HGW XX/7
Reminder that the AU managed to stabilize Mogadishu, an achievement which eluded the UN and the United States.
Schild und Schwert der Partei
Shameful Display
So it's been a while, and no AU intervention. Apparently Burundi's threat to fire on such a force were enough to get the organization to back down. This, combined with recent reversals in Somolia, make an intervention make it extremely likely the AU will intervene in Burundi anytime soon.
However it seems like Rwanda has taken it upon itself to fund anti government forces in Burundi.
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
This is why Eeben Barlow warned against "peacekeeping".
Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
Shameful Display
What did he say about them?
Not so much peacekeepers (UN or otherwise), but the notion that it's a solution to highly complicated and violent conflicts in Africa. Note that this IS a former SADF soldier and the founder of Executive Outcomes. Take it with a grain of salt.
I'll fight tooth and nail for my blue beret friends and ISAF troops. The only people who do anything around here.
Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
By the way, I noticed that Eastern Africa appears much more in media than Western Africa despite Western Africa having Nigeria, a fast-developing country and one of the biggest economies in Africa. I wonder why? Though, Eastern Africa does have the largest amount of countries of the African regions.
edited 15th May '16 4:36:36 PM by Bat178
A procrastination in of itself
A lot would depends on the media, how often does Africa appear outside of being incredibly poor and underdeveloped (in which case you don't want the more well off African countries), being connected to Islamic issues (in which east the Horn of Africa or North Africa are the go to areas), or geopolitical failure (in which case Rwanda and Somalia are big ones from not to long ago).
Eastern Africa is also more English speaking then the former French colonies of West Africa, so that may play a role depending on the media being consumed.
"And the Bunny nails it!" ~ Gabrael "If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we." ~ Cyran
Go back a bit further: most historical interaction between both Romans and Arabs were via the Indian Ocean trade winds. It's left a reflexive impact.
Rainforest is tough to slog through. 
edited 16th May '16 12:13:59 AM by Euodiachloris
New Nation, Old War: In South Sudan, It’s Hard to Tell the Soldiers From the Criminals
East Africa Thread...rise.
Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
90 dead in protests against human rights abuses and corruption in Ethiopia.
I'm using thread necromancy, since I don't really know where else to put this in:
Patria CEO: "Mistake" to contract middleman in Uganda incident
Patria CEO Olli Isotalo told the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle that his company was wrong to grant permission to the man to market Patria products in Uganda and Mozambique.
The man who died in Uganda had first made contact with Patria at the beginning of last year, offering his services. Isotalo says he had previously done marketing work in several other countries. Patria did not enter into any kind of agreement with the man at this time.
He contacted the defence contractor again in January of this year, saying that he would be leaving on a business trip to Uganda and Mozambique. The Patria sales director agreed with the man that he could present Patria products during his travels, as the man said he would be meeting with several ministers.
Isotalo says the sales director did not have the authority to grant this permission, however.
"There was a lapse of judgment because a permit would have also required a superior's consent and a proper investigation in line with Patria protocol," he said.
No official business relationship
Patria confirmed on Monday already that the man had also intended to market Patria defence products on his trip, but that it had no official contract with him.
The company says that it had done a background check on the man, but found nothing to prohibit collaboration with him. But another important check remained undone.
"Among other things, Uganda is on the Transparency International list for human rights violations. Patria is not seeking to enter into trade with them," Isotalo said.
No connection to Lindén
Former minister and National Coalition Party MP Suvi Lindén accompanied the man on the trip, a fact that Patria says it was aware of. The defence contractor however denies that it has any form of cooperation with Lindén.
Foreign Minister Timo Soini said on Tuesday that his ministry is following the case closely.
"The incident has raised some concerns and rumours, but there is still no information about the cause of death," he said.
Soini added that there are no valid export permits for arms trade with Uganda in Finland at the moment.
According to Ugandan media, the reporter who originally reported on the incident has disappeared.
edited 14th Feb '18 2:26:23 AM by TerminusEst
Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
NVM.
edited 16th May '18 4:12:06 AM by Wariolander
The Wanderer
Ethiopia's Abiy and Eritrea's Afewerki declare end of war:
A peace deal ending the 1998-2000 border conflict has never been fully implemented and there has been tension between the neighbours ever since.
The countries have also agreed to re-establish trade and diplomatic ties.
Family members divided by the dispute are now able to telephone each other for the first time since the war.
Ethiopian journalist Shishay Wores was contacted by one of his brothers in Eritrea.
"For a moment my heart stopped beating, my voice was shaking and I was struggling for words. It took me a while to calm down and talk to my brother."
The declaration came at a landmark meeting between the two countries' leaders in Eritrea's capital, Asmara.
The summit between Eritrea's President Isaias Afewerki and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed marked the first time the neighbours' heads of state had met for nearly two decades.
That's great, hopefully it sticks.
My newspaper was (probably: overly) cynical and stated that since that war is probably the raison d' etre for the current regime of Eritrea it'd be very disadvantageous for Eritrea to accept even if there are no strings attached. There is also apparently an issue about an Eritrean city occupied by Ethiopia which Ethiopia is planning to leave but apparently it's not at all clear whether the inhabitants want to go back to Eritrea.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
Lot of docs lately are raising the point on whether he should be remembered as an anti-Rhodesian war hero or someone who sadly became a dictator.
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
And deservedly so. The man is an inspiration for his continent, if not the world.
Agreed. There's being faced with a complex can of worms, then there's the barrel of mixed mambas he took on like a boss.
Edited by Euodiachloris on Oct 12th 2019 at 6:08:42 PM
True. He is also living proof that many stereotypes about Africa are wrong. You can be an African politician while being(relatively) young, democratically elected, not corrupt, with the aim of reforming your country and restoring the peace.This is important because many African strongman still deny this in order to justify their own hold on power, and the West uses this often as an excuse to support them one way or another.
Hrm. I've heard of this guy and I did get some misgivings of being a wee bit too authoritarian.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
He could go all Mugabe on us, it's true.
But, nobody could sort one of the thorniest problems in the Horn of Africa out by using just baskets of peace lilies with some nice sentiments attached, either. The entrenched groups of egos involved always would need an acceptable excuse for a climbdown. And, "he too stronk" is always acceptable. :/
Edited by Euodiachloris on Oct 12th 2019 at 7:31:25 PM
Well, the Guardian has this to say about him:
All of this sounds pretty good. Another article mentions that he apparantly likes to bypass institutions and appeal directly to the people in order to implement some changes, which in the age of populism justifiably raises suspicion. But it is also worth remembering that some of those institution are genuily ineffective and controlled by corrupt or worse officials/politicians, who tried their hardest to prevent Ahmid from becoming PM. There is no guarantee of course that he does not later become a second Mugabe, but knowing what we know as of today, there is some reason to be optimistic.
Are the AU missions funded via the AU directly or via participating nations? Sudan reminds me, I actually know the kids of a couple of reasonably high up UN people in Sudan, I should really try and talk to them more.
edited 4th Jan '16 3:27:47 AM by Silasw
"And the Bunny nails it!" ~ Gabrael "If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we." ~ Cyran