The African International by AfricaWorld Newspaper

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june/july

2014

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African-Chinese economic relationship African women in the 21st century Free movement of people

AFTER MANDELA

what next?

Issues in Leadership and Racism

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In this EDITION June/July 2014

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AFTER MANDELA WHAT NEXT?

Issues in Leadership and Racism

AFRICAN-CHINESE ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP

ECONOMY IN AFRICA IS GROWING STRONGER

THE DRY BRAIN

THE NEW PAN-AFRICAN MAGAZNE

EGYPT’S PROGRESSION TOWARD AN ECONOMICALLY SUCCESSFUL SOCIETY

FREE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE

AFRICA WORLD CUP

BETTY MAKONI EDITOR Ukachukwu Okorie EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Cristina Casabón Lylian Fotabong

THE GAY DEBATE

STRATEGIC DIRECTOR Abdul Yusuf ART DIRECTOR Mirco Mascarin

THE NEW

PAN-AFRICAN

MAGAZINE UKACHUKWU

OKORIE

ith a deep sense of pleasure and fulfilment, I welcome you to the readership club of this wonderful pan-African magazine. In this age of rapid globalization, especially now that Africa and its resources are becoming increasingly more important in oiling the wheels of global economy, we are compelled to follow up. Why do we follow up and what is the vision of ‘The African International?’ It is crystal clear that Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic stability, combined with a favourable global growth climate offers opportunities that the region has begun to exploit. There is more work to be done to match the gain in macro growth at the micro level, which will accelerate progress on the Millennium Development Goals. We’re aware of the role Africa plays especially in this age and we intend to help spread an ideology that spurs self-confidence and unity among Africans, particularly black people throughout the world. The African International shall champion the interest of all black people around the world, with the aim to bring together, through political and socio-economic reports, the vitality and indispensability of the African continent. We do have the desire to cover all frontiers of the world starting from Dublin where we will be publishing all reports from our media contacts in the African continent and around the world. No community of African descent will be left out, whether they are in Iran, Andaman Island, Turkey, Colombia or here in Europe. Finally, we intend to help bridge the gap created by colonialism and continuous stereotypical reports of Africa and its people. We shall also exhibit an editorial policy that is Africa driven, supporting through media reports those who love our motherland and informing the world about those interested in our progression. 3 | tAI

Theme TITLE

Ukachukwu Okorie

Issues in Leadership and Racism

AFTER MANDELA WHAT NEXT? 2 | tAI

AFTER MANDELA Politics

ince the peaceful interment of Nelson Mandela in his ancestral home of Qunu in Eastern Cape, much of the bigger question has been; what will actually be the fate of South Africa after the eternal departure of this icon and benevolent freedom fighter especially on the issue of leadership and race relations? To all - citizens and otherwise - particularly analysts, there seem to be a cloud of uncertainty staring before us like an unreachable seashore. It can be easier understood to say that South Africa is like ‘a pregnant woman worried about the gender of the unborn child whereas there are facilities to determine it.’ There is no doubt on what is enveloping this beautiful but fractured country after decades of colour bar. As a matter of fact, there are pertinent questions that lurk around begging for answers for all and sundry. Some will possibly include: Can a kind but decisive leader emerge to right the wrongs of the apartheid? Will the decisive decision tilt towards the Malema pledge of indigenisation policies especially the mines, thereby going the Zimbabwe way? What about landless blacks - Are we expecting scenes where indigenous South Africans swarm into white control farms and occupying them? Is the ‘Rainbow Nation’ as it is fondly called going to continue to it’s inconvenient truth or will the bull be taken by the horn? Honestly, in the aftermath of Madiba’s eternal exit, South Africa seem more adrift than it use to be at any time since the first black leader retired from the presidency in 1999. In a compelling manner, a South African social commentator said the country is lacking a moral compass, and deficient in respectable leadership, which suffers from underwhelming accomplishment and a widespread sense of malaise. On 21 September 1953, during a presidential address to ANC conference, Mandela seemed to define what it means to be free as some would think, “There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain tops of our desires.” Let us face the fact: many South Africans have lost hope in the person of their current leader, Jacob Zuma, before his ratings nosedived especially after Madiba’s death. One can only imagine a democratically elected president booed by his own people on an important international event where global leaders gathered. President Zuma was booed and almost embarrassed on an event he was a chief host – Tata Madiba’s burial ceremony.

So much of South Africa’s despondency results from a blanket distrust of President Jacob Zuma’s political direction, economic policies and integrity. Mr. Zuma was tainted from the start of his presidency in 2009 by suspicions of complicity in a cash-for-arms scandal in the 1990s, when he was Minister of Defense. President Jacob Zuma lost it before the eyes of white South Africans because of his antecedents and the manner of his rise to the throne in Pretoria, whereas the militancy of his assumption to the presidency energized majority of black South Africans who were on the lower rung of the economic ladder. But how have ordinary South Africans fared under a Zuma leadership? In his introduction to the African National Congress 2014 Manifesto, President Jacob Zuma

Notwithstanding the increasing height of criticism of crime, poverty, corruption and inequality,president Zuma remain adamant, saying it has a “good story to tell” South African voters. wrote: “The lives of our people have vastly improved and South Africa is a much better place than it was before in 1994. Our struggle has now reached the second phase, in which we will implement radical socio-economic transformation to meaningfully address poverty, unemployment and inequality.” Although verdict from majority of people will say otherwise, however, statistics could back gradual progress since the last 20 years democracy reigned in South Africa. According to a research for Africa Check, a fact analytical online outfit, embarked by researchers Kate Wilkinson, Nechama Brodie and Sintha Chiumia, “In 2009 the number of contact crimes was 1,407 per 100,000 people. In 2012 the number of contact crimes was 1,233 per 100,000 people.” As contact crimes remain the most feared in the rainbow nation, Zuma’s African National Congress, during the last general election, bragged about their leadership on crime reduction, Contact crimes include assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, murder, attempted murder, common assault, sexual crimes, common robbery and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Although President Jacob Zuma and his lieutenants who now form a large chunk of the new elite may beat their chests about progress in the country in the last 20 years. Many citizens, particularly the 13 million jobless South Africans, have numerous queries for those at the helm of leadership. 5 | tAI

Whatever achievement Zuma’s ANC records, even with a victory over rivals – Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters, the fact is that there is now a class structure among the black population who as recent as in 1994, sang ‘Ubuntu’ as a chorus for all in a dream post apartheid society. Discontents over President Jacob Zuma’s leadership has touched vital places in the life of the country, even to the extent of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) dismissing the administration’s National Development Plan (NDP). They equated it to Thabo Mbeki’s neo-liberal Growth, Employment And Redistribution (GEAR) strategy. They went as far as their portal page to register their displeasure by writing: “The NDP fails to tackle the foundations of South Africa’s colonial economy and promises wholly unrealistic and unachievable goals, like its father, GEAR.” Although the loss of confidence in Zuma’s leadership may not take away leadership of the rainbow nation from the African National Congress in the nearest future but the truth is South Africans like Abraham Mthembu, who said after casting his ballot paper in Dublin on 30 April, 2014 “I voted for ANC, not Zuma”, cannot wait for the end of his leadership. On the issue of unity, is racism in South Africa not rife, given the fact that African National Congress (ANC) has been in power since the last twenty years? Despite Tata-Madiba endorsing a coalition against the right wing idea of a South Africa, having stopped them from thwarting the election, what has changed and what has not? The much respected ‘retired but never tired’ Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said as monitored by our sister publication ‘AfricaWorld Newspaper’, “It is a shame that the white community has not produced a leader who will say to white people, you don’t know how lucky you are that people will work for you and not kill you.” What we can learn from the liberal prelate is that racism does exist in South Africa. But how far are the impact and reality of post-apartheid racism? A clear example of racism kicking is practically found in Orania, a small whites only town, which

“How can whites only have a Town in a multi-ethnic country like South Africa which is still recovering from Apartheid? This is a silent form of Apartheid.”

Politics AFTER MANDELA was built in the 1990’s towards the end of Apartheid and is located on the banks of the Orange River surrounded by extended areas of the Karoo. Orania is a small speck on the map in the desert like Karoo region, situated on the dusty banks of the Orange River in Northern Cape Province. The core aim of this racist enclave is for Afrikaans and the Afrikaaner identity by keeping their language and culture alive. And proudly as defined, only those who define themselves as an Afrikaaner and identifies with Afrikaaner ethnicity is ushered a welcome in Orania. To cap it, in 2004, Orania introduced its own currency, the Ora. Seventy businesses are located in Orania. In Oranis, every job, from the top to manual labour, are filled by Afrikaaners; non-Afrikaaner workers are not permitted. Potgieter, the previous chairman of Orania, sums up the mood, “We do not want to be governed by people who are not Afrikaaners.” An angry resident of Cape Town, Mike Wadula, could not hold his anger, “This is intolerable. How can whites only have a Town in a multi-ethnic country like South Africa which is still recovering from Apartheid? This is a silent form of Apartheid.” Beating his chest in an electioneering campaign time, President Jacob Zuma, who led celebrations on a Sunday to mark the 20th anniversary of post-apartheid democracy in South Africa, insisted they are closer to their dream of a multi-racial nation despite stubborn inequality, poverty and corruption. “Our country has done well, we all have a good story to tell. We have moved closer to our cherished dream of a united non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa,” he said at the ‘Freedom Day’ ceremony held in the gardens of the Union Buildings, the seat of government in the capital Pretoria. However, ‘Red October’s’ Sunnette Bridges will

be quick to puncture Jacob Zuma’s boast of progress in the land he reigns. “South Africa is burning since 20 years”, shouts Ms Bridges, who along with many disenchanted whites formed ‘Red October’, a movement in favour of white South Africans. According to the founders of the movement, “Red October is a movement dedicated to raising awareness about the inhumane slaughter and oppression of Ethnic Minorities in South Africa.” “Despite the fact that this Afrikaaner group claims white people are victims of discrimination, black people continue to bear the brunt of inequality”, an anonymous South African said during a friendly debate. According to the South Africa Human Rights

Commission, racism remain a cancer in the life of the rainbow country, and 80% of the 10,000 human rights complaints it receives annually border on racism. At 74%, Mpumalanga had the highest number of racism complaints in the third quarter of the 2013-2014 financial year. The Free State generated 69% of racism complaints, followed by North West at 55%. KwaZulu-Natal was the source of 55% of the complaints, Northern Cape 44%, Limpopo 43% and Western Cape 29%. The commission did not provide data for Gauteng. Andile Mngxitama opined in the BBC that South Africans live in racism. “Racism is not over, South Africa remains a white racist country”. The Economic Freedom Fighter said, “Since 1994, question bothering on racism has been avoided. 20 years on, can you imagine, only 7% of land has 6 | tAI

gone back to black people? The African National Congress even inspired police to kill striking miners of Marakana to protect white capitalism.” Another front of racism and lack of dignity for man can be found among those on the lower rung of the working class, particularly the domestic workers. Although Mytle Witbooi, from the South Africa Domestic Workers Union cautioned but she preached unity and emulation of Nelson Mandela. A colleague, Monica Ntuli bemoaned their woes, “Our employers don’t recognise us after raising their children.” Worse of it is the low wage of Black South Africans compared to their white counterparts. According to participants in ‘The Big Debate’, a South African anchored televised debates on national issues, the 350 years of apartheid has created a class structure that Blacks receive 13 cents to white’s 1and. What does South Africa need? Wiekus Kotze, from Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has said that the country need welfarist reform, and whites need to be open. According to Kay Sexwale, a political columnist, “In South Africa, they put a plaster on wounds, we need to talk and bring hope.” Some white South Africans even ‘dressed down’ their folks by reminding them of the need to come clean for progress to be achieved. ”We should be honest and whites must be humble for reconciliation”, Pierre De Vos, a University of Cape Town (UCT) Law Lecturer advised. Sisonke Msimang, a Scholar and Activist advised government to structure curriculum on how to deal with racism for cohesion while Pik Botha, a former foreign minister during apartheid, echoing Mandela’s views said, “It will be disaster to live or governed by violence. There are signs of racism but we must eradicate it.” Despite all these, can reconciliation come without reparation?

AFRICA IS GROWING Economy

Thanks to agreements between Africa and Asia

Jon Goikoetxea

THE ECONOMY IN AFRICA IS GROWING STRONGER

The economic challenges that Africa is considering could bear fruit by 2060, the date on which it is estimated that more than half of the population (1.1 billion people) will belong to the middle class.

eveloping countries from Asia and Africa have had an exponential growth in recent years. Much of this is due to the rise of the middle class in Asian countries like India and China who are increasingly demanding African basic products, and at the same time, the economic progress of sub-Saharan countries who demand Asian goods.

als to India. Meanwhile, the sub-Saharan area imports from these Asian countries products such as textiles, electrical machinery, medicines and cosmetics.

Many cooperative agreements are happening between Africa and Asia. For instance, China and Africa have ties since the Cold War. In fact today, according to the World Bank, more than 700 Chinese companies do their business life According to Harry Broadman, Economic Ad- in Africa. viser on Africa at the World Bank said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;during the past decade many countries in the sub-Sa- For Shu Zhan, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanharan region have achieved significant economic development. During this period, 34% of the population lived in countries that have reached an annual growth of over 4.5%, this without being oil-producing countries. For this 2014, International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts economic growth in that area of approximately 6% and up to 7 or 8% for the next yearâ&#x20AC;?. This reflects the fact that the economy in Africa is increasingly important and the rest of the world is aware of this. According to the World Bank, six of ten nations with a positive increase in their economic figures over the last decade are in Africa.

da, cooperation agreements Africa-Asia have grown and may increase further in the future. China currently maintains support for Rwanda in the areas of infrastructure, health, education, agriculture and technology.

Two of the Asian countries that have doubled the annual rate of African imports and exports are China and India. Africa exports mainly oil and raw materials to China and non-oil miner-

Much of the technology and telecommunications market in the world belongs to Asia. Increasingly, companies like Samsung, Huawei, LG and Sony dominate in many homes around 7 | tAI

the globe and Africa is no exception. In 1999 only 3% of the Kenyan population owned a mobile phone; today it is believed that the number increased to a staggering 93%. This increase is because in 2007, the largest telecommunications company in Kenya, Safaricom, introduced M-PESA service, branchless banking system, which allows users to make payments by instant messages, send and receive money, order taxis and buy groceries. This E-Banking system has helped the Kenyan economy in several ways, apart from the obvious advantages such as ease of handling and controlling money with just a button. The most important advantage that the World Bank found, is that M-PESA users saves 12% more money than those who do not use the system, thus improving the quality of life and economy of Kenyans. The M-PESA service has begun to put into practice in other African countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Afghanistan. Maybe in a few years, technological agreements between Asia and Africa will help to improve this system in other continents. The economic challenges that Africa is considering could bear fruit by 2060, the date on which it is estimated that more than half of the population (1.1 billion people) will belong to the middle class.

