moreover, many central governments urgent an issue as tracking the gun-runners or diamond- and timber-smugglers.” are unable to fully control the behaviour

JANUARY 2007 19 World Bank started to come apart in late 2005 when the UN peace- government announced its keepers intention to increase the share patrol of oil revenues going directly against into the budget, and to use part diamond of it to build up its military to and gold confront domestic rebels and smugglers attacks from Sudanese militias on Lake across the border in Darfur. Kivu, in the Another donor-initiated eastern scheme was set up in Liberia in Democratic 2005. Called the Governance Republic of and Economic Management the Congo. Assistance Programme (GEMAP), it was designed to tackle corruption, fraud and Panos / Sven Torfinn other poor practices under the transitional government set treasuries and economies derive few ben- to the Liberian people and put an end to the up at the end of the civil war. Under it, efits. These reforms, noted the researchers, use of forest resources to fund conflict. The external financial managers were brought have “tended to favour a weakening of the Liberian Forestry Development Authority in to control the customs office, ministry state’s fiscal basis, its capacity to monitor is now in a position to regain authority and of lands and mining and numerous state and enforce, and, consequently, decreased control over the forest resources.” enterprises. legitimacy and state sovereignty.” Opinion in Liberia is divided. Some In light of the widespread weaknesses Who decides? have criticized GEMAP as a violation of in national institutions, the Cairo experts’ Building effective institutions can often take Liberian sovereignty. Others see it as nec- group recommended that the UN, donor a long time, however. In some countries, essary to help control widespread graft. agencies and other international institutions donor agencies have been tempted to step The new elected government of President provide more aid to African countries to in directly to try to quickly overcome prob- Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, which took office strengthen capacities for natural-resources lems of corruption and poor administration. in January 2006, views GEMAP as a use- management. This aid could include train- One such initiative involved the con- ful short-term effort, but emphasizes the ing for customs officials and auditors, the struction of the Chad-Cameroon oil pipe- need to develop domestic accountability establishment of new systems for moni- line to transport oil from remote fields in to make external initiatives unnecessary. toring extractive industries and support southern Chad to a port on Cameroon’s The experts’ group meeting convened for measures to better combat government coast. The two governments and the World by OSAA looked at both the Chad pipe- corruption and corporate fraud. Bank signed a complex arrangement in line and Liberian initiatives. It proposed In Liberia, the UN’s Food and which the Bank offered to help fund the that the African Union (AU) strengthen Agriculture Organization (FAO) has pro- pipeline if Chad agreed to allocate the efforts to achieve better national man- vided technical and financial assistance to bulk of its oil revenue to specific poverty agement of natural resources, in part by help the country develop a forestry policy. alleviation and development programmes, incorporating specific standards into the During the civil war, indiscriminate log- through accounts managed by a consortium African Peer Review Mechanism, through ging and illegal smuggling of forest prod- comprised of government, World Bank and which African countries assess each oth- ucts were used to help fund the conflict, civil society representatives. The scheme ers’ governance practices. The meeting leading the UN Security Council to impose was aimed at avoiding a situation in which also urged donors to “respect and support sanctions on Liberian timber exports. sudden oil wealth could encourage vast cor- the AU-led process, rather than attempt A prominent Dutch timber merchant is ruption, while the 60 per cent of Chadians to impose governance-related conditions currently on trial in the Netherlands on who live in poverty see few benefits. for development assistance or supporting charges of buying timber from former After completion of the pipeline, three externally driven parallel initiatives.” President Charles Taylor in exchange for major oil companies began producing oil Notes Mr. John Ohiorhenuan, UNDP’s shiploads of arms and ammunition. from Chadian wells in 2003. In 2006, the deputy assistant administrator, even if ini- “The new forestry policy,” says Mr. government is expected to earn $200 mn tiatives such as GEMAP may be neces- Adrian Whiteman, an FAO forestry officer in oil taxes and royalties — more than its sary because the “plundering has gotten who worked on the project, “aims to maxi- entire annual fiscal revenue from all other out of hand” and there are no ready alter- mize the benefits from the forestry sector sources. But the arrangement with the natives, policymakers should be aware

