Full Coverage: West Africa

28.02.2005 Faure Gnassingbe has stepped down as Togo's interim president but declared he expects to be back in the position soon as a special election will be held within weeks. Saturday, West African nations dropped sanctions imposed after Gnassingbe's illegal succession, but opposition parties inside the country were still not optimistic they would be given a fair shot at the presidency.

25.02.2005 Last week, the Nigerian president promoted a law requiring all political parties to ensure at least 25% of their candidates are female, and rights activists are demanding fully 30% of political offices be reserved for women. The country's 67 million women are currently represented by only three of 109 elected senators.

23.02.2005 Il Movimento Africano dei Bambini e Giovani Lavoratori si incontra in Senegal, a Thiès dal 21 febbraio al 5 marzo, per fare il bilancio delle attività del Movimento, discutere sugli incontri locali di formazione e rafforzare relazioni tra i diversi continenti. Il Movimento é stato creato da bambini e giovani africani che lavorano nelle case, nei mercati e sulle strade e che si sono organizzati, creando delle Associazioni nelle città dove abitano e/o dove lavorano. Il Movimento ha identificato 12 diritti prioritari per lottare contro lo sfruttamento e le terribili condizioni di lavoro dei bambini e per promuovere azioni concrete in favore del rispetto dei propri diritti.

23.02.2005 Togo's parliament Monday reversed a hastily made revision of the constitution putting off elections following the death of former president Eyadema, and said a vote would indeed be held within two months. But the former president's son, who was installed at the time, has refused to step down in the interim; opposition parties don't believe he will organize free or fair elections.

23.02.2005 Obstetric fistula, a treatable and preventable childbirth injury that causes chronic incontinence and often leads to the ostacization of women by their husbands and communities, may affect as many as 800,000 Nigerians. A group of UK and U.S. doctors has teamed up with local surgeons to treat unprecedented numbers of sufferers over the next two weeks.

23.02.2005 Puheen perinne ja lukutaidon puute yhdistettynä surkeisiin tiedotusvälineisiin ja köyhyyteen ovat johtaneet siihen, että radio on saavuttanut erikoisaseman Länsi-Afrikassa. Radiota kuunnellaan joka paikassa, myös alueen suurilla pakolaisleireillä. Monissa maissa sananvapauden rajoitukset kuitenkin vaikeuttavat radioasemien toimintaa.

21.02.2005 A chance to hear grassroots perspectives on the corporate takeover of water services in developing countries in general and in Ghana in particular. Two activists from Ghana join a WDM speakers' tour across the country from March 16th finishing in London on March 22nd.

19.02.2005 Il colpo di stato dello scorso 5 febbraio in Togo è passato largamente inosservato sulla stampa italiana. Sostenuto dall’esercito succede al potere il figlio del dittatore, Faure, al posto del Presidente del Parlamento, così come prescrive la costituzione. Migliaia di persone sono scese in strada per chiedere al nuovo presidente di lasciare il potere e per sottolineare che il Togo è una Repubblica e non una monarchia ereditaria. Dall’associazione Puntocritico arriva un forte richiamo alla comunità internazionale e all’Ue affinchè garantiscano l’invio di osservatori internazionali che vigilino attentamente sul processo delle elezioni promesse entro 60 giorni nel quale tutti i candidati alla presidenza possano svolgere una vera campagna elettorale.

17.02.2005 Today marks the end of the Accra regional preparatory conference. As WSIS Africa Agenda goes to print, delegates will tirelessly be putting together a document of resolutions that delegates will adopt and bring to the attention of the other WSIS preparatory conferences before they are carried to Tunis.
WSIS Africa Agenda highlights some of the resolutions made by various working groups and caucuses on some of the pertinent issues that are likely to be adopted by the conference this evening.

17.02.2005 Desde 1996, la Fundación Akwaba impulsa un proyecto de difusión y venta de comercio Justo en L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona). La organización importa artesanía directamente de pequeñas cooperativas de Costa de Marfil como el centro artesanal de disminuidos físicos de Bouaké o la cooperativa de mujeres de Ouasú. Tallas de madera, timbales, batikes y tapices, máscaras, cerámicas... son algunos de los productos que se pueden comprar. (En catalán)
Fuente: Fundación Akwaba

17.02.2005 Des del 1996, la Fundació Akwaba impulsa un projecte de difusió i venda de comerç Just a L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona). L’organització importa artesania directament de petites cooperatives de Costa d’Ivori com el centre artesanal de disminuïts físics de Bouaké o la cooperativa de dones de Ouasú. Talles de fusta, timbals, batikes i tapissos, màscares, ceràmiques... són alguns dels productes que es poden comprar.
Font: Fundació Akwaba

15.02.2005 UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Youssou N'Dour's recording "Egypt," which expresses his devotion to the Muslim faith, has been honored with this year's Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album.

15.02.2005 Twenty participants from radio stations across Mali recently learned how they can better use the Internet in their work--including how to add stories to their own websites--during a recent Geekcorps training in Bamako.

14.02.2005 Weekend protests over the seizure of power by Faure Eyadema--whose father died recently after ruling the country for 38 years--left at least three Togolese dead when military forces fired into the crowd. A delegation of West African leaders has held several negotiating sessions with representatives from the country encouraging respect for the rule of law.

11.02.2005 Campaigners concerned that aid for the Asian tsunami has drained funds earmarked for Africa need look no further than Liberia. Only a fraction of aid commitments has been met, leaving the country and the region at risk of renewed instability, not to speak of the World Food Programme's inability to provide normal rations.

11.02.2005 Climate change has its greatest impact in developing countries but how can ordinary people in Africa be encouraged to take an interest? When organisers of a science festival in Togo turned to popular entertainment to communicate the message, OneWorld Volunteer Editor, Gisèle Dovi, went along to see for herself.

10.02.2005 Leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have expressed concern about the undemocratic transfer of power in Togo.

10.02.2005 The people of Togo are not generally in the frame of mind to learn about the science of climate change. When organisers of a science festival turned to popular entertainment to communicate the message, Gisèle Dovi went along to see for herself.

10.02.2005 A $6 million WHO and UNICEF vaccination and mosquito net programme for children aged under 5 is the latest step in eradicating measles, malaria and polio from Togo. Nearly one million children will benefit.

10.02.2005 The measures taken by the Togo government to satisfy conditions for resuming European aid have not satisfied Brussels. But the European Union has agreed that some funds can be drawn for a range of selected projects.