Economy CHINA’S INVESTMENTS IN AFRICA

By Dunstan Ukaga

WHO IS AFRAID OF CHINA’S INVESTMENTS IN AFRICA?

n a visit to Beijing a couple of years ago, my communist party friend threw a bomb shell to me. What she told me worried me so much that I told her it was anti-African for the Chinese government to stipulate such rule. In fact, it was anti-people. The rule states that:’’people from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Niger, etc would not be offered employment…’’ I did not like this. The rule means there was a total employment ban on black people from mostly West Africa. I once attended a Nigerian meeting and heard tales of pains inflicted to Nigerians by Chinese police. I stayed in China, mindful of what brought me there and left peacefully. Back to Nigeria. I saw Chinese people hawk goods and services openly. Even in my neighborhood, I saw Chinese traders, reside, ride good cars, move about freely and enjoy the fun of living in Nigeria. There was no police stopping and searching them. There was no immigration asking for their papers. They were free like birds. Nigerians welcome them. Nigerians allow them to be in Nigeria. Nigerians do not take advantage of them. Nigerians however, are complaining that Chinese investors have ruined their markets and virtually taken over businesses and deals. Most ordinary Nigerians I have spoken to want Chinese goods to be standard qualities. Sadly enough how the National Standard Organization allows substandard Chinese goods to flood Nigerian markets is simply beyond our comprehension. In China, I met very good men and women. I met hardworking Northerners, tall and beautiful women whom I initially doubted were Chinese. In the south, everyone I met was industrious and looked towards having African business partners. If Chinese government creates a win-win situations for Africans in Chi-

na, then no one back home would habour hatred against the many Chinese who are doing their things in Africa. In an article published by Pambazuka News by Ndubisi Obiora entitled “Who’s Afraid of China In Africa?” the writer asserts: “Economic, political and security cooperation between China and Africa has grown exponentially in the last decade, presenting new opportunities and challenges for Africa. The need for Africans to understand China, and its motives for the enhanced engagement with Africa over the last decade, is now greater than ever before.” The rapidly evolving relationship between China and Africa is reflected in the evolution of African perceptions of China and its motives for engagement with Africa. For decades during the Cold War, the primary perception of China in much of Africa was as an ally against colonialism, neo-imperialism and Western domination, especially among left-wing circles. China was the alternate source to the Soviet Union of political, diplomatic and military assistance for African liberation movements. Post-liberation governments however, often had to contend with Sino-Soviet rivalry for influence as well as the vexed question of Taiwan. Chinese aid, particularly scholarships, were welcomed across Africa. In the eyes of many Africans, the Tan-Zam railway project established China’s profile as a friend and ally against Western neo-colonialism and the apartheid regime in South Africa. Chinese success in building a railway pooh-poohed by ‘Africa hands’ in the West was a turning point in Sino-African relations and led to wider recognition in Africa of China’s growing industrial and technological prowess. From the 1950s, Chinese business people from Hong Kong and Taiwan established trading ties with African counterparts. Taiwan and 8 | tAI

Hong Kong were widely known across Africa by the early 1970s as sources for cheap imports of textiles and consumer goods although often of dubious quality. In particular, traders from Southeastern Nigeria established elaborate trade networks with Hong Kong and Taiwan manufacturers and traders. By the 1970s, the Igbos of Nigeria had flooded the country with goods made in Taiwan and Hong Kong. However our focus now is The Peoples Republic of China (P.R.C) and her investments in Africa. Figures from China’s FDI Statistic Bulletin for the year to September last year (2013) show that it has increased its outbound FDI spending to a record $87.8bn, up 17% over 2012-13, in stark contrast to global foreign investments, which have declined by the same amount. The rate of Chinese state and private investments into the rest of the world has been a topic of hot debate given their ability to make use of their considerable capital and economic growth in a time that western nations have had to tighten their belts. This growth is further evidence that China is to be taken seriously as an investment and trade partner for the good of Africa. The perceived slowing of the Chinese economy from double-digit growth a few years back should not be misread, because 7.8% growth

China and Africa is on track to hit more than $110 billion this year, setting a new record of Asian investment in Africa. still dwarfs that of other developed and developing nations. Chinese activity in Africa has also been a talking point, with fears raised over the state’s and private companies’ motivations. These fears are unfounded. Many of China’s investments in Africa are focused on

CHINA’S INVESTMENTS IN AFRICA Economy much-needed basic infrastructure and in sectors that traditional investors have ignored. Research by Grant Thornton into the appetite for cross-border private equity deals reveals strong activity by Asian firms, with Chinese activity increasing 81% since 2012. This activity is no longer restricted to large corporations, with mid-market companies now able and willing to source growth internationally. Sources within our reach say China has a long term business approach which will benefit Africa. Trade between China and Africa is on track to hit more than $110 billion this year, setting a new record of Asian investment in Africa. China has increasingly turned to resource-rich Africa as China’s booming economy has demanded more and more oil and raw materials. From 2000 to 2008, trade between China and Africa surged by more than 33 percent annually, hitting a high of $106.8 billion in 2008. But who is afraid of China in Africa? In an article published by The Guardian by Peter Guest and entitled “Why The West Fears China in Africa,” Mr. Guest writes: ‘’The prevailing sentiment still seems to be one of unbridled fear... yet the fear seems to be durable. Why? Because it stands in stark contrast to the relationship the US thinks we are supposed to have with Africa. We cannot separate this debate on China from the parallel one on aid and aid effectiveness. If anything is about influence, it is aid, and nowhere is this demon-

started better than Brussels.

respect and trust.

While many intellectual leaders, such as Thomas Friedman in his book “The World is Flat,” have encouraged Americans to focus on higher-paying, more innovative industries (finance, IT, software, etc.), the more common debate is over how to protect American farmers and factory workers from global competitions. It’s ironic, therefore, that President Obama’s WTO case against China is over their protectionist policies. Let’s be clear though. America’s growing fear of China investments in Africa has to do with much more than jobs, and involves maintaining their influence over Africa. An article in TIME magazine aptly stated: “China is not just competing with the U.S. in world markets, but offering up an entirely different economic and political system, one that at times seems better at creating growth and jobs... China is succeeding based on ideas... Americans despise.”

Africa welcomes any investors who deem it fit to put his funds and ideas in the continent. As President of Rwanda Paul Kagame has said, Africa is not a marginal player squeezed between two great giants. The cold war is over and the new world, while it might seem bipolar, is not. Africa, the whole developing world, in fact is building relationships with a multitude of partners, some who subscribe to our values and some who do not. We are only ever going to be one of them, and unless we understand the full context and the interrelation of all of these factors, we are going to be a partner of waning relevance. If that happens, we have no right to begrudge anyone for stepping into the vacuum.

Nowhere has this ideological battle been more exaggerated than on the African continent, where China has already overtaken the US as Africa’s largest trading partner, with a trade volume of over $166 billion in 2011. Western observers increasingly warn African leaders to be wary of China’s intentions and do more to capitalize on their investments. However, those on the ground have broken away from this false narrative to report on the ‘win-win’ partnerships China has forged through mutual

Most African think tank chiefs say Chinese economy and Chinese investments in Africa are making African leaders think in a more integrated way However, when China constructed a building for Rwanda’s foreign ministry in 2009, President Kagame was questioned about China’s influence by CNN host, Mr. Fareed Zakaria; to which he replied, “If they have control over our foreign policy, it will be our failure... We should be free to transact business that is in the interests of Rwanda and those we transact business with. And it doesn’t matter where they come from!” Most African think-tank chiefs say Chinese economy and Chinese investments in Africa are making African leaders think in a more integrated way. James Shikwati believes that China is now helping realize Africa’s founding fathers’ vision of the continent after independence. The 42-year-old director of the Nairobi-based think-tank Inter Region Economic Network says China’s involvement in Africa is leading to the sort of unification of the whole continent that was the aim of the post-colonial leaders of the 1950s and 1960s. “I see the Chinese coming as a godsend opportunity to now consolidate one continent as one country. It goes back to the vision of the founding fathers of Africa at the time of independence,” he says. “We have the opportunity to create from Cairo to Cape Town a free trade area worth $1 trillion.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping in Africa 9 | tAI

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Asdrubal Santana

A New Era for the African-Chinese Economic Relationship: Seeking A Sustainable Growth

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Despite the global downturn, China and Africa have been strengthening their commercial ties during the most recent years.

However, this relationship has not been free from controversy and criticism for its apparently â&#x20AC;&#x153;neo-colonial approachâ&#x20AC;?.

Economy AFRICAN-CHINESE ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP

he South-South commerce is nowadays a global trend. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNTACD), merchandise exports among developing countries have reached a record of US$4.7 trillion over the last two decades. That represents a quarter of the world trade that includes developing Asia, America and Africa. One of the examples of this phenomenon is the remarkable economic relationship that Africa and Asia have had during the most recent years. In 2009, China became the Africa’s No. 1 trade partner surpassed the United States (US) with US$91.07 billion of trade volume only that year. That contrasts with the US$12.14 million of commercial exchange reached in 1950 according to statistics published by the Chinese Government. And that cooperation has grown progressively. From 2000 to 2012, figures shows that the proportion of China-Africa trade volume as a part of Africa’s total foreign trade volume increased from 3.82% to 16.13%. The proportion contributed by Africa’s exports to China up from 3.76% to 18.07%, and that by Africa’s imports from China from 3.88% to 14.11%. Harry Broadman, World Bank (WB) Economic Adviser, says that this new relationship is the result of the “rapidly modernizing industry and burgeoning middle class with rising incomes and purchasing power” that China have developed during the past years. Not only this society but also India “are demanding natural resource-extractive commodities and diversified, non-traditional African exports such as processed commodities, light manufactured products, household consumer goods, food, and tourism”, he says. However, even today the most important bulk of Africa’s exports to Asia are natural resources. According to the Economist Intelligent Unit (EIU), China’s imports from Africa, for example, are dominated by oil and a few other commodities. Five energy exporters—Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Sudan—accounted for 40.3% of Chinese imports from Africa in 2012, with South Africa (a major iron-ore source) accounting for a further 39.4%. On the other hand, Chinese exports to Africa are a mixed bag. These include transportation, machinery and electrical goods, textiles and plastics. The most important destination is

South Africa, followed by Nigeria and Egypt according to the African Research Institute and the International Monetary Fund. At the same time, countries such as Angola, Algeria, Ghana, Morocco and Tanzania, are playing a big role. In these countries China has several infrastructure companies which demand a lot of equipment from their nation. Actually, the building sector is the second major element of China’s economic relationship with Africa. “The country’s direct investment in the region remains modest, but its importance with regard to investment is amplified by its role in contract construction work, which is often financed by Chinese sources”, says a study made by the EIU in 2013.

A Controversial Relationship However, this African-China economic relationship has not been far from controversy. Last year, Xi Jinping, the new Chinese President, was visiting three African countries as part of his first official tour as Head of State. These countries included Tanzania, South Africa and the Republic of Congo. This tour was highlighted by the Chinese media as “tremendous victory” and as a big opportunity to strengthen ties between the both regions. However, Lamido Sanusi, Ex-Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, expressed his concern about this approach and published an article in the Financial Times criticizing China’s engagement in Africa. His most polemic quote says “China takes from us primary goods and sells us manufactured ones. This was also the essence of colonialism”. Right away, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended its role in this continent saying that China has improved Africa’s international status by offering it a powerful alternative market, delivering benefits and treating it as an equal partner. In comparison, they argued, the West approach consists only in “taking resources from Africa” and treats it with a “condescending attitude”. They also had said that China’s aid has improved the African infrastructure; that the trade between both regions has increased African earnings; and that China is supporting the continent with “no strings attached”. Yet, critics think that China’s philosophy of “non-interference” across the continent allows 12 | tAI

Chinese companies to operate freely despite African State issues regarding democracy, human rights, and environmental rules. At the same time, as Sanusi, some voices believe that the economic activity between them is in fact neo-colonial. Yun Sun, analyst from the Stimson Centre based in Washington, believes that for many Chinese officials and businessmen the West’s overwhelming emphasis on democracy, governance and transparency in Africa is “amusing”. “To the West, they would ask an innocent but critical question: ‘for people who do not have food on the table, what’s the point of having democracy?’”, she says. Sun thinks that the Beijing’s approach to the region consists in to “avoid the ‘meddling’ with the internal affairs of African countries through conditional aid”. She explains that this is a reflection of China’s own policy on the prioritization between economic development and political progress.

What People Say Despite the criticism, apparently all African countries have a positive view about China’s increasing economic power in the region. A poll made in 2011 by the BBC World Service shows that Nigerians (82%) and Kenyans (77%) are the most enthusiastic ones, while Ghana (62%), Egypt (54%) and South Africa (52%) are the less optimistic. The same study found a majority of Africans to view China’s trading practices as “fair” from 88% in Nigeria to 61% in South Africa. In contrast, only 5% of Nigerians and 18% of South Africans viewed Chinese trading practices as “unfair”. According to this research, “on average, in the continent, China is considered the fairest partner” followed by the US and the European Union. It also shows that Africans share the view that their own country’s economic relations with China are likely to become more important ten years from now. “Except Ghanaians, they all think their current economic relations are already more important with China” than with any other region, the study says. Taking this into consideration, Brendan O’Reilly, an American writer based in China, believes that “China’s image problem in Africa resides primarily in the minds of Western observers. Although there are significant concerns about unsustainable trading practices, these concerns do not constitute a conti-

AFRICAN-CHINESE ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP Economy nent-wide anti-China sentiment”, he explains.

New Opportunities With that being said, this favourable atmosphere has contributed to Africa exploring new areas of development with Asia, including services such as tourism. An example of this is Kenya, which although does not export much in the way of merchandise to China, authorities have declared that around 60,000 Chinese citizens had visited the country in 2012. “Tourism flows have the potential to increase at a dramatic rate in the next five years”, the EIU says.

According to them, “Chinese are coming to Africa in ever greater numbers and finding it a comfortable place not only to visit, but to work in and trade”. They estimate that around 1 million Chinese are now Africa-resident, up from a few thousand a decade ago “and more keep arriving”. Off shoring is other interesting area to keep an eye on. Each year, China’s domestic business environment is becoming more expensive and as a consequence, its companies are moving their manufacturing operations to cheaper locations abroad. That’s why China has been involved in setting up special economic zones (SEZs) in several African countries, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Nigeria and Zam-

bia. Conceptually, these consist in specially demarcated areas that offer unique incentives for a diverse range of economic activities and, according to Chinese authorities, they are intended to replicate their own growth experience in others countries. In this case, the EIU notes that “although most of the existing SEZs have yet to bear fruit, their backers remain hopeful that they will gather momentum in the coming years”.

Sustainable Growth Thus, it is obvious that with all these economical activities, there will be short-term bene-

fits for the region that includes the increasing growth rate. However, in order to make this growth sustainable, analysts say that governments have to undertake appropriate measures such as investing in human capital and infrastructure. That implies following the rules related to work conditions and environmental protection, a responsibility not only for China but the African countries as well. As the Economist recently reported, rules in African countries may exist, “but institutions are often too weak to enforce them”. That’s why some Chinese firms take advantage, and occasionally that results in violent flare-ups, as it did in 2012 over illegal mining in Ghana. 13 | tAI

South Africa economic relationship is promising. However, he thinks that is imperative to “address asymmetries and obstacles to its continued expansion through reforms”. He suggests, among others actions: the elimination of Asian’s escalating tariffs on Africa’s leading exports; the improvement of governance in Africa; the decreasing of transactions costs, such as customs administration, transport and communications; and making reforms that leverage linkages between investment and trade to allow African businesses’ participation in modern global production-sharing networks.

