SmallShop....Africa News

CNN.com : "NAIROBI, Kenya (CNN) -- Talks between delegations representing Kenya's president and main opposition leader aimed at resolving the east African nation's bloody political crisis have been suspended after the death of an opposition lawmaker."

Mail & Guardian Online : "Kenya's police said the fatal shooting of a legislator by a policeman on Thursday was a 'crime of passion' and had already led to one arrest. But the head of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Raila Odinga, called the death of David Kimutai Too in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret a politically-motivated 'execution'."

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE "THE Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has suspended the Esama of Benin and father of the immediate past governor of Edo State, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, from the council. The Esama, who is the fifth to the Oba of Benin in the hierarchy of the kingdom’s Eghaevbo N’ogbe palace chiefs has also been stripped of all the privileges attached to the title indefinitely."

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE "SENATOR Nuhu Aliyu said on Wednesday that he was losing his friends in the Senate following the controversy that trailed his claim that there are fraudsters in the National Assembly. The Senator was speaking while appearing before the members of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, who have been mandated by the Senate to investigate the allegation and ensure Senator Aliyu named the affected senators or withdraw his statement."

‘I Am Impressed’ - Liberian Observer : "MONROVIA, Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank, says in spite of the many challenges that have divided Liberia and shattered its economy, the country is still going strong in its reforms and economic recovery programs."

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation: : "Thirst for knowledge landed a man in trouble after he was arraigned in court charged with stealing books. Ismail Maganga Makotsi pleaded guilty to stealing books from the University of Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library. The court heard that Makotsi entered the library on Wednesday like any other user but decided to make away with two text books valued at only seven hundred shillings."

Ghanaian Chronicle "Tension is mounting among police investigative officers at the Narcotics section of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), of the Police Headquarters in Accra, over the strange disappearance of part of the 67 cartons of cocaine, which was seized at the Prampram beach on May 21, 2006.

Cape Argus : "For 19 months, photographs of the Jeppestown bloodbath lay hidden in police dockets and court files - but today it's clear why the June 25 2006 shootout was dubbed a massacre. Some of the 1 000-odd images presented to the Johannesburg High Court on Wednesday are too grisly to publish, but they tell the real and frightening story of a raid gone very wrong."

WOW Gambia : "His Excellency, President Dr Alhaji Yahya Jammeh received a delegation from Trust Bank Ltd, led by Dodou Nyang, the marketing manager, at his home in Kanilai, yesterday. The group came to inform the president about SMS banking that Trust Bank was introducing into The Gambia. “SMS Banking will change forever the way you relate to your bank. Through your mobile phone, you will be able to view your account balance, receive details of your last five transactions, transfer funds from account to account, view up to date foreign exchange rates, and the exciting bit, you will be able to top up your mobile phone credit using money in your bank account from your mobile phone!"

NewEra.com.na : "Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Director General Bob Kandetu who has been severely criticized by protesting workers says he will only resign if the Board of Directors says his services are no longer needed. The embattled NBC boss says if he resigns as the director general, he will walk out knowing that he performed and handled the highly stressful job to the best of his ability."

Ghana Today : "There was near exchange of blows among some NDC MPs in Parliament House yesterday, following a suggestion by the MP for Lower Manya Krobo, Michael Teye Nyaunu, that the party’s flagbearer be removed on account of his alleged poor health."

The Standard "HARARE Central hospital’s neonatal unit is a death bed. Many mothers walk in there with their children alive but leave with corpses,' a senior doctor at the hospital said last week."

The Zimbabwe Independent "ZANU PF political heavyweight Dumiso Dabengwa, now emerging as the main dissenting voice, on Wednesday confronted President Robert Mugabe at the party’s heated politburo meeting over war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda’s controversial activities."

Over 10 people are arrested in Nairobi's Kikuyu area after daylong scuffles as youths try to eject members of communities deemed to support the Orange Democratic Movement.

::- Cameroon-Tribune : Le Quotidien National Bilingue -:: : "Forty-six years after the introduction of formal or official bilingualism, can one really say Cameroonians have adopted this system wholeheartedly? It is difficult to say."

Daily News : "A 28-year-old man accused of raping and attempting to rape five elderly women was bitten on the finger and lip by two of them, the Grahamstown High Court heard on Wednesday. Mcebesi Noji, of Nkululeko, Barkly East, is on trial for two counts of housebreaking with intent to rape and rape, two counts of housebreaking with intent to rape and attempted rape, and one count of rape."

Riots erupt in parts of Nairobi following news of the murder of Orange Democratic Movement's Embakasi MP Mugabe Were.

Orange Democratic Movement supporters come out in anger following the murder of Embakasi MP Mugabe Were.

Displaced people

Monitor Online : "AT LEAST four people died yesterday after mobs torched houses in a slum in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, following the killing of an opposition MP. MP Mugabe Were, from Raila Odinga's opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), was gunned down by two unidentified men as he drove up to his gate in Nairobi after midnight yesterday."

