The Parable of Morphine

A recent article from The Economist suggests that Africa needs more morphine to reduce the pain that arise from various illnesses. The article discusses how many in Africa live and die in deep pain that might be alleviated if they could access morphine. The lack of morphine may however be seen as parable for the lack of means to alleviate the painfully difficult lives that many still live on the continent.

Nigeria: Fifty Years After Independence

BBC reports on various aspects of Nigerian life fifty years after independence. Chinua Achebe, Nigeria's foremost literary scholar, gives his opinion on Nigeria's fiftieth anniversary here.

Hear Who Is Talking

In a recent speech at the United Nations, Paul Biya, Cameroon's dictator for about 28 years now, made this disingenuous observation:
"How can we today explain why Africa is the only continent without a permanent member on the UN Security Council? How can we explain the fact that it is unable to make its voice heard when its problems are examined in global economic and financial bodies whereas the decisions taken will be imposed on it?"
Biya seems to be the only one who does not see Africa's weakness in global geopolitics, a weakness that has been exarcerbated by the poor leadership demonstrated by people like him. To wonder why Africa does not have a permanent seat in the security council is to give the impression that such a seat is meant only for purposes of representation rather than as a demonstration of political clout, a thing Africa still does not have. This fake pan-Africanism from Biya is intended to divert attention away from his dictatorial and incompetent governance. As if he would know what to do if given such a seat!

An Error in Judgement?

What do you make of this goal that has turned viral on the internet?

Cameroon Cuts 2010 Budget By 2%

The Cameroon government has cut the 2010 budget by 2% not 50 percent as previously speculated. For more on the reason for the cut, see this piece.

New HIV Cases Decline the Most in Africa

Greater awareness and better use of preventative measures contribute to decline. This is an indication of better days ahead.

Kagame Strikes Again!

As the world continues to praise the strides that Kagame is making in Rwanda, attention is diverted away from his autocratic tendencies. This is the same posture the rest of the world took that enabled monsters such as Amin, Mobutu, and others. One of Kagame's critiques has just been jailed for life for attempting to overthrow the government, a charge that is probably made up. As the world turns away from Kagame's crimes, the more autocratic he becomes. Kagame is a reincarnation of some horrible, first generation post-independence African leaders.