Taking this into consideration, Dr. Uche Ofodile, analyst from the University of Arkansas, concludes that “a win-win China-Africa relation is one that benefits China, but also brings about change in the lives of ordinary Africans presently deprived of their basic humanity as a result of poverty, systemic corruption, internecine warfare, and oppression”. Finally, despite the criticism and the urgent reforms needed, the growing relationship between Africa and China suggests that the outlook for trade and investment flows will remain bright even during the coming years. It will depend only by their political will to do this growth sustainable.

Technology THE NEWS IN A NEW WAY

Uchenna Onyenagubo

The News In A New Way

ommunication is a way of transporting information through various medium. The key to life is information and dependency on this concept has no barrier. You are actually reading this piece of information because it is communicated to you. The essence of disseminating information cannot be over emphasised. The Technology Industry has continued tremendous projects to enhance the effectiveness of passing information from a sender to a receiver. The trend has grown in leaps and bounds; one would conclude that it has affected all types of medium of communication.

it is monitored closely, as new discovery unfolds every day. It is imperative to know that an ordinary app on your smart phone can become your new Television, Radio, Newspapers and even Magazine. Constantly, the media industry is developing software that makes life easier and accessible cheaply and quicker. The CNN shook hands with Android to “Open up to the world”, what can be described as a strategy to get the customers attention. The users now has the opportunity to check the latest news and original story telling, share news and Insights, watch live breaking news video.

One of AfricaWorld significant Technological advancement is the Tech_Pilot column which delivers information and happening around the Global village. Giving you tips that will help resolve simple technical issues with your mobile devices as well as cheaper approach to purchase and maintain your appliances.

If CNN, SKYNEWS, FOXNEWS, AFRICAWORLDNEWS discover a piece of news for instance, it doesn’t reside within the confines of their offices. It needs to reach certain audience and proper approach has to be deployed to transport this piece of information. Over the years, we have experienced the progressive nature of broadcasting news and making it available to all concerned. The introduction of networking which transformed into what we call the Internet, has contributed hugely to the media world and beyond. In every phase and sector of life, we inevitably in use of this wide spread Technology of communication.

Also, it is possible to accept stories from around the world with “iReport” tool. It is an app that was developed to incorporate these features like never before. An app that will empower your opinion, give you customisable widgets to get access to content and listen to CNN Radio right from your mobile phone, how amazing can that be. All that is required is download app to your Android powered phone and it available on OS 2.1 and higher.

Nigeria community is not left out in the Technology new age, you can now get to read all your favourite Nigeria newspapers and news entertainment blog and also watch NTA channel live on your device. You also get news push messages periodically. Download and install this wonderful app to keep you updated with your favourite Nigeria Newspapers and make you feel very much at home.

Apart from the innovation from CNN, the Africaworld news, have moved from the newspaper pages to a more Global reaching medium. If you followed its progress, it is evident that the organisation has embraced the advanced communication Technology.

The vital tools to essentially transport your information are right available to you only if you have the information and the know-how. The social media has created more opportunities for communities to meet and talk this act as a common ground for many interests, cultural beliefs and friendship building. If you observe closely, one will wonder as many have continued to ask, “How organisations like the social media, Yahoo, Google” make profits. The websites created to house the activities of these social Medias and Internet/ email services are more or less a trading place. In what context, one might ask? Facebook has over a billion users on its system, what does this mean? Over a billion people visit the site to communicate with friends, family and social/business partners. So, is it not right to migrate in there and trade?

It is a fact to agree that news arrive its destination faster than it was decades ago, with the overture of the Internet. We can now watch, read and listen to breaking news almost with most devices. The phone has transited from ordinary “call and receive” hand device to a mini computer with full functionality of the Internet. Also, bringing the “intermediate” appliance between the Personal Computer and the pocket computer, otherwise known as the TABLET which is gradually replacing the Laptop, all these devices would function as a media tool to convey messages that will conventionally be watched on Television or listened to over the radio or even read on the tabloids. The technology advancement is so amazing that,

Researching more proficient means of reaching its audience and be prepared to deliver the best in news broadcast and providing objective & quality information concerning the Africa and Africans. It is also positioned to promote cultural diversities within the African communities living in Ireland, help lift the Irish values and ensuring a balanced view. In a bid to be closer and passionate with their audience, Africaworld has introduced the “AfricaWorld TV” built on the YouTube platform to further display the societal issues and conduct meaningful 14 | tAI

interviews with people that matter in profession and society. Their website offer variety of information covering almost every phase of life, visit http://www. africaworldnewspaper.com/ .

Many business organisations have grasped the opportunity to advertise on this platform and so did

THE NEWS IN A NEW WAY Technology the media.

section.

Social Media influence:

o This way, you can start off by deleting the ones which consume the most space, but are not used much. To see a list of apps reverse sorted by storage consumption.

Africaworldnews, CNN, SKYNEWS etc all have social presence on Facebook, in other to search wider audience. Creating accounts on these websites might appear to be free but there other service that attracts commercial interests and it’s not free. This transforms into wealth for the likes of Facebook to remain in the business. Imagine the giant step by Facebook to announce the acquisition of whatsapp messaging company, to be purchased for $19Billion. The idea absolutely relates to numbers and that is what business is about - Numbers. Whatsapp has over 450 million users on its server, making it one of the biggest messaging service software companies. Well, the idea has received so much attention by regulatory body governing the Te c h n o l o g y Industry and a decision to halt this deal. Anyway, Tech_Pilot will not stop to communicate this fantastic information that relates to your devices. Take heed to these tips before we close the curtain for this edition: Free up space on your smartphone (iphones & ipads): • Get an idea of your storage consumption: open Settings and navigate to

• Delete unwanted apps • The next step from here would be to go from the top of the list to the bottom, and delete the apps you don’t use. You can do this by tapping the app

• If you listen to Podcasts, but have a lot of episodes belonging to shows that you no longer listen to, you can delete them by going to • Clear Safari Cache, Offline Reading List: Safari’s cache and the offline reading list might end up occupying much more space than you expect. To delete the offline reading list, go to: o Settings > General > Usage > Podcasts and tapping the Edit button. o Settings > General > Usage > Safari and tap on the Edit button on the top right. A red delete button will slide in next to “Offline Reading List,” from where you can delete your items. Note that, even if you delete items from your offline list, they’ll still be there in your reading list. • Strangely, you can’t delete Safari’s cache from this menu itself. Instead, you’ll have to navigate to Settings > Safari > and tap on Clear Cookies and Data.

in the list, from where you’ll be taken to a detail view which has a “Delete App” button. Having the delete button here is especially convenient since you don’t have to go to the home screen and the app, go into editing mode and then press the tiny cross icon. The view also shows you the app size and its “Documents and Data” usage, which is usually the data that is cached for quick access. • If you use an app everyday, but it’s Documents and Data size is too high, you can delete and reinstall it so that all the cached data gets cleared.

o General > Usage and you should see the Storage 15 | tAI

• If you, however, want to selectively delete data of certain websites you can go to Advanced > Website Data > Tap on Edit and delete whatever you don’t need. You can also clear your history, but that won’t free up a significant amount of space. You can similarly also delete cache from Chrome by tapping the Menu icon, going to Settings > Privacy > Clear Browsing Data. Finally, clear all running applications by double-tapping the Home button to bring up the list of running apps and close them by simply swipe upwards on the thumbnail to dismiss it.

Theme TITLE

Joe Moore

FREE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE

The current borders of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s states were drawn up at the conference of Berlin 1884-85, attended by all the European imperial powers as well as the US. The purpose of the meeting was the division of the African continent between the attending powers. Nobody represented Africa in Berlin.

FREE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE Society

n Sunday, February 9th the electorate of Switzerland voted by the smallest of margins, in a referendum, to limit EU immigration into the country. The vote in favour was 50.3%. The reaction from EU officials was instant. The referendum result would be discussed and decisions taken in relation to the existing agreements between the EU and Switzerland. For the purposes of the single market and freedom of movement within the EU, Switzerland has similar rights as Member States. An EU spokesperson stated that the referendum result was “against the principle of free movement.” The free movement of people within the EU, is a principle shared by 22 out of the 28 Member States. The exceptions being the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania, who are not part of the Schengen Agreement. I will return to the position of these countries later in the article. Schengen is a village located in Southern Luxembourg, close to the borders of both France and Germany. Because of its location, Schengen was chosen as the venue of a meeting held by representatives of the foreign ministries of France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg on 14th June 1985. The purpose of the agreement was to establish a borderless zone in the heart of Europe. This meant the “gradual abolition of checks at the common border and the replacement of passport controls with simple visual surveillance of private vehicles crossing the common border at reduced speed”. The Schengen Agreement was ratified at the same place five years later in the 1990 Schengen Convention and came into force in 1995. By that time Spain, Portugal and Italy had become part of the Schengen area. As mentioned earlier not all EU countries are part of Schengen and neither are all Schengen countries members of the EU. Norway, Iceland and Switzerland are Schengen members. Hence the EU reaction to the result of the Swiss referendum. Croatia, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania are legally obliged to become part of the free travel area and will do so in the near future. This is not the case with either the UK or Ireland. The British ruling class have always seen themselves as being separate from continental Europe and particularly since the end of World War II they regard themselves as being closer to Washington than to Berlin. Ireland’s reasons are that it shares a common land border with the UK and is also obliged under the 1921 Treaty to mirror Britain’s immigration

laws. The reason for the free travel area was to facilitate the single market and to ensure that labour would always be readily available. However although all EU citizens were allowed to travel, they were not all treated equally throughout the EU. For example, citizens from the 10 accession states of May 2004 were allowed travel to the existing states but had to live in one of those states for at least 2 years before they qualified for welfare payments. Citizens from Bulgaria and Romania could travel to other EU countries but they could not work there. This all seems very good and progressive but it is restricted to EU citizens. It is a totally different story for people from outside the EU. The quid pro quo for Schengen was a tightening of the

of our time on earth there were no restrictions to migration. The 19th century saw the movements of millions of people, from Eastern Europe westwards to Western Europe, to the US and Canada, and from the Asian sub-continent to the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, to the East Coast of Africa and even as far as the Caribbean. One of the most cruel and brutal forced movements of people was the Slave Trade. Over a period of 400 years, it is estimated that between 15 and 20 million Africans were taken in bondage across the Atlantic. It is ironic that many of the countries that today are doing everything in their power to prevent African people reaching Europe are the same countries whose economies were built on wealth generated by the slave trade. Visas or work permits were not needed then. Border controls and the use of passports and visas are relatively recent developments. Nation states as we know them today have only been in existence for little more than 200 years. In Europe it was really only after the French Revolution of 1789 that nation states began to evolve. In Africa however, the story was quite different. The current borders of today’s states were drawn up at the Conference of Berlin 1884-1885. The conference was attended by all the European imperial nations as well as the US. The purpose of the meeting was the division of the African continent between the attending powers. Nobody represented Africa in Berlin.

EU’s external borders. Frontex is the EU agency for external border control. It was established in 2005 and has its headquarters in Warsaw, Poland. Its purpose is to prevent people from Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe entering the EU. Frontex has helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, naval vessels and an advanced satellite system to track ships. The agency works closely with all EU immigration agencies and is an integral part of the highly militarised border system commonly referred to as Fortress Europe. The other role of Frontex is the deportation of non EU citizens who are denied the right to live in Europe. Since humankind first evolved on planet Earth we have always migrated. It is now accepted that human beings first evolved in the Rift Valley of Eastern Africa. From there, our ancestors moved outwards to colonize all the world’s land masses with the exception of Antarctica. For the vast majority 17 | tAI

Border controls were seriously implemented after World War 1 primarily to prevent the spread of the October 1917 revolution from Russia. These controls continued to tighten through the 20th century and have now become today’s Fortress Europe. Immigration and border controls have life and death consequences for tens of thousands of people. In early October 2013 a boat carrying asylum seekers from Eritrea and Somalia sank within sight of the Italian island of Lampedusa, resulting in the deaths of over 350 men, women and children. All the EU leaders expressed their shock at the tragedy and their sympathies to the families of the deceased. Leading politicians and the establishment media put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the traffickers who overloaded such an unseaworthy craft. Yes people traffickers are unscrupulous, who demand the highest possible payments and often subsequently abandon those who rely on them to get them to Europe. But the one question that was never put to the politicians or commented on by the journalists was why are people using traffickers? The sim-

Society FREE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE ple answer to that question is because of immigration controls. If African people were allowed travel freely to Europe, then there would be no business for traffickers. During the slave trade it is estimated that 100s of 1,000s of Africans drowned in the Atlantic Ocean, during the so-called Middle Passage. Today the Mediterranean Sea is the graveyard of thousands of Africans. During the lifetime of the Berlin Wall 1961-1989, 125 people lost their lives trying to cross from East-West. From 1988 until December, 2012, it was estimated that over 15,500 Africans drowned in the Mediterranean. The names and details of the 125 who died crossing the Berlin Wall were reported in all media outlets. The European mass media has no interest in the Africans dead, neither have the politicians. It is worth for the moment reflecting on the origins of anti-black racism. Racism was first used to justify slavery and the slave trade. How could people reduce other people to the status of beasts of burden and still profess to be Christians. In order to justify what was the first crime against humanity, the slave traders turned to Rome and Rome provided the answer. The Curse of Ham provided the justification needed. After the flood, Noah get drunk and his son Ham saw him both drunk and naked. Noah got so angry as a result that he cursed Ham’s son Canaan with a mark on his skin. According to the Vatican that mark was the dark skin of the African people. So if Africans were the decedents of Canaan, then it was quite ok to enslave them. Racism however is continually changing. When the initial more crude racism was challenged by Enlightenment ideas, it was replaced by a more sophisticated form. This is best expressed by the British Imperial poet, Rudyard Kipling , when he referred to Africans as half-animal, half-child. This form of racism still exists today, with the EU and US intervening at will in Africa because the majority of Africans are not yet ready to control their own destinies. There are also newer forms of racism widespread

throughout the EU. The most notable being Islamophobia, Xeno-racism and Anti-Roma racism. In many cases these can overlap, with sometimes people being victims of for example, Islamophobia and Xeno-racism. While readers may be familiar with Anti-Muslim and Anti-Roma racism, Xeno-racism is a relatively recent term. It is an Anti-immigrant racism that takes a xenophobic form. As a result, it can be used by leaders who in their native countries have enacted antiracist laws. Examples are the denunciation of “illegal immigrants” and “bogus asylum seekers” by the likes of Cameron, Merkel and Sarkozy. What is happening today to African people at the EU’s external is a continuation of the treatment of

Africans from the days of slavery, to colonisation and onto today’s drowning’s in the Mediterranean. It is racism - State racism. And what becomes of those who breach Fortress Europe and seek asylum. Conditions vary in each country. But the reality in all cases is more sufferings for Africans. Let me report briefly on the situation in Ireland, the country I am most familiar with. People who claim asylum in Ireland are put into a system called Direct Provision. This system consists of 35 centres, scattered throughout the country. The majority of these Centres are former hotels, guest houses and boarding schools, etc. There are a number of custom-built Centres, which is more like open prisons. And the remainder consist of a caravan park and a former holiday camp. Some are located in cities and large towns; 18 | tAI

others are in isolated rural areas, adjacent to villages. Most asylum seekers in Ireland are Africans and majority of whom are denied the right to work and access to third level education. They are not allowed to cook in most of these so-called Centres. They are however, given three square meals daily and have no choice of meal. In short, they have no control over the meal they are given or how it was cooked. For example, Muslims are often given food cooked in oil that was previously used to fry bacon. Asylum seekers are expected to survive on €19.10 per week, a payment that has not been increased since it was first introduced in 2000. Some of asylum seekers could spend close to 8-10 years in the asylum process before decision could be reached. Decisions solely rest with the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform discretion and if an asylum seekers failed to prove their case on the basis that they sought asylum, they face deportation. This is where Frontex Agency enters the picture again. The majority of the flights used for deporting asylum seekers from Ireland are usually organized by this agency. Men, women and children are pulled from their beds in pre-dawn raids. Sometimes whole families are taken without notifying their legal representatives. Other times families are separated, just as in the days of slavery. Each adult is accompanied by an immigration official on the flight. This official even accompanies them when they use the toilet. This is how African people are treated by the EU. The oppression that began with the slave trade and continued through colonial era still exists today. Grave concern was expressed throughout the EU after the outcome of the Swiss Referendum that will result in limiting the number of EU citizens entering Switzerland but unfortunately nobody expresses concern for the African people who die trying to enter the EU. It is about time to put an end to immigration controls and open the borders for. We are in a free world and the world belongs to nobody. Please end this slavery.

