AfricaPundit's Regional Briefing: 2005-02-16

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

TOP TOPICS

• Africa's longest-ruling head of state, Gnassingbe Eyadema, died earlier this month, reportedly of natural causes. Eyadema had been dictator of Togo for 38 years.

• A much-antincipated UN report on Darfur declared that the violence there did not constitute genocide, leaving the world body free not to act.

• New elections have been scheduled for October in Liberia approximately two years after thug-in-chief Charles Taylor fled into exile.

Other Topics Today Include: Much more on Sudan, Darfur, and the UN; Zimbabwe election preparations; Togo; Kenyan corruption; Slavery in Niger; UN in Congo; Hotel Rwanda.

Sudan

• Abiola at Foreign Dispatches was notably unimpressed with the UN report on Darfur.

• Others noted that the press coverage tended to focus on the diplomatic isolation of the U.S. rather than the facts of the situation in Darfur. (Link via Instapundit.)

• Head Heeb offers another analysis of the report, concluding: "To some extent, the issue of whether a genocide is taking place in Darfur is beside the point. Even if the Fur are "only" the victims of crimes against humanity, their plight represents one of the most acute human rights crises in the world today, and they deserve the help of the international community."

• But Brian at Black Star Journal offers at least a partial defense of the UN report.

• In any case, it's apparent that this report will be another excuse for international apathy on Darfur in the near term rather than the call to action that it might have been. Expect Darfur to be swept under the rug for at least another 6-12 months.

Zimbabwe

• Zimbabwe is currently preparing for parliamentary "elections" in March amidst continuing harrassment of opposition parties by Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF. Roger Bate suggests that the opposition should simply boycott the coming elections to call international attention to Mugabe's abuses.

• Meanwhile, Head Heeb notes that infighting within ZANU-PF may lead to a third-party challenge.

• And Black Star Journal reports that Mugabe's support from his South African allies may be slipping.

Togo

• Upon Eyadema's death, the Togolese military went about doing what they do best...running the government. The necessary constitutional changes were pushed through the (rubber-stamp) parliament, allowing Eyadema's son to become president in his father's stead.

• The seizure of power in Togo has been condemned by West African leaders.

• And in a surprising sign of regional leadership, Nigeria has said that it is ready to use its military to roll back the coup in Togo and restore democracy. But who will the French support?

Other news

• In a major setback for Kibaki's government in Kenya, the anti-corruption czar has resigned. Kenyan Pundit has full coverage.

• AfricaBlog posts a reminder that slavery is not a thing of the past.

• UN peacekeepers in Congo have been implicated in a variety of sexual abuse crimes.

Finally

• If you get a chance to see Hotel Rwanda, definitely see it. My mini-review is here.