The Moroccan blogger Mohammed Erraji, a free thinker who simply wants the best for his country, was sentenced to jail for criticizing King Mohammed VI in his blog. Apparently criticizing the king and the royal family is an offense in Morocco and remains a taboo subject. He wrote:
King Mohammed VI’s charitable habit encouraged [...]

Last month Italy paid Libya the sum of $5billion dollars as settlement for mistakes of the colonial era. Should other colonial masters like Britain, Germany, France and Portugal be forced to follow suit? In the article “Time for colonial masters to pay up?” the author writes:
Not only was their presence far longer lasting, [...]

The Chinese have (re) introduced the age-old concept of ‘realpolitik’…, given it a new twist - and are reaping a bountiful harvest of assets, primary commodities and regional, geopolitical power…
Some might say, simply a new Emperor(they’d like that!) in new(-ish) clothes…
The Africans, for their part, will gain a greater largesse, wealth of (potential) infrastructure, development [...]

Africa researcher Emira Woods of Washington’s Institute for Policy Studies has been following the Liberian leader’s efforts to raise conditions for African rulers to achieve power and govern their people through democratic means. She points out that Mrs. Sirleaf is one of a growing number of African voices to speak out for the people of [...]

Zimbabwe: More than 400 members of the youth militia closely linked to Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party on Monday invaded the village of Kodzwa in Mazowe Central constituency in Mashonaland Central and beat suspected opposition supporters. Jonga Kandemiiri reports, VOA.
Take a listen:

Washington Post reports via Joannesburg:
A Chinese ship carrying weapons and ammunition for Zimbabwe’s military may be headed back home, reports said, after repeated attempts to deliver its cargo were frustrated by a coalition of legal activists, union workers and human rights groups.

“Who Will Come To Zimbabwe’s Aid?” - Izzy blogger at Cry Beloved Zimbabwe asks:
Are people of Iraq better than those of Zimbabwe, or are people of Afghanistan better than those of Zimbabwe? If our life is equal as those of the Iraqis and the Afghans why then are the world superpowers United States and Britain [...]

The United States criticized Africa for lack of action on Zimbabwe:

“It is time for Africa to step up,” Rice told a news conference in Washington. “Where is the concern from the African Union and from Zimbabwe’s neighbours about what is going on in Zimbabwe?”
Good question!
South Africa has since realized its blunder and speaking [...]

What stopped Thabo from clearly asking Mugabe to heed to the voices of the people and announce the election results - and quit if that is the verdict of the people? It is unfortunate that Thabo has yet to find the courage to take South Africa higher within the Sub-Saharan Africa geopolitics each time the opportunity came. Each time Thabo opted towards maintaining the status quo, he’s failing the rest of African nations when they desperately need a beacon of hope to guide them towards an enduring and meaning democracy.

U.N. Human Rights Chief, Louise Arbour, says she is pleased former Chadian president Hissene Habre will finally face justice for human rights violations committed during his eight-year rule. She says the latest change to Senegal’s constitution now makes it possible for courts in the country to try Habre. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from the [...]