Africa to prosper despite global turmoil: Nigeria – Africa’s natural resources and fast-growing population will help ensure the continent prospers even if the developed world suffers another economic meltdown, Nigeria’s president Goodluck Jonathan said. He cited the continent’s ability to feed the China-driven global commodities boom as one of the major reasons for believing in Africa’s new-found economic resilience. (Karl Malakunas, AFP)
Africa’s aviation industry set to soar, says Boeing – Africa’s passenger airline industry may still be awaiting full take off but Boeing has identified the continent as a market ripe with potential. The U.S. company — one of the world’s biggest airplane manufacturers — has found its order book filled with an increasing number of African clients in recent years and maintains that by providing the technology and expertise to meet these increased capacity requirements, Boeing and the African airlines they provide for can jointly reap the benefits. (Robyn Curnow, CNN)
Young South Africans call for jobs, end to poverty – Young South Africans brought their frustration over poverty and joblessness to the streets Thursday, responding to a call by the tough-talking youth leader of the governing African National Congress, Julius Malema, who has clashed with older party leaders over economic policy. A quarter of the South African work force was unemployed even before the worldwide slowdown led to hundreds of thousands of lost jobs here, with a disproportionate amount of the unemployed being young people. (AP)
South Africa President Shakes Up Cabinet – South African President Jacob Zuma fired two government ministers, suspended the nation’s police chief, and has established a panel to probe allegations against police commissioner Mr. Cele. These changes to the cabinet come after allegations that Zuma has “allowed corruption to run rampant in the continent’s largest economy.” All four officials have been associated with accusations of ethical violations, and critics have praised his decisions, saying that they were well overdue. (WSJ, Devon Maylie and Peter Wonacott)
Chris Collins: Global Health Investments: A Payoff for the U.S. – During the Republican presidential debates last week in Las Vegas, the candidates seemed highly skeptical about foreign aid. Romney argued that “we’re spending more on foreign aid that we ought to be spending,” while Ron Paul said that “foreign aid is taking money from poor people in this country and giving it to rich people in poor countries, and it becomes weapons of war.” To the contrary, the 1% of our national budget going to foreign aid is saving lives with HIV/AIDS treatments, bed nets to prevent malaria, food aid, and natural disaster relief. Our global health investments are improving national security, providing diplomatic advantages to the U.S. and saving lives. (The Huffington Post, Chris Collins)
A Black Woman Poses Challenge in South Africa – The primary opposition to the ruling ANC party in South Africa is “set to decide whether to entrust the future of its still predominately white party to a young, black woman.” Lindiwe Mazibuko is currently the Democratic Alliance’s chief spokeswoman, but several influential colleagues have endorsed her to lead the DA’s parliamentary caucus. Many see Ms. Mazibuko as “someone who could appeal to both conservative whites as well as a new generation of blacks . . . and pose a challenge to the increasingly embattled ANC.” (WSJ, Patrick McGroarty)
