Reuters—African leaders petition G20 for more funds
African countries petitioned the G20 on Monday for an increase in funding and easier access to international financing to help them through the global financial crisis. More than 20 African leaders and ministers met British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to present a joint African position before the G20 on April 2.

AllAfrica.com: Obama Should Meet African Ministers Before G20 Summit (Column)
A columnist writes on the website AllAfrica.com that President Obama should also meet with African leaders before or during the G20 summit in London. Only one African country, South Africa, belongs to the G20. The writer says that a side meeting between President Obama and several African finance ministers on the impact of the global crisis on their countries would send a strong signal and could result in concrete solutions.

Financial Times—Do not leave Africa in a scramble (Editorial)
The Financial Times writes that world’s leading countries must act to end the global crisis as soon as possible, but in the meantime, Africa should not be a casualty of other priorities. African governments that have shown a commitment to sound policies must be helped to fill temporary funding gaps, and rich countries should quickly prop up trade finance, writes the paper.

Reuters—Sudan wants foreign groups to stop distributing aid
Sudan’s president said on Monday he wanted foreign aid groups to stop distributing aid in Sudan within a year, stepping up his defiance of an international war crimes warrant against him. In an emotional speech to thousands of soldiers and police, President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said he had ordered his Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to hand over the distribution of all relief to Sudanese groups — a move that could freeze the work of more than 70 foreign organizations still working in Darfur and other areas.

-Steve Wilson