Foreign news report

New Vision Online : : "KENYAN military helicopters opened fire Tuesday above feuding gangs in a western town of Naivasha, and 13 died in fresh clashes elsewhere as the murder of an opposition Member of Parliament sparked new chaos. Nine people died in tribal fighting in western Kenya and four were killed in a Nairobi slum, police and medical sources said, as riots and ethnic clashes flared across the country. Gunmen killed the newly elected ODM legislator, Melitus Were, at his home in the early hours and ethnic violence continued to spread. He was shot twice in the head as he reached the gate of his house shortly after midnight. The police called it “murder”."

New Vision Online : "BAGANDA dominate posts in the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), followed by the Banyankole of western Uganda. According to the list which the tax body released yesterday, the Baganda, who live in the central region, hold 490 positions, or 28.6%, while the Banyankole have 255, representing 14.9%."

The New Times "KIGALI - The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has pledged $10, 000 (approx. Frw5.45 million) to victims of the 1994 Genocide. He made the pledge yesterday when he visited and laid a wreath on the mass graves of Genocide victims at Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre."

IOL : "South African mining companies were beginning to resume production on Tuesday after power shortages brought the industry to a halt last week. Anglogold Ashanti said it expected all its mines would be in full production by the end of the week."

AngolaPress : "German government announced Tuesday in Luanda it is mobilising its businesspeople to invest in Angola, as part of a programme aimed at boosting bilateral relations. The German ambassador to Angola, Bernd Morast, who was speaking at the end of an audience with the first deputy speaker of the National Assembly, João Lourenço."

SABCnews.com "US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, voicing concern about the crisis in Kenya, said the recent election there had not inspired confidence in the Kenyan people and a political solution was needed. 'The election was not one that inspired confidence in the Kenyan people and therefore there needs to be a political arrangement, a political solution between the major opposition candidate and the President,' Rice told reporters at the start of a meeting with Albanian Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha at the State Department."

President Al-Bashir to leave for Addis Ababa Tuesday : "President of the Republic Field Marshal Omer Al-Bashir leaves Tuesday for Addis Ababa to attend the African Union Summit, which opens session on Thursday. President Al-Bashir will also participate in the summit meeting of the African Peer Review Mechanism of the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) Wednesday."

SudanTribune "The US embassy in Khartoum issued a statement today denying that its charge d’affaires, Alberto Fernandez, was misquoted by Reuters in an interview conducted last week. Hours after the embassy declined to comment to Sudan Tribune on the issue of misquotation, its public diplomacy officer Walter Braunohler said in a statement that “every quote of the Chargé d’affaires that appeared in the article was accurate”."

News24 : "Pretoria - Constant power cuts will not lead to the cancellation the 2010 Fifa World Cup, Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile said on Tuesday. 'We can't pretend that they (the power cuts) are not a threat. They cause anxiety but they cannot cause cancellations.'"

KESSBENFM 93.3 "Figures released by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) have confirmed the view of critics who described the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Ghana 2008 and the Ministry of Tourism's projection of one million visitors during the tournament period, as unrealistic Total arrivals as at last week (January 23) has been put at only 7,094 but an industry analyst told the dailyEXPRESS that it is a good enough figure, considering that the country did not engage in any international tourism promotion activities prior to the tournament."

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation: : "A somber mood engulfed Embakasi constituency as the constituents mourned the death of their MP Melitus Mugabe Were. The residents converged at the site of several projects the slain MP initiated in the area when he was a councilor. Elsewhere in Woodley estate security agents were forced to lob teargas canisters in the slain MP's residence to disperse youths who had come to console the family when they turned rowdy. The pentagon members led by their leader Raila Odinga visited the family and condemned the murder." Also see the video

Arusha Times "Arusha is about to have a new face. Municipal authorities have confirmed that under the Government Notice 303 all the buildings making up the town will be made to disappear together with the legend that used to be Arusha. Already a good number of the buildings in the town center have either been demolished or earmarked to be pulled down. Debris are almost everywhere while iron-sheet fencing are coming up at alarming rate, screening the construction of new premises, blocks and other structures."

Daily Dispatch : "A GARDENER for a Gonubie businessman, who earned a few hundred rands a week, was a millionaire without knowing it as his employers allegedly used him as a “front” to win multi-million rand government contracts. Now, the Grahamstown-based Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions is formulating charges against Raymond Harty and his wife, Debbie, of Sunbird Close in Gonubie. The two allegedly used a company registered in the name of their gardener, Mpangeli Mawonga, to tender for provincial government contracts."

champion newspapers : "OUTSPOKEN Senator Nuhu Aliyu (PDP Niger) yesterday vowed to name serving National Assembly members who are fraudsters even if that would be at the risk of his life. Reacting to the allegation, Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka said the former Deputy Inspector-General of Police was speaking the truth and deserved the backing of Nigerians. He said that Senator Aliyu’s remark was not an allegation but 'factual'. 'Why are you surprised? There are killers among them, there are kidnappers among them and there are murderers among them,' Soyinka told Daily Champion on telephone yesterday."

