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XINHUA NEWS SERVICE REPORTS FROM THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

U.S.-WASHINGTON-MIDEAST TALKS-CLINTON-EGYPT-GHEIT

WASHINGTON (Xinhua) -- WASHINGTON, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (2nd R) holds a bilateral meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit (2nd L) at the Department of State in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Aug. 31, 2010. Xinhua PHOTO -ZHANG JUN

Kenya appeals to world
not to isolate Sudan

A number of important milestones including the
issues of border demarcation, among others have
not yet been addressed
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NAIROBI, (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has appealed to the international community to appreciate the delicate situation of Sudan and act proactively instead of isolating the people of the Africa’s largest country.
President Kibaki, who addressed the 14th regional COMESA summit opened on Tuesday in Swaziland, emphasized that the people of Sudan should be encouraged to play their rightful role in the community of nations.
“It is my wish that the international community would appreciate the delicate situation of Sudan and act proactively. We should not isolate the people of Sudan,” President Kibaki said in a statement issued by his office in Nairobi on Wednesday.
Noting that the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is at a critical stage, the president also called on all COMESA member states to support and encourage the people of Sudan to resolve the outstanding issues in the CPA amicably as they prepare to hold a referendum in January.
“A number of important milestones including the issues of border demarcation, among others have not yet been addressed,” he said.
Kibaki, however, applauded the Sudan leaders for agreeing to work together for a peaceful and prosperous country, saying so far positive achievements have been realized, most notably being the recent general elections.
On volatile peace and security in the Horn of Africa, President Kibaki urged COMESA members to play a more active role in support of the African Union and the East African bloc IGAD to restore peace in Somalia.
The president pointed out that the lack of a reliable and stable government in Somalia has immensely contributed to the growth of insurgent militant groups in as well as the emergence of piracy along the Indian Ocean coastline.
President Kibaki commended the recent decisions taken by the IGAD member states both in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and in Kampala, Uganda to give priority to the Somalia peace and security issues.
The president stressed that peace and security should be given priority in the region particularly this time when Africa commemorates the year of peace and security.
“As we look ahead, we need to give priority to peace and security as a cornerstone for development and our regional integration endeavours,” he said.
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UN concerned about possible child soldier recruitment in S. Sudan

By Liza Jansen UNITED NATIONS, (Xinhua) -- As the army in southern Sudan has pledged to end the use of child soldiers by the end of the year, a UN special envoy on Wednesday expressed her concern about recruitments that could be renewed at time of war.
The Sudanese government Tuesday launched a program to end the use of child soldiers by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) with the SPLA signing an action plan to release all children in its ranks by November and end the exploitation of children as soldiers across southern Sudan.
“The actual plan says child soldiers cannot be recruited, but we can’t say what will happen if a war breaks out,” Radhika Coomaraswamy, the UN secretary-general’s special representative for children and armed conflict, told Xinhua in a phone interview Wednesday.
To take charge of the demobilization, the SPLA set up a child protection unit that needs to ensure that no children will be left in the ranks of the SPLA or work with partners during the verification, registration and demobilization of children still associated with the SPLA.
“What we told the SPLA is to hand them over to child protection groups and try and reunify them with their families,” Coomaraswamy said.
About 900 children between 10 and 18 years old are expected to be released, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimated.
UNICEF has hailed the development as a milestone for the rights of children in the country, where the SPLA and the National Congress Party (NCP) signed a peace accord in 2005 to end the long-running north-south civil war.
“The launch is testimony to the commitment of the government of southern Sudan and the SPLA to accelerate the establishment of an environment where the rights of all the children are respected,” said UNICEF’s Catherine Mbengue, speaking at the launch in the town of Juba.
Coomaraswamy, who visited a camp in southern Sudan last year, remembered that the situation of the SPLA is unique there.
“The SPLA is the only kind of organization that exists in southern Sudan, so a lot of children come to the army. It’s not always a case of abduction, sometimes they just hang out in front of the camp, help in the kitchen or do other things. They were not in combat,” she said.
According to Coomaraswamy, child soldiers are not abused by the SPLA.
The reintegration of child soldiers can take up to one year or two years, the UN official said.
Northern and southern Sudan ended their civil war in 2005 with extensive disarmament, demobilization and reintegration commitments. A referendum for independence for southern Sudan is scheduled for January.
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EU provides 47M Euros to peace-keeping mission in Somalia

BRUSSELS, (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Tuesday decided to allocate another 47 million euros (around 60 million U.S. dollars ) to the African Union, in addition to the 95 million euros initially granted to the peace-keeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
According to EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Catherine Ashton, AMISOM plays an important role in maintaining security in Somalia, as it has been ensuring a peace-keeping mission in Mogadishu since March 2007.
Andris Pielbags, EU Commissioner for Development, also declared the EU was supporting the African Union in “creating the necessary conditions to national reconciliation, lasting peace, stability and sustainable development in Somalia.”
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Africa Feature: Tanzanians make Kenya second home

