AfricaPundit's Regional Briefing: 2004-08-11

Winds of Change.NET Regional Briefings run on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, and sometimes Fridays too. This Regional Briefing focuses on Africa, courtesy of AfricaPundit.

TOP TOPICS

• In July, the US Congress declared the situation in Darfur a "genocide" and threatened sanctions against Sudan.

• Ahmed Ghailani, a Tanzanian al Qaeda leader wanted for the 1998 African embassy bombings, was arrested in Pakistan. Following the bombings, Ghailani spent time in Liberia where, with the cooperation of then-President Charles Taylor, he used West African diamonds to help finance terrorist operations.

• Good trade news for Africa: Southern Cross notes that the Doha round of WTO trade talks -- mandating the reduction of agricultural tariffs -- is back on track.

Other Topics Today Include: Darfur news and comment; "genocide" or "widespread killing"; Arab solidarity and anti-Semitism; War on terror news; Uganda news; Brain drain and farmer flight.

• The UN has passed a resolution asking Sudan to disarm Arab militia's in Darfur within 30 days, but does not threaten sanctions against Sudan if it fails to comply. AfricaBlog sees more evidence of UN toothlessness.

• Andrew warns that time is of the essence in dealing with Darfur.

• The EU has failed to declare the situation in Darfur a genocide. Black Star Journal isn't pleased.

• Abiola seems unimpressed as well.

• AfricaBlog doesn't understand the crucial distiction between genocide and the "widespread, silent and slow killing and village burning of a fairly large scale." Now that's what I call nuance.

• Rajan Rishyakaran reports on recent Russian arms contracts with the Sudanese government.

• More evidence that the Sudanese government is behind the Darfur genocide.

• In a strong expression of Arab solidarity, the members of the Arab League appear ready to defend Sudan against any international censure.

• Maybe the Arab League is well-disposed toward Sudan because some of the Darfur rebels might be supported by THE JEWS! Abiola has comments.

• Of course, be sure to check out The Passion of the Present for comprehensive coverage of the Darfur crisis.

War on Terror

• Speaking of Sudan, Mostly Africa noticed that a few US special forces have been there hunting al Qaeda recently.

• In homeland security news, Abiola noted the recent arrest of a South African national trying to board an airplane with an altered passport. Part of an al Qaeda dry run?

Uganda

• The Ugandan army says that they nearly caught up with Joseph Kony, leader of the long running rebellion in northern Uganda.

• Meanwhile, Head Heeb finds evidence that Kony's Lord's Resistance Army may be fizzling out, in part because of the changing political situation in southern Sudan.

Finally...

• Kenyan Pundit has an interesting post on African "brain drain," i.e., the tendency of the best-educated Africans to seek careers in highly-developed countries, particularly the West. What's interesting is that brain drain also occurs within Africa: 50% of Kenyan graduates move to South Africa.

• As another example, take Zimbabwe. Its commercial farmers are now moving to Zambia, Nigeria, Angola and Mozambique in order to escape the misrule of Robert Mugabe. I'd say they're lucky if they can leave.