Freedom Newspaper "A major corruption racket has been unveiled at the Banjul International Airport, where Customs and Immigration agents extort bribes, imposing illegal airport fees, harassment of visitors and in some instances stealing passenger luggage, revealed competent aviation sources."

THISDAY ONLINE : "The plot by some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to remove former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as the chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT) is up against a brick wall. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party told the group yesterday that their request for constitutional amendment fell short of the required two-month notice, as the NEC yesterday confirmed March 8, 2008 as the date for the National Convention."

Ghanaian Chronicle "INDICATIONS ARE that the primaries of the New Patriotic Party in the Subin constituency, for the mandate to represent the constituents in parliament, would be keenly contested when nominations open in April this year, ahead of the December 2008 elections.

Police Arrest Four Alleged Accomplices in NBE Phoney Gold Scandal : "In the latest developments of the National Bank of Ethiopia’s (NBE) phoney gold scandal, the Federal Police arrested four brothers for allegedly acting as accomplices to one of the suspects accused of swindling 158 million Br by supplying fake gold to the Bank. Apprehended on January 16, 2008, the businessmen now under custody are Kaf Mohammed, owner of Sofam Fashion; Sultan Mohammed, owner of Day and Night Multi Choice boutique; Fuad Mohammed, owner of WOW Fashion; and Nuredin Mohammed, owner of Nur Building."

Sowetan : "Gardener Richman Makhwenkwe was so desperate to cover his tracks after killing his girlfriend that he murdered everyone who crossed his path. The Johannesburg high court heard that the 28-year-old gardener first killed his girlfriend for selling his belongings. He then went after the man who bought his belongings and killed him. Later, he allegedly went after three women who he thought had seen him bury the first two victims. He raped, robbed and killed them on separate occasions."

Riots return to Kisumu after residents claim most of their targeted in the previous day's killings in Naivasha were their relatives.

Police Commissioner Hussein Ali says they are ready to charge 28 people with murder over their roles in the post-election violence.

Embakasi MP Mugabe Were of the Orange Democratic Movement shot dead in cold blood outside his gate.

Al Jazeera : "At least three people have been killed after a car bomb exploded outside a police station in the town of Thenia, 55km east of the Algerian capital, according to witnesses."

The Standard "THE two MDC formations will this week convene top level meetings to decide whether or not to boycott the 29 March elections. Party sources said yesterday the announcement by President Robert Mugabe of the election and nomination dates had changed their 'game plan', leaving them with no choice but to call for urgent national council meetings to decide the way forward. Nelson Chamisa, the spokesperson of the Tsvangirai formation said in announcing date while negotiations were taking place, Mugabe had committed 'an act of madness'."

The price of gold has reached a lifetime high of 930 dollars an ounce on fears that supplies are running low. That's in part been fuelled by power cuts in South Africa which have forced the world's three largest gold-mining firms to shut down their operations. The government's being blamed for ignoring warnings that record growth, and ageing infrastructure, would see the country's power run out. Now the state power company, Eskom, is saying it will boost electricity supplies to the mines by up to 90 percent by the end of the week.

NewEra.com.na : "Namibia is experiencing reversals on child, infant and maternal health despite being one of the leading countries in reporting progress on child survival. Infant and under-five mortality rates have increased, while the number of women who die during pregnancy, delivery or shortly after giving birth has doubled. Preliminary results of the 2006 demographic and health survey indicate that there is a major increase in maternal deaths, with the sharp decrease in infant and child mortality rates not having been sustained."

With record high inflation, and an unemployment rate touching 80 percent, general elections scheduled for March could hold the key to Zimbabwe's future. The government's turned down opposition demands for constitutional reforms ahead of the vote and as Supa Mandiwanzira explains from Harare, the exact date of the poll is also yet to be confirmed.

You Missed This: "The tragic shooting of Mr Mugabe Were, ODM’s Embakasi MP-elect, puts into sharp focus the real motive behind the recent reshuffle of top officers in the Kenya Police. It’s too early to conclude if the killing was political assassination or the politician was a mere victim of the breakdown of security in the country. Whatever the case, the killing is bound to evoke deep anger and be a source of great concern within the ODM ranks and all Kenyans of their right mind."

afrol News : "The African Union Commission Chairman, Alpha Oumar Konaré, has expressed the union's concern over the disturbing post electoral unrests in Kenya. Konaré - who had addressed African Foreign Ministers ahead of the AU summit on Thursday in Ethiopia - said the gross violations of human rights in Kenya has become unbecoming. He said the answer to Kenya's political solution cannot just be power sharing because there will still be discontented people. Konare called on the AU to re-affirm its support to the troubled nation because 'we cannot close our eyes and ears.'"

Government Drops Case Against Koukou : "President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has taken another major step towards reconciliation in the country. The President on Monday announced that Government will no longer pursue the case against former Speaker George Koukou. By filing a nolle prosequoi, Government enabled him to be released from prison. A nolle prosequoi is a legal notice that a lawsuit has been abandoned."