Economy EGYPT ECONOMIC PROGRESSION

Cristina Casabón

Egypt’s progression toward an economically successful society

The success in achieving the objectives of a more open and competitive economy will depend on the effective implementation of a sustainable plan

here has been limited market reforms since the January 2011 revolution, and even former interim government showed the first steps in solving the country’s most pressing problems, it is necessary to promote a sustainable stimulus long–term plan. Egypt is in a crucial moment, and adopting an economy policy will help the country to position itself better to deal with the economic challenges

and recuperate the pre-revolutionary growth rates. Proposed strategies are to attract private equity funding from international sources. In addition, trade and investment liberalization should be followed by comprehensive economic reforms such as the progressive reduction in food and energy subsidies, and the process of public sector reform. Egypt protectionist economy started its tran-

sition to a functioning market economy in the sixties, and the economic boom (1974-1985) was the result of the oil prices increment, the foreign exchange influx, the tourism growth, and the international investment. But the Infitah (openness) had to face the mitigation of the standard of living, and authorities didn’t follow the International Monetary Fund demands. Finally, instead of reducing price subsidies, government decided to increase

The reforms should start reducing the subsidies system in food and energy to promote the market competition

20 | tAI

EGYPT ECONOMIC PROGRESSION Economy

them. Mubarak’s centrally planned economy increased the external debt, and the global decline in oil prices, high interest rates and the general economic decline in the decade of the 1980 generated catastrophic fiscal and current account deficits. As a result, accumulation of external debt put Egypt on the verge of bankruptcy. In response to this crisis, the government concreted another agreement with the IMF in May 1991 as well as the so-called Economic Reform and Structural Adjustment Program (ERSAP) with the World Bank. In order to sustain the achievements made under the ERSAP, the structural challenges and adjustment included a wave of privatizations and public enterprise reforms, but the infrastructural projects and loans for business investment led to a huge internal debt. In the start of the 21st century, the economy was decelerated, and the growth rate, which was about 3%, was insufficient to fix this problem. A new wave of privatizations was launched with consistent measures. By meeting commercial terms and contractual obligations with the IMF, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization, the relationships between Egypt and many multilateral institutions were improved. Egypt continued with economic liberalization, opening the internal market and maximizing the impact by favoring investments through the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) and a new investment law reform (2007). Reforms in energy and food subsidies, privatization of the state-owned Bank of Cairo, and inflation targeting are perhaps the most controversial economic issues of those years. The rise of the last global financial crisis led to a set of fiscal-monetary policy measures to face its repercussions, but business cronies impeded the ability to meet financial targets, and Mubarak stepped down on February 2011, after 18 days of protests demanding improved living standards. After the January 2011 Revolution, Foreign Direct Investment activity in Egypt decreased. In 2013 it fell from $2734.70 million in the second quarter of the year to $2365.90 million in the third quarter, and the main causes according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report for 2013-2014, were the policy instability, the coup and the insecurity. On the other hand, those problems affected the tourism sector as well. Egypt welcomed 8.7 million of tourists in the first eleven months of 2013, compared with 10.5 million in the same period of 2012. Even if political uncertainty and domestic in-

The long-term economy strategy is ineludible and necessary for the development of the country stability are two crucial problems for the economy in this moment, the long-term economy strategy is ineludible and necessary for the development of the country. While the working age population is constantly growing, with more than 500.000 new young workers per year, many of its citizens are trapped in poverty and economic stagnation. This represents a serious challenge to Egypt’s intergenerational cohesion. The number of unemployed people reached 3.6 million by the end of 2013 and 69% of them were aged between 15 and 29. More than 82% of those young unemployed held diplomas and university degrees, according to state-run statistics body CAPMAS. Making the labour market more dynamic and inclusive is an objective of the economic reform.

IMF Head Christine Lagarde in Giza, Egypt

There is a need to put emphasis on the transition to a functioning market economy under an effective rule of law in order to restore economic growth, market and investor confidence, and employment. Multinational institutions and international companies from the West and the Gulf States could support many of the economic projects. Former president Mohammed Morsi through IMF conditionality will lead to unpopular structural reforms, but the government’s rejection of the IMF’s $750 million loan in 2013 was a bad signal of the ability to meet commercial terms and contrac-

In the short run the impact of the reforms can be small or even negative because of adjustment costs tual obligations. More recently, in February 2014, former interim Prime Minister El-Beblawi agreed with IMF’s general manager Christine Lagarde to enhance their cooperation, especially through 21 | tAI

technical assistance in the areas of monetary and financial policies, but there was no mention about loan negotiations with the interim cabinet. Securing an IMF loan could improve the relationships between Egypt and many multilateral institutions, and can provide confidence to foreign investors. Egypt should choose between the unpopularity derived from IMF demands and the unattractiveness for the international markets. In the short-run the impact of the reforms can be small or even negative because of adjustment costs, but they would be more beneficial in terms of generating growth and recuperate legitimacy in the economy policies. Gulf States such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates offered financial aid and fuel supplies following the overthrow of Mohammed Morsi. Without a long-term investment strategy, the external aid would only provide temporary relief. The so-called Green Field Investments should follow these financial aid packages; which can promote new operational facilities, generate new long-term jobs and develop the internal market. In addition, foreign trade policy measures should remove restrictions on imports and exports in order to create efficiency in the external market. The reforms in the public enterprise should start reducing the subsidies system in food and energy to promote the market competition, and it would be needed to raise infrastructural investments in gas and electricity sectors. The success in achieving the objectives of a more open and competitive economy will depend on effective and consistent implementation of market reforms, which should reduce barriers to entry and exit, eliminating restrictions on economic activities. Competition and deregulation measures would reduce the costs, leading to an increase in consumption, investment and exports in the long term. Proposed policies and measures in investment and trade liberalization, and structural reforms in the public and private sectors will eliminate economic disequilibria with international companies, giving prime place to market. The policy measures also must ensure that Egypt is facing the economic reforms in different economic sectors to develop economic diversification, for economic diversification policies in terms of the production and the export basket can significantly reduce the country’s vulnerability in food and energy.

Society AFRICAN WOMAN IN THE 21ST CENTURY

African womens can be catalysts to the continent’s rise in the 21st century By Deimante Zvaliauskaite

Deimante Zvaliauskaite

African women are mounting up and are standing on not just the national but also global platform and together they are stronger than ever.

woman, wearing a tribal dress soaked in the rain, carrying a baby firmly tied up on her back, and almost camouflaged with an ornamented and symmetrical patterned cloth. With a warm and sincere smile on her face, her legs wanting to sway from one side to another- only her knowing how she had toiled. However, she still hold her head high, having often walk firmly on the cracks of the dried out land where rain could often be forgotten. This is the experience of many women in Africa. An elegant woman, wearing the latest designer clothing line, driving a new car and earning enough money to leave her children with a nanny, who lives in a different side of the town. This is the image of what most women in the developed world appear to be like: educated, well dressed, self-nourished and with the access to public health services and other facilities. The two descriptions might portray vivid contrasts of the life and the daily routine of women. It might look like I am talking about two completely different worlds, but as a matter of

fact- I am talking about one world. A world in which there should be no division between the Global North and South. A world in which all women - no matter their descent, race, ethnicity, skin colour, culture or religious beliefs are equal.

Who, if not we, women- the catalysts for change - the future and the present, will take care of our rights if we don’t do it ourselves? The answer is simple, no one. Women rights are human rights and for this reason, women all around the world are now rising up and making their rights to be a reality. It is not just theoretical sentences written in the constitutions or international conventions protecting women rights. Who, if not we, women - the catalysts for change - the future and the present, will take care of our rights if we don’t do it ourselves? The answer is simple, no one.

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Women like Tegla Loroupe - the first African woman to win the New York marathon, Adenike Ogunlesi - the founder of ‘’Ruff ‘N Tumble’’- a children clothing line in Nigeria, Waris Dirie- a successful model and written in New York, Joyce Banda - the president of Malawi and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala- the Nigerian minister of finance. As the African Continent is rising, so are its women. Just to name a fewthese are the inspirational African women, whose knowledge, determination and charisma exploded native borders and gained the well-deserved recognition worldwide. Interestingly, Forbes magazine in 2012 announced that in its annual list of the 100 most powerful women in the world – of the selected 100 women, 11 women were black. African women indeed makeup up 50% of the continent and it looks like now, than ever before, that these very women - will make sure that this statistical figure of their existence will go down well in history. Other women in different parts of the world are also making a name for themselves. Take for example Hillary Clinton (the former United States Secretary), Angela Merkel- the German Chancellor, Michelle Bachelet- the first

AFRICAN WOMAN IN THE 21ST CENTURY Society female president of Chile, Aung San Suu Kyi Burmese - dissident and parliamentarian and Margaret Chan- the Director-General of World Health Organization. All these women around the world dominating the different spheres of political, economic, humanitarian and celebrity life. Their hard work are sending a simple message to all the male leaders - that women in time will achieve big and their time has come. They are letting the men know that the best vaccine for gender equality and freedom is now here. Women are the true revolutionaries of equality.

for everyone to be able to see the real beauty of it. The same is for women - they need empowerment, they need education, they need support and belief in them and their abilities. And in the African continent women slowly but surely have now entered the sunlight, they have now received empowerment and have gained strength and belief within themselves. They are the women that are the catalysts for

Women in Africa take the daily roles of a woman as well as that of a man. African women are the epitome of strength. Women in Africa take the daily roles of a woman as well as a man. They feed their children, they wash the clothes, they travel miles in search of clean water and undertake all of the other physically difficult tasks that are usually more closely linked to men. Rural African women travel in bare foot through stones and sticks, with blood and blisters on their feet, but with a strong voice within echoing â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am not giving up. Not now. Not today. Neverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; They go through sand and water day and night seeking for change, seeking for that silver lining in the tropical African sky. Dreaming a dream that many might seem impossible - educating herself and her children, providing them with adequate food and water, education and vaccines and most importantly- a bright and promising future. These African women have tasted sweet and bitterness throughout their life. They have been humiliated and forgotten, vulnerable and weak, but this was the past.

They have been humiliated and forgotten, vulnerable and weak, but this was the past. African women are mounting up and are standing on not just the national but also global platform and together - they are stronger than ever. They are standing up and coming to claim what is theirs - their natural rights that were born with them - Human rights and Women rights. They were once the voiceless but now they are the voice of all and for all. Let me reassure that no flower grows out by itself. To plant a seed is not enough. It needs sunlight, it needs water and it needs warmth in order 23 | tAI

change. They are our today and tomorrow. They represent the female nature and brought out to the surface an old but very lyrical and perhaps forgotten message that the colour of your skin or your countries history will not determine your future or neglect your existence. And who would have thought that this beautiful flower would once blossom with all its magnificent beauty in the middle of a desert.

Education AFRICAN STUDENT IN AMERICA

Fr.Vincent Arisukwu Maryland, USA.

t is almost the dream of every African youth today to have a taste of the white man’s country. Be it Europe, America or anywhere, the young African merely wants to feel like she/he is overseas. The reason is not far fetched and could reside in the individual, the economic situation in Africa and the apparent fun that characterizes life outside Africa.

Most African youth only succeed in securing student’s F1 visa to study abroad, and so they move Most African youth only succeed in securing student’s F1 visa to study abroad, and so they move. I know that some of our elders and founding fathers like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Julius Nyerere, Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkuruma, Uhuru Kenyata, etc., also studied in foreign countries but returned immediately to Africa to practice what they read. Don’t forget that the value of dollar then wasn’t greater than the African currency, Nigerian naira, for one. From the individual perspective, the quest for exploration could be one remote flimsy reason why African youths troop to the United States of America, London and Europe for study. Above this reason is the quest for personal academic fulfillment. Education seems to be far more organized and consistent in US and Europe than in Africa and so attracts our glare. Meanwhile, the greatest of these is the mentality of multiple opportunities of greener pasture which Africans have about Overseas. The essence of studying is self enhancement and subsequent good life. Every average African youth believes things are so rosy and that the dollar begins to flow soon after arrival in the US for example.

TRUE PICTURE OF AN AFRICAN STUDENT IN AMERICA I wish to compare this quest to study abroad with the educational standard back home, side by side the condition of living as an international student in America. Nigeria for instance, is one country with checkered educational history and system. In 2013, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on nationwide strike action that kept undergraduates at home for about six months. The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics were actually the first to embark on strike but called theirs off momentarily while their university counterparts continued. ASUP later went back on strike abandoning kids at home for over six months till now. The question then becomes, why would Nigerians not be eager to leave the shores of their country to seek academic enhancement elsewhere. Imagine the learning environment in Nigeria. Think of teachers’ staff rooms. Visit the science laboratory. Take a peep into computer labs. Put on the switch in labs or classrooms if you see any. Check out the games equipment and recreational facilities. Enter the lecture halls during classes. Risk knowing what the hostels look like. X ray the lecturer- student relationship. Find out how projects and theses are moderated. One thing is clear. Education is given its priority in Europe and developed countries of the world than in Africa. In the United States of America, education is on top. I don’t want to quote percentage since that sounds abstract sometimes. Federal Financial Aids are offered to US citizens in my school (of course, same applies in all other schools). As a rule, any class lost to either snow or weather condition must be regained before the close of the semester. The word “strike” is uncommon to American students. Library materials are available. Professors have one on one relationship with students. Lecture rooms are quite conducive and neat. 24 | tAI

Rest rooms are decent. Recreation centers and snack spots are usually kept. Internet facilities are all over. Since the picture most African young adults have of abroad is that of safe haven, they see further studies as an opium. The apparent cosy nature of overseas is another issue altogether. I’ll talk about it from both personal experience and those of other international students I’ve been privileged to encounter. If truth be told, many black sisters and brothers of ours give a false picture of life overseas. Ironically too, those back home are wrongly disposed towards getting the correct picture of the way things are overseas. The consequence becomes to paint images and create phantasms that present America and Europe as last bus stop on the way to eternity. And the way things are back home contributes greatly to this.

