foreignpolicyexchange

Kagame and the International Media: Another Viewpoint

2010-07-23T13:36:00.005+01:00

Wth the recent media spotlight on the Rwandan elections and Paul Kagame here, here and in many other places, it’s interesting that few if any outlets have picked up on the reporting by Charles Onyango-Obbo of his recent trip to Rwanda to interview Kagame. And just before you ask the most likely question: Charles who? He is the Ugandan-born Executive Editor of the Nation Media Group in Kenya. The

Mbeki, Kingibe and Africa Day

2010-05-26T00:39:00.004+01:00

May 25 every year is celebrated in Africa and the diaspora as Africa Day to commemorate the 1963 founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).On the 1994 anniversary of Africa Day, it so happened that the newly elected democratic and non racial government of South Africa appeared before the UN Security Council to "terminate the mandatory sanctions" imposed in 1977, 1984 and 1986. Heading

Adefuye receives letter of credence

2010-03-18T16:51:00.001+01:00

The following statement was released by the PresidencyAmbassador to US gets Letter of CredenceMar 17, 2010, 08:04The Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on Tuesday March 16 inState House, Abuja, gave Letter of Credence to Nigeria’s new Ambassador tothe United States of America, Prof. Ade Adefuye.Prof. Adefuye had variously served Nigeria as Ambassador to Jamaica, DeputyHigh

Ade Adefuye is Nigeria's new ambassador to US

2010-01-21T12:38:00.010+01:00

It took a long time in coming, but yesterday, the Nigerian Senate did the right thing by confirming Ade Adefuye, a professor of history and former envoy to Kingston and London as Nigeria's substantive ambassador to Washington. He replaces Brigadier Oluwole Rotimi (Rtd) who was recalled in February 2009.The Senate could have done this since the first week of November 2009 when his name was

Citizen Diplomacy defined

2009-10-15T03:17:00.007+01:00

Foreign ministers are usually known to promote a policy thrust for their tenure. So for example we have Hillary Clinton channelling what she's termed "smart diplomacy".In Nigeria, foreign ministers past and present have not been lacking in this regard either. In the 1980s, Bolaji Akinyemi promoted Nigeria in the context of a "concert of medium powers", in the early 1990s, Ike Nwachukwu championed

Yar'Adua's Holiday

2009-10-14T13:52:00.005+01:00

Let me be clear. I speak of no new intention on the part of the Nigerian president to head off on yet another visit/vacation to a certain Middle Eastern country.I'm rather more concerned with what appears to be an even greater vacation from the international diplomatic arena. In the wake of his absence from the UN General Assembly for the 2nd year in a row, diplomats and analysts questioned why

The Obamas meet The Maduekwes

2009-09-28T19:12:00.007+01:00

With his boss skipping the UN General Assembly for another year, the Nigerian foreign minister will get his chance to follow up last year's speech with another one today.But before the address, he attended a dinner hosted by President & Mrs Obama for heads of most visiting delegations last week at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. I came across this compressed clip of the Obamas' shots with

09-09-09

2009-09-09T00:43:00.003+01:00

Not much to say about this uniquely dated day other than to point you in the direction of an Editorial in the Vanguard Newspaper. It concludes by asking:"Do we expect something special today 09-09-09? We’ll know by the end of the day.In the next 100 years, we will have another 09-09-09, only a few alive today will live to see that day."

Any role for Africa in Middle East Peace Process?

2009-09-08T09:25:00.008+01:00

On August 31, Libyan ruler and African Union (AU) Chairman, Muammar Gadaffi, told an AU summit that Israel was "behind all of Africa's conflicts". He went on to say,"as African brothers, we must find solutions to stop the superpowers who are pillaging our continent." Representing Nigeria at that gathering under a huge tent at Tripoli airport was Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan.Today in Abuja,

Bank Directors as Grave Diggers

2009-08-26T09:24:00.003+01:00

In an earlier post on the culpability of non-executive directors of the recently bailed-out banks in Nigeria, I asked:"Having led these institutions to their current troubled state and what Sanusi himself called "a grave situation", why leave the grave diggers in place while trying to breathe new life into these banks"? Why is it that despite the presence of non-executive Chairmen and other

Making the connection

2009-08-25T23:16:00.007+01:00

For the past week, the news cycle in the 2 countries I call home has been dominated by 2 events. In Scotland, it has been the release of Abdel Baset Al-Megrahi, while in Nigeria the central bank's sacking of 5 bank CEOs and the publishing of their debtors names has generated a lot of news ink.You would have thought both events were as far apart as any could be, but not so Bisi Ojediran. The

Rethinking Corporate Governance in Nigerian Banks

2009-08-24T14:06:00.006+01:00

On Saturday, 22nd August, I wrote this letter to the editor of NEXT in response to the on-going regulatory actions of the Central Bank on the 5 bailed -out banks in Nigeria.Dear Editor,Regarding Uddin Ifeanyi's excellent article on (Governance in the new financial sector), I write to express a view on some of the points highlighted by the writer in the wake of last week's intervention by the CBN

Tainted Tripoli Homecoming?

