African Media Coverage

January 16-31, 2008


South Africa: The Citizen
“Bear is back in Africa”
Published: January 26, 2009

Russia is planning to step up its diplomatic involvement in African issues including Sudan's Darfur crisis, the country's envoy to Sudan said yesterday.

"Russia is back in Africa," Mikhail Margelov told reporters at the start of a six-day visit to Sudan, adding Moscow had an "open door" to anyone looking for support for development projects.

Russia's involvement in Africa peaked during the days of the Cold War when it vied for influence over many of the continent's newly independent states with the United States.

Read the article here.

Kenya: Daily Nation
“Sudan’s ambition to feed Africa”
Published: January 23, 2009

Sudan has recently been mentioned in the same breath as things that are inimical to the Kenyan interest — such as the diversion of maize meant for the starving to feed its people, and the importation of military tanks that are still in the hands of pirates.

Last week, the Financial Times of London reported that American businessman Philippe Heilberg had acquired leasehold rights to nearly 1 million acres of land in Southern Sudan did not fit the usual pattern of scandal.

The significance of this action, besides the possible whiff of scandal in the fact that the land belonged to former warlord Paulino Matip, appeared remote.
Mr Hilberg’s acquisition is estimated to be the size of Dubai.

Southern Sudan is estimated to measure 145 million acres.

Save for several million acres under swamp — and perhaps several score million where foreign companies are drilling for oil, the animals are spoilt for pasture.

Read the article here.

Kenya: The East African
“Sudan leaders anxious to promote peace deal”
Published: January 16, 2009

With two years remaining before the six-year interim period elapses, both parties to the Sudanese peace deal are cautious not to be seen as responsible for scuttling the historic North-South peace agreement.

At the fourth anniversary celebrations of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Malakal on January 9, both President Omar al-Bashir and his partner in the peace deal, Vice President Salva Kiir, sought to assure the world that substantial ground has been covered in the implementation of the peace deal.

However, despite the symbolic show of unity of purpose as they walked together in the streets of Malakal — the capital of Upper Nile state — it was evident from their speeches that al-Bashir and Kiir had different priorities.