20 JANUARY 2007 of the danger that such ventures may be governments of the oil-producing states Several companies active in Angola’s a “double-edged sword” that can under- are now asking that the share be increased diamond regions have built schools, rehabil- mine state sovereignty and foster long- to 20–25 per cent, while a government itated health clinics and hospitals, installed term dependency. committee proposed in March 2006 that it hydroelectric power plants and sanitation be raised to 18 per cent. systems and launched agricultural projects. Sharing the wealth In an effort to generate some goodwill, However, notes a DDI report on Angola, Even if governments are able to manage foreign oil companies active in the Niger “Government investment — very low in their natural resources more transparently Delta have also directly financed a range a diamond-producing former war zone and effectively, that will have only a lim- of local development projects, from fund- — needs to be increased. The expenditures ited impact if the benefits are not also ing health clinics and schools to building by mining companies are little more than a shared more widely within African societ- public infrastructure and hiring some local drop in an ocean of need.” ies. Paradoxically, many areas that have workers for their operations. While some The International Crisis Group, in plentiful oil, diamonds or other minerals communities have benefited, others com- an August 2006 report on the conflict in are also extremely impoverished, from the plain that they are still excluded. Nigeria’s Niger Delta, noted that the most Niger Delta to Kono, the heart of Sierra successful local development projects are Leone’s diamond fields. ‘Before they blow up’ those in which communities themselves Mbuji-Mayi in central DRC is some- In 2005, two NGOs (Global Witness and play an active role. Pro-Natura International times called the “diamond capital of the Partnership Africa Canada) joined with (Nigeria), a small NGO with both Delta world.” But the city itself is little more two diamond companies than a slum. Its province, Kasai Oriental, (De Beers and the Rapa- has high rates of illiteracy and infant mor- port Group) to tality, it lacks electricity and 60 per cent of launch the Dia- its children under five suffer malnutrition. mond Develop- Meanwhile, a few Congolese and foreign ment Initiative Weighing diamond merchants display unimaginable (DDI). Its aim is gold in the wealth. Such inequities contribute greatly to promote bet- eastern to social and political tensions across ter conditions Democratic Africa, and make it easier for armed groups for Africa’s ap- Republic of to mobilize local supporters. proximately 1 the Congo. To counter poverty and inequality, million small- the Cairo experts’ group strongly urged scale artisanal African governments and mining and oil diamond min- companies to ensure that a greater share of ers, many of natural-resource wealth is used for social whom now earn as little as services and development programmes $1 a day despite their hard nationally, as well as to directly benefit and dangerous work. local communities. DDI cites examples In a few cases, the concept of revenue from various African coun- sharing has featured prominently in peace tries where programmes are agreements. As part of an accord that already under way to benefit

ended a long civil war in southern Sudan in artisanal miners. In Sierra Akena James / Reuters 2003, the central government and the rebel Leone, the government has Sudan People’s Liberation Army worked established a special tax to out a detailed arrangement in which the boost investments in dia- two sides would share revenues from oil. mond-producing communi- In Nigeria, all 36 states received ties. In the DRC, a public roughly equal allocations of national oil office was established in revenues until 2000, when the share for 2003 to help that country’s hundreds of and foreign staff, pioneered a “participa- the oil-producing Niger Delta states was thousands of artisanal miners better orga- tory” approach in the Akassa kingdom increased to 13 per cent in an effort to allay nize themselves, improve safety, acquire in the oil-producing state of Bayelsa in local grievances. But most of the money new tools and strengthen their power to 1997. Under that approach, the communi- went to elites in the cities and some was bargain with diamond merchants. It also ties identify “micro-projects” costing less lost through corruption, so that few poor allocates 20 per cent of its tax and licence than $7,150, such as schools, health cen- residents noticed any real improvement. revenues to local community development As a result, demands have escalated. The projects. see page 22

