Since the only response to my ‘what do you want us to do’ post involved more coverage of Africa I though I would try to start getting into answering that request. The BBC has offered a good ‘what will Africa face in 2009’ article which helps gives us some focus.
I encourage you to read the article and keep track of the stories they discuss but just for those who don’t have the time right now some of the issues that they think will be key to the continent.
- At the center of US/Africa relations will, of course, be the Presidency of Barack Obama, which many hope will help with relations. I’m not sure that it will, after all President Bush has done more for Africa int he last 8 years than most of his predecessors but problems remain
- In Ghana they will also be adjusting to a new administration, after a very close election it remains to be seen if the fragile democracy will endure
- Elections loom in Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa so there will be plenty to watch
- In Zimbabwe we still have the ‘Hitler of the month’ in the form of Robert Mugabe
- Sudan and Darfur still need to be resolved, with the lives of many hanging in the balance
As always, the perennial issues of poverty, disease, starvation, war and similar problems seem to filter into every aspect of society.
I will try to make semi regular posts on this important continent