New African "Nigeria’s position as the eighth largest producer of crude oil and possessor of the world’s fifth largest reserves of natural gas is almost entirely dependent on resources existing in the Niger Delta where the mere whisper of unrest sends world oil prices spiralling upwards. The Delta is where the core of the Nigerian economy rests, but on a foundation of volatile uncertainty. In this report, Lindsay Barrett looks at what the future holds for the Delta and global oil prices as aggrieved militants in the region threaten Nigeria’s oil production."

Cape Times : "It is critical that South Africans respond to the energy-saving proposals made by government for industrial, commercial and residential consumers, the ANC said on Tuesday. 'The success of the programme taken by the government to improve power efficiency depends on the contribution of all South Africans and sectors,' the ANC's national working committee (NWC) said in a statement."

Cape Times : "It is critical that South Africans respond to the energy-saving proposals made by government for industrial, commercial and residential consumers, the ANC said on Tuesday. 'The success of the programme taken by the government to improve power efficiency depends on the contribution of all South Africans and sectors,' the ANC's national working committee (NWC) said in a statement."

Ghana Broadcasting Corporation "Ghana, to the general relief of this fanatical football nation, are through to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after a 2-0 win over Morroco on Monday. Michael Essien was at the heart of the success, scoring the first and setting up Sulley Muntari for the second. With Guinea booking the other last eight berth from Group A defeat left Morocco heading home in a repeat of their first round exit in Egypt in 2006."

Mmegi Online "FRANCISTOWN: As the day of reckoning nears, residents of Francistown have started praying earnestly for the powers-that-be to come to the rescue of their 'crumbling city'. The day of reckoning, of course, February 4 when Finance Minister Baledzi Gaolathe delivers the Budget Speech in Parliament. Residents of Francistown wish that the minister will reserve a good portion of development expenditure for Francistown."

leadershipnigeria.com : "Palpable fear may have gripped President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the presidential election tribunal is gradually rounding off its proceedings. Amidst water-tight security and a suspected hired crowd of rowdy and noisy placard-carrying people, dozens of Yar’Adua’s men, including ministers, state governors and aides stormed the tribunal yesterday in solidarity with their boss."

Pambazuka News : "Reading recent dispatches from Kenya, I was pleased to notice that the Times has responded to years of complaints about the biased terms 'tribe' and 'tribal,' replacing them with 'ethnic group' and 'ethnic.' This editorial policy, however, seems to be confined to the news. Roberta Smith's article 'Face Time: Masks, Animal to Video' in the Arts Section on Jan. 11 uses the egregiously offensive phrase 'a tribal, almost animalistic ritual.' It is exactly that equation that makes it necessary to remove 'tribe' and its related words. In the case in question, removing 'tribal' would have put the focus on 'animalistic' without designating Africans as inherently animalistic. It is particularly odd to find such a cliché in a discussion of the work of Yinka Shonibare, a highly sophisticated, learned, and ironic artist."

Daily News : "A Durban Metro policeman shot his girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself on Tuesday, police said. Inspector Michael Read said the incident took place outside the Metro police offices on Old Fort Road in Durban after midday. 'The Metro policeman was standing outside the building when he shot his girlfriend and then himself... at his stage it is unclear whether either of them died,' said Read."

Algerian news agency : "ALGIERS- Algeria recommended Monday a 'rational approach' to the African Union (AU) government project, at an AU Executive Council meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, indicated a Foreign Affairs ministry's release. Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci, heading the Algerian delegation at the Council meeting, 'highlighted, during the examination of the Union government issue, the significance of the matter,' the ministry pointed out. Medelci stressed, before his counterparts from the 53 AU member countries forming the Executive Council, that the project 'concerns the future of Africa.'"

Al Jazeera English's Andy Richardson spends a day with Ivory Coast supporters in the Ghanaian coastal town of Sekondi during the group stage of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations

Nyasa Times "United Democratic Front (UDF) has removed its Publicity Secretary Sam Mpasu from holding the position following outbursts on the party's internal democratisation. Mpasu has since been replaced by Mary Kaphweleza Banda who was elected at the party convention in 2003 as deputy to then Publicity Secretary Dr Ken Lipenga. Speaking to Nyasa Times in a telephone interview, Mpasu confirmed that he has been relieved of his position and his deputy has taken over."

Zuma Blames Western Interferance : "Johannesburg - South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) President Jacob Zuma has said interference by the United States and major European states was hindering efforts to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe."

The Sun News On-line : "An intricate web of high-wire intrigues spun by opponents of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayo Fayose was responsible for the arrest, detention and prosecution of certain associates of the erstwhile governor on various murder charges in the State, a police document has revealed. According to the document obtained by Daily Sun, many of those currently being prosecuted by the Ekiti State Government in connection with the murder attempt on Taiye Fasuba as well as the assassination of Dr Ayo Daramola, a former consultant to the World Bank, may be innocent of the charges."