JANUARY 2007 21 Big leap in China-Africa ties Congolese women from page 6 from page 3 In June 2006, Action Aid and local nomic involvement in Africa. They have the bounty,” Mr. Macharia Gaitho, man- NGOs organized a workshop for 50 mili- cited the limited regard for environmental aging editor of the Kenyan daily Nation, tary and regular police officers in Goma, and safety standards of some Chinese com- commented. “But we must engage with to encourage them to arrest and prosecute panies, their tendency to bring in Chinese our eyes wide open.” perpetrators of rape. The initiative also workers rather than hire Africans and the trains officers to educate other military and stiff competition that African manufactur- ‘More balanced’ trade police personnel, as well as paralegals in ers face from large quantities of low-priced Trade between China and Africa is also South Kivu who are helping women bring Chinese imports. expanding rapidly. Valued at only around their cases to trial. While acknowledg- $3 bn in 1995, total trade Action Aid hopes that such action will ing such drawbacks, other “As long as China is grew to an estimated $40 bn make combatants more aware of the legal Africans have welcomed the so willing to invest in 2005. Premier Wen stated penalties for what they do. And because opportunity to diversify the in Africa, we must during the summit that China rapes are typically ordered by military continent’s external partner- not miss out on the hopes to increase that amount commanders, education could encourage ships. They also appreci- bounty. But we must to $100 bn by 2010. ordinary soldiers and police to resist such ate the absence of explicit engage with our eyes So far, the nature of these orders, or at least to report them. political or economic policy wide open.” flows has been quite similar Ms. Josephine Odera, the Central conditions on China’s part, — Macharia Gaitho, to those between Africa and Africa regional programme director of in contrast to the sometimes managing editor, its traditional trading partners, the UN Development Fund for Women heavy-handed approach of The Nation (Kenya) noted the OECD study, The (UNIFEM), sees such activities as impor- certain Western powers. Rise of China and India: What’s tant. “The way to address this issue of During the summit, the in it for Africa? For the most impunity is to raise the visibility of the Chinese authorities signaled their willing- part, it found, Africa exported oil and other problem so that the violators are isolated ness to pay greater attention to countering raw materials to China, while importing and prosecution is improved.” corruption and protecting the environment in Chinese manufactured goods. Inexpensive “We want to break the silence,” Ms. their African activities. Premier Wen Jiabao Chinese textile and clothing products have Odera told Africa Renewal. “We are said that projects implemented by Chinese become prevalent in many African mar- encouraging opinion shapers and leaders firms would be conducted in an “open, fair, kets, seriously jeopardizing the survival of to speak out against sexual violence and to just and transparent” manner. The action Africa’s own manufacturers. tell people that they will be held account- plan pledged Chinese assistance in building A columnist in the Nigerian Daily Trust able for such crimes.” n African countries’ capacities to safeguard newspaper, Mr. Charles Onunaiju, observed the environment and preserve biodiversity. that unless steps are taken to alter this pat- tern of trade, “the relationship in future will Conflict resources ‘Eyes wide open’ come to resemble the Europe/America and from page 21 Chinese foreign investment in Africa has Africa relations, that is, lopsided, dependent grown spectacularly since the early 1990s. and even detrimental to Africa.” tres, skills-training units and micro-credit According to a recent study by the in- China’s leaders are responding to such facilities. Community members provide dustrialized countries’ Organization for criticisms. The action plan calls for the the necessary land, labour and materials, Economic Cooperation and Development growth of China-Africa trade “in a more and the financing comes from oil compa- (OECD), flows of Chinese direct invest- balanced manner.” The decision to more nies, donor