Guardian: Mapping Tweets in Africa – Mark Graham and the team at the Oxford Internet Institute have examined tweets from key African cities, including Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Mogadishu, Lagos, Accra, Kigali and Nairobi. The variation between cities “tells you a lot about access to technology across the continent.” (Simon Rogers)
Businessweek: World Bank Urges Uganda to Increase Trade Further Inland Africa – The World Bank is urging landlocked Uganda to dismantle trade barriers with neighbors further inland to “expand exports and accelerate economic development.” The East African nation could increase export earnings by $2.5 billion by eliminating non-tariff barriers and improving infrastructure for transporting goods in the area. (Sarah McGregor)
VOA: Better Prospects Result in Brain Gain for Africa – While African leaders have long sought a solution to the so-called brain drain, recent studies indicate that “many African students who study abroad now find opportunities to use their training at home.” The IMF and the World Bank report that seven of the world’s top 10 fastest growing economic are now in Africa, and a growing economy significantly increases the retention of educated workers. (Peter Cox)
CPJ: Oil, Money, and Secrecy in East Africa - Officials in East Africa are gushing with anticipation over potential oil revenue: A new production agreement has been reached in South Sudan; fresh discoveries have been made and drilling deals signed in Kenya and Uganda. But if the potential for economic growth is great, so is the capacity for corruption and environmental degradation if journalists are not allowed to report on contract details and resource allocation. (Tom Rhodes)
Reuters: Kenyatta, running for president, wants Hague trial postponed – Kenyan presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta has asked for his trial on crimes against humanity to be delayed to allow time to prepare his defense given prosecutors’ late disclosure of evidence. Kenyatta is accused at the International Criminal Court of orchestrating bloody clashes in which 1,200 people died. If Kenyatta were to win the election, Kenya would become the second country after Sudan to have a sitting president facing trial at the International Criminal Court. (Thomas Escritt)
