Africa Archives - Page 72 of 164 - Foreign Policy In Focus

Africa Falls Off the IMF Agenda (Again)

by Soren Ambrose, Sameer Dossani, Emily Schwartz Greco | Sep 25, 2006

World leaders and celebrities declared 2005 to be the "year of Africa" with much fanfare. Beginning with the UK’s Commission on Africa report, and culminating in some supposed gains for the continent at the summit meeting of the Group of Eight (G8) wealthy countries, who were cajoled at several musical extravaganzas featuring the likes of U2, Madonna and Youssou N’Dour to do more to end global poverty, the year was billed as a "turning point" for Africa.

Development Requires Local Empowerment

by Leif Brottom, Emily Schwartz Greco | Sep 18, 2006

A 5% economic growth rate has done little for Mozambique’s vast poverty stricken population. And although the world’s poorest countries have recently enjoyed their highest growth rates in two decades, the growth is fragile and not necessarily improving human well-being. These are some of the findings in the recently released United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Least Developed Countries Report.

Lebanon, Sudan: Who You Gonna Call?

by John Feffer, Don Kraus | Aug 29, 2006

The world is holding its collective breath. Will the Lebanon ceasefire hold? Will war and ethnic cleansing escalate again in Darfur? UN peacekeeping, described by Secretary General Kofi Annan as Âthe only fire brigade in the world that has to acquire a fire engine after the fire has started,Â will be key in both situations to preventing further death and destruction. Prompt UN protection of civilians in war-torn regions, however, requires a new institution: a rapidly deployable UN Emergency Peace Service (UNEPS).

U.S. Ambivalence Undermining Historic Uganda Peace Talks

by Michael Poffenberger, Peter J. Quaranto, Emira Woods | Aug 10, 2006

Historic peace talks currently underway between the Government of Uganda and rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) are the best opportunity in over a decade to end Africa’s longest running war. Yet the Bush administration and State Department–distracted by unrest in the Middle East and priorities that lie outside of Africa–have been ambiguous about the U.S. position on the talks, undermining opportunities to help end one of the world’s worst humanitarian nightmares.

A New Frontier of Jihadi Islam?

by John Feffer, Najum Mushtaq | Jul 24, 2006

Somalia today is very much like Afghanistan was in 1996. In the wake of years of civil war, chaotic rule by warlords, and the death and displacement of countless Muslims, a ragtag Islamic militia has moved in to take control of much of Somalia.

The Devil’s Brew of Poverty Relief

by John Feffer, Conn Hallinan | Jul 19, 2006

Once a year or so, the topic of poverty climbs onto the agenda for the developed world. Poverty was a theme at last year’s Group of 8 (G8) meeting, and it will likely come up again next year when the United States, Canada, Japan, Britain, Russia, Germany, France, and Italy sit down in Berlin to divvy up the global economy. But this past weekend in St. Petersburg, energy policy (and the Middle East) dominated the G8 discussions, and the topic of poverty barely surfaced.

Decision on Libya Marks Shift in Bush Foreign Policy

by John Gershman, Ronald Bruce St John | May 25, 2006

The recent announcement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the United States will open an embassy in Libya was welcome news all around. Long overdue, the restoration of full diplomatic relations is a win-win situation for both Libya and the United States, as well as for other states in and out of the Middle East. The U.S. decision also marks a significant shift in the foreign policy of the Bush administration, a change most observers have overlooked.

Chad Proves Oil and Poverty Alleviation Don’t Mix

by Emily Schwartz Greco, Daphne Wysham | May 22, 2006

The African nation of Chad has forced the World Bank to back down in a dispute that illustrates the problems with lending to poor nations for oil and gas production.

Tyrant Finally has His Day in Court

by Emira Woods | Apr 17, 2006

Charles Taylor finally faces justice. The UN-backed Special Court in Sierra Leone stands ready to prosecute the former president of Liberia on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, stemming from his role in Sierra Leone’s 1991-2002 civil war.

Women are Africa’s Political Hope

by Lisa VeneKlasen, Emira Woods | Mar 15, 2006

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will address a joint session of the U.S. Congress today. This historic honor, bestowed sparingly on international dignitaries, is a fitting tribute for Africa’s first democratically elected female president. But Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is not an anomaly.