By Bedah Mengo NAIROBI, (Xinhua) -- The middle-aged man chuckles heartily as he shakes our hands and shares a joke in flawless Kiswahili.
Sitting at a roadside kiosk in Korogocho, Nairobi, Juma Labda looks like any other person in the informal settlement.
However, the 37-year-old slender man hails from Tanzania. He is among nationals of the East Africa Community (EAC) member state who have made Kenya their second home. “We were way ahead of the EAC common market protocol. When our leaders were signing documents to allow free movement of people and goods, us we were already enjoying the fruits of integration,” says Juma who comes from Shinyanga, Tanzania.
The protocol came into effect on July 1 with presidents of countries in the region asking their citizens to explore various opportunities in the member states.
It allows free movement of goods, people, services and capital and gives citizens the right of residence in any of the countries.
Juma came into Kenya about ten years ago and since then, he has not found any reason to return to his mother country. “I was brought into Kenya by a friend who comes from my village back home. He had stayed in the country for several years and he was doing well. When he returned home, I pleaded with him to bring me to Kenya,” he recounts.
Juma says the man hosted him for several months until when he was able to support himself. “We lived together in his shanty in Korogocho as he showed me around and taught me how I can make money,” he says. The rest is history for Juma who runs a kiosk in the informal settlement. “My friend returned to Tanzania after some years but I chose to live in Kenya, get married and do business,” he says.
The father of four, who is married to a Kenyan woman, says doing business in Kenya is lucrative as compared back home because of the strong Kenyan shilling.
Currently, one Kenyan shilling is equivalent to 18 Tanzanian shillings. “If you have for instance 1,000 shillings (about 12 U.S. dollars) , you can start a huge business back home. But you cannot do it here in Kenya if you have a similar amount,” he says.
Despite the variance in the denominations, Juma says he chose to stay in Kenya. “Business was among the reason I stayed here. I found the environment in Kenya pleasurable and enjoyed the fast-paced life in the country,” he says.
He says he started his business with about 30 dollars. “This is the money I had saved when I was living with my friend. I began by buying bread and milk and selling it to residents.”
After doing this for some years, he then opened the kiosk. “Then I was not selling much because people knew I was a foreigner. My Kiswahili accent always betrayed me,” he recalls.
However, as he made friends with Kenyans and assimilated their habits, he became more accepted. This helped his business to grow as he learned the local languages.
Juma, who then entered into Kenya illegally, counts himself a blessed man. “When I came into Kenya, I did not have a passport or any document that allowed me to stay in the country,” he says.
Thus, to survive as an immigrant, he says his friend advised him to avoid any brush with the law. “I managed to successfully do this for many years. Now I do not have any worries since the countries endorsed free movement of people,” he says.
The businessperson however is counts himself lucky once again because Kenyans voted for a new constitution.
The new law permits foreigners who are married to Kenyans to seek for citizenship.
Juma sees this as his chance to become a Kenyan citizen and at the same time hold his roots as a Tanzanian, since the law allows him to hold dual citizenship.
He says there are many Tanzanians who have followed his path. “They come to Kenya in search of greener pastures and when they have made a fortune, they return home and invest.”
A friend, he says came to Kenya, made money and returned home, bought a piece of land, built a house and started a posho mill business. “He is rich back at home and most people in his village use him as an example whenever they talk about Kenya being a land of opportunities,” he says.
In the informal settlement where he stays, there is an area that is occupied by Tanzanians only. “It is referred to as ‘small Tanzania’ because most of those who live there are Tanzanian nationals. They number about 300,” he says.
Elias Njiiri, who comes from Dar es Salaam, is among those who stay there. “I came in Kenya few weeks ago in search of greener pastures. I believe I will make some money and return home,” says Njiiri who has a family in Tanzania.
However, Juma says life away from home is not an easy ride. “Sometimes when I think about my kinsmen, I feel that I should return home, but again my family is here,” he says.
And like them, he says that there are also Kenyan’s who have made Tanzania their home. “They came and settled there many years back and like us are engaging in several economic activities. Some farm, others are businessmen,” he says.
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Kenya says infrastructure key to regional development

NAIROBI, (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki said his country was ready to host the regional infrastructure conference that will mobilize resources for the development of the Northern and Central Corridors.
Speaking at the 14th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government which opened on Tuesday in Swaziland, President Kibaki said his government is already working with the COMESA secretariat to ensure that the important regional infrastructure conference scheduled to be held in Nairobi in October this year succeeds.
“Following the successful North-South Corridor Infrastructure Conference held in Lusaka in April last year, a second conference of its kind for the Northern and Central Corridors will be held in my country in October this year,” President Kibaki said in a statement issued by his office in Nairobi on Wednesday.
President Kibaki expressed satisfaction that COMESA is working in harmony with SADC and the EAC and has come up with priority investment projects to address the challenges the region faces in infrastructure, energy, transport and telecommunications that has affected the region’s competitiveness due to the high cost of doing business.
Kibaki said his government will also continue to support the efforts by the EAC, COMESA and SADC to pursue the attainment of a grand Tripartite Free Trade Area, as the region works towards a United Africa.
President Kibaki said Kenya takes pride in having remained a dedicated member of COMESA from the time of its formation as a Preferential Trade Area to the present day.
He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to giving impetus to the customs union process by implementing COMESA programs and giving the necessary support to the Secretary General and his team.
“We look forward to increased and shared prosperity for our region,” the Head of State said.
Mentioning the theme of this year’s COMESA summit “Harnessing Science and Technology for Development” is relevant to the region’s development endeavors, the president said his government is aware of the critical role of science and technology in economic growth and has implemented a wide range of measures intended to promote science and technology.
President Kibaki pointed out that one sector in which science and technology has played a key role in generating employment and wealth as well as reducing the cost of doing business in Kenya is the Information and Communication Technology sector.
He cited the mobile telephony money transfer M-Pesa that currently has over 10 million users as an example of innovations developed by Kenyans that has enabled the unbanked in the country to conduct financial transactions in the rural and urban areas using mobile telephones.
“These transactions include money transfer, payment of utility bills and mobile banking, just to name a few,” the President said.
President Kibaki added that the Kenyan experience has demonstrated that scientific and technological innovations can contribute enormously to national development.
He, therefore, said COMESA member states must mainstream science and technology especially in agricultural and industrial production for rapid and sustainable economic development, saying more investment is required in technology related to infrastructure for water and irrigation.
“We can also do so by adopting new and modern methods of farming, including improving our traditional agriculture through innovations such as modern organic farming. It is also critical that we develop our own industries for producing fertilizer and other agricultural inputs,” he said.
The president, at the same time, reported to the summit that Kenya recently launched the Agricultural Sector Development Strategy and signed the comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program under COMESA that are geared towards boosting agricultural production.
“I wish to propose that we commit ourselves to report progress made and the tangible impacts that have resulted from this program in our next summit in Malawi,” President Kibaki said.
During the occasion, King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Swaziland took over the chairmanship of COMESA from Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe.
In his acceptance speech, King Mswati urged COMESA member states to work together in coming up with practical solutions to address the economic challenges facing the region.
The King emphasized that COMESA member states should frequently exchange scientific and technological ideas with a view to boosting agricultural production and promoting regional development.
On his part, President Mugabe said COMESA member states must take deliberate steps to make the COMESA Customs Union deliver benefits to their respective citizens.
“It is our pledge to all people of the region that we will deliver a life free of strife and ensure good health, decent housing and good roads,” President Mugabe.
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ICC Registrar visits Kenya over post elections chaos