2009-08-22T07:16:00.005+01:00

Shortly after The US Secretary of State got back home from her African Safari, sections of the press here in Scotland reported her phonecall to Kenny MacAskill, asking him to "keep Megrahi in jail".More pressure followed from the US Congress, but the Scottish Justice secretary stood his ground and last week went ahead with the compassionate release of the Libyan prisoner who was jailed for the

That didn't take long...

2009-08-15T13:17:00.004+01:00

As expected, the high priests of the PDP (Nigeria's ruling party) came out with their sharp rebuttals to the tough words from the US Secretary of State during her visit to Nigeria.Leading the pack was Senate president, David Mark (a retired Brigadier) who shot back with this sortie:"And then I heard her (Clinton) saying that Nigerians that people are not registered to vote, is that not correct.

Postscript of a visit

2009-08-13T06:27:00.010+01:00

Apologies for ending the live blogging post rather abruptly. I'll try to do a quick wrap-up on how the visit ended and reflect on the coverage from other sources.1. It appears that the insinuations on snubs and disregard for protocols wouldn't go away and were being raised by sections of the local media yesterday here , here and even in today's Guardian Editorial. Ojo Maduekwe according to Daily

Live Blogging Hillary's Visit

2009-08-12T10:58:00.021+01:00

19:15 - Though you couldn't tell it from the body language on display today during Hillary Clinton's meetings in Abuja, PM News reports that she "is said to have received cold reception from Nigerian government officials" The newspaper went on to claim that "Although it was widely reported that Mrs. Clinton will be recieved by Chief Ojo Maduekwe, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, on arrival in the

Hillary in Nigeria

2009-08-12T00:02:00.000+01:00

As the US Secretary of State arrived Abuja on Tuesday on her 3 day visit to Nigeria, it is worth noting that what initially appeared to be another pedestrian shuttle through Africa has now caught the media's attention as a result of her outburst in Kinshasa on Monday.But I really hope she still has some diplomatic outrage left in her and is willing to put it to good use during her meetings on

The World's Worst Daughters

2009-08-07T07:08:00.000+01:00

Iyabo Obasanjo somehow makes the top 5 in this FP ranking of world leader's daughters behaving badly.

Welcome to Lagos, Nigeria - twinned with Karachi, Pakistan

2009-08-06T17:21:00.001+01:00

There's a thought I've long held but for which I have so far not found cast-in-stone evidence.My 'thesis' is that both Pakistan and Nigeria are twins of the same errant parent. I speak of no other parent but the British Empire.I'd alluded to another link in this earlier post.The Pulitzer prize winning journalist and author, Steve Coll has recently been travelling in Nigeria and he fleshes out

Between Colin Powell, Abacha and Dr Ogunade's false claims

2009-06-09T01:13:00.000+01:00

In the wake of the anniversary of Sani Abacha's death 11 years ago today, one of his friends has come out with some insights on the man especially in light of Colin Powell's recent revelation in Abuja last week that he advised Abacha against the coup that brought him to power in 1993.But whatever credibility Dr Ogunade would have wanted attached to his interview in The Nation (Sunday, 7th June,

Dead Aid: The debate gets even more exciting

2009-06-05T12:49:00.000+01:00

Since Dambisa Moyo's book came out a few months ago, talk of it has appeared almost everywhere you turn to these days and her publishers must be smiling to the bank on the back of all this publicity.It's led to a vigorous and passionate debate in recent times between some of the most renowned proponents on either side of the aid debate. Pitching Paul Kagame & Bill Easterly on one side against

Your Tajudeen AbdulRaheem Reader

2009-05-28T00:00:00.000+01:00

That a great Pan-Africanist passed away early on the morning of African Liberation Day - Monday, 25th May 2009, was quite a coincidence.I first came across Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem on Channel 4 News on the eve of the Gleneagles G8 Summit in 2005. He was in his elements and in full stride. I read his columns at Pambazuka News every now and again and you couldn't but be amazed at the fine mind

Carson on a Roll

2009-05-21T22:20:00.000+01:00

Within hours of his Senate confirmation, new US Assistant Secretary of State, Johnnie Carson was on his way to Jacob Zuma's inauguration in Pretoria on May 9. While he would have met some of the leaders and rulers who he'll be be knocking heads with in the years ahead, he soon swang into action by turning up at the door of Mwai Kibaki & Raila Odinga with tough words for both men.In an apparent

Is Washington now ready for Africa?