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE "THE plot to remove former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman by some members has started polarising the party. There are indications that the ruling party is, however, opposed to the move. The party has denied ever nursing the plan to amend the constitution specifically to ease out Obasanjo as its BOT chairman, stating that the idea was only being bandied about by individual members."

The Times : "HOW strange that, in the latest edition of ANC Today, there is no mention of the rolling blackouts that threaten to basket-case the country. This at a time when the outages have virtually crippled the mining industry and put almost half a million jobs at risk — in a single day. The ANC chooses instead to tell us of its deft skill in the saddle. Look ma, no hands — as the horse bolts into the oncoming traffic."

Vanguard Online Edition : "Nigerians spend about N16.408 trillion annually on fuelling generators in the country. The break down shows that in the telecom sector, N6.7 trillion is spent per annum to purchase diesel while filling stations spend N43.98 billion; factories N191.08 billion; banks N11.7 billion; insurance companies N80 billion; residential N7.812 trillion; and commercial enterprises, N1.57 trillion giving a total of N16.408,760 trillion or $140 billion expended on fuelling generators in the country annually."

Vanguard Online Edition "THE police yesterday dispersed protesters who were opposed to the visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to Ekiti State and prevented what could have turned a riotous situation. Chief Obasanjo arrived Ekiti State for what he described a-thank-you-visit to the people of the state. The people who had opposed his visit had converged at the popular Okeyinmi Round About carrying posters with various inscriptions, some of which read thus: “Obasanjo is not wanted in Ekiti”, “leave Ekiti to be governed by the Ekitis”, “Obasanjo had not assisted us when we needed his help.”"

Times of Zambia : "FINANCE and National Planning Minister, Ng’andu Magande, has said Government will put almost K500 billion into the pockets of Zambians through various measures it proposes to undertake in this year’s national Budget. Presenting the Budget in Parliament yesterday, Mr Magande said Government had delivered in the macroeconomic sector and it now wanted to empower the people."

The Voice online edition : "The Botswana Police Service has warned of a new trend where some employees of certain welding companies in Gaborone produce homemade dangerous weapons to supply criminals. Police describe the trend as an underground illicit business, which takes place without the knowledge of company owners. Speaking in an interview, Broadhurst Station Commander Superintendent Counsel Moyo said the weapons were later sold at reasonable prices to criminals."

The Standard Online Edition : "Eldoret North MP, Mr William Ruto, has appealed to Rift Valley residents not to allow the province to become a battleground every election year. In his first visit to the town since the eruption of post-election violence, the MP dispelled claims that the violence experienced was planned, saying it was a spontaneous reaction caused by a flawed election. 'I am appealing to our people to stop fighting each other. We know those who organised to manipulate the elections and have put us in this mess,' said Ruto."

Al Jazeera's Mohammed Adow reports from the Rift Valley region where ethnic violence continues despite mediation efforts. In the town of Naivasha, up to twenty people are thought to have been burned to death in their own homes. And in nearby Nakuru, at least 60 have died in the last few days.

25-01-08 Kofi Annan meets various leaders as Kenyans search for peace and justice

Ghanaian Chronicle "The Minister for the Interior, Mr. Kwamena Bartels, has admitted that Ghana’s entry points are gradually being used as transit points for drug trafficking, which is of great concern to the Government. He was, however, quick to add that the drug problem was a universal one, of which Ghana has not been left out in the global struggle against drug trafficking."

Addis Fortune "Mekonnen Yimer (Captain), 60, is a retiree who for 31 years served Angolan Airlines and the local national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines. With his accumulated wealth, he established a company that manufactures an energy-saving stove, Eco-Yehulunesh, with a capital of one million Birr hoping to tap the increasing demand in the country. According to Mekonnen, the stove that he invented would produce energy for homes, hotels and industries using inexpensive kerosene thus decreasing deforestation. Especially, in countryside residences, large volumes of wood from felled trees are used for household cooking."

Thousands of Kenyans are looking for loved ones lost at the height of post-elections violence after the crisis.

Juliana Ruhfus presents the second episode of an on-going series exploring the people and power that shape life in a small Ugandan town.

The Weekly Observer "He may have been threatened with “going six feet under” for claiming overwhelming support in the army but FDC President Dr. Kizza Besigye hasn’t given up on his controversial claim. In fact, he insists that his following in the army has grown over the last couple of years. In remarks that are certain to anger the UPDF leadership, Dr. Besigye told The Weekly Observer that there is nothing illegitimate about claiming support of the army."

Events leading to the culmination of talks between President Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

ODM leadership says Kibaki's position that he is the duly elected president is in bad taste and may jeopardise peace talks.

Ghana Broadcasting Corporation "Ghana proved too strong for Namibia as the tournament hosts moved three points clear at the top of Group A. After Asamoah Gyan shot over the bar with the goal gaping, Junior Agogo bundled in a Quincy Owusu-Abeyie cross from close range on 41 minutes."

