HOLDING POWER: Sudan's President al-Bashir announces new cabinet (XINHUA)

Eritrea, Djibouti Talks

Horn of Africa

On June 8 the African Union (AU) gave its support to a mediation agreement between Eritrea and Djibouti. The agreement is aimed at resolving a border dispute between the two, a standoff that is considered detrimental to stability in the Horn of Africa region. Jean Ping, chair of the AU Commission, announced the two had signed a deal that involves Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani acting as mediator. Last year, the United Nations imposed sanctions on Eritrea for refusing to participate in efforts to peacefully resolve its dispute with Djibouti. The UN sanctions were also imposed for Eritrea's alleged support of rebel groups in Somalia. Eritrea denies the charges. 

Big Budget

Tanzania

The Tanzanian Government has announced a big spending budget for the fiscal year 2010-11, with heavy emphasis on infrastructure and education. The total budget is 11.6 trillion Tanzania shillings ($7.8 billion), 22 percent bigger than last year. Health care received a major boost, receiving 4.753 trillion shillings ($3.2 billion), compared with 3.80 trillion shillings ($2.5 billion) in the previous year. 

Elections When?

Côte d'Ivoire

The United Nations envoy in Côte d'Ivoire has called for renewed emphasis

on the nation's electoral process. Y. J. Choi, the Secretary General's Special Representative, said that a top priority for the immediate future is to create a specific electoral list. He emphasized that this was a crucial step on the road to eventually holding peaceful elections. The country has been in political deadlock since early January, when tensions rose after voter registration was suspended due to violence. President Laurent Gbagbo dissolved the government and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in February. 

Death Penalty

Democratic Republic of Congo

Two Norwegian men were sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo after they were convicted of spying in early June. The men were charged with killing the driver of their rented car. They were found guilty and sentenced to death last November but that case was dismissed because of "irregularities." However, a retrial in June reaffirmed the original death penalty. The men were allegedly in possession of military ID cards when they were arrested. 

Prosecuting Pirates

Indian Ocean

Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam said his country is ready to make efforts to capture and jail pirates. With piracy off the coast of Somalia drawing international attention, the issue has become one of growing concern. International navies attempting to fight piracy in the region are often reluctant to take captured pirates to certain countries, fearing that a lack of jurisdiction will lead to their release. Mauritius now joins Kenya, Seychelles and Tanzania in their committal to prosecute pirates. 

Tough on Cannabis

Morocco

A senior Moroccan police official has urged Europe to remain tough on cannabis laws. Morocco was once considered by the United Nations to be the world's biggest exporter of the drug. But Moroccan authorities claim to have reduced the revenue of the country's cannabis trade from 13 billion euros in 2005 to 4 billion euros in 2009. They say that in order for that success to continue, European nations must resist calls to reduce penalties for the sale or possession of cannabis. 

Top Brass Arrested

Guinea

Security forces in Guinea arrested a number of defense officials, because of their alleged connection with former junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara. Guinea's chief of the armed forces, Colonel Nouhou Thiam, confirmed the arrests on state television. According to Reuters, another source said former army chief Colonel Oumar Sanoh and his deputy Colonel Abdoulaye Keita were among those arrested. 

New Cabinet

Sudan

On June 14 Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir named his new cabinet. The most notable inclusion was southerner Lual Acuek Deng, who was appointed to the new post of Oil Minister. The new cabinet appointments came seven weeks after al-Bashir held on to power in national elections. It is expected to be the last cabinet before Southern Sudan holds a secession referendum next January. 

Health Revival

Kenya

A new survey released on June 14 found that Kenya has made progress in managing population growth, improving child and maternal health and fighting HIV. The 2008-09 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey says the drop in HIV prevalence has been achieved through increased testing and knowledge. The report also showed statistics on infant mortality, which has improved from 77 deaths per 1,000 live births to the current  52 per 1,000 births. 

Power Costs

Namibia

Namibia is reportedly headed for price hikes in the power sector over the next five years. The economic regulation manager of the Electricity Control Board, Helene Vosloo, explained in a seminar that electricity tariffs for bulk users is expected to rise 20 percent in the next five years. Vosloo said tariffs had to be raised partly to reach cost-reflectivity, but also to protect the national power utility NamPower's cash flow.