For international student as an example, American society is interested in the financial background of the individual. The first thing to be understood is that America is a capitalist society. Your value is in your money. Else there is no room for you. From the moment of application for visa already, the emphasis is on the contribution one has to make in a particular trip. For international student as an example, American society is interested in the financial background of the individual. That is why Immigration focuses mostly on the person or institution sponsoring intending student. They emphasize and reemphasize on bank account and financial status of the sponsor. Hence, any one with good financial background stands better chances of securing visa.

AFRICAN STUDENT IN AMERICA Education Once one succeeds in acquiring student visa, the graduation of joy into hardship begins. Entering into the United States with student visa (F1) should really be a journey with mixed feelings. Except in a situation of extreme closeness where one has an extra ordinary faithful friend, no fair weather friend wants to associate with a person on student visa status. The reason is simple - he is an added burden to those who know him in the US. Brothers may take your calls, friends may advise you but no American resident wants to part with one dollar just for friendship. The fault too, is not theirs, because the society has conditioned them to be that way. House mortgage, water bill, electricity bill, car and health insurance bills, plus other credit loads place so much burden on the residents that they merely run a cycle of existence that drills them into the unconscious school of frugality.

purse of the student whose principal work is to study. Accommodation is not free for the international student. There is no special wall-mart or food store for the international student. His transportation is not different. He must pay his tuition and buy books to confront the reality of study. He buys from where others buy, at no discount too. Not withstanding the savings one may have in the bank, it must be acknowledged that no accounting ledger balances with only expenditure and no income, except that of the international student in the USA.

As an international student, all options seem closed. The international student is not allowed to work As an international student, all options seem closed. The international student is not allowed to work. The international student must take up a nine-credit-hour academic schedule to maintain his visa status, failure to do so, will lose his admission. The international student is not eligible for social security number which gives both status and identity in America. But immigration law makes it that an international student can only qualify for social security if he is employed ONLY on campus of study. Even though such employment is like doing a charity apostolate since the desperate student is hired at the mercy of the employer, on-campus job is not easy to come by. Ironically too, without social security one can’t do proper banking. Without social security one cannot obtain credit card. Without social security one cannot easily acquire driver’s license. And to also link the question of sponsorship with one’s stay in the States, the student’s social security card if secured clearly spells that the student who possesses it is not eligible for employment. The presumption is that the sponsors back home continue to refill the

The foregoing is not intended to scare people seeking to study abroad. It rather is intended to achieve two purposes. One, an appeal to African leaders to make more efforts in improving the standard of education; make education more attractive in Africa. Education is the bedrock of both the individual and the nation. In itself, it is not an easy venture, but when the enabling environment and necessary resources - learning facilities, research materials, internet connectivity, li25 | tAI

brary sources, teachers’ welfare, etc, are kept in place, then education becomes alluring. African leaders must realize the need to make education a priority. They must abolish the ugly tradition of strike in Africa. They must stop frustrating African students. They must make them appreciate their father’s land and equip them to contribute their intellectual resources to it. They must reduce the culture of exporting our financial and intellectual resources to the white man in the quest for further studies. The second objective of this write up is to inject the proper disposition into young Africans jostling for opportunities to study abroad. The aim of going to study in the white man’s country is double edged. You become academically equipped while you in turn contribute financially to the economy of the nation that gives you education. A real give and take. None comes easy; giving visa and paying money. But a win-win disposition is important. As an international student therefore, the experience has been peculiar for me. I learn new things and relearn old ones in a new fashion. I learn for example that I should go to do my food at the proper time. I learn to catch up with the train on time or miss my classes. I learn to ask questions for everything because everyone is ready to give answers as many times as I ask. I learn to do everything almost online too, including searching for books, magazines and journals in libraries simply with my barcode. And you know what I’m relearning; so many of them. For instance, I’m going in for my driving examination. I have already taken my alcohol and drug test and still have to do the knowledge test, driving skill and vision screening to see if my Nigerian eyes are really clear. Good you know I could fail these after six years of driving in Nigeria. Funny, not true? The other thing I’ve relearnt - how to be a priest in America. I tell you, my priesthood was zeroed. I had to prove beyond reasonable doubt that I was a priest. That’s if you are a priest. Of course, being a priest and an international student have nothing in common. I don’t know your position or affiliation back home. But my candid advice is, keep whatever you are aside if you are among desperate Africans struggling to secure visa to study abroad. That is, if you MUST come. Come with your STASH.

Society THE DRY BRAIN

Abdul Yusuf

THE DRY BRAIN How an African initiated project was stolen in Europe

Gassama believes that the concept of his project was stolen by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and then it was renamed ‘GIVE Project’. Gassama will be very pleased to engage in any public debate with IOM on this issue in order to stop this kind of abuse happening again

r. Alpha Gassama is a native of Republic of Guinea in West Africa who was once shortlisted for the Ireland Volunteer Awards in 2012. He is a graduate in sociology from the university of Gamal, Abdel Nasseer in Conakry, Guinea. In his native Guinea, he was also teacher by profession and later became a union member and activist politician against the military dictatorship before his arrival in Ireland in 2004. When Alpha Gassama arrived in Ireland in 2004, he sought asylum and was accommodated in Balseskin Accommodation Centre and was later moved to Kinsale Road Accommodation in Cork City. He has been active all his life and could not stay without contributing to his host community. All asylum seekers are exempted from study or work until they are granted permanent leave to remain in which allows them to seek for studies or employment. He eventually managed to get himself involved volunteering with NASC, an Irish organization dealing with migrants for two year period. Gassama was again moved to Knocklasheen in Limerick Centre for just two months and then to Clyde House in Limerick City. He was finally moved to Mosney accommodation centre in County Meath. He has been residing in Ireland over the past ten years and is presently enjoying the friendship of various community members. He is currently a very active volunteer with the Clondalkin Tidy Town and the initiator of a Project and Coordinator of an organization called Immigrant Volunteering Skills and Training Agency (IVOSTA). Alpha Gassama was among one of the many volunteers that volunteered with New Communities Partnership (NCP), Cork branch for two years under the leadership of Jacque Lobe.

Despite his neighbourly attributes, he set up iVosta in order to encourage people like himself to get involved in volunteering, integration or positive community work. He had once succeeded in acquiring grants from South Dublin County Council in the Social Credit’s Scheme to remove graffiti in Clondalkin, County Dublin. His ten years in the Republic of Ireland include stints at asylum Centres in Mosney, Clondalkin Towers Hotel, Limerick and Cork.

He set up iVosta in order to encourage people like himself to get involved in volunteering, integration or positive community work. According to Gassama, “The system of direct provision is to prevent asylum seekers to integrate or socialize and as such kind of placed in solitary confinement or prison if I should say. Why is it that most accommodation centres are located in remote areas of the country? Why are they isolated from the rest of the population and provided with scheduled shuttle buses? Personally to me, this is done this way to prevent most asylum seekers from having basic knowledge about the country’s history, politics or economic situation. Most asylum seekers confined in accommodation centres for close to a decade seldom socialize or integrate as a result of lack of limited financial assistances received from the Department of Social and Family Affairs and mores, they do not know anybody nor know anywhere to go. “After so many years quarantined, it will be difficult and too late for any ex-asylum seeker to restart his life once again by starting from the scratch to become a good citizen in Ireland 26 | tAI

tomorrow. He sees the inhumane treatment as totally against integration,” he said.

One of iVosta’s mission is to use volunteering as an engine for integration “In other terms, one of iVosta’s mission is to use volunteering as an engine for integration and this is because the organization had been routed from the experiences derived from asylum seekers living in Direct Provision centres who are also part of the grassroots and are the most vulnerable people in the community. It will to do this by starting from the grassroots to the top and not like other organizations that aim to route theirs from the top to the grassroots. iVosta knows the immigrant community’s situation better. As a result of my numerous relocations within DP centres in Ireland, I learnt a lot and developed skills of adaptation and was always able to volunteer and the skills helped me to know many towns, socialize with people and have some basic knowledge about Ireland from accumulated experiences as an immigrant looking for future in the Island of Ireland. This prompted me to find out the possibility of utilizing the time wasted in Direct Provision centres to come up with iVosta Project,” he said. From Gassama’s basic experiences as a volunteer and from being relocated several times, he finally transformed the negative effect of Direct Provision system by positively initiating and launching iVosta not only for Asylum seekers but for all migrants in Ireland. This drafting occurred while he was still residing in Room GL166 in Mosney accommodation

THE DRY BRAIN Society centre in County Meath during the Easter holiday in 2009. He sought for the indulgence and assistance of his two male friends, a Cameroonian and Togolese who are also living witnesses and they are also ready to attest to this fact. They all discussed and agreed on how and when to commence with the project’s action plan in Mosney. Once again, in 2010, he was moved from Mosney to Clondalkin Towers Hotel accommodation centre, Clondalkin, South County Dublin.

its behalf in order to liaise with asylum seekers and get contacts of those willing to return back to their home countries on voluntary basis. This was one of his first meeting with the organization. He was astonished at that point and wondered that why should such an international organization that has been poised to be providing advice and services to migrants and governments since 1951 of its existence should stoop so low to ask him for such a favour? He declined to give such a favour.

During Gassama’s stay in Clondalkin Towers Hotel accommodation centre, he fell in love with Clodalkin, which is an amazing and beautiful village with traces of historical glorious past but was quick to find out that there were some problems; the first problem was that there were too much litters littering the vicinity and secondly, there were lots of graffitis on walls and many places around the accommodation centre. Gassama immediately arranged to meet the authorities in South Dublin County Council (SDCC) in order for them to provide cleaning materials such as pickers, gloves and bin bags and this encouraged and enabled him to organized a group of asylum seekers from Clondalkin Towers Hotel accommodation centre called ClondalClean to clean up the area every fortnight from 9am to 12am.

In 2011, Gassama had an interview with Irish Times in the Irish Times office with Jamie Smith about iVosta Project, he sent the copy

ClondalClean is also part of iVosta in which its main aim is to target asylum seekers to volunteer to keep Clondalkin clean.The local media outlet later informed the local clondalkin community about the work of ClondalClean and the group started to get recognition and appreciation on this regard by local politicians and was later invited by the local Sein Fein Representative Mr. Oein Broin to visit the Dail. During the visit, iVosta was honoured to meet with the Sein Fein President Mr. Gerry Adams, Robert Dowds (TD) and Joe Costello (MEP) just to mention few. After few months, the local community in Clondalkin were inspired by work of ClondalClean group and they agreed to partner with ClondalClean to jointly work together. ClondalClean group and the their counterpart renamed it Clondalkin Tidy Towns in 2012, with Alpha chosen as the inspiring and founding member of Clondalkin Tidy Towns. In relation to Alpha Gassama’s romance with International Organizaion for Migration (IOM), the latter claimed that IOM requested him to engage in an outreach assignment on

of the letter of appreciation and grantulatory message received from Irish Times for his attendance and his honoring of the interview to Mr. O. and the said Mr. O forwarded the letter to his colleague. Later, Gassama became very surprised when he received a follow-up congratulatory emails by the said Mr. O’s colleague for the same recent interview he had with Irish Times. At this point, the two IOM officers hatched up a plan and quickly organized a meeting with him which was finally slated for the 28 July, 2011 at 3pm in IOM’s office located on 7 Hill Street, Dublin 1. This was Gassama’s second meeting with IOM. 27 | tAI

Little did Gassama knew that he’d only just compromised his IVOSTA project with GIVE project. On Gassama’s arrival at the IOM’s office, he met with Mr. O and Ms A. He was received warmly by Mr. O., who introduced him to Ms A. Within five minutes, Ms. A. presented Gassama with IOM’s objectives and went ahead to confirm receipt of his detailed interview with Irish Times and she asked Gassama to talk more about his iVosta Project. He gave a detailed history of iVosta and Ms A further asked him of the present situation of his asylum case. Ms. A switched between question to question and seems to be asking him a particular question she had asked earlier before (i.e., talk more again about iVosta Project). At this point, Gassama became more astonished and was left with no option than to hand Ms. A documents about iVosta with the thoughts that she might probably understand his organization very well and know more on where it stands so IOM could assist him in whatever way that it could. At this stage, little did Gassama knew that he’d only just compromised his IVOSTA project with GIVE project. He accepted IOM’s invite mainly because he thought he was going to receive a quality advice and some financial assistance to enable the development of iVosta project.

The representation of one’s own original work, thoughts, ideas or the stealing of another’s project is a ‘wrongful appropriation’ The representation of one’s own original work, thoughts, ideas or the stealing of another’s project is a ‘wrongful appropriation’ from such an international organization such as the international organization for Migration (IOM). The alleged theft of Mr. Alpha Gassama’s iVosta project remains problematic with unclear proper dialogue to bring it to an abrupt end. The theft is considered as dishonesty and breach of project ethics and a serious ethical

Society THE DRY BRAIN offense and such a case constitutes copyright infringement. Gassama believes that the concept of the project was stolen by IOM and it was renamed GIVE Project. Gassama will be very pleased to engage in any public debate with IOM on this issue in order to stop this kind of abuse happening again. “My project was hijacked. GIVE project is photocopy of iVosta project. The project was never imported but rather 100% an Irish Project. He is ready to prove his claims beyond any reasonable doubts, he said.”