The Citizen Newspaper "Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga yesterday met and shook hands in public in Nairobi, signalling the possibility of an accord to end the post-election violence, which has claimed more than 600 lives. The two, who read statements at a joint press briefing at Harambee House on Harambee Avenue in downtown Nairobi, which houses the Office of the President, appealed for peace, and condemned the violence and animosity among various Kenyan communities over the disputed presidential election results."

News Libya : "President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi received yesterday the secretary of African Union affairs at the Secretary of General People’s Committee for foreign liaison and International Cooperation in the Burundi capital Bujumbura . The secretary of African Union affairs informed him Leader's oral message . During the meeting, President of Burundi renewed Leader's efforts to consolidate the march of African Union ."

WOW Gambia : "The Alkalo of Bakau, Alhaji Luntang Jaiteh, has pleaded to the people of his town to exercise calm and tranquility during the period of the impending Local Government polls. The town of Bakau, an opposition stronghold until recently when the ruling APRC started commanding influence is expected to be one of the areas that would be keenly contested in the final analysis."

Ghana Today : "Ghana proved too strong for Namibia as the tournament hosts moved three points clear at the top of Group A. After Asamoah Gyan shot over the bar with the goal gaping, Junior Agogo bundled in a Quincy Owusu-Abeyie cross from close range on 41 minutes."

Ghana Today : "Ghana proved too strong for Namibia as the tournament hosts moved three points clear at the top of Group A. After Asamoah Gyan shot over the bar with the goal gaping, Junior Agogo bundled in a Quincy Owusu-Abeyie cross from close range on 41 minutes."

Cape Argus : "President Thabo Mbeki has admitted that the the government got its timing wrong managing the electricity crisis. Public Enterprise Minister Alec Erwin told a media briefing in Pretoria on Friday: 'The decision to charge Eskom with the responsibility to embark on a large and urgent build programme in 2004 was in hindsight late. The president has accepted that this government got its timing wrong.'"

The Standard "RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Gideon Gono faces tough questions tomorrow when he appears before a parliamentary committee where he is expected to 'name and shame' the cash barons he has blamed for a cash crisis that has condemned urban Zimbabweans to life in bank queues."

NewEra.com.na : "Inevitable power outages could have serious repercussions on production, which in turn could stunt economic growth. Both the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) and the Chamber of Mines in Namibia said the power shortage leading to anticipated load-shedding countrywide, in the wake of power cuts from South Africa, is worrisome."

The Zimbabwe Independent "MAJOR commercial banks and other financial houses are facing a critical liquidity crisis largely caused by unlawful speculative investments which are now threatening to ruin the stricken institutions. Information gleaned from an array of documents shows the situation has triggered tremors within the sector that was hit by a chain of high-profile institutional collapses in 2004. Cash shortages at the banks have compounded the situation as businesses and individuals are unable to access their money."

Highlights of the ACN 2008 match South Africa - Angola played on the 23 January 2008.

The Times : "NAIROBI - Kenyan police lobbed around 10 tear gas canisters today at a funeral prayer held in Nairobi for victims of last week’s protests and attended by opposition leader Raila Odinga, an AFP correspondent reported. Police fired the tear gas as hundreds of supporters of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) had gathered for the funeral mass, and after clashes broke out between a small group of protesters and security forces."

The Namibian : "NAMPOWER has warned that forced load shedding and time-of-use tariffs for electricity usage at peak times are inevitable. To minimise load shedding, Namibians will have to save 20 per cent of their electricity usage, whether they are private households, municipalities or large customers like mining companies, NamPower announced yesterday."

Mugabe must go now : "One by one, senior Zanu (PF) leaders are coming out to demand an end to Mugabe's rule before the elections scheduled for March. The latest to join the call is former commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Gen Vitalis Zvinavashe, who enjoys considerable support from military personnel. Zvinavashe, who retired a few years ago, is a substantial businessman and a member of Mugabe's soviet-style politburo, Zanu (PF)'s highest policy-making body.'When we went to war we did not fight for a single person but for all of us. But what the president is doing now defeats the whole purpose of our having gone to war,' he is reported to have told one of the many Zimbabwean websites this week."

New Vision Online : "A 56-year-old man in Kibaale has been hacked to death by his wife for allegedly selling off her piglet without her conscent. Police in Kibaale identified the deceased as Charles Biryomumaisho who was hacked by his wife one Evas Ntegyereize of Kyebumba village in Kibaale district."

The Herald : "TRILLIONS of dollars in cash are lying idle at the Reserve Bank as most commercial banks and building societies are failing to collect the money owing to liquidity problems, amid fears that depositors’ money could have been diverted onto the stock market or foreign currency parallel market. It emerged yesterday that the Reserve Bank was sitting on over $100 trillion in its vaults, which the banks were failing to collect as they did not have equivalent sums or sufficient collateral deposited with the central bank."

Monitor Online "PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni met embattled Kenyan leader Mwai Kibaki and the country's main opposition leader Raila Odinga, yesterday in efforts to quell a polls dispute that has left hundreds of people dead. Mr Museveni arrived hours ahead of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who was also due to meet the warring sides to push for direct negotiations, a step which this month eluded Ghanaian President John Kufuor, the head of the African Union."