NAIROBI, (Xinhua) -- The Registrar of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is visiting Kenya to discuss operational issues in relation with the East African nation’s post elections situation.
A statement from the ICC said during the Sept.1 to 4 visit to Kenya, Silvana Arbia will meet the relevant national authorities to discuss the operational and legal framework needed to conduct Registry activities in Kenya, following the Pre-Trial Chamber II decision authorizing the Prosecutor to open an investigation in the context of this situation.
“Arbia will also visit other localities in the country to discuss with the local authorities the necessary measures needed to facilitate the ICC Registry’s work in Kenya,” the statement said.
“Furthermore, the Registrar will hold meetings with representatives of international organizations and embassies in order to discuss mechanisms of support to the Court’s operations.”
During her mission, 200,000 samples of the publication Understanding the International Criminal Court will be distributed to Kenyans via the Daily Nation newspaper on Friday.
“This booklet aims at presenting basic facts about the court’s work and mandate, its structure and mode of function. It provides answers to frequent questions asked by audiences that have participated during informative sessions,” the statement said.
An estimated 1,300 people were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced in the weeks after the results of general elections held at the end of December in 2007 were disputed, sparking intra- communal unrest.
Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan brokered a political settlement that resulted in the formation of a coalition government by the rival political parties in 2008.
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Death toll in Mozambique riots rises to 6: TV

MAPUTO, (Xinhua) -- Death toll in the ongoing riots in Mozambique’s capital of Maputo has risen to six after police opened fire at the crowds protesting rising prices in the country, local television station STV said on Wednesday.
The privately-own television station initially said three people were confirmed dead including two children by a local hospital in Maputo.
Stray bullets caused casualties, according to STV.
Meanwhile, the Red Cross sources said more than a dozen people were injured in the clash between the protests and police officers coming to restore order.
There are also reports that flights were cancelled since one of the roads heavily affected is close to the Mavalane International Airport in Maputo.
The protesters of price hikes were burning tyres along the roads, causing dark smoke close to the airport. In addition, one crew member from Portugal Airport Transport TAP was not able to reach the airport to fly back to Portugal.
Mozambican Interior Minister Jose Pacheco decried the riots in Maputo, saying the protest was illegal.
The Constitution gives rights to all citizens to protest, the minister said, deploring the fact that no one made the request to do so to the authorities.
He appealed to the people to collaborate with the police to establish tranquillity in Maputo.
In vindicating the police action, Pacheco said the officers were deployed at focal points to prevent chaos. If otherwise, the situation would have been worse, he added.
The police have made a number of arrests in the clash.
In another development, church leaders are calling for calm, including Reverend Dinis Sengulane, who is also a member of the State Council.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets, erecting roadblocks, hurling rocks to vehicles and setting ablaze the used tires.
Police said they shot into the air to disperse rioters.
The violent protest came in the culmination of strikes and demonstrations in the past few days in the Portuguese-speaking Southern African country, where police announced on Monday that they had permitted no protest of the kind. They said they were well prepared to stop any action detrimental to social stability.
According to a decision made in early August, the Mozambican government lifts the prices of bread by 30 percent on Wednesday. The price hikes for water and power could also hit more than 10 percent.
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Mozambican president regrets loss of lives in Maputo riot

MAPUTO, (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Armando Guebuza regretted the loss of lives in a national address after four people were confirmed dead in riots in the capital Maputo on Wednesday.
“I sincerely regret the loss of human lives and the destruction of public and private properties, which most of the times are there to serve us and other individuals linked to us”, said Guebuza in a statement.
While recognizing the country is not going through its best economic moments, he stressed that the riot does not solve the problem and makes it even worse.
Guebuza made the speech for the first time after the eruption of the massive protest against price hikes on Wednesday morning.
The protest diverted the nation from its main objective to eradicate poverty, an individual and collective cause, in his words.
According to the police, four people died and 27 others injured in the riot. The authorities also detained 102 people in connection with the turmoil.
The private television STV quotes hospital sources as reporting that 10 people were confirmed dead and more than 50 others injured.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets on Wednesday morning in Maputo, erecting roadblocks, hurling rocks to vehicles and setting ablaze the used tires.
Police said they shot into the air to disperse rioters, while protesters accused officers of shooting at the crowds.
Warehouses of food distribution in Maputo were vandalized as food products were the main stolen things during the riot.
The transport linking Maputo and provinces was paralyzed, especially roads to the southern part of the country.
Most of the streets continued to be blocked with big stones, burnt cars and tires, poles and wires until late at night.
The violent protest came in the culmination of strikes and demonstrations in the past few days in the Portuguese-speaking Southern African country, where police announced on Monday that they had permitted no protest of the kind. They said they were well prepared to stop any action detrimental to social stability.
According to a decision made in early August, the Mozambican government began on Wednesday to lift the price of bread by 30 percent. The price hikes for water and power could also hit more than 10 percent.
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South Africans stranded in violent Mozambican protests

JOHANNESBURG, (Xinhua) -- Many South Africans were on Wednesday trapped in the Mozambican capital Maputo during food and fuel price protests which reportedly left three people dead.
Protesters burned tyres to block major roads to the airport and the city’s largest suburbs.
Talk Radio 702 in Johannesburg reported that South Africans were stranded in the city as they could not get to the airport.
A South African man among them spoke on the radio station. “They’re looting shops, I saw a petrol service station on fire.In a hospital there were three deaths, but on TV there were a few people dead on the side of the road. The flights that have come in, people are sitting at the airports. People can’t get into the city, “ he said.
South Africa’s department of international relations confirmed that the South African High Commission in Maputo has been shut as violence has erupted on the city’s streets.
The department’s Sol Molobi said “Since the marches are taking place passed our high commission we have decided that we should close for safety and for the fact that we wouldn’t want the Mozambican citizens protesting to provoke our staff there.”
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Two killed, nine injured in Algeria suicide attack

ALGIERS, (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and nine others injured Wednesday in a suicide attack in northern Algeria, a local press report said.
A suicide bomber blew off an explosive-laden vehicle when a military convoy was passing through a district in Boumerdes province, a local source was quoted by French-language El Watan newspaper as saying.
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Uganda’s electoral body calls for calm after violent party primaries

KAMPALA, (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan Electoral Commission (EC) on Wednesday called for calm after the party primaries for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) were marred with violence, which observers predict may characterize the country’s 2011 general elections.
Badru Kiggundu, the chairperson of EC told reporters that the main reason for the violence is that some of the electorate have not realized that in any election, there are winners and losers.
“I appeal to all stakeholders, let us control our houses, let us come together, let’s calm down and be human. Don’t wish ugly incidents on your neighbor just as you don’t wish them to yourself, we can control violence,” he said.
He said he will not hesitate to ask for the deployment of heavy security to avoid election violence in next year’s polls.
The NRM party primaries that were held on Monday were characterized with violence leading to the party to postpone elections in some parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Kiggundu announced that the nomination of all aspirants for next year’s elections will be nominated next month and in November. The presidential and parliamentary candidates will be nominated from 25-26 Oct.
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Fiji to open new diplomatic missions in Indonesia, S. Africa, Brazil