2009-03-23T14:00:00.000+01:00

We're only 3 months into 2009 and of the 4 changes (Ghana, Somalia, Guinea Bissau & Madagascar) at the helm of African governments so far this year, only 1 (Ghana) has taken place after democratic elections. I'm afraid that's a worrisome trend to start the year with, and I'm afraid there's more where that came from.I remember when Barack Obama was elected US president, many were those among the

Smart Power or Hard Force?

2009-02-24T01:03:00.000+01:00

Let me start with a prediction: There is a strong likelihood for more conflicts in Africa this year in comparison to last year.Why do I say that? The signs are increasing all around us especially in these times of financial crisis and the political upheavals that are likely to accompany it.With 'Smart Power' as the thrust of the Obama administration's foreign policy, it looks like Africa will get

Gaddafi: What manner of AU Chairman?

2009-02-07T17:40:00.000+01:00

Now that Muammar Gaddafi (or is it Qadaffi or Al-Gathafi ?) has been 'elected' by his presidential peers to head the African Union at the just concluded Addis Ababa summit, what next for governance and politics on the continent?It appears that after all the effusive praise and glowing statements from State Houses & Presidential Palaces across Africa on the emergence of Barack Obama as America's

Informed Opinion - Bush, Obama & Africa's Muslims

2009-01-21T00:00:00.000+01:00

Some of the stuff I've been reading today reflect varying opinion on the import of George Bush's exit from and the arrival of Barack Obama on the world stage.Fareed Zakaria examines the claim that Bush's major achievement was in keeping America safe after 9/11. In a Washington Post article titled - He Kept Us Safe, but..., the Newsweek Editor stated as follows:"But certainly, post-Sept. 11, Bush

The Era of Obama

2009-01-20T21:58:00.000+01:00

After taking the presidential oath a few minutes past noon (Washington DC local time), Barack Hussein Obama in his inaugural address, summoned America to "a new era of responsibility."On a day that in itself was historical and in a speech in which he laid out an outline of a key aspect of his foreign policy, the best lines for me were these - from more than halfway through his address:"To those

Is Nigeria the Awards Capital of Africa?

2009-01-17T15:08:00.000+01:00

On 2 successive days this week, the world came to Abuja - literally.On Tuesday, Daily Trust newspaper hosted its 1st ever African of the Year and named Congolese doctor - Denis Mukwege Mukengere as the winner. Here's the gist on how they came to that conclusion.On Wednesday it was the turn of another newspaper, Thisday to out do the competition and they pulled out all the stops for the 14th

Vigilance against Africa's 'patriotic coups'

2009-01-16T16:19:00.000+01:00

Yesterday January 15 was the 42nd anniversary of Nigeria's first military coup that later led to a civil war which ended with a surrender by Biafra on January 15, 1970.Writing in the NEXT newspaper, Jibrin Ibrahim recounted the theory of people like Samuel Huntington that was behind Western support for the military coups that plagued post-colonial Africa for the better part of the last

Divining Obama's Africa Policy

2009-01-15T13:08:00.000+01:00

A day after Hillary Clinton pledged to implement "smart power" diplomacy at her confirmation hearing, her husband and the former US President, Bill Clinton was in Abuja the Nigerian capital on what would be his third visit to Nigeria this decade and the 2nd since he left office.This visit was his first foreign trip as the spouse of America's new top diplomat, and as such his words were being

Africa's Newest Media House - Timbuktu

2009-01-15T01:23:00.001+01:00

I recently discovered a brand new newspaper called Next. And my first thought was: why choose the same name as my wife's favorite UK shop for her shirts and baby clothes?But having just read this interview given by the publisher - Dele Olojede (Africa's first Pullitzer Prize winner), I now get it.Excerpt:"But The Telegraph is not timeless. The Observer, these are tired names. Use something fresh

