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Opposition Khalifa Sall elected mayor of Dakar
Sunday, 19th April 2009
Khalifa Sall, member of Senegal's opposition Socialist Party, was elected mayor of Dakar by local councillors a month after the governing Parti Démocratique Sénégalais (PDS) suffered a defeat in the local elections. The former minister of commerce received 81 of the 100 votes cast, comfortably beating Karim Wade, son of President Abdoulaye Wade. The local elections marked Karim Wade's formal entry into Senegalese politics, although he already acts as a presidential adviser and heads the powerful Agence Nationale de l’Organisation de la Conférence Islamique (ANOCI). His efforts to gain the mayoral seat have fuelled speculation that he hopes to lead the PDS for the 2012 presidential elections. Dakar had been viewed as a PDS stronghold. Khalifa Sall will replace outgoing mayor Pape Diop, member of the PDS and president of the Senate. |
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COUNTRY:
Senegal
SOURCE:
Jeune Afrique
THEMES:
Elections
Political Parties
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SADC leaders suspend Madagascar
Tuesday, 31st March 2009
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has suspended Madagascar for what it describes as an unconstitutional change of leadership. After meeting to discuss the report of a fact-finding mission to Madagascar, the regional body called on Andry Rajoelina to vacate the presidency immediately. SADC Executive Director Tomaz Salomao said: "The extraordinary summit suspends Madagascar from all community institutions and organs until the return of the country to constitutional order." Former president Marc Ravalomanana resigned when the army stormed the presidential offices on March 17th 2009. Military leaders installed political rival Andry Rajoelina, sacked mayor of the capital Antananarivo, at the head of a transitional government. The African Union (AU) suspended Madagascar on March 20th, denouncing what it called a coup, and gave the country six months to hold elections. Some Western governments have suspended non-humanitarian aid to the country. |
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COUNTRY:
Madagascar
SOURCE:
BuaNews
THEMES:
Diplomacy (&/or Regional Security)
Elections
Regional Organisations |
Dalai Lama ban halts conference
Tuesday, 24th March 2009
A peace conference, scheduled to be held in South Africa, was postponed indefinitely amid controversy surrounding the refusal of Pretoria to grant Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, a visa. The conference was to discuss how football can fight racism and xenophobia ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Irvin Khoza, one of the conference’s committee members said, “The convenors have... decided in the spirit of peace to postpone the South African peace conference to ensure it is held under conducive conditions”. A government spokesperson said the visit of the Dalai Lama would draw attention away from the World Cup onto Tibetan issues. The decision to refuse the Dalai Lama a visa caused public outcry, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu accusing the government of “shamelessly succumbing to Chinese pressure. Chinese officials in Pretoria previously warned the government that allowing the Dalai Lama into South Africa would harm bilateral relations. |
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COUNTRY:
South Africa
SOURCE:
BBC Website
THEMES:
China (Chinese interests in Africa)
Corruption / Anti-corruption
Foreign Investment |
DRC signs peace deal with Tutsi rebels
Tuesday, 24th March 2009
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) igned a peace deal with Tutsi rebel group, the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP). It is hoped the deal, signed by was signed by International and Regional Cooperation minister Raymond Tshibanda and new CNDP chief Desire Kamanzi, will bring an end to hostilities in the eastern region of Kivu. The agreement paves the way for the CNDP to “transform itself into a political party” and for the formation of a local police force. Tensions in North Kivu reached their peak in October 2008, when the CNDP, then led by General Laurent Nkunda, launched an offensive against government forces, causing over 10,000 people to flee their homes. Since then, tensions have arisen within the ranks of the CNDP. In January 2009, General Bosco Ntaganda led a breakaway faction that declared an end to hostilities with the Congolese government. General Nkunda was arrested by the Rwandan army in January 2009 on charges of war crimes. |
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COUNTRY:
Congo
SOURCE:
The Mail and Guardian
THEMES:
Conflict
Defence
Natural Resources |
Government admits setbacks in Senegal
Tuesday, 24th March 2009
Senegal's opposition coalition claimed victory in local elections that were widely seen as a test of the governing party and its leader President Abdoulaye Wade. After the release of preliminary results, the government conceded the loss of several large cities, including the capital Dakar, but said it had retained control of most local authorities. Serigne Mbaye Thiam, a spokesman for the opposition coalition Benno Siggil Senegaal, Wolof for "united to boost Senegal", described the result as a "rejection of Wade, of his system and of his plans for the Senegalese people". |
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COUNTRY:
Senegal
SOURCE:
The Mail and Guardian
THEMES:
Elections
Political Parties
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