Guardian Newspapers : "WITH the conclusion of work and passage of the Bill to amend the Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances) Act, by the Senate yesterday, a legal backing has now been given to the new pay packages for the President, his deputy and other senior officials of the Bench."

IOL: "Many companies have already restructured shifts, sending employees home during load-shedding, and devised plans to pay for hours worked. In a statement sent to employers on Tuesday, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (Seifsa) recommended that managements should pay workers for a minimum of four hours if they were forced to send them home due to power cuts."

SABCnews.com "French nuclear giant Areva says it's preparing to bid for two third-generation atomic reactors to be built in South Africa. The group formed a consortium with a communication conglomerate and electricity giant EDF. The consortium proposed to team up with South African engineering firm Aveng. Areva's already building two second-generation nuclear reactors near the Koeberg power station outside Cape Town."

SudanTribune "Vincent Otti, the deputy commander of Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels, is dead, the vice president of south Sudan said on Wednesday. Vincent Otti'I was officially informed by Joseph Kony that Vincent Otti is dead,' south Sudan Vice President Riek Machar told reporters in Juba, south Sudan’s capital. Machar is mediating talks in Juba between the rebels and the Ugandan government."

Andrew Richardson reports from the Africa Cup of Nations in Kumasi, Ghana, ahead of the opening clash of Group C between defending champions Egypt and 2002 champions Cameroon.

A CNN report Inside Africa focuses on tribal violence although most Kenyans will tell you that it is purely a political problem....

Kenya - The gateway to Africa.

Orange Democratic Movementís Raila Odinga says he is ready for face-to-face talks with President Kibaki, but rejects a Government dialogue committee led by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.

SudanTribune "The Sudan in its current geopolitical shape, which is the creation of British colonial authority, is not functioning properly after over five decades. The country is thus at the end stage of a decaying and failing colonial arrangement. A new possible means for a working political bargain becomes indispensable."

Egyptian Parliament Rejects Sanctioning Sudan : "Arab Affairs Committee in the Egyptian Parliament yesterday refused to impose sanctions on Sudan because of the conditions in Darfur. Both Egyptian official and popular leaders rejected the subjection of Sudanese officials to sanctions or international trials, considering that a violation of national sovereignty. For his part, the Director of the Sudan Affairs Department in the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Sabir Mansour, highlighted the strategic relations between Sudan and Egypt and the operative Egyptian peacekeeping role in Sudan. He further underscored the need for rooting out tensions from the region and actualizing stability and development, stressing that Egypt is concerned with building hospitals and schools for the people of Sudan."

SABCnews.com "Africa's biggest hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath in Soweto, has joined calls for hospitals to be exempted from Eskom's load-shedding programme. Johannesburg General Hospital made the same call earlier. The blackouts affect life-threatening medical services like surgery, life-support machines and other services."

IOL "Disgruntled Durban Electricity technicians claim a 'massive' staff exodus and unhappiness about salaries is behind the city's outage crisis, and not load-shedding. Electricians fed up with not being paid skills allowances, also claim the department was suffering from a huge lack of morale among staff. Electricians and technicians, they said, 'left in their droves' for the private sector many citing slashed overtime rates and the allowance issue for their unhappiness. Staff claim up to 70 percent of skilled electricians have resigned from their council jobs."

The New Times : "KIGALI - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has taken up a role as an advisor to Rwanda. The development has been confirmed by Dr David Himbara, the head of the Strategy and Policy unit in the Office of the President, who also told this reporter how it came about. “It started with a meeting he held with the President (Paul Kagame) where he express his interest in offering pro bono services as advisor to Rwanda. Shortly after that, I met with him to comprehensively brief him on the situation in our country,” Himbara said yesterday. A team from Blair’s office was recently in the country for one week to assess the challenges on the ground. This will be followed soon by the former premier’s own visit."

shabelle.net "As our reporter Yusuf keynan in marka town says A fire is reportedly caught in a minutes before inside shanty houses camp in marka town of lower shabelle region southern Somalia. It’s unfamiliar the motive of the inferno and who behinds the starting of that fire and also the casualty of that fire."

Ethiopian Reporter "Two years ago the delegations from the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) were split at the CAF general assembly in Egypt, in to participants and an observer. That may well be the fate of the delegations that have left for Ghana, Accra this week. Dr. Ashebir Woldegiorgis, who was relieved from his position as president two weeks ago, has already left for Accra on Wednesday. It is not clear whether he has gone there representing the federation. The new executive body of the federation has also sent its representatives, the first vice president Solomon Alemseged and the Treasurer Commander Seyoum Gofe, to Accra on Thursday."

Guardian Newspapers : "THE 26th African Cup of Nations began in Ghana yesterday with the host country defeating Guinea 2 - 1. But today is the d-day for Nigeria. Football followers world-wide are calling today's eagerly awaited Group B opening encounter between Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire the 'glamour match' of the 26th Africa Nations Cup, tagged Ghana 2008. Many are sure it represents the famously used phrase 'final-before-final.'"