Memo to Nigerian Senators: How to conduct a Ministerial Hearing next time

2009-01-14T17:41:00.000+01:00

The next time Nigerian Senators have a meeting with their American counterparts, they might want to pick up a few points on how to conduct confirmation hearings. I say this in light of recent events.Event One was yesterday's confirmation hearing by the US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee for Hillary Clinton. Compare that with the strange 'tradition' in Abuja where past or Senators or

What to expect in 2009

2009-01-12T14:37:00.001+01:00

A belated Happy New Year to those who still make an attempt to visit this page after my rather long holiday from writing.Two reasons for the long absence have been the pressures of my day job as well as the preparations for my wedding a few days before Christmas.But while all that was going on, the wheels of global affairs and diplomacy were moving at a frenetic pace in Gaza, Guinea, Congo,

Obama's Foreign Policy and National Security Cast

2008-11-21T17:49:00.000+01:00

I've refrained from commenting on Obama's victory on this blog since the epochal events of November 5. But that hasn't in any way diminished the extent of joy I felt on the day and the potential that his election holds for America's relations with the world and the worl'd perception of America. So a belated congrats to Barack Obama is still in order. Enjoy the moment, and now let the hard work

Africa's leading role in Shipping Lane Insecurity

2008-11-18T15:07:00.000+01:00

I wrote the following lines (in bold) on October 31, but published it elsewhere in error. The message is however still relevant especially in light of new developments off Africa's East coast.In light of the ongoing MV Fania saga, attention is now being focused on the security of shipping lanes especially in the vital Gulf of Aden. A new report from Chatham House highlights some of the burning

Colin Powell's Yahoozee moves

2008-10-15T13:03:00.000+01:00

Could it be the same man who in a 1995 New Yorker interview called Nigeria a nation of scammers that was dancing to the beats of Yahoozee at London's Royal Albert Hall yesterday?Maybe he wasn't fully aware of the meaning of Yahoozee or the music was just too irresistible for him not to join in. But it was an ironic way for him to make his peace with Naija folk....his 1995 comments have come full

The Poster Boys & Girls of the Financial Crisis...

2008-10-14T12:35:00.000+01:00

...are chronicled on this photo-blog I just came across.The best part is the witty description that accompanies each picture. Something fun to get you through these hard times.<-- This photo is my favorite and here's the accompanying description:"Hi Jesus, it’s me. Listen, I know I said I wouldn’t ask for any more favors after that weekend in Tijuana but I need just one more BAILOUT! Get it? Oh

And the Nobel Prize for Economics goes to...

2008-10-13T17:22:00.000+01:00

...Paul Krugman.The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the award this morning with this explanatory paper -[pdf]I got my introduction to the man from my Macroeconomics professor in grad school and I've paid attention to his words since then.For a flavour of his writings, check out his blog for the New York Times, where he's also a columnist.A well deserved congratulations goes out to

Is America going Bananas, as in Banana Republic?

2008-10-10T14:05:00.000+01:00

Christopher Hitchens thinks so.He says: "the ongoing financial meltdown is just the latest example of a disturbing trend that threatens to... put the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave on a par with Zimbabwe, Venezuela, and Equatorial Guinea." I just dig this graphic even if I don't agree with all of Hitchen's premise! However, over at the Council of Foreign Relations, they've recently

MV Faina and the Pirates of Somalia (2)

2008-10-09T15:48:00.001+01:00

From nytimes.com: The crew of the Ukrainian MV Faina stand on the deck following a U.S. Navy request to check on their health and welfare, off Somalia's coast on Oct. 5. Photo credit: U.S. Navy, Jason R. Zalasky

Yola - What manner of International Airport?

2008-10-09T13:09:00.000+01:00

If like me, you wonder why flights in Africa were the scantiest in this graphic of Air Traffic around the world, this absurd story in the Nigerian newspaper - The Nation, might offer one explanation out of many.Money quote:"For over two hours, the chartered aircraft which brought the governor from Abuja to Yola... hovered in the air.Flight ZSKBS HS 25 could not land as the airport was closed and

VideoStory

2008-10-07T13:57:00.000+01:00

Watch the world's air traffic movements over a 24 hour period hereNoticed the activity over Africa's airspace?

MV Faina and The Pirates of Somalia

2008-09-30T16:36:00.000+01:00

Kissinger's appearance fee just went up!

