Africa

April 26, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - "I am deeply concerned by the ongoing crisis in Zimbabwe. Since the elections on March 29, the ruling party has failed to release the results of the presidential election, refused to heed the will of the people of Zimbabwe, and engaged in an unacceptable campaign of repression and intimidation. Instead of the change that the people of Zimbabwe voted for, we've seen opposition and civil society offices raided, opposition supporters sent to torture camps, and communities turned into “no go zones” while the ruling party unleashes brutality without restraint.    » read more »

Document shows that U.S. could also offer removal from state sponsors of terrorism list to Sudan in exchange for allowing some peacekeepers into Darfur region

April 21, 2008 -- WASHINGTON — Last week, the New York Times reported on a Bush administration document showing that it could offer normalized relations with the Sudanese regime and removal from the state sponsors of terrorism list if Khartoum allows Thai and Nepalese peacekeepers into the Darfur region.    » read more »

21 April 2008 -- Africa’s climate, more than that of any other continent, is generally uniform. That’s the result of the position of the continent in the tropical zone, the impact of cool ocean currents, and the absence of mountain chains serving as climatic barriers.

But across Africa, the landscape is changing. The snowy caps of Mount Kilimanjaro are melting and the shorelines of lakes Chad, Tanganyika and Victoria are receding.

Mount Kilimanjaro: Photo by mailliw (CC)    » read more »

Chicago, IL -- April 18, 2008 -- "I am deeply concerned by reports that the Bush Administration is negotiating a normalization of relations with the Government of Sudan that would include removing it from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This would reportedly be in exchange for Khartoum's agreement to allow Thai and Nepalese troops to participate in the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur.

Barack Obama speaks at Darfur Rally, April 2006: Photo by Toucanradio (CC)

This reckless and cynical initiative would reward a regime in Khartoum that has a record of failing to live up to its commitments.    » read more »

21 April 2008 -- A Somali human rights group says two days of fighting in the capital, Mogadishu, has killed 81 people.

The Elman Human Rights organization says another 119 people were wounded in fighting Saturday and Sunday between Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian troops.

Map of Somalia: Map courtesy CIA World Factbook

The chairman of the rights group, Sudan Ali Ahmed condemned the use of artillery shells in residential areas of Mogadishu.

There was no independent verification of the death toll, but residents had reported escalating clashes since Saturday. Witnesses say they have seen scores of bodies in the streets of Mogadishu.    » read more »

Bipartisan resolution calls for comprehensive peace process to end violence

April 15, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed a resolution authored by U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, calling on governments, multinational bodies, and non-state actors in Chad, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Sudan to implement a comprehensive peace process to end the violence.

Women by White Nile, Khartoum, Sudan: Photo by Arne Hoel / World Bank (CC)    » read more »

April 4, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on Zimbabwe's presidential and parliamentary elections:

"On March 29th, millions of Zimbabweans went to the polls to choose their president and parliament. The resulting defeat of the ruling ZANU-PF party in parliamentary elections underscores the Zimbabwean people's rejection of the failed policies and the widespread suffering caused by Robert Mugabe's repressive rule.

Robert Mugabe protest balloon: Photo by Sokwanele (CC)    » read more »

02 April 2008 -- The House of Representatives has approved bipartisan legislation by a vote of 308 to 116 to provide $50 billion over the next five years for U.S. efforts to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS around the world, and fight tuberculosis and malaria. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill, similar legislation is pending in the Senate.

PEPFAR

The measure extends the program proposed by President Bush in 2003 called PEPFAR (President's Emergency Program For AIDS Relief) for another five years, and goes significantly above the $30 billion initially proposed by the White House.    » read more »

Warns Against Complacency

1 April 2008 -- ACCRA—One year after witnessing the horrific Savelugu Guinea worm outbreak in northern Ghana, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter returned to Accra today to congratulate the national program for its recent effective efforts in reducing the incidence of Guinea worm disease.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter addresses Ghanaian children outside Savelugu Hospital: Jimmy Carter addresses Ghanaian children outside Savelugu Hospital, asking "Who here has had Guinea worm disease?" President Carter visited the parched community of Savelugu to meet with dozens of Guinea worm disease victims.    » read more »

April 1, 2008 -- ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. -- Senator John McCain today issued the following statement on the current situation in Zimbabwe:

"Our ideals must animate our foreign policy and that includes support for democratic forces in closed societies. The opposition in Zimbabwe has endured repression, hardship, beatings and imprisonment.

Senator John McCain: Photo by Dan Bennett (CC)    » read more »

United Nations relief officials say nearly a million people across Southern Africa have suffered damaging effects from recent floods, cyclones and heavy rains.

The officials say severe weather that began last October has disrupted the lives of about 987,000 people.

They say Madagascar has been hardest hit, with more than 332,000 people affected by several cyclones and floods.

The floods and cyclones have destroyed homes, roads and crops across the region. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says many families are living in temporary shelters, while others have lost their cattle and livelihoods.

The U.N. says the worst weather is over for another year, but problems could persist through the end of April.    » read more »

28 March 2008 -- Somali officials say a U.S. military aircraft has crashed in a coastal area south of the capital, Mogadishu.

Local government officials say the unmanned plane crashed Friday in the Lower Shabelle region, near the town of Marka. Witnesses say the aircraft came from the direction of the ocean.

Security forces have taken possession of the aircraft, which is equipped with video and data devices.

It is not clear what caused the crash.

Unmanned drones often fly over Somalia gathering information on possible terrorist targets for the U.S. military.

Earlier this month, U.S. planes carried out an air raid on the southern Somali town of Dobley, where the U.S. said al-Qaida members were hiding.    » read more »

03 March 2008 -- There was a time when African farmers planted the same crops season after season. But several non-traditional crops are now taking root on farms across the continent because of growing research, education and the emergence of new markets. One of them, allanblackia, has caught the attention of food manufacturers because of the high-quality oil in its seeds. .    » read more »

04 March 2008 -- The onset of a water crisis in Kenya at the time of political instability and ethnic unrest has threatened pastoralists in the far northern and southeastern reaches of the country. The anti-poverty agency Action Aid Kenya has sounded an alert about the shortages and their potential consequences, not only for the survival of grazing herds, but also for the livelihood of the herdsmen. Action Aid international communications coordinator for Africa Eric Mgendi says the drought warning signs are cropping up far beyond Kenya’s borders.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, March 2, 2008 - The World Bank released the following statement today on the signing of the agreement in Kenya:    » read more »