I remember reading about this first about a year ago or so. Glad to see that word of the innovation is spreading.
Ushahidi – Africa’s Gift to Silicon Valley – How to Track a Crisis – NYTimes.com.
FT on US intelligence: great article
The Financial Times has a great article on US intelligence. I especially like the chart depicting how the various intelligence agencies relate to each other. Apparently, they still don’t relate very well…
FT.com / Comment / Analysis – US intelligence: Tribal warfare.
Commonwealth Writers’ Prize 2010 regional shortlists unveiled | RobAroundBooks
Commonwealth Writers’ Prize 2010 regional shortlists unveiled | RobAroundBooks.
I would love to hear comments from anyone who has read these books…
AFRICA
Best Book
- Trespass by Dawn Garisch. Country: South Africa. Publisher: Kwela Books.
- The Double Crown by Marié Heese. Country: South Africa. Country: Human & Rousseau.
- The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Country: Nigeria. Publisher: Fourth Estate.
- Eyo by Abidemi Sanusi. Country: Nigeria. Publisher: WordAlive Publishers.
- Tsamma Season by Rosemund Handler. Country: South Africa. Publisher: Penguin.
- Refuge by Andrew Brown. Country: South Africa. Publisher: Zebra Press.
- Kings of the Water by Mark Behr. Country: South Africa. Publisher: Penguin.
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Best First Book
- I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani. Country: Nigeria. Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson(?)
- The Shape of Him by Gill Schierhout. Country: South Africa. Publisher: Jonathan Cape.
- The Shadow of a Smile by Kachi Ozumba. Country Nigeria. Publisher: Alma Books.
- Come Sunday by Isla Morley. Country: South Africa. Publisher: Sceptre.
- Sleepers Wake by Alistair Morgan. Country: South Africa. Publisher: Penguin.
- Jelly Dog Days by Erica Emdon. Country: South Africa. Publisher: Penguin.
- Harmattan Rain by Ayesha Harruna Attah. Country: Ghana. Publishers: Per Ankh Books.
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An article by one of our majors
Elizabeth Trammell is also writing her honors thesis on a similar subject.
More problems at the top in Nigeria
So, apparently, President Yar’Adua was secretively brought back into Nigeria. And now some people are questioning the authority of acting President Jonathan.
allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Power Play Rocks Aso
Abuja — THERE were more questions than answers about happenings at the nation’s seat of power, the Aso Rock, yesterday.The signs of cleavages and outright disloyalty to the Acting President were glaring. This may have even landed the Commander, Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Abdul Mustapha a verbal query.
BBC News – Military coup ousts Niger president
Not sure that West Africa needs any more political instability…
Military coup ousts Niger president
The president was seized in a gun battle in Niger’s capital, NiameyA coup has taken place in Niger and the president has been captured after a gun battle in the capital, Niamey.
In a television announcement, a spokesman for the plotters said Niger’s constitution had been suspended and all state institutions dissolved.
The country was now being led by a group called the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD), the spokesman said.
President Mamadou Tandja is believed to be in captivity at a military barracks.
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Frightening. And this is a real fish. The blobfish.
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Democracy in West Africa Take 2
So, as I posted last week, two stories to watch are the electoral cycles in Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria. And two very interesting developments have taken place over the last week. First, “Goodluck Jonathan” has become the official acting president of Nigeria. This is significant for two reasons. One is that it means that Yar’Adua has truly lost his grip on power after (now) more than 80 days of sick leave. A second is that Jonathan is from the South and there is a sort of gentleman’s agreement in the main party there that leadership will rotate between the South and North. And many in the North expected to get two terms out of Yar’Adua. So, will Jonathan step aside in the upcoming election, or will he use his position as acting President to gain more authority. Thus far, he has been cautious.
Meanwhile, much more serious things have been happening in Cote d’Ivoire where Laurent Gbagbo dissolved the government. This apparently stops all plans at having an upcoming presidential election. And members of the opposition are reportedly saying that they no longer recognize Gbagbo as president. Gbagbo has never demonstrated an ability to work across political lines. In many respects, he has played an important role in his country’s decline from being a potential economic “lion” to being just a great disappointment.
No office hours Tuesday, February 9
What the title says.
Democracy in West Africa
A couple stories to watch:
In Nigeria, elections in the southeastern Anambra state, were marred by allegations of fraud and claims of disenfranchisement. The concern is what this might signal for next year’s Presidential election. Fortunately, the election itself was largely peaceful… this time.
Meanwhile, in Cote d’Ivoire, many are claiming they are being disenfranchised from upcoming presidential elections.
These are two of the most important countries in West Africa. The region as a whole could prosper were greater political stability to come to these two countries. What happens in the 16 months in those two countries may set the political trajectory for the region for the next five to ten years.
Mike Nelson 