2008-09-27T04:48:00.000+01:00

In the just concluded debate between Obama & McCain, the discussion soon came to Iran and all of a sudden, both candidates began a tussle over whose position passed the Kissinger test when it came to negotiating with dictators.Here's the exchange according to Marc Ambinder10:08: Obama: Ahmadinejad is not the most powerful person in Iran. So he might not be the most powerful person to talk to.

Africa gets one small mention in the first debate

2008-09-27T04:05:00.000+01:00

Having managed to stay up all night (inspite of the heavy meal I had for dinner), I thoroughly enjoyed watching this 1st of the US Presidential debates.I think it was an even outcome.As this was meant to be focused on Foreign policy, they touched on the usual bases - Iraq, Afghanistan and Russia. But only towards the very end of the debate did Barack Obama mention Africa in a sentence where he

Archive of the earliest days of this blog

2008-09-26T16:34:00.000+01:00

I just noticed that I had not archived the early days of this blog.Here it is in all it's brevity

The end of a long silence

2008-09-26T16:09:00.000+01:00

7 months is a long time to leave any project to lie fallow. But having just done that with this blog, it's time to pick things up from where left off. The intention while away was to get my teeth into some of the meat of the issues that I intend to focus on here, and that exactly is what has happened.I look forward to sharing those thoughts, insights and contexts here.Welcome (back) and please

Peeping Mwai

2008-04-25T16:39:00.000+01:00

Wonder why the Kenyan president is being a peeping Tom( sorry, Mwai?) This story should help explain.Photo Credit: East African Standard

2008-04-23T17:32:00.000+01:00

This story from today's Lagos' evening newspaper - PM News.The Nigerian Senate this morning issued a warning alert to Nigerians travelling South Africa.The alert, which followed a motion moved by Senator Grace Folashade Ben, in a resolution also urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, issue an official note of warning to intending travellers on the level of hostilities in South

The challenge facing the MDC

2008-04-23T13:21:00.000+01:00

The following comments highlight the challenge facing Zimbabwe's MDC in their quest for gaining power. I get the feeling that their route to State House, Harare is likely to be a rather longer one than the road to Raila Odinga's premiership.According to Moeletsi Mbeki, President Mbeki's brother, "SADC has given ZANU-PF [Zimbabwe's ruling party] comfort to do what it is doing."He said the MDC was

Agent of Change or Status Quo Upholder ?

2008-02-01T16:47:00.001+01:00

Jean Ping has been newly elected as head of the AU Commission. But will this son of a Chinese trader and a Gabonese mother bring any clout to the role?This excerpt from Wikipedia on him offers a pointer: Ping was one of the key figures who helped arrange the visit to Gabon in 2004 of Chinese president Hu Jintao, who used the capital Libreville as the platform for making a land-mark speech

The link between Sports and Unity in Africa

2008-02-01T16:47:00.000+01:00

Jonathan Zimmerman thinks this link is far-fetched

Kufuor has finally come...but with what?

2008-01-08T17:24:00.000+01:00

This photo from Reuters confirms that John Kufuor did make it to Kenya after all.But the outcome of his intervention will be watched closely. Especially in light of the Kibaki led shuttle diplomacy to a host of African countries ( Deputy Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula to Ghana & Uhuru Kenyatta to Tanzania)There's talk that Kufuor will only be in Nairobi for less than 48hours. We suggest that it

Is Obama American, Kenyan or a Luo Tribal man?

2008-01-04T15:20:00.000+01:00

Amid all the gloomy news from Kenya about shootings, tribal killings and genocide, there's news of a different kind coming thousands of miles from the Kibera slums of Nairobi. It's the story of an American Dream about to fully come true ( and this story has got a Kenyan link) It's of none other than that of the Great Black Hope - Barack Hussien Obama! Just before the Illinois Senator won the Iowa

A season of Diplomatic Guffaws

2008-01-04T14:15:00.000+01:00

First, Gordon Brown announces on Wednesday that John Kufuor( Ghana's president & African Union Chairman) will lead a delegation to mediate in the Kenyan elections crisis. This alongside a joint US-UK statement issued a day earlier. Then came an embarassing stinger from Kenya's Finance Minister that Kufuor should stay put in Accra, citing the old & well-worn cliche of 'no need for international

Assassination by other means

2007-12-29T01:45:00.000+01:00

This image from the front page of this friday's edition of the Lagos Guardian illustrates the link between 'assassinations' of different sorts in locations as far apart as Rawalpindi and Abuja.The Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka explains this link as follows:"I can only hope that Benazir Bhutto's followers will forgive me for saying this, but the news of Nuhu Ribadu's removal from the