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Consultancy Africa Intelligence Monthly Newsletter As Africa’s integration into global affairs accelerates, so too does the need for up-to-date, informed analysis and insight into the continents political, economic, financial and social happenings. Exclusively focused on Africa, Consultancy Africa Intelligence’s suite of products are formulated to complement today’s ever rapid operating pace and the need for information, and are specifically designed to accommodate the needs of business, academia, and policy makers in public and private spheres across the globe. With presence in South Africa and the United States, as well as associates situated in Europe and Asia, Consultancy Africa Intelligence is strategically positioned to meet client requirements for knowledge and intelligence in the African domain. Designed to act as the definitive portal for African information, we offer a range of solutions including subscription-based reports as well as ad-hoc and tailored research. |
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The Justice Experiment: Africa and the ICC
The never-ending quest to establish peace on the African continent is being jeopardised by the pursuit for justice. Contention over the primacy of peace over justice from different sides of the power spectrum, is posing a threat to the operations of the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC). It also causes divisions amongst nations who should be united in ensuring that impunity does not go unpunished.
The ICC was established in 1998 by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The Court, based in The Hague in the Netherlands, opened in July 2002 after the Statute was ratified by 60 countries. Currently the ICC has 139 signatories and 107 state parties, of which 30 are African states. Countries that have not yet ratified the statute include the United States, China and Russia. The African media and academia tend to be negative about the activities of the ICC, arguing, amongst other things, that the ICC is too selective when it comes to the prosecution of perpetrators. The ICC is focussed too much on Africa, where crimes against humanity committed in other parts of the world are often, selectively, ignored. At a seminar conducted by the Centre for Conflict Resolution in Cape Town, South Africa, the opinion was raised that the ICC focuses on economically weak and politically vulnerable countries and countries which do not have the capacity or political will to try perpetrators of crimes against humanity. This leads some analysts from the developing world to believe that the ICC has a political agenda, since powerful states and actors will not be subject to trial and justice, stating the recent example of Russia and Georgia. Fears also exist that powerful states could manipulate the Court according to their own geo-political agenda and in the process exasperate existing conflicts. Read More |
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‘Bring Me My…..Olive Branch’: The Threat of Mass Political Violence in the run-up to Election 2009
There is growing concern that the period in the immediate run-up to South Africa’s 2009 elections could be marred by mass political violence increasingly being fuelled by the internal divisions weakening and undermining the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Party President Jacob Zuma has intervened to heal rifts within the ruling alliance after the ANC Youth League’s attack on ANC Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe. Zuma decried widespread infighting among party members, warning that it tarnished the moral image of the party ahead of the 2009 elections. He also urged members to shun “factionalism” and to end the violence that has marred the race for electable positions in provincial and national party structures. The sobering reality is that the ANC post-Polokwane is characterized by a worrying and lethal mix of revolutionary and militant rhetoric, increasingly inflammatory language and of greater concern violent and disruptive behaviour. Provincial ANC meetings to prepare for the selection of election candidates have been marred by violence in at least three provinces and according to local South African media reports one party member died of injuries sustained in a brawl. In the Western Cape, ANC provincial secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha was stabbed at a branch meeting. Similarly violence was the order of the day in the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga ahead of key and crucial ANC conferences that were held. To suggest that a silent coup of South Africa was carried out with the transfer of leadership at the ANC Conference in Polokwane could be construed as callous. Yet what has been witnessed since the new leadership assumed the reins of power suggests otherwise. Both Eastern Cape and Western Cape Premiers were purged from office, with ANC Free State leaders working to oust Premier Beatrice Marshoff. Read More |
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Hope for the future: Acknowledging positive strides
Achieving gender equality and empowering women is a real challenge. That is a fact. While it is important to identify and analyse challenging areas in this empowerment enterprise, it is also easy to get stuck in the complexities and negatives that typify gender studies to a large extent. It is also important, however, for positive strides to be acknowledged. The process of women’s empowerment consists of many large and small achievements and a focus on these positive steps helps to motivate us, and gives us hope for the future of such endeavours. Accordingly, this month’s newsletter covers but a few positive angles on the process, including the signing of the gender protocol by most of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and some legislative improvements in a number of African countries.
