Africa in the News: "South Sudanese Vote Overwhelmingly for Secession"

New York Times: "South Sudanese Vote Overwhelmingly for Secession"

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/22/world/africa/22sudan.html

After much anticipation and anxiety over southern Sudan’s referendum for independence the outcome is clear. Preliminary results from the referendum report nearly 99 percent of voters in southern Sudan have chosen independence from the north. This coupled with a turnout well above the required 60 percent of eligible voters gives a clear indication of an overwhelming preference for succession. Although the official results are not due to be published until 14 February, and any steps to actually initiate the split will not come for months, the results is an unmistakable a step towards the independence of South Sudan.

Despite the clear results, formal independence will not be granted until the peace treaty which necessitated the referendum is due to expire on July 9th this year. In the mean time the southern region “hopes to pick a national anthem and a name; leading contenders are Nile Republic and South Sudan.” There are also much more daunting tasks ahead of split, “namely how the two sides would share the south’s sizeable reserves of crude oil and what to do about the Abyei region, which straddles the north-south border and is claimed by both.” There are also questions about southern Sudanese who live and work in the north, their citizenship status and their ability to continue their lives as is in what will soon be a foreign country.

Independent of the complications from succession itself, both the northern and southern regions of Sudan will have new challenges to face as independent countries. There are fears of backlash in the North over the succession, instability, and the resulting insecure economic climate. The south has many humanitarian issues to address towards its own people, like access to food, medical care and clean water, a challenge only to become more severe as an influx of southern pour from the north back into their homeland. While fragile and potentially volatile issues remain to be resolved a peaceful referendum process bodes well for continued peace. The people have made their wishes clear and it is now up to Sudanese politicians and the international community to ensure that they are carried out in harmony and fairness.

MORE INFORMATION

An article from CNN on the results of the referendum: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/01/26/sudan.referendum/index.html

A short video from the Kenya Television Network detailing the provisional results of the Sudanese referendum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBV9CU2xzHI

An article on the results of the referendum from the Sudan Tribune: http://allafrica.com/stories/201101220012.html

The Southern Sudan Referendum Commission website: http://www.southernsudanocv.org/

A video from France 24 entitled “South Sudan: Challenging Times”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMTBqL9yHkI

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Are you surprised by the turnout or results of the referendum? Do you think nearly universal vote for separation will make a difference in the succession process?

2. What are the prospects for a peaceful succession for South Sudan? Do you think the referendum is the end of the conflict between the north and the south?

3. What is the international community’s role in ensuring peace for the Sudanese people? What should foreign governments or international organizations do? What should they not do?

Africa in the News: "Cassava Combating Rural Hunger"

Inter Press Service (Johannesburg): "Cassava Combating Rural Hunger"

http://allafrica.com/stories/201101040722.html

After nearly 20 years of research and development scientists in Zambia have finally announced an important breakthrough which has the potential to dramatically improve the vitality of rural communities. Through the country’s domestic “Root and Tuber Improvement Programme (RTIP)” local scientists have generated “four new, early-maturing and high-yielding cassava cultivars.” These plants mature in half the time of the traditional cassava. This initiative targets the rural areas of Zambia which have particular difficulties with poverty and hunger. By generating a more durable but indigenous plant rural communities are able to meet their nutritional needs on their own, more quickly and without environmental degradation. Many believe that this could turn the tide for poor rural communities and even “significantly transform Zambia's slippery socio-economic landscape.”

The researchers from RTIP are so positive about this development particularly because of the widespread usefulness of the cassava plant. Dr. Chiona, the lead researcher for the project, explains that “with this crop, you throw away literally nothing at all,” and can be used as “floor polish, hair chemicals, animal and fish feed from the leaves, firewood and seeds from the stems and fodder from the peels.” In addition to the plant’s usefulness, it is a resource that directly targets rural regions where the bulk of Zambia’s poor reside. For one rural woman, Elias Mwila, the new strain of cassava has made a major difference her live and the ones she supports. She explains, “I have been using the old variety of cassava since 1992 only for meeting my family's basic food needs. But things have changed and now I am even planning to start selling the surplus.” Many Zambian organizations are focusing on agricultural development to help alleviate poverty in the rural areas. The development of stronger, faster yielding cassava is a major step in this development goal.

The hope is that this homegrown agricultural development boosts Zambia’s economy at all levels. For subsistence farmers faster yielding cassava leads to more opportunities for harvest and less fear of drought and floods. Some may even be able to turn a profit through selling access food or producing goods from the plant. An increased number of families or individuals with disposable income are highly beneficial to the economy as a while. Donors and government authorities hope that this will also create greater security and in turn even greater economic growth.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

An article from ‘Africa Renewal’ Magazine about Cassava in Africa: http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol20no2/202-cassava.html

An article from USAID on a Cassava ‘Mega Project’: http://eastafrica.usaid.gov/en/Article.1154.aspx

A video on a Cassava growing project in Uganda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr4IGKA7B3M

An article from the International Food Policy Research Institute on ‘Recent Growth in Africa Cassava’: http://www.aec.msu.edu/fs2/cassava/focus12_03.pdf

DISCUSSION QUESTION

1. Do you think something as simple as a vegetable can begin to transform a developing economy?

2. What else must be put in place to make sure that cassava yields are brought to market and produce an income for the farmers?

Africa in the News: "Ghana oil begins pumping for first time"

BBC: "Ghana oil begins pumping for first time"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11996983

Ghana has officially begun to pump oil from vast underwater reservoirs found off the country’s shores three years ago. It was found in the ‘Jubilee Field’ and is “estimated to hold 1.5billion barrels of oil.” Another nearby field was discovered this year with an estimated additional 1.4 billion barrels significantly adding to potential revenues and the prospects of a new booming industry. A UK based oil production company, Tullow Oil, is now producing 55,000 barrels every day. The oil’s discovery and production will certainly have a large impact on the African country as revenues are expected to eventually reach $1 billion yearly. Although, some reports are skeptical of the benefits the oil will bring to Ghanaians. In other developing countries of the region, such as Nigeria, the cash flow from oil production has done more to fuel conflict rather than aide development. Indeed there is some concern about the lack of legislation and formal procedure to manage the new industry.

However, Ghana is notably different from countries in the region which have had less than favorable results of oil revenues. Stephen Hayes, head of the Corporate Council on Africa notes that Ghana has a “fairly transparent society compared to other countries dealing in oil - so they've got a better opportunity to get it right.” The country also has developed a strong civil society with activists organized and ready to monitor pending oil legislation in regardless to the environment, civil rights and development. Hayes also points out that Ghana’s economy is diversified, with “oil revenues expected only represents 6% of their economy - compare that to Nigeria where oil revenue represents 92% of the economy or Angola where it's almost 100%.” This allows Ghana to manage the revenue without stalling the economy. This is not to say that oil will not have a large and positive impact on the economy as it is expected to increase the country’s growth by an additional 7 percent in the next year.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A video from Al Jazeera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncQexNRPvUc

An article from the Ghana Chronicle titled “Oil Flows Today”: http://allafrica.com/stories/201012160131.html

A website dedicated to information and news oil in Ghana: http://www.ghanaoilinfo.com/

An article from National Geographic: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2010/12/1012115-oil-ghana-environment-jubilee/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Do you think Ghana will be able to uphold its promise to spread the wealth among the people and not in only a few hands? What challenges may the government/activists face in working towards this goal?

2. Should a country’s natural resources be shared by the people or given to those who discover it? What do you think has been done in most cases? Is it fair? How can we determine this?