governments, foundations and ment into Africa in 2003 reached $107 than double the number of African products the European Union. The effort has since mn, more than 100 times the annual level allowed into China duty-free was one con- been extended to three other kingdoms. in 1991. Today, some 700 Chinese firms crete step in that direction. Another was a Along with transparency in public are estimated to hold a total investment Chinese pledge earlier in the year to volun- and corporate management of natural stock of $6.3 bn in Africa. The Beijing tarily cap clothing exports to South Africa. resources, many more such local devel- summit brought a dozen major new in- Whatever questions Africans may still opment efforts are needed across Africa, vestment agreements totaling $1.9 bn. have about China’s economic relations says UNDP’s Mr. Ohiorhenuan. Natural They included deals to build expressways with the continent, noted Mr. Legwaila, wealth need not contribute to conflict, he in Nigeria, a telephone network in rural the high African turnout in Beijing “was told Africa Renewal, if African countries Ghana and an aluminum smelter in Egypt. a clear demonstration that China has suc- initiate “internal dialogue” and deal with “As long as China is so willing to ceeded in winning the confidence of its various forms of inequity and exclusion invest in Africa, we must not miss out on African partners.” n “before they blow up in our faces.” n

22 JANUARY 2007 , website WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE 6–9 March 2007, Brussels (Belgium) — 16–18 November 2006, Addis Ababa (Ethio- World Biofuels Markets. Tel (44) 207 801 pia) — Fifth African Development Forum: 6333, fax (44) 207 900 1853, e-mail , website Organized by the UN Economic Commission World Social Forum. Seventh annual gather- for Africa and the African Union. Contact Kwa- ing of civil society activists and the first in 10–14 March 2007, Baltimore, Maryland bia Boateng, tel (251) 115 44 35 71, fax (251) Africa. Tel (254-20) 3860745/46, fax (254-20) (US) — Water for All Life: A Decentral- 115 51 22 33, e-mail , 3872671, e-mail , website ized Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future. website Sponsored by National Onsite Wastewater 29 November–1 December 2006, Washing- 22–30 January 2007, Addis Ababa (Ethio- Recycling Association. Tel (1-800) 966-2942, ton, D.C (USA) — 2006 Africa Oil and Gas pia) — AU Summit: Scientific Research and e-mail , website Forum. Co-sponsored by the US Department of Technology for Africa’s Socio-Economic Energy. Contact Kathleen Wells, tel (1 310) 551- Transformation. Focused on science, tech- 9–11 May 2007, Maputo (Mozambique) — 1010, e-mail , website nology and innovation and organized with Information Society Technologies in Africa Mejri-Cheikh, tel (251-11) 551 7700 ext. 236, together representatives from leading commer- fax (251-11) 551 1299, e-mail , website fax (353) 1 817 0606, e-mail , website 66, e-mail , website , website ing Africa 2007. On the theme “Building cgi-bin/templates/genevent.html?topic=479&e Infrastructures and Capacities to Reach Out 17–19 December 2006, Algiers (Algeria) — vent=11343&> to the Whole of Africa”; organized by Inter- Desertification and the International Policy 19–22 February 2007, Johannesburg (South national Conferences, Workshops and Exhi- Imperative. Organized by the UN University Africa) — Enterprise Risk Management bitions and Hoffmann & Reif Consultant. (UNU). Contact Caroline King, tel (1-905) 525- Africa 2007. Conference to teach entrepreneurs Tel (49-30) 327 6140, fax (49 30) 324 9833 9140, ext 24517, fax (1-905) 529-4261, e-mail to effectively manage and reduce risks. Con- e-mail , website , website inweh.unu.edu/inweh/drylands/IYDD.htm>

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JANUARY 2007 23 mate change is now almost inevitable. ket for many African products. Supple- The most severe consequences will be menting and extending those provisions, experienced by countries and people who the House of Representatives passed the bear little responsibility for the problem, AGOA Investment Incentive Act 2006 it notes. Agriculture will be hit the hard- to help producers in sub-Saharan Africa SOUTH-SOUTH est. Because of changing rainfall patterns, better withstand heightened competitive Africa and South America malnutrition could increase by 15-26 per pressures from China following the end cent by 2050. of quotas on textile and clothing trade in expand relations Already, lack of water is ravaging many 2004 (see Africa Renewal, April 2006). Africa and a dozen South American coun- parts of Africa, UNDP reports. In northeast The new measure includes the exten- tries are set for greater cooperation follow- Kenya, some 3 million people