WELLINGTON, (Xinhua) -- The Fiji cabinet has approved the establishment of new diplomatic missions in Indonesia, South Africa and Brazil next year, according to a government news release on Thursday.
Since 2006, political developments have necessitated a critical internal review of aspects of Fiji’s foreign policies, said the country’s foreign affairs minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
“Fiji’s relations with her traditional allies including the regional organizations, and certain international organizations, have largely been negatively impacted due to discriminating and isolationist policies imposed by them,” said Ratu Inoke.
Looking outside, Fiji’s traditional partners were forced by the changing policies toward Fiji from its neighbors and key regional and international organizations, according to the release.
Ratu Inoke said the opening of new diplomatic missions in Indonesia, South Africa and Brazil will be priority in 2011 with diplomatic representation and deployment of staff.
Fiji has recently joined the Non Aligned Movement (NAM), an organization whose members are not aligned to any major power bloc and represents 118 sovereign countries.
Currently, Fiji has diplomatic representations in 10 countries and at the United Nations in New York.
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China, Kenya pledge to advance parliamentary relations

NAIROBI, (Xinhua) -- China and Kenya pledged here on Wednesday to enhance exchanges between the parliaments of the two countries in experience of state governing and legislation supervision, and strengthen coordination in international and regional parliamentary organizations.
The move came after Kenneth Marendethe, speaker of Kenya’s national assembly met Chen Zhili, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, late in the day.
During the meeting, Kenneth Marende said his parliament is ready to expand friendly exchanges with China’s NPC in an effort to promote the friendship between the two peoples and the two countries.
Applauding China’s achievements in its social and economic development, Marende said Kenya highly appreciates China’s generous assistance to Kenya’s social and economic development in the past years and will work with the country to expand bilateral cooperation in agriculture, tourism, education and other sectors.
Echoing Marende, Chen Zhili said that China highly values the ties with African nations, including Kenya.
Chen, who is on a five-day visit to Kenya, positively assessed the development of China-Kenya relations since the establishment of the diplomatic ties in 1963.
She said although the international situation has undergone great changes, the friendly cooperation relationship between China and Kenya has been deepened and developed based on mutual respect and mutual assistance, noting that the bilateral relationship has entered a new phase of comprehensive and rapid growth..
The friendly parliamentary exchanges between the two countries have helped cement political and social basis for the China-Kenya ties, Chen said, hoping that the two parliaments would continue keeping the momentum of high level visits and increase cooperation between special committees and friendship groups.
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Egypt summons Iranian diplomat over criticism

CAIRO, (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian government Wednesday summoned an Iranian diplomat to protest against the statements attributed to Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in which he criticized some Arab leaders for their participation in launching direct negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel.
Egypt’s Assistant Foreign Minister Wafaa Basim summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires to ask him to provide clarifications about the statements published on Tuesday, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Iran’s Fars news agency published on Tuesday statements attributed to the Iranian foreign minister in which he accused the Arab leaders who took part in launching direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians “upon U.S. dictations” of treason. However, he did not identify those leaders.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit was due to meet his Iranian counterpart in Cairo on Sunday according to reports by Egypt’s official MENA news agency.
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Fresh cholera outbreak claims 7 lives in Nigeria’s Zamfara State

LAGOS, (Xinhua) -- A fresh outbreak of cholera in five local government areas of northern Nigeria’s Zamfara State has killed seven persons, according to the latest official report.
Zamfara State Commissioner for Health Saad Idris told a news conference in Gusau, the state capital, on Wednesday that a total of 54 cases had been recorded as a result contaminated water.
He said the affected local government areas are Bungudu, Gusau, Maradun, Shinkafi and Zurmi.
Idris said the ministry had already deployed a rapid response team of medical experts to the affected areas in order to contain the situation.
The commissioner advised the people to desist from drinking contaminated water to curb the spread of the epidemic to other parts of the state.
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health recently put the cholera death toll at 352.
The north of Nigeria suffers epidemics of diseases such as cholera, measles and meningitis almost every year.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea, leading to serious dehydration and can be fatal if not properly treated.
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AU to host workshop on safety and protection of African journalists

ADDIS ABABA, (Xinhua) -- Union leaders and journalists from across Africa will gather on Thursday at the headquarters of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for a key meeting to discuss the safety and protection of journalists working across the continent, AU said on Wednesday in a statement to media.
The two-day event organized by the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) in collaboration with the Division of Communication and Information (DCI) of the African Union Commission, will bring together 35 journalist unions, some African Union officials, advocacy organizations and press freedom groups.
The workshop will among other things discuss the promotion and safety of journalists; the precarious working conditions of African Journalists, and the key role of the African Union in protecting journalists’ safety, the statement said.
In the last 10 years over 200 journalists have been killed while working throughout Africa.
The African heads of states and governments declared 2010 the year of peace and security for Africa. The conference will provide the chance to draft a resolution to set out policies for member states, legislators and law enforcement agencies to improve the safety and protection of journalists.
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South African business leaders want rate cut

JOHANNESBURG, (Xinhua) -- Business leaders in South Africa have joined the clamor for a cut in interest rates, Business Day newspaper in Johannesburg reported in its main item on Wednesday.
This came after new data on Tuesday showed borrowing by South Africa companies fell in July, signaling South African private sector investment will stay on the back foot in the near term.
South African private sector credit extension rose 2 percent compared with July last year, accelerating from 0.9 percent in June and well above consensus forecasts for a 1.5 percent rise.
However, a breakdown of the data shows the rise was driven by a modest pickup in South African household borrowing.
Corporate borrowing in South Africa fell 1.7 percent after a 2. 4 percent fall in June, suggesting private companies, uncertain about the pace of recovery, are unwilling to invest or create jobs, said Business Day.
Business Unity South Africa ( BUSA) said in a statement “There now appears to be a good case for a further modest cut in interest rates” at the South African Reserve Bank’s policy meeting next week.
It said Tuesday’s data reflect weak South African corporate credit demand, in step with news last week of a slowdown in inflation, along with weaker economic growth.
“While a further (interest rate) reduction .. is no panacea, it will help to rebuild business and consumer confidence at a critical stage in the business cycle,” said BUSA, South Africa’s largest business group.
South African markets are pricing in the expectation that the South African Reserve Bank will trim its key repo rate by half a percentage point to 6 percent next week.
Business Day said most South African economists have fallen in step with this view, although a few say it will be a close call.
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Uganda gets 700,000 USD boost ahead of ANC Angola tie