The Herald : "A SYSTEMS disturbance occurred on the electricity grid linking most of Southern Africa to a common grid, plunging most parts of Zimbabwe into darkness from Saturday night. Power was only restored yesterday afternoon in some areas. The blackout also affected Botswana and Zambia."

New Vision Online : "Mivule Primary School in Luzira had the highest number of pupils who passed with distinctions in last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) in Kampala district. A total of 98.4% of its PLE candidates scored Division One. Mivule was followed by Hormisdallen Mixed in Kamwokya suburb, which saw 95.6% of its candidates pass with Grade One, Green Hill Academy in Kibuli (91.9%) and Kampala Hill Academy (90.2)."

The Standard Online Edition : "Not all students in public secondary schools will benefit from free education, The Standard has learnt. In a confidential circular, Education Permanent Secretary, Prof Karega Mutahi, said the State would only pay fees for students in classes of between 40 and 45. This means that students outside this bracket would miss out on the programme. Mutahi said schools in high potential, urban and arid and semi-arid areas must have a minimum of 40 students and a maximum of 45 in all classes to qualify for Government funding."

The Times "The ANC is getting rid of the Scorpions in order to protect prominent ANC members from corruption charges, according to the leader of the Democratic Alliance, Helen Zille, the mayor of Cape Town. Zille said today that besides the seven convicted criminals on the ANC’s national executive, six NEC members are currently the subject of criminal investigations. At least two of these are currently being investigated by the Scorpions."

Times of Zambia : "ZAMBIA was on Saturday night plunged into total darkness following the collapse of the national power grid, causing panic among some citizens and the business community. A major system disturbance which occurred on the Zambian high voltage network on Saturday at about 19:30 hours resulted in extensive loss of power supply in the entire country. Zesco managing director, Rhodnie Sisala said engineers were already on the ground to establish what caused the blackout in the whole country and described the situation as regrettable."

Agyekum: Poku in South Africa for medical treatment : "The dismissed National Security Minister is in South Africa for medical treatment. Speaking to Joy FM Super Morning Show host, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Monday January 21, 2008, Mr. Frank Agyekum, deputy Information Minister says Mr. Francis Poku has gone to South Africa for a routine medical treatment of cataract."

Nyasa Times "Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) has held its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Blantyre today and managed to finish with a united house resolving the crisis that has been bedevilling the party in the recent days. The meeting, which had been described by political pundits in advance as a turning point for UDF, ended without anyone winging, media outburst by some members was not party of the agenda but came out in various forms of discussion according to the source who attended the meeting."

The Zimbabwean: story: McGee on Zim land reforms : "BULAWAYO—THE US ambassador to Zimbabwe, James McGee, has said Zimbabwe’s land distribution programme is a monumental failure that has led to starvation of immense proportions nationwide. Ambassador McGee, addressing a Press conference in Bulawayo yesterday (Saturday 19 Jan 2008), said the infamous land redistribution programme had brought the Zimbabwean economy to its knees."

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE : "FORMER governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, on Sunday arrived in Nigeria from overseas. Igbinedion who is presently in Abuja, said he would appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today. But an official of the EFCC told the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja that although the commission was set to receive the former governor, it would only listen to his defence on the allegations of corruption preferred against him and determine the next step to take."

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation: : "Displaced families camping at Jamhuri Park have expressed willingness to return to their homes. At a press briefing by the United Nations and Humanitarian agencies in Nairobi, Unicef Information officer Sarah Cameron said families were willing to return and continue with their lives, though some would rather resettle in a different place other than their original homes. The UN says up to 8 million shillings are needed to assist the victims. On Sunday, the government announced the intended plan to close the camp at Jamuhuri Park and across the country and return the uprooted groups to their homes. A move that raised concern among the humanitarian and UN agencies."

News24 : "Johannesburg - Two teenage stowaways fleeing from strife-torn Kenya survived an eight-day journey through treacherous seas while clinging to a tiny ledge above a bulk carrier's rudder, the Eastern Province Herald online newspaper said on Monday. The teenagers were rescued off Port Elizabeth on Sunday."

Daily Dispatch : "THE human resources head of the Eastern Cape Department of Safety and Liaison has been suspended after it emerged she was running her own recruitment agency despite being employed by the department. Thozama Nundze was suspended on Friday last week."

Freedom Newspaper "The conspicuous absence of Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh at the 33rd Ordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was noticeable, when African leaders arrived in Ouagadougou Friday. Due to security related problems facing the impoverished West African country, Jammeh had decided not to attend the said important Summit. His absence followed reports of an alleged foiled coup attempt, which led to the arrest of eight soldiers of The Gambian National Army."

Nationmedia.com "Ten more people were killed in different parts of the country as the Government and ODM continued to differ over the way forward in the search for a peaceful settlement to the current political crisis."