IIJD - News and Publications The IIJD Newsletter

News and Publications

The IIJD Newsletter:


The IIJD is not an ordinary news media company. Through its Newsletter, the IIJD constantly monitors pivotal events in or on Africa in which development stands at a crossroad, offers analysis of the situations to the international community, and periodically responds to current events in Africa that we think have the potential to destabilize or help the state or region in which they occur. The IIJD publishes a newsletter every two weeks to alert and update the general public about pressing African justice and development issues. The newsletter is distributed both on our website and through an e-mail mailing list. In addition to enlightening the public on African issues, the newsletter is also an opportunity for the IIJD to offer its own inputs, perspectives, and analysis on critical issues, thereby remaining relevant and current.

Current Issue:

July 2010
	Promises and Plans: An Analysis of G8 Aid to Africa	The G8 Muskoka Summit on June 25th, like previous summits, culminated in pledges that will alleviate specific symptoms of poverty but lack the size, direction, and credibility to generate systemic reform.
	Rwanda: Violence and Political Oppression Escalating in Months before August Elections	Though President Paul Kagame has been widely praised in the international community for bringing economic reforms and even received a global citizen award from U.S. President Bill Clinton for his commendable leadership in public service [1], the government and the ruling Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) have steadily tightened their control of the media and any form of opposition as the presidential elections on August 9th approaches.

June 2010
	Guinea: Breaking the Dictatorship Domino Effect	Similar to many other African elections, Guineans will face a host of familiar names on the presidential ballot, as leaders who have worked to exploit the country scramble to recycle themselves in wake of the political shuffle.
	Africa’s Waning Waters: Dispute over the Nile	Although Egypt and Sudan have promised their cooperation in resolving the water dilemma, they have staunchly opposed any reduction in their Nile water allocation and have even blocked funding for water development projects in other Nile basin countries, so as not to disrupt their own supply.

April 2010
	The Sudan Elections: Endeavoring Democracy in a Most Undemocratic Environment	Sudan’s recent presidential and parliamentary elections in April, the country’s first multi-party elections in almost 25 years, demonstrated that the country is moving towards a more democratic political system.
	DR Congo: MONUC’s Impending Withdrawal	In approximately one month, the mandate of the United Nations’ peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) will expire, a frightening reality considering the state of the country, which continues to suffer from ongoing conflict, substantial population displacement and widespread corruption.

March 2010
	Niger: A Coup Pour L’Etat?	On February 18, 2010, Africa experienced yet another coup d’état, one of several to occur in just the past few years.
	Media Restrictions in Zimbabwe: The Path to Free and Fair Access	Since 2002, Mugabe has implemented a veritable shutdown of the media, ensuring total control over the flow of information, particularly during the 2008 elections when Mugabe and his Zanu-PF supporters carried out a violent campaign to oppress opposition party members and supporters.

February 2010
	Freedom of the Press	The use of ethical journalism has become a popular initiative for social media sources throughout the world to help combat the inequality that comes with a lack of access to information.
	Nelson Mandela’s South Africa: 20 years later	While steps have been taken to attempt to secure the future stability of the state and encourage development strategies that utilize democratic practices, many have been rejected for more short-term gains.

Past Issues:

August 2009
	Guinea-Bissau	Hopes Lie on President-Elect Sanha to Strengthen Institutions and Reclaim Nation from Guinea-Bissau Military and Drug Industry
	Niger	On May 26th, the Constitutional Court of Niger had ruled that the proposed referendum was unconstitutional and was a violation of the oath Tandja had taken on the Qur’an; in response, Tandja dissolved the Court.

July 2009
	Guinea-Bissau	Second Round of Elections to Take Place in Guinea-Bissau.
	Diversified Economies – The key to Africa’s growth	Defining oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different tribe, or who worships a different prophet, has no place in the 21st century. Africa's diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division.
	Sudan	Should the ICC pursue genocide charges against President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan?
	Congo:	Too Typical in the DRCongo: Rape, Torture and Escapes Judiciary's Failure to Prosecute Continues Impunity


January 2009
	Ghana:	Elections in Ghana result in victory for the opposition

December 2008
	The Case for the State:	Why it is time to find African solutions to African problems.
	Al-Bashir Indicted:	The president of Sudan was formally indicted by the International Crimes Court (ICC).

May 2008
	The IIJD Formula:	Justice and Development
	Zimbabwe:	Mugabe believes he's been chosen. He reportedly thinks only divine power, not critics, can unseat him.
	Zimbabwe:	Mugabe: From Liberator to Pariah
	Zimbabwe:	Presidential run-off set for 27 June 27, 2008
	Ghana:	Electoral Commission Sets Out Qualification Criteria for Election 2008
	Development Aid:	Japan is to double its development aid to Africa
	Guinea:	President Lansana Conte has sacked the prime minister appointed as part of a deal in 2007 to end deadly riots that paralysed the country.

	Southern African:	Q&A: Whither Regional Integration in Southern Africa?
	Nigeria:	Nigeria demands $2bn oil arrears

April 2008
	Zimbabwe:	Situation Deteriorates Quickly
	Somalia:	Situation Increasingly Unstable
	Namibia:	Special Report on the Political Atmosphere
	Zimbabwe:	A Week of Anxiety over Elections Ends in 'Still No Results'

March 2008
	The IIJD: Dreaming of Justice:	An evening of music, food, dance, and inspiration for creating a more equitable and humane world
	Cameroon:	Urgent Call for Action to stop the urgent threat to democracy and peace in Cameroon.
	CHAD and SUDAN:	Peace Agreement Hopes to Increase Security in Troubled Region
	Cameroon:	Mboua Massock, leader of the peaceful revolution, is missing
	Nigeria:	Tribunal's ruling shifts focus to Yar'Adua's promises of reform.
	Sub-Saharan Africa:	Zoellick’s visit
	UN Millennium Development Goals:
	UN Millennium Development Goals:	They Merely Scratch the Surface of Africa’s Development Crisis
	Cameroon:	Voices of Mounting Discontent Stifled as Democracy Teeters On the Brink of Extinction
	Charles Taylor’s Trial:	Ending Impunity in Africa and Testing the Effectiveness of the International Justice System

February 2008
	Chad:	UN Backs Déby Government Despite Alleged Corruption
	Cameroon:	Democratic Dictatorship?
	Sudan:	Is Reactive Advocacy Enough? Looking Ahead to a 2011 Referendum in South Sudan
	Sudan:	China and the Summer Olympics
	Nigeria:	Survey of Child Poverty
	Kenya:	Hopes for Reconciliation as First Step Towards Healing Kenya's Wounds
	Police Forces in Africa:	History of Police Violence sets Precedent for Modern Day Atrocities
	Chad:	Several Opposition Leaders have been Abducted
	Chad:	Deby's Constitutional Abuses at Root of Violence
	African Union:	Mr. Jean Ping Elected as New Chairperson of the African Union Commission
	World Bank:	World Bank President Robert Zeollick Visits Sub-Saharan Africa

January 2008
	Kenya:	Post-election Violence Continues as International Mediators Flock the Scene
	Central African
	Republic:	Regional Conflict Garners International Attention; Political Turmoil Underscores Ongoing Crisis
	Rwanda:	Teaching of Genocide Philosophy in Schools Raises Questions of United Nations Funding in Post-Genocide Rwanda

	Zimbabwe:	Protesters Tear Gassed Shortly After Mugabe Approves Changes to Public Order and Security Act
	Kenya:	AU Mediation Talks Fail: Kenyan Crisis Likely to Half Economic Growth This Year