Gassama will be very pleased to engage in any public debate with IOM on this issue in order to stop this kind of abuse happening again. In a recent response letter from IOM’s Chief of Mission, Theodora Suter, she unequivocally dismissed the allegation and maintained that GIVE project was not copied from a project called iVosta. Furthermore, Suter confirmed that from the very onset, the IOM has been very clear that the GIVE project is not about reinventing the shell, but rather complementing the long standing and tremendously valuable work being undertaken by their national volunteer agency partners across the four project participating countries, which are Ireland, Austria, The Netherlands and United Kingdom. AfricaWorld News can authoritatively confirm that the GIVE project for the four participating EU countries was first launched in Austria sometime in September 2013, Republic of Ireland on 17th October, 2013, The Netherlands on 19th September, 2013, and the UK sometime in october. In brief, the launching of the project was orchestrated within three months of inception in all the four participating EU Member States. It was understood that Austria was the first EU Member State that GIVE project was launched while Ireland became the last. However, there are certain discrepancies between the two versions stories given by both the IOM Chief of Mission, Theordora Suter and Project Manager, Viriri Itayi’s as to which EU Member State GIVE project was first launched. Their statements were not consistent and also during the meeting held at the Gresham Hotel in Dublin between Alpha Gassama and Viriri, the IOM Dublin Project Manager confirmed that GIVE project originated

from Ireland while Suter contradicted his and claimed that the project was first initiated in Austria, The Netherland and UK but stopped short of the exact EU Member State it was first initiated. The question here to ask is that if the project was first initiated in these countries as mentioned by the IOM Chief of Mission, why was it re-launched again by IOM who has not been directly involve in volunteering and integration since its establishment? AfricaWorld News is evident that the IOM Dublin Project Manager Viriri Itayi knew Alpha Gassama and iVosta project/organization from the very onslaught but when asked during a telephone conversation by its correspondent, Viriri vehemently denied knowledge of Gassama, iVosta project/organization. AfricaWorld News correspondent was later amazed to find out that immediately after the brief conversation with Viriri, he contacted Gassama straight away and arranged a meeting with him at the Gresham Hotel which was then slated for 10th

January, 2014. From our recent finding, it is very surprising to understand that the same GIVE project was also ‘co-funded’ by Dublin City Council (Ireland) having received more than enough funding from European Union, the Austrian Federal Ministry for the Interiro (Austria) and PEP - Paricipatie Emancipatie Professionals (The Netherlands). During AfricaWorld News interview, Alpha Gassama was asked why did IOM treated him in such manner? “I was treated this way because IOM found a very good opportunity to gain some funding from the EU and other bodies to drive the GIVE project and of course it is for money,” he said.

‘I do not understand why you are making noise. GIVE project is only temporary’ In further development, AfricaWorld News learnt that Peter Szlovak, the current Head of Policy and Research in Integration Centre in Ireland recently met with Alpha Gassama in an 28 | tAI

Indian restaurant on the popular Moore Street in Dublin. During their brief meeting, he’d advised Gassama that, “it is about time you calm down because GIVE project is just about few months away to its completion while iVosta project is for life and it is the real project. IOM can have any funding it so deserves because it is a big organization. He recognized the fact that IOM made a big mistake for not partnering or forming an association to work with iVosta on the project. I do not understand why you are making noise. GIVE project is only temporary,” Szlovak said. Gassama responded to the Police and Research Officer that he would have appreciated it enough if IOM had accepted their mistake rather than trying to sweep the concept of his original project under the carpet. It was indeed his own project, thoughts, ideas and original work. He sure deserves at least a credit for that.

It was indeed his own project, thoughts, ideas and original work. He sure deserves at least a credit for that. During AfricaWorld News investigation, a handful number of residents that had spent term in Mosney accommodation centre with Alpha Gassama confirmed the birth and origin of iVosta project when interviewed. iVosta project was born and bred in 2009 in Direct Provision in Mosney accommodation centre. It was alleged that IOM stole the project and used it to gain funding from the EU and later exported and launched it in Austria, United Kingdom, The Netherlands and finally in Ireland on 17th October, 2013. IOM pretended to have brought the new system of integration from other EU countries to Ireland while it was indeed originally from Ireland. This is a ploy hatched to confuse iVosta team and to claim paternity of the project. It might have surprised most that in an interval of 3 months, all the four projects were hastily launched in the four EU Member States in a panic as soon as they received the hints of Gassama’s status (Stamp 4) after a decade of residing in Direct Provision accommodation centre. Why should such a leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration with 155 Member States, with a further 11 States holding observers status and offices in over 100 countries hijack the project of a former asylum seeker for their own selfish interest and or benefit without first seeking his permission?

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AfricaWorld News furthermore asked Gassama if IOM ever contacted him since their last encounter. He claimed that his last contact with IOM was during the meeting held at the Gresham Hotel on O’Connell’s Street in Dublin with the current Dublin IOM Project Manager Viriri Itayi. The two parties failed to reach a common ground as both were caught up in a heated argument as to the owner of the project. One of the reasons being that the Project Manager was angry from the beginning at the sight of Alpha Gassama in company of a stranger who happened to be an iVosta staff. The Project Manager was not happy to go ahead with the meeting in the presence of a third party and that Gassama should have informed him to get his consent. The meeting lasted for only twenty minutes. Itayi refuted Gassama’s allegations.

open to working with Gassama and anyone else, for that matter, who has genuine interests in the wellbeing of migrants in Ireland and around the world, particularly with regard to their integration, which is GIVE Project’s main aim,” he concluded.

According to the former asylum seeker, he felt that he was robbed. He said, “This revelation was just the first round and this is the more reason why I failed to mention names of IOM staff that I had contact with so as to create some space for honest and sincere dialogue, if IOM so wishes. If not, the forthcoming revelation will be more striking and damaging. Let me leave you with one proverb - ‘Don’t release an elephant trapped in your backyard where you were expecting a bird’. Mr. Alpha Gassama is the initiator of iVosta, Clondalclean and the current Vice Chairman of Clondalkin Tidy Town.

Transparency is not just about making sure that your organization or dealing is upfront and honest with the public and stakeholders, but also with your internal staff as well. One of the biggest strategies an organization can take is to make sure it retains an honest and open approach i its communications. That is not to say, but it shouldn’t cover any aspects that may later be revealed to be detrimental.

In IOM response to AfricaWorld News enquiry regarding the Grassroots Integration through Volunteering Experiences (GIVE) project, and the meeting held between Alpha Gassama and Viriri Itayi on 10th January, 2014, the Dublin IOM Project Manager unequivocally refuted Gassama’s unfounded claim that the GIVE project is his concept which has been undertaken without his permission.

The concept of migrants volunteering in their new communities as a vehicle of enhancing and promoting their integration is not unique

Transparency is something that every organization should get to grips with if it wants to withhold a good reputation and successful operation. It is ver important for all organizations to be transparent, as it can affect many aspects of how an organization is perceived. If an organization is viewed as hiding information away from its customers or staff or misrepresenting the truth about its operations, it can escalate into a damaging corporate scandal, causing mistrust and crushing its reputation in one foul swoop.

Instead, if an organization does something wrong or make a mistake, it’s much better to admit it, and accept that it has made an error but is looking at ways to rectify it. Showing that it can learn from its mistakes, rather than dishing out punishment or burying the issue under the carpet, encourages a feeling that you care, whereas covering it up creates an environment of mistrust. If individuals are working in an open environ, where they feel they would not be punished for mistakes, they are more likely to respect that organization themselves. The African International would like to seize this opportunity to implore the two parties involved to take its advice in good faith and wishes that they should endeavour to bring this ruckus to an end for the betterment of the community they serve.

“The concept of migrants volunteering in their new communities as a vehicle of enhancing and promoting their integration is not unique and in fact there have been several programs of this nature in Ireland and around the world. It is therefore very clear that Mr. Gassama’s claim is totally without merit and has no basis, in fact, especially his assertion that his project is a unique idea that only he has come up with,”he said.

The history of IOM The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was initially established in 1951 and it was initially mandated to assist European governments to identify resettlement countries for the estimated 11 million people uprooted by the war. From its roots as an operational logistics agency, it has thus broadened its scope to become a leading intergovernmental agency working with governments and civil society to advance the understanding of migration issues, encourage social and economic development through migration, and uphold the human dignity and wellbeing of migrants. The history of IOM tracks the natural disasters and the man-made past half century - Hungary 1958, Czechoslovakia 1968, Chile 1973, Vietnam (Vietnamese Boat People) 1975, Kuwait 1990, Kosovo and Timor 1999, and the Asian Tsunami, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Pakistan earthquake of 2004/05 and the 2010 Haiti earthquake - It is credo that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society has steadily gained international acceptance. IOM currently has offices in over 100 countries. It is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration and does so by providing advice and services to migrants and governments. The broader scope of activities has been matched by rapid expansion from a relatively small agency into one with an approximately annual operating budget of $1.4 billion and some 8,400 staff working in over 100 countries worldwide.

“Although Mr. Alpha Gassama’s claims are without merit whatsoever, IOM would still be 29 | tAI

Society THE GAY DEBATE

THE GAY DEBATE Uchenna Nwachukwu, New York

There are African homosexuals who refuse to be silenced or remain hidden, and there are those brave souls who speak out in support of the gay community.

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You can’t eat through the nose,” said a Nigerian professor resident in the United States in opposition to the gay lifestyle. Her statement succinctly conveys the overwhelmingly held sentiment among Africans that homosexuality is illogical. The illogicality of it may not always be the first argument proffered against homosexuality, but the apparent anatomical mismatch makes it difficult for many Africans to accept it as normal. And until medical science can definitively clarify things, many Africans will continue to hold the view that homosexuality is a learned behaviour, a chosen lifestyle. However even if it is reliably determined that homosexuality is not chosen but rather something innate, many will quickly label it an illness, and be more interested in talking about treatment rather than marriage certificates.

Homosexuals must first be humanized, presented as fellow citizens worthy of consideration, before there can be any talk of marriage In fact, those pushing for gay rights have most certainly put the cart before the horse, or have

been too hasty to talk about marriage; homosexuals must first be humanized, presented as fellow citizens worthy of consideration, before there can be any talk of marriage. For now, homosexuals are widely seen on the continent as sexual deviants corrupting decent society; individuals who should not only be thwarted, but also punished for working against the natural order. While seemingly incompatible, anatomical pairings make homosexuality unacceptable to most Africans, an equal or greater force is that of religion. The African world is largely a religious one. It is a world where Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religion (in all their variations) dominate, and a world that harbours both the largest church and the tallest mosque on earth. It’s not a world where people take special care to hide their religious lives or make sure to say “hopefully” rather than “God’s willing”, lest someone be offended. It’s a world where atheists are hard to come by and God is regularly invoked by the sincere and insincere alike. Generally speaking, Africa takes her holy books seriously, and applies the same fervor for the Divine as their ancestors prior to the arrival of the Abrahamic faiths. No explanation or apology is necessary for believing in God, and the holy books are routinely referred to when making the case against homosexuality. It is immoral - period! In Africa, Muslims and Christians come together over the issue, 30 | tAI

and readily remind people that both religions condemn it and tradition does not support it. To be sure, one is hard-pressed to find an African culture that deems homosexual activity acceptable. Family is at the centre of tradition, while getting married and having children are of spectacular importance. Even if specific pronouncements have not been made against homosexuality in the past, the very fact that a gay couple cannot between them produce children means support for such unions is most unlikely to be found amongst traditionalists. So even if one could find a remote corner of Africa where homosexuality is tolerated, one can probably safely bet a fortune that that same community does not sanction gay marriage; pointing out rare examples of older women “marrying” younger women in Kenya and Nigeria would be disingenuous, as there is no homosexuality involved. South Africa stands alone as the only country in Africa where same-sex marriage is legal due to court rulings in the middle of the last decade, however South African society as a whole can hardly be considered particularly gay-friendly. In the years since the legalization of gay marriage and civil unions in Africa’s southernmost nation, homophobia seems to have steadily increased across the continent, with homosexuals being outed on the front pages of newspapers, physically and verbally attacked,

THE GAY DEBATE Society threatened and even killed, and anti-gay laws being enthusiastically passed. If the unspoken rule had been “live and let live”, it must certainly be dead and buried, for it is now illegal in many countries to be openly gay. In Nigeria for example, it is clear from the legislation that gays are not to organize, congregate, attract followers or openly declare or hint at their sexuality, otherwise up to 14 years of incarceration awaits them and any sympathizer who might assist them. Furthermore, gay marriage is out of the question, and any same-sex marriage contracted outside of Nigeria would not be recognized. Despite all of this, there are African homosexuals who refuse to be silenced or remain hidden, and there are those brave souls who speak out in support of the gay community. For example, the Kenyan author Binyavanga Wainaina recently came out to the world at large, and Nigeria’s Chimamanda Adichie has spoken out against the anti-gay bill recently signed into law in her native

Going by current African standards, her views are very progressive. She is not interested in dialing into the nearest police station to report her gay neighbours, and is willing to let them lead their lives as they see fit, unmolested. Yet she adamantly refuses to implement the same policy in her own home when she becomes a parent. It’s not because she is wicked or duplicitous; the social and cultural fabric of her world has no place for gays. Yes, her son would certainly retain his status as a nwadiana in his maternal home, but if he were permitted to marry a man, no such status could be accorded the children they would adopt, for one can only be a nwadiana in one’s maternal home. Who would do the wine-carrying at his traditional wedding? Would he or would his spouse? And where would the ceremony be

South Africa stands alone as the only country in Africa where same sex marriage is legal country. There are also those who believe it is absolutely wrong for one to be punished with incarceration simply for being gay, but know better than to voice their support too loudly. A single, childless woman in her late twenties working in a Lagos telecommunication firm was even willing to vote in favor of same-sex marriage if given the opportunity. She was concerned about the feelings of gay people and the unhappiness they might otherwise experience. But when presented with the hypothetical situation of being the mother of a son wanting to come out of the closet, her response was far more conservative. “Before he comes out of the closet, [I will] push him back in there. Not in my house,” was her firm response. But what about his feelings, she was asked. She in turn responded, if her son didn’t like girls then “make he enter monastery...[and] just have feelings for God.” As far as she was concerned, “Other people can practice it, not my business, but it shouldn’t come to my house.” Obviously her charitable outlook on the issue did not extend to her home, and hers is not an isolated case.

held? In his family compound or that of his spouse? And where would they establish their homestead? On his ancestral lands or that of his spouse? If her son were to take the position of “wife” instead of “husband”, would he have to give up his land inheritance? Would he then forfeit his right to attend the meetings of his umunna or paternal lineage and join the ranks of the umuada instead? Would the umuada or daughters of the lineage even agree? And what of the wives’ association or ndi-inyom in his spouse’s community? Would they grant him admission into their exclusive club? Would his spouse’s family apportion him lands for his personal use or refer him back to his kindred? In the event that his spouse should choose to, and be permitted to become a titled man and join the ranks of the nobility, could he, the “wife”, be crowned lolo or iyom? Would 31 | tAI

his praise name be male or female in nature? To make a long story short, allowing gays to marry would be life-changing for just about everyone in the community, and the young progressive at the Lagos communications firm is clearly not interested in having her son be a pioneer guinea pig. Besides, in Africa, things seem to work out better when there is a consensus, and the powers that be give their nod of approval. (An example of this would be the issue of female circumcision in Mali. Those advocating its cessation found that getting a village head on board and making him a spokesman for their cause tended to yield the desired results). In the face of all this, an African leader, regardless of personal sentiment, would be hardpressed to give into pressure from Western capitals and Activists. Senegal’s Macky Sall stood beside President Obama at a press conference and refused to backdown. Liberia, a country associated with the United States since its founding in the 19th century, has equally refused to dance to a western drumbeat, with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf boldly declaring she would not decriminalize homosexuality. Even when faced with the possible loss of Western aid money, Uganda’s Museveni seemed to stall and hesitate, but he eventually signed tough anti-gay legislation. Desperately poor Malawi, a country heavily reliant on western aid, could not escape domestic pressure on the issue, and decided not to repeal anti-gay laws as promised. And of course Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe could careless what the West thinks or let sanctions cause him any worry; gays remain “worse than dogs and pigs” in his eyes. No African leader will want to be seen to be in support of what the majority does not approve and succumb to pressure that will cause him or her to lose more than he or she will gain. Any money gained from western aid would most likely be condemned by religious clerics and social conservatives who would be further emboldened to speak out, for such money would likely be regarded as filthy lucre fit to be mentioned when complaining about graft in government. Being that corruption is a standing problem in far too many countries, few African leaders would rejoice at providing their political opponents and anti-corruption crooners yet another song to sing. No, gay rights are not yet on the march across the African continent; they are in retreat.

