December 5, 2012 News

December 5, 2012

Recent stories including Chinese investment in Africa, studies on the disturbing normalcy of sexual violence in the DRC, international aid cuts impacting Rwanda's economy, progress in Somalia, and preparing youth for a more unified Africa.

China in the heart of Africa
"'China's gift to Africa.' The new headquarters of the African Union, a towering 20-storey building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is so called because China picked up the $200 million tab for the state-of-the-art complex. Ethiopia's tallest building, completed in December 2011 in time for an AU summit the following month, includes a 2,500-seat conference hall. The gift prompted Ethiopia's late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to refer to Africa's current economic boom as a "renaissance," due partly to China's "amazing re-emergence and its commitments to a win-win partnership with Africa."

Not all Africans have welcomed China's gift. West African political commentator Chika Ezeanya considers it an "insult to the AU and to every African that in 2012 a building as symbolic as the AU headquarters is designed, built and maintained by a foreign country." However, as African leaders savoured the swanky complex in January, they took turns thanking China…"
To read the full article, visit the Africa Renewal site here

Congo-Kinshasa: Sexual Violence Is More Than Just a Weapon of War in the Democratic Republic of Congo
"A new study by Promundo and the Sonke Gender Justice Network conducted in Goma, eastern DRC finds that more than a third of men surveyed have carried out some form of sexual violence and more than three quarters hold deeply alarming attitudes about rape and women's rights…"
To read the full article, visit the AllAfrica site here

Aid cuts could dent Rwanda's growth — finance minister
"RWANDA may have to cut its 2013 economic growth forecast if $240m in international aid remains delayed or suspended, its finance minister said on Wednesday…"
To read the full article, visit the AllAfrica site here

Stabilizing Somalia: a new chapter begins
"When a Turkish Airlines flight touched down at Aden Adde International Airport near the Somali capital of Mogadishu on 16 March, it seemed like a sign of good things to come. It was the first time in more than 20 years that a passenger plane from Europe had flown into the volatile city. Today, more than half a year later, the country has a parliament, a provisional constitution, a new president and a prime minister…"
To read the full article, visit the Africa Renewal site here

Africa: Preparing Youth for Africa As a Country
"More than 1,000 participants from around the world recently gathered in Doha, Qatar, for the fourth annual World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), convening under the theme 'Collaborating for Change'. While the annual summit is the highest profile event of the WISE calendar, WISE runs a number of year-round educational initiatives. One of them is the WISE Awards to 'identify, recognise and showcase' innovative projects in the field of education.

Last August, 24 finalists were announced out of the hundreds of applications received from 89 countries. The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) was among the finalists recognised for their African University Partnerships. ACBF provides financial, technical and institutional support through more than 50 programs with a view to increasing the number of skilled professionals across the continent. At this year's WISE Summit, Samantha Nkirote McKenzie caught up with Frannie Léautier, the executive secretary of ACBF, to learn more…"
To read the full article, visit the AllAfrica site here