KAMPALA, (Xinhua) -- Uganda’s national soccer team Cranes has got a 1,408 million Ugandan shillings (about 700,000 U.S. dollars) sponsorship ahead of their crucial game against Angola this week in the 2012 Africa Nations Cup (ANC) qualifying campaign.
Speaking at the unveiling of the sponsorship package at Serena Hotel on Wednesday, MTN CEO Themba Khumalo expressed the company’s commitment towards soccer development in Uganda and all over the world.
“As Uganda continues to make greater progress for the World Cup and Africa Cup, we were persuaded to renew our sponsorship of the Cranes and we hope it can be a morale booster for the campaign that starts on Saturday,” said Khumalo.
The Federation of Ugandan Football Associations (FUFA) President Lawrence Mulindwa pledged to do his best on behalf of the federation to reciprocate MTN’s support through performances on the pitch.
“We have no regrets over our renewed marriage with MTN, as they have proved to be worthy partners and I am sure the Cranes will hit greater heights in the years to come,” he said.
The massive boost follows MTN’s successful sponsorship of Africa’ s first FIFA 2010 World Cup where MTN was the first African company to sponsor the world’s biggest soccer tournament.
Meanwhile, the Cranes team was also boosted on Wednesday with the arrival of professional players Ibrahim Sekagya (Austria), David Obua (Scotland), Brian Umony (South Africa), Vincent Kayizi (Serbia), Geoffrey Sserunkuma (South Africa) and Dennis Onyango (South Africa).
The Angola national team led by former Manchester United striker Goncalves Manucho is expected in Kampala on Thursday ahead of Saturday game at Namboole stadium.
Uganda is grouped with Angola, Guinea Bissau and arch rivals Harambee Stars of Kenya. The East African country last qualified for the continent’s biggest tournament in 1978 when they lost to hosts Ghana in the final.
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Africa to become world’s breadbasket: think-tank

LUSAKA, (Xinhua) -- With one-quarter of the world’s arable land, the African continent has the potential not only to feed its people but to become the breadbasket of the world, the Post of Zambia reported on Wednesday.
Quoting the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis (FANRPAN), an agricultural-related think-tank, the paper said it is unfortunate that food security in Africa is still an aspiration.
“With one-quarter of the world’s arable land, Africa produces only 10 percent of its total global output. More than 265 million people are still chronically hungry, yet Africa is estimated to hold 60 percent of the world’s remaining uncultivated farmland,” the organization’s chief executive officer Lindiwe Sibanda was quoted as saying by the paper.
She said the stagnant agricultural productivity is a constant battle in Africa, exacerbated by limited access to agricultural inputs, water, markets and knowledge.
Sibanda said that the impacts of climate change have added yet another obstacle in front of African farmers.
“Developing countries stand to bear the brunt of climate change, while being the least resilient to extreme or erratic weather patterns, such as floods, droughts, salinity exposure and unpredictable rainfall,” she added.
She, however, said that the potential for agriculture to boost rural livelihoods, reduce poverty and underpin other sectors of economies is well established.
According to FANRPAN, agriculture accounts for more than 70 percent of total employment and that 65 percent of that figure is made up of women farmers.
It said that agriculture must be viewed as a vital force in global mission to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
It is estimated that Africa produces only 10 percent of the world’s crops despite representing roughly 25 percent of land under cultivation. Africa also has 60 percent of the world’s uncultivated land with the potential for Africa yields to grow in value more than three-fold by the year 2030, from 280 billion U.S. dollars today to 880 billion dollars, according to the Post.
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Roundup: Kenyan leader declines to sign price control bill

By Daniel Ooko and Steve Kimani NAIROBI, (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has declined to sign a bill that seeks to introduce consumer price controls on essential goods.
The Price Control (Essential goods) Bill would have given the finance minister powers to fix the maximum and minimum prices of maize, maize flour, wheat, wheat flour, rice, cooking fat (or oil), sugar, paraffin, diesel and petrol.
These goods are used by a majority of Kenyans and it is hoped that such a move will make life cheaper in the country since it will cushion the public from price extortion.
The bill which was abolished two decades ago has been awaiting the Presidential assent.
National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende told lawmakers on Wednesday that the president had refused to assent to the bill after expressing his reservation with the regulations that were abolished in the 1990s.
In the memorandum, Kibaki said that by setting out the maximum prices of goods considered essential, the East African nation would be going against agreements it has signed under the World Trade Organization. “I have received a memorandum of refusal to assent to the bill. The memorandum has to be considered by September 16, 2010,” Marende told Parliament.
The bill was passed by Parliament in June this year and is only waiting the Presidential assent to become law.
The bill seeks the government to be obligated to issue price ceilings on essential goods whose prices keep fluctuating to cushion members of public from exploitation.
Kibaki said in his memorandum that the setting of maximum prices and the accompanying service charges for these goods would be impossible to implement and spark an increase of unscrupulous traders.
Trade Minister Amos Kimunya has pointed out the dangers posed by the Parliament’s attempt to regulate the prices of essential goods.
Kimunya cautioned the lawmakers in June to be very careful with the Price Controls (Essential Goods) Bill, warning them that they should consider the impact such a bill will have on liberalization.
Kimunya said the government remains committed to implementing the bill but with limits to avoid contradicting the principle of a liberalized market.
But in his memorandum, Kibaki said apart from going against the policy of liberalization, the clause also violates the fundamental principle of the WTO Agreement on National Treatment, of which Kenya is a contracting party.
The agreement by the WTO prevents member states such as Kenya from setting price controls that would hurt exporting countries that sell the same goods. “This obligation places a duty on Kenya to avoid measures, including price controls, which would have prejudicial effects on other contracting parties supplying imported products to Kenya,” Kibaki said.
Last year, the World Bank urged the Kenyan government not to re- introduce price controls, saying such controls would end up hurting the consumers.
The bank’s country director Johannes Zutt said the controls would distort the market, have a fiscal implication on the economy and discourage consumers from seeking substitutes of the commodities, a process that would create unnecessary shortages. “Price controls can often exacerbate the underlying problem,” Zutt said. Kenya’s economic prospects are “quite good” despite the various challenges it is facing, Zutt said.
The Kenya Association of Manufacturers had also described the bill as “ill-advised, retrogressive and impractical”.
The country’s economic think-tank the National Economic and Social Council has also in the past discouraged price controls on the basis a liberalized market. Attempts by the Energy Regulation Commission to reign on oil cartels were halted under the advice of the council.
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Africa Feature: School in Kenya’s slum

