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| Economy is top concern in the U.S.
by the African Diaspora community.
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November 14 in Tunis, Tunisia African
Finance Ministers met to address the
global financial and economic melt-down. Read the meeting report and the final meeting communiqué.
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Photo reportage of September 2008 visit
to the American White House by Ghana
President, John Agyekum Kufuor and
Mrs. Theresa Kufuor, hosted by U.S.
President George W. Bush and Mrs.
Laura Bush.
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Musician Oliver Mtukudzi cultivates fans beyond Zimbabwe and review of two new films featuring Africa; one a family laugh movie and the other a serious view of South African’s apartheid era in “Skin”
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| Coming out Jan. ’09 “My Father’s Daughter: A Story of Family and Belonging” – a tale of very westernized black woman who goes to Africa to meet her family she never knew existed. |
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| African farmers are turning to cannabis as a quick cash crop feeding the illegal drug market in the world; and report from South Africa on what is becoming a controversial issue – free universal education. |
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| Archbishop Desmond Tutu reflects on the global financial and economic meltdown, plus an exclusive interview with President-elect Barack Obama, conducted prior to him being elected. |
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| A charming retelling by a 14 year
old of her aunt’s visit to Africa an
her encounter with a bull elephant.
You may learn something you did not know, we did.
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© Copyright The African Times Publications 2008
“The African Times/USA” and “Africa, Inc.” are trademarks of The African Times Publications.
All U.S.A. and international
rights reserved. |
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New Mr. President
The vote of history has taken place in America and Barack Obama, on January 20th will become the 44th President of the United States of America, and as many around the world have declared, he will become one of the World. The African Times agrees that the election of Mr. Obama signals a major change for America as well as the world and Africa, and we, The African Times propose to be part of that change.
South Africa’s (and the world’s) Nelson Mandela, said in a letter of congratulations to Obama. "Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place."
"We wish you strength and fortitude in the challenging days and years that lie ahead. We are sure you will ultimately achieve your dream [of] making the United States of America a full partner in a community of nations committed to peace and prosperity for all" said Mandela.
In Britain, The Sun newspaper borrowed from Neil Armstrong's 1969 moon landing in describing Obama's election as "one giant leap for mankind."
Kgalema Motlanthe, South Africa's President congratulated Obama saying Africa "stood proud" and looked forward to a fruitful working relationship.
"Your election ... carries with it hope for millions of your countrymen and women as much as it is for millions of people of ... African descent both in the continent of Africa as well as those in the Diaspora," he said.
The African Times agrees with all, including President-Elect Obama’s call for becoming a part of the American and world change – “Yes We Can.”
Following are selected past Editorials
you may wish to browse:
They Stopped the Killer Cargo - April 2008
It's Not Tribal, Stupid! - January 2008
Africa’s Petroleum - October 2007
Where Are All the Billions? - October 2007
Africa’s “Little Lives” - September 2007
Africa in Third Person - August 2007
Is Peace the First Step to Peace? - January 2007
Debate - knowledge - opinions - ideas are all part of the AFRICA DIALOG. This is your opportunity to debate and come under the traditional village tree and become a part of the community.
We look forward to your comments...
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America Elects
An Africa Heritage President
In an unprecedented voter turnout, with over 80% of America’s voters coming to the polls in many areas, with a national total of 62.5%, Senator Barack Obama was declared the 44th U.S. President. America voted and everyone celebrated, in the U.S. and the world. Chicago, the home city of the new President celebrated with over quarter million people gathered in a park to hear his acceptance speech; Kenya, where President-Elect Obama’s father was born, celebrated with a National Holiday and in Jakarta, Indonesia where Mr. Obama went to school songs and jubilation took the day. Congratulations poured in from every capital of the world, and many headlines announced that America has elected a new world leader - a “World President.”
Download a copy in of the image above from The African Times (.pdf format)– CLICK HERE
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SUDAN
Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's President, has announced a unilateral ceasefire by government forces in the country's western Darfur region. He also said that Khartoum will move to disarm various armed groups, in an apparent reference to Arab Janjawid fighters which are alleged to have links to the government. "I hereby announce our immediate, unconditional ceasefire between the armed forces and the warring factions, provided that an effective monitoring mechanism is put into action and observed by all involved parties," al-Bashir said on November 13. The government "will set up an immediate campaign to disarm the militias and restrict the use of weapons among armed forces", he said. But Darfur's anti-government groups quickly dismissed the government move, calling it "insincere". Past ceasefires announced by Khartoum throughout the five-year conflict in Darfur have collapsed.
SOMALIA
Somalia's Shebab group has taken over the southern port of Marka, an important entry point for food aid. The heavily armed fighters rolled into Marka, located 100km south of the capital Mogadishu, after pro-government forces fled. Marka is an entry point for the food aid urgently needed by more than a third of Somalia's population. World Food Program (WFP) shipments, already hampered by rampant piracy in Somali waters, generally enter the country either by Marka or by Mogadishu.
The Shebab is the armed wing of the Islamic Courts' Union, which in 2006 seized most of the country before being ousted by an Ethiopian military intervention. Shebab fighters have broken away from the Islamic Courts, with the group's political leadership fleeing into exile and the Shebab engaging in a guerrilla war that has left thousands of civilians dead. In recent months Shebab fighters have made significant military gains leaving the UN-backed transitional federal government in control of only some parts of Mogadishu and Baidoa, the seat of Parliament.
FREE TRADE ZONE
The leaders of three African trading blocs agreed to create a free trade zone of 26 countries with a combined GDP of an estimated $624bn. Six heads of state from 26 countries in Comesa, SADC and the EAC attended the meeting in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, to sign the agreement.
The three blocs which struck the deal were the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa).
The Agreement is designed to ease access to markets within the region and strengthen the bloc's bargaining power when negotiating international deals. The Agreement will also lend its backing to joint infrastructure and energy projects in the zone. "The greatest enemy of Africa, the greatest source of weakness has been disunity and a low level of political and economic integration," said Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at a meeting. Analysts say the Agreement will help intra-regional trade and boost growth.
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