THE SADC GENDER PROTOCOL The signing of the SADC gender protocol by most Southern African countries in August is a significant development that holds much promise for women in the region. After many years of lobbying and revision of the proposed protocols, gender activists finally saw the protocol signed last month. The protocol demands 50% women representation at all levels of government by 2015. It also provides a plan of action for governments to follow, so as to assist in reaching this gender equality goal. When political and policy structures are gender sensitive, women’s input and influence stand a better chance at shaping society. Governments will have to put in some effort, however, as the protocol demands significant changes that will draw on various governmental resources. Many legislative changes are required, such as measures to “…eliminate all practices which negatively affect the fundamental human rights of women, men, girls and boys…”. All forms of gender-based violence (GBV) also need to be prohibited according to the protocol. This includes required criminalisation of marital rape. Equal access to education and the transmission of HIV & AIDS are other issues addressed by the protocol. Some gender activists argue that the protocol has been compromised too much, and that key requirements for equality had been left out as a result. Botswana and Mauritius would not agree to sign the protocol on the grounds that they would have to “change the entire constitution” and also the incurred costs. Read More |
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‘Universal Access Now’ – A call for strengthened health care systems
The first week of August saw approximately 22,000 people from around the world converging on the impressive Centro Banamex in Mexico City for the XVII International AIDS Conference. The conference, entitled ‘Universal Access Now’, brought together delegates ranging from policy makers to social scientists; health workers to the HIV-infected, from resource limited regions and developed nations alike. The primary aims of the conference were to evaluate progress that has been made in attempts to achieve goals put forward in 2005, of providing universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support to all those in need by 2010, and additionally to strategise for the future. According to Dr. Pedro Cahn, President of the International AIDS Society (IAS) and co-chair for the conference, “AIDS 2008 is taking place at a unique moment in the epidemic, when there is widespread consensus on the urgency of ensuring universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010”.
While the conference included more than 7,500 presentations, covering a wide range of topics associated with the epidemic, a theme that seemed to arise more often than most was the pressing need to strengthen health care systems in developing countries, specifically in Africa. The topic of health worker shortages, and the consequent negative impact on countries’ response to the epidemic, has increasingly received more attention at International AIDS Conferences over the past decade, and this year saw a number of major sessions and activist campaigns dedicated specifically to such issues. Read More |
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China Emerges as Africa’s Partner in Doha Negotiations
The most recent session of the World Trade Organisation’s Doha Round of talks came to an abrupt end on 29 July 2008 after nine days of the mini-ministerial meeting. Comprising over 30 countries, the trade negotiations centred on the Group of Seven (United States, the European Union, Japan , Australia, Brazil, China and India) who were attempting to bridge seven years of negotiations to arrive at the much anticipated end to the Doha Round of talks. This goal however was not realised as talks collapsed over the issue of the special safeguard mechanism (SSM) espoused by China and India with the backing of many of the world’s developing nations. Observers were optimistic that this round of talks would prove successful, and in fact they were, in that, according to WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, agreements had been reached on 18 issues out of a list of 20. Unfortunately however, the impasses could not be resolved over the establishment of a mechanism of special safeguards that would ultimately enable developing countries to raise tariffs on farm imports when they exceeded a threshold and had the possibility to impact the livelihoods of local farmers.
The SSM was designed to address import surges in farm products to protect domestic agriculture. China and India, backed by many developing countries including the African block of nations were seeking a marginally low trigger of 115% to implement the SSM. Under the proposal countries that experience a 115% increase in agricultural imports could place a 25% duty on those imports. US Trade Representative Susan Schwab blocked the measure by not accepting the proposed figure, instead focusing on a 140% rise in imports over the average of the preceding three year period before the SSM can be invoked. The stalemate resulted in the collapse of the agreement. The US argued that opening markets was the best way to achieve food security and to promote the livelihoods of the rural poor whereas China and India argued for SSMs in the event of major disruptions to agricultural markets. Read More |