By Bedah Mengo NAIROBI, (Xinhua)--From afar, the tin-roofed mud structure in Mathare, Nairobi looks inhabitable. On the wall are pockets of holes, some tiny and others bigger enabling one see inside the room.
Through a large hole, one sees a young child of about four years playing with another. And as one approaches the door of the structure, the happenings in the room become clearer.
Young children, both boys and girls of about four years are in the class. They are playing with different kinds of homemade toys as a young woman, who is their teacher watches over them.
This is one among of the many informal nursery schools in the slum district, which parents rely on for their children to get childhood education.
Besides the homemade toys scattered on the floor, an alphabetical chart hanged on a wall, the school has small plastic chairs for the children to sit on. “We teach them how to read, write and count numbers,” says Susan Auma, their teacher. “We have enrolled 15 pupils but not all attend the school everyday. Today, only seven have come,” she adds.
The children are in their home clothes. “We allow them to come to school in unofficial clothes since for some of them, their parents cannot afford to buy school uniforms,” Auma says.
The school’s uniform is purple-coloured dress or short, a white shirt and a purple pullover. “The items cost about 10 U.S. dollars. Majority of parents have been able to buy a pair of the uniform, but that is only what their children have. So they cannot put it everyday when coming to school,” she says.
The school charges 12 dollars per term, which lasts for three months. “Parents pay the money in monthly installments which translates to about 4 dollars each month,” she says.
Still, she says some do not honour their obligations, which is one of the reasons half of the class is absent. Students at the school learn from 9am to about noon each day. “We do not teach for all the hours. There are times when we give them toys to play,” she says.
This is what is happening when we arrive at the institution. Pupils are playing with toys made from locally available material.
These include shakers made from bottle tops, vehicles made from plastic materials, balls made from nylon papers, dolls and so on.
“We allow them to carry their own toys from home since some have great attachment to them,” Auma says. There are two teachers at the school, who attend to the children. “We are two of us. We come to teach on a rotational basis. If I teach Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the other teacher takes over on Thursday and Friday and then starts on Monday,” she says.
Auma says they agreed on the arrangement with their employer, a church, so that they can find time to do other things. “When we are off duty, we take time to engage in other activities so that we can supplement our income,” says Auma who declines to divulge what she earns.
In the informal settlement, there are no government nursery schools. Therefore, most parents take their children to the informal schools scattered in the vast slum settlement.
The situation is no different for primary schools. Children too rely on informal private schools, many that lack teaching and learning resources.
While trying to increase access to education particularly among the poor, Kenya’s government introduced Free Primary Education in 2003.
This was a move in line with the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, in which universal primary education is one of the pillars.
The move saw an increase in the enrolment of many pupils in schools. However, studies show that the program has not benefited the people it was intended to for instance, the urban poor.
Like in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, many poor pupils in informal settlements in Kenya are enrolled in non-state fee- paying schools.
This is because there are few public schools in the areas or those that are there are far, thus discouraging parents from taking their children to the schools.
Auma says they have not received any government support. “We have applied for support several times through the District Education Office but in vain,” she says.
Nursery schools have been forgotten, she adds. Most of the non- state schools that receive support from the state are primary schools. “People believe that the schools are the only ones which offer vital service to the community, yet without us, they cannot get pupils,” she says.
There are many private nursery institutions in the area which are similar to one Auma teaches. “Most nursery schools in this slum are like ours. They have few pupils and use minimal resources to teach them,” she says.
The schools try to follow the normal school calendar, used by formal schools in Kenya. However, sometimes this is not possible since their activities depend on fee payment. “It is not unusual for the schools to collapse. Most of the time it is because of non-fee payment,” she says. Her school has been in operation for about a year.
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China donates acrobatics props to Tanzanian arts institute

BAGAMOYO, Tanzania, (Xinhua) -- China donated a number of acrobatics props to a Tanzanian arts institute on Tuesday in order to boost cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
Speaking at the hand-over ceremony held at the Tanzania’s seventh world heritage site in the east of the country, Director of Culture Development of Ministry of information, Culture and Sports of Tanzania Herman Mwansoko expressed gratitude to China’s assistance to his country in the sectors of cultural and education, as the bilateral people-to-people exchanges have been strengthened in the past years.
He added that the donation by China Federation of Literary and Art Circles of acrobatics props, with total value of 11,764 U.S. dollars, would further enrich the Tanzanians’ knowledge about China and its arts and culture including acrobatics.
For his part, Liu Xinsheng, the Chinese ambassador to Tanzania, hailed the cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Tanzania, which started from the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1964, noting that it has become more frequent and fruitful after the First Ministerial Conference of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing in 2000.
The Chinese ambassador also commended the Institute of Arst and Culture of Bagamoyo (known as TASUBA in Swahili) for its contribution to the friendship and cultural exchanges between the two countries in recent years with wonderful performances, which made Chinese people more interested in Tanzania and more familiar with its culture.
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TANZANIA-BAGAMOYO-CHINA-ACROBATICS PROPS-DONATION

BAGAMOYO (TANZANIA), (Xinhua) -- Liu Xinsheng (2nd R), Chinese ambassador to Tanzania, hands over acrobatics props donated by China Federation of Literary and Art Circles to a Tanzanian representative at the Institute of Art and Culture of Bagamoyo in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, on Sept. 1, 2010. China donated a number of acrobatics props to a Tanzanian arts institute in order to boost cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. Xinhua photo: GUO CHUNJUi

Nigerian company renews partnership with CAF

LAGOS, (Xinhua) -- The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has renewed its partnership with telecommunications company, Globacom, for the annual Glo-CAF Player-of-the-Year Awards.
The company spokesman Harry Iwuala said that the partnership deal signed on Friday in Cairo at the CAF headquarters was for five years.
CAF Deputy General Secretary, Hicham El Amrani, signed on behalf of the football body while Sarafa-Yusuf, Globacom’s Head of Sponsored Assets signed for the company.
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World 800m record holder eyes another victory in Croatia

