
African women are still on the receiving end of discrimination, violence and lack of access to essential health services. Gender activists this week gave governments in southern Africa a 54 percent rating in promoting women’s rights, only one percentage point higher than in 2009 and called for the strengthening of efforts to promote equality.

Rwanda’s economic liberalization stands in stark contrast to the lack of political liberalization.

Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame gets 7 more years after flawed elections. Though Kagame can claim credit for impressive economic growth and development under his leadership, the current system of governance seems unlikely to yield long-term peace and stability in Rwanda. Part 1.

Patience Nyangove: WINDHOEK, Namibia — Civil rights activists said Monday that the Democratic Republic of Congo’s official investigation into the death of a human rights campaigner looks like a cover-up.

A Few days before the Southern African Development Community heads of State and Government summit kicks off in Windhoek, a bitter feud has erupted between the Zimbabwean Ambassador to Namibia, Chipo Zindoga and Zimbabwean political scientist John Makumbe.

Presidential luxury trumps democracy in Nigeria. The Nigerian government this week approved plans to buy two new generation Falcon 7X jets and one Gulfstream G550 for the presidential fleet at a cost of US$150 million amid efforts by the government to raise funding for elections.

A South African court yesterday dismissed an attempt by the Zimbabwe government to prevent the seizure and possible sell in execution of its properties in South Africa by the German banking group KFW Bank Gruppe.

Prosecutors at Taylor’s war crimes trial claim that the former Liberian president was in South Africa in 1997 to trade uncut ‘blood diamonds’ for weapons that he then gave to Sierra Leonean rebels. Taylor is being tried on charges of fueling the long and bloody civil war in Sierra Leone.

SOUTHERN African Development Community Heads of State and Government will carry the region’s elusive dream of financial integration when they convene in Windhoek, Namibia, in two weeks’ time.

ZIMBABWEAN Government ministers have been accused of corruptly aiding Chinese companies to buy cotton off local farmers contracted by local investors. Court documents show that cotton producers are taking steps to stop a Chinese firm from using political muscle to clandestinely purchase cotton from farmers contracted by local industry. Zimbabwe Independent.