risk starva- sion, until 2012, of the “third-country fab- ing the first Africa-South America sum- tion from drought, violent clashes between ric provision,” which was previously set mit, held in Abuja, Nigeria, in November. farmers and pastoralists are increasingly to expire in 2007. That extension allows More than 900 delegates, including nu- common and the country’s gross domestic African clothing manufacturers to use raw merous heads of state, came from 53 Af- product fell 16 per cent between 1998 and materials from countries other than their rican countries and 12 South American 2000 due to drought. own and still benefit from preferential nations (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Calling for immediate action, the access into the US. Kenya’s representa- Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suri- report’s lead author, Mr. Kevin Watkins, tive in the US, Ambassador Peter Ogego, name, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela). argues that the world does not lack “the says this may save thousands of jobs in The representatives adopted a declara- financial resources, the technology or the his country alone. Kenya created 30,000 tion paving the way for deeper trade and ingenuity to consign the water and sani- textile jobs since AGOA was enacted, investment relations and the establish- tation crisis to its proper place in history and would have lost its US preferences ment of an Africa-South America Bank to books. This crisis is the product of policies had the provision not been extended, fund regional infrastructure projects. The and priorities that can be changed, and of a since it does not produce its own fabric. two regions also agreed to adopt common complacency that can be overcome.” n The extension “will give us enough time negotiating positions and coordinate strat- as a country to develop our cotton sec- egies at the World Trade Organization. Trade tor,” said Mr. Ogego. Under the summit’s Abuja Resolution, African producers get US boost The US is currently reforming its trade the two regions will set up a Forum of preference system for sub-Saharan Africa. Cooperation to meet once every two years In December, the US Congress approved Following the adoption of AGOA, cloth- to discuss bilateral relations. Already, a trade package under the African Growth ing and textile imports from Africa into Venezuela has nearly doubled the number and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which may the US grew significantly, but dropped 30 of embassies in Africa over the last few help avert the loss of thousands of jobs on per cent after quotas for the textile trade years and is now represented in 47 coun- the continent. AGOA, first passed in 2000, were lifted by international agreement at tries, while trade between Brazil and the provides duty-free access to the US mar- the end of 2004. n continent has grown from $5 bn in 2002 to $15 bn in 2006. The two regions will APPOINTMENTS hold their second summit in Caracas, Venezuela, in 2009. n Dr. Margaret Chan of Hong Kong has been appointed director- general of the World Health Organization by the agency’s 193- CLIMATE CHANGE nation governing body, the World Health Assembly. Prior to her new appointment, Dr. Chan was WHO’s assistant director-general Water insecurity for communicable diseases and the director-general’s representa- threatens farmers tive for pandemic influenza. She also served as director of health in Hong Kong, where she led the territory’s response to H5N1 avian

Climate change threatens to intensify wa- UN / Eskinder Debebe influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Her term ter insecurity on an unparalleled scale, of office runs until June 2012. She becomes the first person from with parts of sub-Saharan Africa facing China to lead a UN agency. potential crop losses of up to 25 per cent The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in November by 2050 due to climate-induced weather elected Mr. Hamadoun Touré, a citizen of Mali, as its secretary- patterns, warns the latest Human Develop- general. Mr. Touré, who was formerly the director of ITU’s Telecom- ment Report. The report, released by the munications Development Bureau, will serve in the position for four Ferré J.M. / ITU UN Development Programme (UNDP) in years. He has more than 20 years of experience in telecommunica- November, finds that even with an agree- tions, including in management positions in large companies such as INTELSAT and ICO Global Communications. Mr. Touré began his ment to reduce carbon emissions through career in 1979 in Mali’s Office of Posts and Telecommunications. international cooperation, dangerous cli-

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