NAIROBI, (Xinhua) -- World 800m record holder David Rudisha of Kenya will spearhead Africa’s campaign at the Continental Cup in Split, Croatia this weekend.
Only the best from the respective continental championships have been invited in Croatia for the track and field event that will be held on Sept. 4-5.
Rudisha trimmed 0.02 of a second from Wilson’s Kipketer’s world 800m record with a stunning 1:41.09 run in Berlin on August 22 before running an astonishing 1:41.01 in Rieti last Sunday; he will be expected to claim maximum points for Africa in Split.
Rudisha’s main opposition will be European champion Marcin Lewandowski (1:44.30) of Poland and Michael Rimmer of Britain (1:43.89. US champion Nick Symmonds of the Americas (1:43.76) could also be a threat.
Africa’s boast a powerful three-man team in the 1,500m led by Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop of Kenya, who will be confident of adding another title to his already impressive list.
African Championships silver medallist Amine Laalou of Morocco (3:29.53) is the second fastest on the 2010 World Lists and is another danger as is Ethiopia’ s consistent Mekonnen Gebremedhin (3:31.57).
The main challenge to African dominance could come from 20-year-old Australia prodigy Ryan Gregson, who set a national record 3:31.06 in Monaco.
Other dangers include US athlete Lopez Lomong and European champion Arturo Casado of Spain.
Bernard Lagat of the Americas will be among the main contenders in the 3,000m. The U.S. athlete is world indoor champion for the distance and as a former 1,500m and 5,000m world champion many regard the seven-and-a-half lap distance as his ideal trip.
His chief threat is likely to be Ethiopia’s world leader Tariku Bekele (AFR), who recorded a blistering 7:28.99 in Berlin. Other notables include; European 5000m and 10,000m champion Mo Farah of Great Britain and the second-string African Vincent Yator of Kenya.
Lagat and Farah are both also in 5,000m action and the pair will again expect their chief threat to come from a three-pronged African challenge.
Diamond League winner, Imane Merga of Ethiopia, will be full of confidence after a supreme year. African champion Edwin Soi of Kenya will also fancy his chances as will Moses Kipsiro of Uganda, a former world 5000m bronze medallist.
With the IAAF Continental Cup adopting a rule of one country per event, the lone Kenyan in the three-man African team for the 3000m steeplechase is Richard Mateelong, the world silver and Olympic bronze medallist.
Predictably, he will be a major threat, but he might not have matters all his own way. His fellow African Benjamin Kiplagat of Uganda (8:03.81) and the third-string African Roba Gari set an Ethiopian record of 8:10.29 earlier this year will also fancy their chances. However, the main danger to Mateelong may be Europe’ s Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad (8:02.52).
The French athlete landed Olympic silver in 2008 and bagged the European title in Barcelona earlier this summer.
In 400m, America’s former world and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner will have to test the fitness of African champion Mohamed Khouaja (44.98) of Liberia and the European duo Jonathan Borlee of Belgium (45.08) and Great Britain’s Michael Bingham (44.88).
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Kenya’s women boxers seek global niche

NAIROBI, (Xinhua) -- Kenya’s women amateur boxing is eying to curve a niche on the international scene as it wakes up from a decade long slumber to make its return to international competition at the World Women Championships set for Bridgetown, Barbados.
Amateur Boxing Association of Kenya (ABA) chairman Samson Mugacha, confirmed on Wednesday as a part of a new strategy to widen Kenya’s medal scope, small disciplines like women’s boxing need to be encouraged and will be using the world championship platform to display their talent.
The sixth International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) World Women Championships is set to be held in Bridgetown, Barbados, from September 6 to 19. The Kenya team is due to fly out on Wednesday.
The ABA chief executive officer, David Njenga, said that Kenya was making their debut in the event. Njenga will manage the side with John Waweru as coach to be assisted by Morris Maina and Lawrence Jaoko.
The country will be represent by: light fly-weight Mildred Atieno, bantam-weight Ruth Awuor, light-weight Mary Muthuno, light welter-weight Pully Wanjiku, welter-weight Nelly Akoth, middle-weight Elizabeth Adhiambo, light heavy-weight Mediatriques Muhatia and heavy weight Joseline Marah.
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Inter Milan midfielder joins Kenyan team

NAIROBI, (Xinhua) -- Inter Milan midfielder McDonald Mariga joined other players as Kenya’s football team embarked on its final preparations ahead of their Sunday clash away with Guinea Bissau as the curtain rises for the 2012 Africa Nations Cup that will be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
However, Mariga had to endure long hours on Wednesday at the airport as he missed his luggage.
Head coach Twahir Muhidin remained optimistic, saying the short delay will not affect his preparation program. Kenya national football team Harambee Stars is due to fly out on Thursday to Bissau.
It is six years since Kenya was at the Final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 2004, and Muhidin has won the battle to retain his position as head coach and will seek to cement his place with victory away.
Kenya has called in all its top players abroad including Auxerre striker Dennis Oliech, Patrick Osiako (Mjalby, Sweden), Arnold Origi (FK Moss, Norway), Ibrahim Shikanda (Azam, Tanzania), Robert Mambo (Umea Sweden) and Mariga’s younger brother Victor Mugabe (Beerschot, Belgium).
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Nigerian minister rate sports low despite huge financial outlay

LAGOS, (Xinhua) -- Nigeria has recorded poor returns in international sports competitions in spite of the government’s huge financial investment, Sports Minister Ibrahim Bio has said.
The minister made this known in Lagos on Tuesday at a two-day Sports Summit, noting that what was required now to reverse the situation was a well thought out structure that would embrace private sector participation in sports.
Bio said the envisaged structure would replace the existing one, noting that this was only geared toward routine activities.
The minister said sports was a tool for national mobilization, integration, youth development and employment generation.
Sports, he said, had a major role to play in the search for solutions to various issues besetting the society.
He said the summit was put together to identify the problems of Nigerian sports and fashion appropriate strategies to remedy the situation.
Bio admitted that the existing structure of sports administration in Nigeria did not encourage private sector participation nor facilitate the optimum performance of the country ‘s athletes.
Blaming the problems of sports on ineffective and inefficient management of men and materials, the minister said sports fortunes in Nigeria had dwindled drastically when compared with the number of talented athletes in the country.
“Sports require huge funding. The paucity of private sector funding of sports and the public sector’s inability to provide finances when required are largely responsible for our state of sports development,” he told his audience.
Bio said success could only be achieved through careful planning, well thought out strategy, efficient management of resources and faithful execution of plans.
“For sports to run as a business in Nigeria as it does in other countries of the world, there must be a planned strategy to ensure the financial and operational viability of all sporting activities in the country,” he said.
“There is also the need for new attitude, higher competencies and commitment from top to bottom for an effective change process to be implemented,” the minister said.
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South Africa’s Bafana under pressure to beat Niger

