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2013-06-19 - http://www.pambazuka.com Oxfam has been making a difference in Chad since 2004. But as food prices continue to rise and conflicts both in neighbouring Sudan and Chad itself take their toll the situation has become even more serious. That’s why we’re refocusing our strategy and partnering with the Regional Centre, Oxfam International affiliates and other NGOs to offer a more coherent approach. And we need you to deliver it.

The death anniversary of Dr. Walter Rodney is upon us and still no closure 2013-06-12 - http://www.pambazuka.comThe person suspected of killing Rodney is reported to have died in 2002. However the Rodney family and his supporters still want to know who was behind the assassination of this great man

Official government statement read by Foreign Secretary 2013-06-11 - http://www.mwakilishi.comGovernment acknowledges that Kenyans were subject to torture and other forms of ill treatment at the hands of the colonial administration, but refuses to accept liability for the atrocities

2013-06-11 - https://picasaweb.google.com/105204429535501404371Tunisians are concerned that the uprising that overthrew the Ben Ali dictatorship has failed to bear any meaningful result. The ruling coalition is only interested in its own survival and national institutions are very weak

2013-06-11 - https://picasaweb.google.com/109983545163218967836It is generally held that decolonisation of Africa ended with the fall of apartheid in South Africa in 1994. But the truth is that Britain, France, Spain and Portugal continue to colonise a number African islands

An analysis of Canada’s North-South Institute’s ‘Governing Natural Resources for Africa’s Development’ conference 2013-06-11 - http://www.pambazuka.orgThere seems to be an unspoken foreign goal to prevent control of mining policy throughout Africa from falling into the hands of nationalist, pro-community political forces who will promote a vigorous resource nationalism agenda

2013-06-11 - https://picasaweb.google.com/116020387809321388218The plan looks fine, but in practice it means Kenya would become a see-no-evil, hear-no-evil haven for tax cheats and money launderers, governed by lax regulation that puts all the power in the hands of the multinational corporations

Mineral resources and the quest for strategic advantage guide western foreign policy on the continent 2013-06-12 - http://www.pambazuka.orgCapitalism has failed to provide adequate housing, jobs, medical, educational and other services to many people in the West. As well, China’s global influence is rising. These are some of the reasons behind the US quest for mineral resources and strategic dominance in Africa and Middle East

2013-06-12 - https://picasaweb.google.com/candelloveHumanitarian intervention provides the U.S. the perfect ideological cover and internal rationalization to continue as the global ‘gendarme’ of the capitalist order. America should leave the rest of the world alone

2013-06-12 Today, June 13, 2013 is 33 years since world-renowned historian, academic and political activist Walter Rodney was killed on Bent Street in Georgetown, Guyana. To this moment there has been no credible enquiry into this dastardly act of cowardice. In the interest of justice, it is high time that every Guyanese and every decent human being the world over renew the repeated call made by his family, the WPA, and activists around the world for an impartial, independent, international enquiry into the circumstances surrounding his murder. WHO WAS WALTER RODNEY Because most of the population today was either very young, or were not born as yet when he was killed, I have included a brief timeline taken from his biography. 1. He was born in Georgetown, Guyana, on March 23, 1942. 2. He came from a humble working class family. 3. Won scholarship’s to Queens College, to the UWI, to School of Oriental and African Studies in London. 4. At age 24 completed Ph.D. with honors in African history. 5. His Ph.D dissertation was published in 1970 by Oxford University Press with the title, ‘A History of the Upper Guinea Coast, 1545-1800’. 6. An active partisan of the African liberation struggle (throughout his life) 7. Professor at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (1966-1967) 8. Professor at the University of the West Indies (Mona 1968) 9. He was expelled from Jamaica in 1968 10. Professor at the University of Dar es Salaam (1968-1974) 11. Published ‘Groundings with my Brothers’ (1969) 12. Published ‘How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’ (1972) 13. Came home to Guyana (1974) to take up the appointment as Chair of the History Department at the University of Guyana 14. Burnham government (1974) rescinded his appointment at the University of Guyana 15. He emerged as resistance leader in Guyana against dictatorial rule (1974-1980) 16. Together with others formed the resistance movement in Guyana, Working People’s Alliance (1974) 17. Completed the manuscript, ‘History of the Guianese Working People 1881-1905’ (1980). This manuscript published in 1981.

2013-06-12 Before they can celebrate ‘democracy day’, Nigerians deserve to know the truth about Moshood Abiola’s stolen election twenty years ago which led directly to the country’s worst dictatorship, that of Sani Abacha

2013-06-12 June 12, the day 20 years ago when a national election was dramatically annulled, reminds Nigerians of the extra mile some of their opportunistic compatriots could go for self and group-serving purposes

2013-06-12 A recent conference on the theme ‘50 years after the founding of the OAU: Africa must unite or perish’ looked at strategies for achieving Africa’s integration. Focusing on past successes and reviving Ethiopianism are among some of the ways forward

2013-06-12 The African Union and local judicial systems in Africa appear to support the impunity of African leaders who commit crimes against humanity, lock up journalists and civil rights leaders whilst exercising a double standards that fails to commit to accountability and genuine justice

Reasonable discussion of Ethiopia’s renaissance dam 2013-06-12 Tensions and misinformation have arisen surrounding Ethiopia’s renaissance dam. To douse the flames of tensions an International Panel of Experts and their report must be allowed to promote trust and dialogue among the parties

2013-06-12 The recent court ruling ordering President Mugabe to hold elections by July 31 strangely never took account of the enormous amount of legal work that needs to be done before polls can take place under the new constitution

2013-06-12 The former Land and Freedom fighters, otherwise more popularly known as ‘Mau Mau’ have won compensation from the British government for the brutal mistreatment they endured. However, in Kenya many of those who have become Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) since the violent elections of 2008 continue to languish in displaced peoples camps

2013-06-12 New legislation in regards to local and international NGOs in Kenya is likely to exacerbate the mutual suspicion between the governments and NGOs

2013-06-12 Power changed hands in Sierra Leone, but has not meant improvements in the quality of life of ordinary people in terms of access to the basics of life. The people must not relent in demanding services

An open letter to the French Cultural Centre, Nairobi 2013-06-12 Israeli cultural and academic institutions, as well as cultural products like films, directly contribute to maintaining, defending or whitewashing the oppression of Palestinians, as the Jewish nation deliberately tries to boost its image internationally