DARFUR GETTING WORSE

According to a piece by CNN correspondent Nic Robertson, the situation in Darfur is going from worse to worst. There have been recent reports of up to 66 UN FAO vehicles being hijacked with over 30 of their drivers still missing. While the UN Force in Darfur has the mandate to protect itself and 'shoot back' the contingent is heavily outnumbered and out gunned by (some say) state sponsored militias. Accusations and counter accusations abound between the UN, Sudan, Chad, the US and the EU with no solution in site. What is the way forward for Darfur? Who can solve this crisis where so many have failed?

FAILED PROMISES?

Recently there have been appeals from eminent persons including Kofi Annan, Graca Machel, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and several African leaders that the for G8 countries to make good on the promises of 'economic justice' made at the Gleneagles summit in 2005. To date Africa is facing a $40bn shortfall in promised Aid. This is against a backdrop of rising food and fuel prices and declining food production across the continent. Oxfam, a charity organization, estimates that 5 million African lives are at risk due to this shortfall. Given the consistent donor failures to deliver on Aid pledges, to what extent should Africa depend on and plan for Aid inflows?

OBAMA NOMINATION

On Tuesday evening on June 3 2008, Obama declared himself the victor of the US Democratic National Party’s nomination campaign. Obama now looks set to become the first black US national to win a major party nomination in a presidential contest. Obama is half Kenyan and on Tuesday celebration broke out across Kenya as news of his victory came in. African countries have expressed more optimism in US/Africa relations when the Democratic Party is in control. Coming hot on the heels of Pres. George Bush’s hugely successful PEPFAR, what future would an Obama presidency hold for Kenya and Africa as a whole?