Cameroon Echoes {Echos Camerounais}

African poverty falling faster than thought?

The old image of an Africa doomed to get ever poorer has certainly lost credence over the past decade even if it is a view still held by some.

Well, according to a new study, Africans are getting wealthier more quickly than previously believed and the poorest continent’s riches are also spreading beyond the narrow confines of its elite.

“Africa is reducing poverty, and doing it much faster than we thought,” the study by U.S.-based economists Xavier Sala-i-Martin and Maxim Pinkovskiy said.

“The growth from the period 1995-2006, far from benefiting only the elites, has been sufficiently widely spread that both total African inequality and African within-country inequality actually declined over this period.”

Barbaries

En cet âge d’or de la promotion des droits de l’homme et de la protection de la nature, il se trouve encore nombreux chez nous, des gens qui rament à contre-courant. Le meurtre, il y a deux semaines, par des braconniers de deux éco gardes suivi du massacre d’une quinzaine d’éléphants dans le parc de Bouba Ndjida, d’une part et le film d’une scène de mise à mort diffusée avant-hier sur Canal 2, d’autre part, peuvent encore en attester. 

Togo’s tension: democracy vs. stability

Maybe it was too early in the morning. Or perhaps their hearts just weren’t in it.

Whatever the case, a rally called by Togo ’s opposition leaders for early Tuesday — meant to voice full-throated outrage over the March 4 election they say was rigged to favour the incumbent — was a near no-show.

Not even the opposition leaders turned up.

“It was a thousand or so youths, they burned a couple of tires and the police dispersed them,” said a Reuters witness. “The opposition leaders did not even come.”

Unclear if this was a good thing.

Togo’s March 4 election was seen as a test for democracy in Africa, a continent notorious for coups and flawed polls that have undermined efforts toward civilian rule. International observers have said the poll appeared fair.

But it was also seen as a test for Togo’s own ability to come through a presidential vote without bloodshed.

Nigeria: 49 people charged over Jos killings

Over 49 people totalling 200 arrested during the killings near the city of Jos in Nigeria are to be charged with murder after communal violence that left scores of villagers dead. According to police, 109 Christians and 300 Muslims died in bloodshed totalling to about 500 people in the killings.

In Nigeria's central Plateau State, Christians occupy mainly south and Muslims taking the north. Although the violence takes place largely between Muslims and Christians, analysts say the underlying causes are economic and political.

A survivor in the village of Dogo Nahawa, near the city of Jos, said he heard his neighbours scream as they were attacked.

"I went to my neighbour's house. I saw all the wives; they killed them, cut their bodies, put fire on them. And the babies. They killed all the children," Pepi said, according to the BBC.
Gabriel, the community leader, said his five-year-old granddaughter had been hacked to death with a machete by Fulani-speaking men who had started shooting a heavy machine gun to scare the residents into the open.

Winnie Mandela urged to clarify comments about Nelson

Winnie Mandela's reported comments sharply contrast with a recent speech South Africa's ruling ANC is asking Winnie Mandela to clarify comments attributed to her which starkly criticise her ex-husband, Nelson. Mrs Mandela was quoted in UK newspaper the Evening Standard as saying former President Mr Mandela was a "sell-out" who had agreed a "bad deal for blacks". The Mandelas were leaders of the struggle against the apartheid regime of the white-minority government. The ANC said it wanted to verify the report before commenting further. Mrs Mandela is thought to be in the US, and her office has refused to comment on the report. 'Still waiting'

Discussion: What is behind philanthropy?

Philanthropy is an old phenomenon but when it comes to Africa, it raises questions and debate on the motives and profits behind them. While some think it is a matter of kind-heartedness, other perceive it as a tax-reduction move, whose beneficiary is solely the philanthropist.

Let’s consider a few names and deeds: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has spent $13.6 billion since 2000 on various health, educational and development projects. The late Anton Rupert, a South African industrialist and philanthropist who opposed apartheid's inhumanities, used his wealth to fund environmental and educational projects. Finally, DR Congo NBA star Dikembe Mutombo financed the construction of  a $29 million hospital and research centre in Kinshasa.

Read the article below on how the hyper-rich are gradually taking the tasks previously achieved by aid workers and give you opinion

KENYA: Hungry and HIV-positive in Nairobi's

Photo: Flickr Creative Commons

Residents of Nairobi's crowded slums have been particularly hard hit by spikes in the price of food

NAIROBI, 10 March 2010 (PlusNews) - Violet Tinah, 40, a resident of Korogocho slum in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, is living with HIV and was recently diagnosed with tuberculosis, but her biggest problem today is not disease - but hunger. 

"When I went for the results that informed me that I had TB, I was very hungry; I'd had no breakfast and lunch and could barely walk," she told IRIN/PlusNews. "I had to be supported and put in a wheelchair to collect the drugs. 

"Often I go without food and during such times I feel dizzy and nauseous after swallowing the [TB and HIV] drugs," the formerly prosperous carpenter added. "Putting food on the table is like a dream."

Deux corps repêchés du Wouri

Les corps du conducteur du camion semi-remorque et de son « motor-boy », ont été retrouvés hier matin. 

La circulation est désormais fluide sur le pont du Wouri après l’accident de lundi dernier. Un camion immatriculé LTTR235AB était, en effet, tombé dans les eaux en essayant d’éviter un bus. A l’aide d’une grue du Chantier naval et industriel du Cameroun, l’on a pu extraire des eaux, aux environs de 18h, la carcasse du camion. Les recherches ont permis hier matin de repêcher les corps du chauffeur, le nommé Kouapiteu Pierre, 56 ans et du « motorboy », qui ne portait pas de carte d’identité. Lundi, la circulation a été perturbée en début d’après-midi. Ce qui a causé non seulement d’innombrables embouteillages sur le pont, mais aussi et surtout, bloqué momentanément l’activité économique. 

Manœuvres : Bal de vautours autour des Ong au Cameroun

Aux côtés de la presse, des partis politiques et des syndicats, les Ong et associations font partie intégrante des contre-pouvoirs. Au Cameroun, à la faveur de la loi de 1990 sur la liberté d'association, ces structures ont poussé comme des champignons. Mais une impression d'amalgame se dégage dans leur fonctionnement, parfois la bénédiction des pouvoirs publics et des partenaires au développement.

Nigerians march to demand ailing leader's appearance

By Joe Brock Hundreds of Nigerians gathered in the capital Abuja on Wednesday for a march to the presidency to demand the appearance of ailing leader Umaru Yar'Adua, two weeks after he returned from a Saudi hospital.

The 58-year-old leader has not been seen in public since being flown back after three months of treatment in Jeddah for a heart condition. There have been no announcements on his health but presidency sources say he remains in intensive care.

Do As I say and Not as I did:Ghana`s Rawlings Says Change lies in dialogue

Former Ghanaian president JJ Rawlings had warned Nigerians against the use of violent reform of the nations political and socio- economic landscape. He said such times were gone and the best way to effect change lies in dialogue and peaceful means.

The former coupist was speaking with journalists shortly after he had paid a courtesy call on the acting president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan at his official residence in Abuja.

Rawlings, who ruled Ghana for nearly 20 years was in Nigeria for the Commonwealth Local government forum in Nigeria.

He said Nigeria has the persons and institutions and required proper application of the laws to stem corruption. He applauded the peaceful way Nigeria had handled the current agitation occasioned by the ill-health of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.