THE AFRICAN WOMAN

Betty Makoni A pioneer supporting the rights of girls. Nena Duchez

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Muzvare Betty Makoni Betty Makoni is the founder of Girl Child Network. Since 1998, this empowerment programme that she pioneered in Zimbabwe has helped up to 350,000 girls across six countries. The Girl Child Network is responsible for putting 4,000 child sex offenders behind bars – including a popular Harare church minister, Reverend Obadiah Msindo. This organizarion has been copied by other African and worldwide organisations. Makoni lives in England and is married, with three children. Her work as an activist has led to her being appointed a gender-based violence expert for the Foreign Office and has seen her win 33 international accolades. These include the 2007 World Children’s Prize, which she received alongside Nelson Mandela, while in 2011 Newsweek named her in its list of 150 women who shake the world.

My personal career is unusual. I just started from a very low position in society. I used to be cleaning hostels, then I became a vender, selling fruit on the street. Then I became a temporal English teacher and after that I moved on to the university where I acquired two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts General Degree majoring in English, Linguistics and Shona, and later a Post Graduate BA in Theatre Arts. I majored in Theatre Arts Man- agement and Directing as well as script writing but I didn’t do those activities for a long time because I chose to follow my passion, and my passion is that of being a girl child rights activist and motivate girls to spearhead their own liberation. I achieved quite a lot because I started with a small project, building the Girl Child Network in Zimbabwe, after listening to the horrifying experiences of ten of her female students, and since then, the network spread to another countries like Tanzania, Uganda, Sierra Leone, America... and now this movement is a huge network and is called Girl Child Network Worldwide. I also became a writer to document my personal experience at this state, and I focused on protecting the rights of girls. Marketing is something that is natural for me. I came from the royal family of Makoni, and the women of this family had leader positions in Zimbabwe. I played this role very well and I represented our traditions, to reconcile the past with the present and the future, to have a leadership role that could represent everybody.

I officially look after the rights of the children around the world, and it is the pride of my life to work with governments that are advocating to stop violence against women in countries with instability. In the Congo I actually had to stand up and speak to the G8. In UK we create networks for women, we empower each other and we are developing programs to lead communities and improve the situation of African women around the world. You can see that my role is advocating, encouraging women to create more innovative projects on the ground. I work through social media and people contact me because we are like a big home. I actually do a lot of Internet advocacy to governments and global leaders, using my influence to improve the situation of women and girls trough the world. I am a mother and also a wife. I enjoy being a family women with my children and the desire of being a mother and a wife as well as a lover is also part of my leadership role. I motivate a great number of women to publish their histories, to make impact in the world, with my example. Some of the programs of our organisation are supported by women with brilliant ideas on issues about domestic violence, genital mutilation, empowerment of the African woman, and so on. African women are very creative, but we also need to have good links with leaders and philanthropist, in terms of financing our projects. Many potential leaders are supported by us and we want to support more individu-

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al women to do whatever they want to do. There is a necessity of supporting women in countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, or DRC, and we have lost a lot of big women as a result of violence in these places. Women are almost 52% of the population in Africa, but there is a patriarchal society and we are not represented, so the majority of presidents, leaders and authorities in Africa are men. Those are issues of concern. We have to talk about female genital mutilation as well. This is a big issue today, it’s a harmful cultural practise in Africa and even in Occidental countries. I think we have managed to create some good movements and we want women to take part in the society. This is a new generation of women who realised they can be confident and have clear visions of where they want to go. Women are increasingly supporting each other in XXI Century around the world and I can say those things are being improved and societies are becoming more equal. We do have more African women educated and we have to appreciate the achievements of African women around the world. We are taking advantage in education and leadership. African women are very honest. They are determined and hardworking. Look the amount of work they have done and they are resilient. I just also want to say that African women are very generous, they have to learn also to be given.

COUNTRY

Country Profile NIGERIA

Nige

Abuja

Abuja is the capital of Nigeria in West Africa. Just under 800,000 people live in Abuja (less than a tenth that live in Lagos, the old capital). Abuja is a planned city, it became Nigeria’s capital city in 1991 and it’s situated in the centre of the country. The downtown area is planned out and mostly completed. Multinationals have their headquarters here, embassies are based here. The outskirts of town are still somewhat of a mess with little in the way of modern conveniences such as electricity and running water. Shanty towns are growing in number as the rural population is drawn to the city in search of jobs. Recent attacks in Abuja, which have been blamed on the armed group Boko Haram, have highlighted the increased geopolitical risk that comes with investing in Nigeria.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is now also the largest economy on the continent. It leapfrogged South Africa into first place after its GDP was revised up by 89 percent. That represents an economy of about $509bn which, on the face of it, makes Nigeria the big African story.

Lagos

Nigeria’s commercial capital is the second fastest-growing city in Africa and the seventh in the world.The city began in the fifteenth century as a Portuguese trading post exporting ivory, peppers, and slaves. In 1914 Northem Nigeria and Southern Nigeria fell into the hands of the British, and both areas will become one country with Lagos as its capital. The business capital has one of the highest standards of living as compared to other cities in Nigeria as well as in Africa. Unlike the rest of Nigeria, 90% of the population of Lagos have access to electricity, with the city consuming 45% of the energy of the country. More than half the number of vehicles in Nigeria is concentrated on its network of roads. However, the majority of Lagos’ socio-economic problems have arisen for the rapid urbanisation of the city. Solving Lagos’ chaos is a major challenge to the Governments and people of the State.

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Y PROFILE

eria

NIGERIA Country Profile

Enugu

The word “Enugu” (from Enu Ugwu) means “the top of the hill”. The colonial past of Enugu is today evidenced by the Georgian building types and meandering narrow roads within the residential area originally reserved for the whites, an area which is today called the Government Reserved Area (GRA). From Enugu the British administration was able to spread its influence over the Southern Province of Nigeria. Industries in the city include the urban market and bottling industries, but Enugu also has become a preferred filming location for directors of the Nigerian movie industry, dubbed “Nollywood”. The main airport is the Akanu Ibiam International Airport. The main educational establishment in the city is the Enugu campus of the University of Nigeria based in Nsukka.

The country is the world’s eighth-largest oil exporter, and almost 90 percent of its export earnings are tied to oil. It has the seventh-highest population in the world - 170 million people - but over 80 percent live on less than $2 a day.

Owerri

Owerri is the capital of Imo State in Nigeria, and is centrally positioned within the region. Owerri consists of three Local Govern Areas including Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West. Owerri is bordered by the Otamiri River to the east and the Nworie River to the south. The Owerri Slogan is Heartland. It is currently referred to as the entertainment capital of Nigeria and is home to an annual beauty pageant called “Miss Heartland”. With a partial political truce between the region and the federal government in Abuja, there are considerable signs of new building in the city. Whilst the roads in parts of Owerri itself are in poor repair, the stretches between Owerri and the surrounding cities are reasonably good. As Owerri is the administrative centre for Imo State and a university town, it is a good place to leverage government incentives.

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AFRICA

World Cup

Previews NIGEL RYAN

The most glamorous showcase of global soccer for some time will seethe five African nations of Nigeria, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana facing some of the toughest names in football at FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014. Although the continent’s representation at the top level began as early as nineteen thirty-four, a long subsequent absence was only broken by Morocco’s appearance nearly forty years later at Mexico ‘70. Political intrigue, a fight for equitable allowance of places and some of the most memorable match-time drama has been a leitmotif of many subsequent tournaments for the teams of the Confederation of African Football. As the June 12th kick-off approaches, we assess the teams’ group chances, qualifying records and star-players likely to shine at the event.

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Sport AFRICAN WORLD CUP 2014

Nigeria football Team AFRICA CHAMPIONS

igeria

Brazil 2014 is the fifth World Cup for the Super Eagles. Group F sees them up against Argentina, Iran and Bosnia Herzegovina. Manager Stephen Keshi has a formidable reputation and with a team containing John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses expectation will be high for a second place finish behind the might of Messi & Co. for Argentina. The draw arguably favours Nigeria who should have enough firepower to put a robust challenge to Iran and Bosnia, before a 25th June showdown against group favourites Argentina at Porto Alegre. The Nigerian fan base will hope that three or four points in the bag before the final game will leave them in a good position to claim the runner-up spot in the group. Bar 2006 the Super Eagles have qualified consecutively since 1994 and as an historical West African powerhouse and current CAF African champions, prestige and pride will be important factors influencing their displays. The Nigerian fan-base is particularly demanding and performances that combine results and attractive attacking football will be paramount

to their list of expectations from the national team.

lier encounters, Obi Mikel will have to carry the burden and lead by example.

However, memories of the impressive 2013 triumph have dimmed somewhat with a relatively lacklustre World Cup qualifying campaign. Just seven goals against relatively weak opposition in Kenya, Malawi and Namibia were a poor return considering the undoubted talent throughout the side. They finally made it through with a 4-1 aggregate success in the play-off against continental heavyweights Ethiopia, but won few plaudits for the quality of their campaign displays along the way.

Victor Moses

Prediction: Second in Group F.

The Lagos born winger poses a threat due to his pace and striking ability. His goals against Malawi and Egypt were vital to qualification and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to see how he could be adequately replaced. Pressure will be on him to bring an attacking menace. However, due to a lack of game-time following his season long loan to Liverpool there are some doubts about whether his match sharpness will be what it might come June.

Vincent Enyeama

3 to watch: Jon Obi Mikel The Chelsea midfielder is perhaps the best known of the Nigerian players travelling to Brazil.His Premier League performances have been outstanding on occasion but lately a starting place at Stamford Bridge has not been anything like the sure thing of the past. Nevertheless, if the Super Eagles are to have any chance of restricting the Argentine attacks or dominating against Iran and Bosnia in the ear38 | tAI

The 31 year old Lille â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;keeper was named Man of the Match in the 2010 World Cup encounter with Argentina. He made a string of fine saves and the South Americans could only breach his line once during the game. A repeat performance would grant him legendary status in his homeland but it may be in the previous two less glamorous matches that his outstanding shot-stopping services will be especially significant to the Super Eagles progress in Brazil. A record of penalty taking and saving exploits

AFRICAN WORLD CUP 2014 Sport prompted Juventus and Inter Milan to shell out for his talents. Taider may well put in some eye-catching displays this summer.

Cameroon After a drama filled qualification campaign, the daunting task facing Cameroon is arguably the toughest of all five African qualifiers. Three coaches were in charge during group games against Libya, Congo DR and Togo. Frenchman Denis Lavagne was dismissed, only for his successor Jean-Paul Akono to be ruled out due to ill health. Veteran German Volker Finke finally led the side to success and a home 4-1 victory and aggregate win against Tunisia in the play-off.

Algeria football Team adds to the drama of what Enyeama will bring to the tournament for neutrals.

Algeria It’s the fourth World Cup for the Fennec Foxes who qualified strongly after five wins in six qualifiers and a tough play-off victory over Burkina Faso. The experienced Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic will attempt to guide the side past South Korea and challenge Russia or Belgium for second spot in Group H. Algeria earned a draw with England in South Africa 2010 and beat World Champions West Germany in ‘82 so another shock against a formidable Belgium or European veterans Russia can’t be ruled out. Realistically, victory over South Korea in their second fixture will be their imperative. However, the opening match against Belgium in Belo Horizonte on the 17th June will be intriguing to see if they can recapture some of the spirit of previous giant-killing exploits and set themselves up to challenge Russia for second place in the final Group H encounter at Curitiba.

Prediction: 3rd in Group H

3 to watch: Islam Slimani The Sporting Lisbon striker has an impressive career goals-to-games ratio and will lead

the line for his team in the South American showcase. His five goals in qualifying helped thwart the hopes of Benin, Mali, Rwanda and Burkina Faso. His strength and height will worry the Koreans in particular. Slimani will turn 26 during the Group stage with a goal or two to celebrate no doubt a top priority.

Madjid Bougherra After stints with Crewe, Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday in England, Bougherra moved to Rangers in Scotland where he won three consecutive league titles and earned a reputation as a solid, if at times unruly defender cum midfield spoiler. He is French born but qualifies for Algeria through his grandfather and now plays club football in Qatar. The rock of the his side’s defence, opponents will face a challenge getting through on goal due to his presence, talent and experience at the back.

Saphir Taider Taider is also French born and represented Les Bleus at youth level before declaring for Algeria. His youthful promise attracted Serie A interest and eventually 39 | tAI

Cameroon are World Cup stalwarts with six previous appearances to be added to at Brazil 2014. They’ve also provided one of the most memorable World Cup characters in thirty-eight year old Roger Milla and his goals in 1990 that helped them reach the quarterfinal stage. Only die-hard optimists can expect a repeat this time though, with Brazil, Mexico and Croatia making up a formidable Group A. Perhaps a draw against Mexico in their first match at Natal on June 13th could lead to hopes of defeating Croatia prior to a showdown with the hosts at Brasilia ten days later. Reliance on Eto’o for goals may be pushing things with age now a factor and few would back anything more than a scrap for third place for Cameroon this time around.

Samuel Eto’o - Cameroon

Sport AFRICAN WORLD CUP 2014 the USA twice at finals and have them again this time around in their first tie at Natal on the 16th June. A top performance against Portugal in the final group game may see them through this time around.

Prediction: 3rd in Group G

3 to watch: Sully Muntari

Ghana football Team Prediction: Fourth in Group A

Alexandre Song

3 to watch:

The former Arsenal midfielder has moved into the shadows somewhat in Barcelona’s star filled squad following his big money move last summer. He will see Brazil 2014 as a chance to remind the soccer family of his many talents. Tireless midfield running and the strength to win the ball and hold off opponents are his characteristic qualities with quality passing also within his considerable inventory. He played in all eight qualifiers and will want to see the national-team do better than last time in South Africa when they were the first to exit the tournament.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto The Tottenham defender has built a reputation for his solid performances and refreshingly outspoken manner. Currently on loan to Queens Park Rangers, Assou-Ekotto is another of the French born stars that went on to declare for an African side. He’s a formidable manmarker and intelligent with possession and distribution of the ball. He started out with Lens before making the switch to England where he has won favour for being frank about matters outside the game including racism, the London riots and his view that most players are motivated more by money than loyalty to their clubs.

Samuel Eto’o After an award and success filled career at some of the biggest clubs in world football, time has now caught up with the veteran striker who has struggled to make an impact since being signed by Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. However, he may feel a World Cup stage is the right place to show what he can do and he can perhaps expect another big money transfer before retirement. Hugely experience and talented, he scored twice in four games during qualification and knows he must deliver to give Cameroon any hope of making it out of Group A.

