By Own Correspondent – Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas from Ghana was awarded the German Africa Prize (Deutscher Afrika-Preis 2010) on October 6, 2010 in Berlin. Dr. Ibn Chambas was the first president of the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) after having served previously as its Secretary General. The prize is awarded annually by the German-African Foundation. Since 1993, the Deutsche Afrika-Stiftung has identified annually “modern Africans” whose outstanding personalities have contributed in a remarkable way to the continent’s well-being. Especially noted would be their involvement in the fields of human rights, peace, democracy or sustainable development. Dr. Christiana... Continue Reading
By Nelson Banya – Zimbabwe’s power-sharing government expires in four months and should not be extended, leading to new elections by mid-2011, President Robert Mugabe said in comments broadcast on Friday. Mugabe has been forced to share power with his rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, since last year under a deal worked out after disputed elections in 2008. In comments aired on state television as he addressed his ZANU-PF supporters, Mugabe said the country should hold a referendum on a new constitution early in 2011 and elections shortly afterwards. “After a referendum then we have elections by mid next year.... Continue Reading
By Nangayi Guyson – Niamey – The former number two in Niger’s ruling junta, Colonel Abdoulaye Badie, has been arrested at the military headquarters in Niamey, a military source said on Thursday. “Colonel Badie was arrested yesterday afternoon and is under detention in military headquarters in Niamey,” the military source said. “He is being interrogated,” the source added, without explaining the reasons for the arrest. Badie was permanent secretary to the junta under General Salou Djibo, leader of the coup which overthrew Niger’s president Mamadou Tandja in February. He also served as chief military quartermaster. Djibo issued a decree abolishing... Continue Reading
By Own Correspondent – By a margin of a single vote, the German bid for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council succeeded in the first round of voting.“This vote is a sign of great confidence and of course also a gesture of faith in the work of the Federal Republic of Germany,” Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said after the election. He added that everything possible would be done in the next two years to warrant the trust that had been placed in Germany. Voting was conducted by secret ballot, with a two-thirds majority needed for each of the seats... Continue Reading
By Novell Zwange – JOHANNESBURG – The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) yesterday unanimously adopted a motion calling on the AU to allow it to undertake its own independent election observation missions. According to a decision of the Executive Council of the AU, adopted on 1st February this year in Addis Ababa, PAP is to be part of joint election observation missions with other AU organ under a centralized budget managed by the Department of Political Affairs of the AU Commission. The motion called on the AU to rescind its decision which stopped the PAP from fielding its own missions. Moving the... Continue Reading
