A jubilant vote on secession – People in South Sudan took to the polls this weekend to determine whether their region will soon become its own independent nation. Though the voting has remained relatively peaceful, reports came in over the weekend of violence near the border, in an area considered a likely flashpoint before, during and after the vote. At least 23 people died in three days of clashes, Reuters reported. (Jeffrey Gettleman, The New York Times)
Positive news amid soaring food prices– The United Nations may have sounded the alarm about soaring global food prices, but in Africa “a string of bumper harvests and a changing diet means the political fallout may be more muted than to past price bumps.” Despite the Food and Agriculture Organization’s global food index hitting 2008 crisis levels last week, maize, Africa’s predominant staple, “is showing few signs of stress, suggesting a repeat of the unrest of two years ago on the continent is unlikely.” (Ed Cropley, Reuters)
Hello Africa, India’s calling – Starting with the expansion of a major Indian cell phone company expanding into Africa last fall, the Indian government is working hard to raise its diplomatic profile across the continent, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Cabinet leading several business delegations in recent years. And Indian companies are striving to keep up with China’s business profile in Africa, with both rising powers “vying for Africa because of the bottom line: Africa represents new growth.” (Tom Maliti, AP)
Kenya’s corruption-fighting duo – A new campaign launched this week in Kenya to pressure the government to act on corruption and step up efforts to implement the Constitution. The former Constitution of Kenya Review Commission chairman and former Ethics permanent secretary John Githongo “joined hands in a new movement to urge Kenyans to push for the changes they envisioned when they voted for the new constitution in last year’s referendum.” (Lillian Onyango, Daily Nation)
Who’s the latest to head to the polls? – Posters and banners went up in the Central African Republic Monday as campaigning kicked off for the January 23 presidential and legislative elections. The elections are “seen as a key step to bringing stability to the desperately poor country, which has since 2008 been working on a peace process drawing in ex-rebels to end years of instability and insecurity.” President Francois Bozize is standing for a second term after winning elections in 2005 and taking power in a coup two years earlier. (AFP)