Ghana Three consecutive World Cup appearances give Ghana an enviable World Cup qualifying record. They easily made it this time with goals aplenty against minnows Lesotho and tougher opponents Zambia, Sudan and Egypt. The quality throughout the side arguably makes them the pick of the five African qualifiers but their task is a tough one with Germany, Portugal and USA making up the contingent in Group G for Brazil 2014. Managed by former player James Kwesi Appiah and with a team boasting several names at top European sides, Ghana have something to prove after the disappointing manner of their exit to dark horses Uruguay at South Africa 2010. South American teams have been their downfall thus far in World Cups with the 2006 defeat to Brazil and dismissal by Uruguay in the 2010 Quarter final. However, they’ve beaten 40 | tAI

The Milan midfielder netted three times in seven qualifiers to add to Ghana’s twentyfive-goal tally. He’s experienced the game at the highest level with two Seire A titles and a Champion’s League win at Inter Milan. Now playing his trade for their city rivals his qualities and teamwork with Frimpong and Essien will be essential to Ghana’s chances in Brazil.

Asamoah Gyan In a less formidable group Gyan might well have become one of the tournament stars. He’s shown he can perform at the top level by scoring against the Czech Republic and in 2006. In 2010 he was goal-happy again with strikes against Serbia, Australia and the USA as part of the Black Stars progress to the last sixteen. However there is a negative side to his game with a couple of penalty misses and a sending-off against Brazil finals’ incidents for him to forget. Now looking for a way back to the top from the obscurity of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, Gyan can redeem himself at Brazil 2014.

Michael Essien One of a generation of African players to play crucial roles in European clubs’ success over the past decade, Essien will see the World Cup as perhaps his last chance to shine on the highest stage. He performed well in 2006 helping Ghana reach the second round only to be suspended for the defeat to Brazil. He missed South Africa 2010 through one of the injuries that have blighted his career. After announcing international retirement he is now back and will help make the Black Stars midfield one of the most formidable in the whole tournament.

AFRICAN WORLD CUP 2014 Sport

Columbia, Greece and Japan surely provide weaker Group opposition than that faced by the Elephants in Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010. Ivory Coast have scored in all but one of their six World Cup appearances so far and were it not for facing the might of Argentina, Brazil, Portugal and the Netherlands they may well have gone on and made a mark in those two previous tournaments. There is certainly talent enough in their ranks with Yaya Touré, Gervinho, Didier Drogba and other household names from the Premier League and top flights further elsewhere. With inexperienced French coach Sabri Lamouchi at the helm some doubts about tactical nous exist. Nevertheless, qualification was straightforward even if Tanzania, Morocco and Gambia were some of the weaker opponents faced by any of the five qualifiers. Goals should not be a problem and the best hopes of the continent lie with Ivory Coast this time around.

Prediction:

3 to watch: Didier Drogba He’ll be thirty six when the games begin but maintains a threat with good Champions League form for Galatasaray and three goals in five in qualifying it’d be brave of the coach to leave him out in favour of younger, less experienced team-mates. Having won it all at club level he’ll want to bow out of a glittering international career on a high. Few can match Drogba’s outstanding strike rate for his clubs and country.

Yaya Toure Perhaps the most naturally gifted midfielder currently operating

i n t h e English P r e m i e r

NGUMA

worldwide

Wilfried Bony After making his debut in 2010, Bony has become a relied upon addition to the Ivory Coast side. He netted three times in five games during qualifying and has won praise for his side Swansea performances in the Premier League. Previous impressive spells at Sparta Prague and Vitesse Arnhem show he’s one of the sharpest young finishers around.

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Ivory Coast

League, Toure will be many fans one-to-watch in the Group games in Brazil. He has the pace, striking ability, passing and tackling to make him one of the best players of his generation. Barcelona make few mistakes but allowing him to leave for Manchester City was surely one. Four goals in six qualifying games show he’s committed to doing his bit for the national side when it counts.

tel: +353 1 87 30 123

adv@theafricaninternational.com Didier Drogba - Ivory Coast

Briefing

Focus on th

South Sudan

Lebanon

South Sudan urgently needs international aid

The number of syrian refugees in lebanon passes the 1 million mark

The United Nations official coordinating humanitarian aid in South Sudan warned on Thursday that it is needed $230 million in international aid. About 3.7 million people, nearly one-third of the population, are already at severe risk of starvation in South Sudan, a crisis now ranked by the United Nations on par with Syriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crisis. Nearly 5 million people need food, water, seeds and farming tools, to allow the South Sudanese to plant crops before the end of May, when rains bring the planting season to an end. The conflict that broke out in South Sudan on 15th December, 2013 has left thousands dead and displaced hundreds of thousands more. Vulnerable populations continue to flee ongoing fighting in South Sudan. Since fighting between government troops and rebel forces erupted last year, over 800,000 people have fled their homes and are now displaced within South Sudan, and ore than 76,000 people have sought refuge at various UN compounds across the country.

The number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon passed the 1 million mark on May 2014; just over three years after Syriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conflict began. Lebanon is a small country, but has become the country with the highest per capita concentration of refugees worldwide. Refugees from Syria now equal almost a quarter of the resident population. The Lebanese people have shown striking generosity, but are struggling to cope with the massive wave of Syrian refugees, and the influx is accelerating: every day, UNHCR staff in Lebanon register 2,500 new refugees. The impact on Lebanon has been immense. The country has experienced serious economic shocks due to the conflict in Syria, including a decline in trade, tourism and investment and an increase in public expenditures. Public services are struggling to meet increased demand, with health, education, electricity, and water and sanitation particularly taxed.The World Bank estimates that the Syria crisis cost Lebanon US$2.5 billion in lost economic activity last year and threatens to push 170,000 Lebanese into poverty by the end of this year. Wages are plummeting, and families are struggling to make ends meet.

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he conflicts

Briefing

Central African Republic

Nigeria

Security in Central African Republic is deteriorating, warms United Nations

Nigerian girls kidnapped and islamized

Fighting involving Christian militias, Muslims and foreign troops are increasing in Central African Republic. Security is deteriorating and appealing for more peacekeeping troops and police officers. Tensions have been brewing in the predominantly Christian country since 2012. The European Union has agreed to send about 1,000 troops to back up the 2,000 French troops already in and around Banguim the capital. Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general, has called for the creation of a peacekeeping force expected to include 10,000 soldiers and some 1,800 policemen, but is not expected to be deployed until September. The refugee agency says it is particularly concerned about some 19,000 Muslims outside Bangui who are virtually besieged and at risk of being slaughtered by Christian groups. This eruption of sectarian violence is again pushing up the number of people driven from their homes, putting more pressure on aid delivery at a time when international fund-raising efforts have fallen far short of needs. The United Nations has appealed to international donors for $547 million in aid money, but with simultaneous crises in Syria and South Sudan, barely one-fifth of that amount has been forthcoming.

On the night of 14–15 April 2014, approximately 276 female students were kidnapped from the Government Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria. The kidnappings were claimed by Boko Haram, an Islamic Jihadist and Takfiri terrorist organization based in northeast Nigeria. On 5 May, a video in which Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau claimed responsibility for the kidnappings emerged. Shekau claimed that the girls should not have been in the school and instead they should be married since girls as young as nine are suitable for marriage. The students are being forced into Islam and into marriage with members of Boko Haram, with a reputed “bride price” of ₦2,000 each ($12.50/£7.50). Many of the students were taken to the neighbouring countries of Chad and Cameroon, with sightings reported of the students crossing borders with the militants, and sightings of the students by villagers living in the Sambisa Forest, considered a refuge for Boko Haram. Parents and others took to social media to complain about the government’s perceived slow and inadequate response. On 30 April and 1 May, protests demanding more government action were held in several Nigerian cities. The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNICEF condemned the abduction, as did former Nigerian military ruler Muhammadu Buhari. UN Security Council also condemned the attack and warned action against Boko Haram Militants. The United Kingdom and the United States have agreed to send experts to Nigeria to assist in the search for the students. France also offered specialist experts to Nigeria, and China has announced its intention to share any relevant signals intelligence it acquires with Nigeria. 43 | tAI

Book Review

MUST READ There Was a Country by Chinua Achebe ‘There Was a Country’ is the memoir of Chinua Achebe’s personal experiences and reflections on the Biafran War (1967-1970), known around the world for its impact on the Biafrans, who were starved to death by the Nigerian Government. This atrocities are the darkest chapter of Nigeria’s history; the conflict left a million people dead, towns completely destroyed and a generation stripped of its innocence. There was a country relates to the atrocities when Chinua Achebe, a world-renowned novelist, served his Biafran homeland as a roving cultural ambassador, witnessing the war’s full horror first-hand. The book is a distillation of vivid observation and considered research and reflection, and its author is now the most widely read African author in the world.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Obinze, the quiet, thoughtful son of a professor had hoped to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous and undocumented life in London. Years later, Obinze is a wealthy man in a newly democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a writer of an eye-opening blog about race in America. But when Ifemelu returns to Nigeria, and she and Obinze re-ignite their shared passion for their homeland and for each other, they will face the toughest decisions of their lives. Americanah is a richly told story set in today’s globalized world by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the award winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun.

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Book Review

MUST READ Poor Numbers by Morten Jerven Poor Numbers is the first analysis of the production and use of African economic development statistics. One of the most urgent challenges in African economic development is to devise a strategy for improving statistical capacity. African governments produce imprecise economic statistics that should not be trusted, but rich countries and international financial institutions allocate their development resources on the basis of such data. The paucity of accurate statistics is not merely a technical problem; it has a massive impact on the welfare of citizens. Data often reflect assumptions about production and consumption patterns that are questionable or even demonstrably false and development policy does not deliver the benefits expected. Jerven’s findings from sub-Saharan Africa have far-reaching implications for aid and development policy.

Stringer by Anjan Sundaram Anjan Sundaram’s new memoir Stringer goes beyond the country’s well-reported war scene and delivers an honest account of a journalist’s life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He chronicles his adventures as a budding journalist in one of the world’s most chaotic spots. Settling in Kinshasa with a local family, Sundaram lands a position as a stringer for the AP News Service. He makes professional contacts, writes stories, and garners a bit of prestige until he leaves Kinshasa, wanting to experience more of the country. When war breaks out over disputed election results, Sundaram ventures into the fray, holing up in a margarine factory and becoming one of the few reporters in the war zone filing stories.

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Theme TITLE

INTERVIEW TO AN IRISH POLITICIAN

ROTIMI ADEBARI

Africans themselves need to make efforts to integrate. We need to come out of our comfort zones and have a good understanding of a country we have made a home. Are you still in public service since your reign as mayor of Port Laoise? Yes When you made history in Ireland as the first black mayor, how did you feel? I feel honoured. But I have to acknowledge the fact that the people of Portlaoise that elected me into the town council in 2004 are the ones that made history. I give that to them any day. Was becoming a mayor part of your plans when you arrived in Ireland? Not at all. Even to be a politician was never in my thoughts and never crossed my mind. What was your most important achievement as the no 1 citizen of Port Laoise? The opportunity to showcase and represent Portlaoise on the local, national and international stage is a great honour I will forever be grateful. Rotimi Adebari (born 1964 in Okeodan, Ogun State) is a Nigerian-born Irish politician. He made history when he became the first black mayor in Ireland on June 28th, 2007. Adebari was elected mayor of the town of Port Laoise, in County Laois, in the province of Leinster. He ran as an Independent candidate in the 2011 general election for the Laois–Offaly constituency. Adebari came to Ireland as an asylum seeker in 2000 from Nigeria, and is married with four children.

ow is life as an Irish politician?

The best way to describe public life is that it is 24/7/365 job. You must have passion for it to be able to do it most especially at the local level

What is the difference between the Ireland you saw in 2000 when you arrived and now? Ireland has changed big time. A country that once had a history of emigration is now faced with the reality of immigration.

of your position? Yes but this is from a small minority. Generally people are nice and accommodating. Remember the expression “you must be doing something wrong if everybody likes you.” Would you say there is a level playing ground in Europe especially Ireland for Africans? I will say the playing ground is level. Should anybody feel discriminated against, the 9 grounds on which discrimination is unlawful is there to seek redress. You have been outstanding as a public speaker, what are your major areas? I have heard this from people many times. My public speaking is dated back to my primary school, secondary and university days. I was a member of Literary and Debating Society throughout my school time. Tell our readers more about Rotimi Adebari, the first black mayor in the Irish Republic

I have said it over and over that Ireland that the natives grew up to know will never be that same Ireland again. Ireland today is now a country with over 188 different nationalities living here. In my 2004 manifesto titled “The reality of our future”, I spoke about the need to involve members of minority ethnic groups in policy formulation at local, community and political levels. This is beginning to happen

Rotimi was born in Oke Odan, Ogun State in the south-west of Nigeria. I obtained my first degree in Economics from the University of Benin in Nigeria and Masters in Intercultural Studies at Dublin City University, Ireland. I arrived with my family in Ireland in 2000. As an independent candidate, I was elected into Portlaoise Town Council in 2004 and in 2007 was elected the Mayor of Portlaoise. My election as the Mayor of Portlaoise put the town on the map as the first town in Ireland to elect a black mayor. In the June 2009 Elections, I retained my Town Council seat and also secured a seat in Laois County Council making me the first and only immigrant to be elected at that level of representation in Ireland.

Have you ever been racially abused because

Would you say Ireland is a good country?

As an expert in multiculturalism, what is your advise for those in this part of the world that feel uneasy with colour?

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Rotimi Adebari

Yes, Ireland is a good country. It has been very good to me and I am sure it is the same story with many migrants out there It is a country that lives up to its slogan Cead Mile Failte. How do you see the growth and integration of the African community? Africans themselves need to make efforts to integrate. We need to come out of our comfort zones and have a good understanding of a country we have made a home. We should make efforts to share our very reach culture with other countries that now make up Ireland. We should show interest in things that are Irish and look for a way to bring our value system alongside theirs without any offence. Although many are glad with certain reforms going on especially in the justice department, what is your opinion on more that still complain of racism and the Irish close attitude to practical integration?

To be a politician was never in my thoughts and never crossed my mind. How does Rotimi Adebari combine his public life with family? It’s all about time management. Though not very easy but my family now got use to my public life, these are challenges we have to live with. Tell us a bit about your family life I have a family that is very supportive. Without them, I cannot get to where I am today. They are a source of encouragement and joy to me. I am blessed with a wife that is very understanding. She offers me strength where I am weak. I cannot ask for more.

It is a shame that racism still rears its ugly head in this day and age. Nelson Mandela once said; “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

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TITLE Theme

What are your hobbies? Lawn tennis is my greatest hobby but have not been able to play it since I got into public life. I still make time to watch major tennis tournaments. Reading is another. “Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.” — Joyce Carol Oates What does the future hold for you here politically? Ans: I take one day at a time. Dorris Day in her Que Sera Sera lyrics couldn’t have put it better when she said; Que Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, will be The future’s not ours, to see Que Sera, Sera What will be, will be.

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