JOHANNESBURG, (Xinhua) -- South Africa’s national soccer team Bafana Bafana are under pressure to beat Niger in their opening 2012 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province on Saturday night.
After failing to reach the finals of the 2010 tournament, they need to restore their continental pride by qualifying for the 2012 AFCON finals to be staged in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, according to the South African Press Association (SAPA).
Others in South Africa’s group include defending African champions Egypt and Sierra Leone, which means Bafana Bafana need a good win against Niger to kick-start their qualifying campaign.
One player who is determined to make sure Bafana will get off to a good start, is left back Tsepo Masilela.
“This is a big, big game for us. We need to regain our pride in Africa,” Masilela told SAPA.
“We did well at the World Cup but now we need to get back on track and make sure we qualify for the 2012 AFCON finals.”
He said Saturday’s match was not like the friendly last month where Bafana beat Ghana 1-0 at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
“We have worked hard this week and mentally and physically we are ready despite the fact we are in the dark as to what to expect from Niger.”
Masilela admitted he was feeling the pressure, saying “there is always pressure when one plays for the national team.”
He added that Niger will be up for the challenge.
“It is not going to be an easy 90 minutes. The fact it is a home game, just adds to the pressure.”
Bafana right back Anele Ngcongca is expected to be selected ahead of Siboniso Gaxa who signed a three-year deal with Belgium outfit Lierse this week.
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Scotland cancels Zimbabwe tour

HARARE, (Xinhua) -- Scotland have pulled out of their proposed tour of Zimbabwe where they were scheduled to play the country’s development side in a four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup match next month, the Herald reported on Wednesday.
Cricket Scotland announced on Tuesday that they had reversed their earlier decision to play the game against Zimbabwe A in Harare after being advised by their government against travelling to this country.
Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Ozias Bvute confirmed receiving official notification from Cricket Scotland but ruled out the possibility of switching the game to a neutral venue.
Scotland had opted to have the match at a neutral venue, possibly South Africa, before their cricket governing board agreed to play in Harare at the request of ZC three months ago.
The Scotland board, however, said in a statement on Tuesday that a change in the UK government’s policy has led to the decision not to tour.
“The decision is regrettable,” said Bvute.
“We have consulted with our various authorities who have all ruled out the possibility of these matches being played in a neutral venue,” he said.
Scotland, who currently lead the ICC Intercontinental Cup table, were scheduled to play Zimbabwe’s development side coached by Steve Mangongo in their last match of the group phase mid-next month.
The decision by Scotland ironically comes barely a week after Ireland confirmed their trip to Zimbabwe for the same competition.
Should the Scots forfeit the points from the tie, it will cost them a place in the final of the Intercontinental Cup to be played later this year.
Scotland are now likely to turn to the ICC to broker an acceptable resolution.

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SEE ALSO:
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		XINHUA Africa - Wednesday, September 01, 2010
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		• Rwanda threatens to drop U.N. peace keepers • D.R.C. rapist must be held accountable: U.N. • Security Council slams attacks in Mogadishu • Britain will help Kenya to recover stolen assets • Kenya to host Parliamentary talks • Kenya’s population rises to 38.6 million • Kenya defends invite to Al-Bashir • Two Russian pilots kidnapped in Darfur • Ugandan soldiers seize border animals • Yemen tightens its security in Aden gulf • Public servant strike wreaks havoc in S. Africa • Iron deficiency can be target for heart failure • Zambia repatriates 439 refugees to DRC • Indian navy ships pay visit to Tanzania • Kenya-Namibia relations sound: outgoing envoy • Poverty, behind child dumping in South Africa •
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		XINHUA Africa - Tueday, August 31, 2010
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		• Kenya defends invite to Al-Bashir • Two Russian pilots kidnapped in Darfur • Ugandan soldiers seize border animals • Yemen tightens its security in Aden gulf • Public servant strike wreaks havoc in S. Africa • Iron deficiency can be target for heart failure • Zambia repatriates 439 refugees to DRC • Indian navy ships pay visit to Tanzania • Kenya-Namibia relations sound: outgoing envoy • Poverty, behind child dumping in South Africa • Begging flourishes during Ramadan in Egypt • Ethiopia agricultural produces to double • Kenya and Ethiopia grazing rights issue • Ghana strives for self- sufficient rice supply • Kenya names 53 member team for Commonwealth •
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		XINHUA Africa - Friday, August 27, 2010
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		• IFJ warns of danger to media in Somalia • China backs fight against Somali piracy • UN “gravely concerned” by threat of piracy • U.N. Security Council meets on Somali situation • AL condemns hotel suicide attack in Somalia • UN unaware of mass rape in Congo until later • China, S. Africa vow to advance cooperation • Kenya lauds China’s rapidly growing economy • Burundi to enhance cooperative ties with China • IOM helps repatriate 163 back to Zimbabwe • Doctor warns swine flu cases rising in Australia • At least 19 killed in DR Congo plane crash • Kenya mobile phone users hit 20 million • South Africa mulls green tax on used cars • Kenya picks cricket squad for ICC U-19 • Kenyans eye Chicago, Berlin marathon titles •
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		XINHUA Africa - Wednesday, August 25, 2010
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		• DR Congo military operation kills 98 • Rwanda arrests senior military officer • Al-Qaida frees Spanish hostages in North Africa • Group fast breaking - a trait of Sudanese Ramadan • At least 31 Somali aliens arrested in Kenya • Egypt puts 16 on no-fly list over Van Gogh theft • Tanzanian leader still campaigns after illness • Kenya’s mobile phone firms in price wars • Malnutrition cause daily children deaths, Tanzania • Nigeria to install more e- passport machines • Somalia’s public servants complete their training • S. Africa can learn from China, says newspaper • S. Africa’s gender- tested athlete wins in Berlin • Nigeria postpones football federation election • Chinese table tennis champs visit Angola •

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