Trump’s revival of the antiabortion ‘gag rule’ could have a big impact in Africa By Kevin Sieff

One of President Trump’s first foreign policy decisions is set to affect some of the world’s poorest people: women seeking health services in places such as sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where government hospitals are sometimes scarce.
On Monday, the Trump administration announced that it would revive a Reagan-era policy that bans American assistance to organizations that offer abortion services, including counseling and referrals. In practice, experts say, that policy will freeze millions of dollars in funding that has gone to critical health treatment, including HIV testing and neonatal care.

THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES By Bakhombisile Dlamini

 

CONFIDENCE: Billie Jean King’s The Battle of sexes match with Bobby Riggs in 1973.

It is Aung Sang Suu Kyi who said, “In societies where men are truly confident of their own worth, women are not merely tolerated but valued.”
There is no truer statement about the relations between sexes in society than these words said by this woman who had to sacrifice her freedom for women’s political emancipation and made history.
Men who are socialised from birth to be the powerful race, need to believe in that. Although the jury is still out on that one, even if it is proven a lie, because it is a lie that boys have been told and forced to live, they urgently need to fully believe in it so we can all continue with our lives in peace. In peace, because then men will not have to assert their power every chance they get. Husbands will not have to beat up their wives just so they can prove that they are the heads and strangers will not feel the urge to rape as a form of exercise of power.

Opinion: Why nobody can oust Mugabe By CHRIS SAUNDERS and HENNING MELBER

President Robert Mugabe


The West African states effectively took a dictator to task after he refused to comply with the democratic will of the people to vacate office.
By using diplomacy in combination with the threat of military force they managed to convince former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh to surrender power and leave the country. This was after he was defeated in an election.
Why has the Southern African regional body been, in comparison, so ineffectual? Will it learn from Ecowas and become more interventionist?
Many countries in Southern Africa have not had free and fair elections; Zimbabwe is the most obvious example.

Opinion: Human Rights Abuses and Ethnic Conflict in Ethiopia by Amala Karri

Almost a year ago, the Ethiopian government announced the Addis Ababa Master Plan, which proposed an expansion of Ethiopia’s capital into surrounding farms within the Oromia region. The Oromo, who make up 40% of Ethiopia’s population, frequently complain about their lack of representation in the capital, and, following the announcement of the master plan, Oromo demonstrators gathered to show their disapproval and anger. The protests quickly turned violent. On December 16, 2015, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn declared that he would show no mercy towards the protesters.

Adama Barrow Must Be Sworn In As President of Gambia

Gambia President-Elect Adama Barrow

The world await Thursday the 19th of January 2017 when the wind of democracy blowing across the West African Region will blow in Gambia a country under siege by its President of over 22 years Yayah Jammeh who was defeated in the December 2016 general elections by a coalition of seven political parties. And anything short of the inauguration of Adama Barrow as President will be unaccepted by the international community and Gambians who have spoken through the ballot box that change of governance is what they need. We hope Jammeh will obey the will of his people and avoid an armed resort to restore the mandate of the people of Gambia.  Gambia must be free again,

Meet: Noel Nkhoma: From selling Chickens to Running the fastest growing Micro Finance Firm In Zambia

 Noel Nkhoma

“I was fired when I was on a work trip to Hong Kong, infact when I was connecting from London to Hong Kong, I found my Secretary’s missed calls but I didn’t return them not until I landed in Hong Kong that is when she broke the news that I was one of the ten Directors along with Miles Sampa who had been fired,” Noel Nkhoma narrates.
This was December 10th 2010 and Mr Nkhoma was Director of Corporate Banking and Marketing at Finance Bank which was considered a hugely successful story in the Zambian corporate circles.
The Bank founded by Dr Rajan Mahtani had grown to become the country’s largest commercial bank by branch network and Mr Nkhoma was one of Dr Mahtani’s trusted lieutenants.

U.S. sanctions on Congo: Exactly wrong policy at exactly wrong time By Jean-Claude Mokeni

President  Joseph Kabila

My country has spent years working to emerge from war and poverty, struggling with self-determination after emerging from brutal colonial rule. Now, the Democratic Republic of Congo stands at a crucial juncture: multi-party talks have led to the formation of an interim government that will allow for the first peaceful transition of power in our nation’s history.

What my country needs now is support from our friends around the world, especially in the new U.S. administration and 115th Congress, to help us make this work. What will harm us are the fresh sanctions recently issued against a number of officials in my country’s government, by the European Union and the U.S.
They are exactly the wrong answer at exactly the wrong time.

Opinion: Assault On Gambia By Jammeh And Fabakary Tombong Jatta And The APRC By Madi Jobarteh

 Madi Jobarteh

 Let it be clear to all and sundry that the declaration of state of emergency by Yaya Jammeh and endorsed by the National Assembly is unconstitutional. According to Section 34 of our constitution the president can only declare a state of emergency for only seven days first after it has been published in the Gazette. Where the National Assembly is not sitting, such a state of emergency can last for 21 days therefore. It is after the elapse of either  seven or 21 days can the National Assembly now extend the State of Emergency to 90 days with a vote of two-thirds of the National Assembly Members.

Photo: Meet Babes Wodumo and Zwelethu Dube Mzansi's Sexiest celebrities.

Babes, famous for her hit Wololo, beat some stiff competition from Muvhango actress Phindile Gwala, Rhythm City vixen Ntando Duma, rapper Nadia Nakai as well as Isibaya starlets Linda Mtoba and Wandi C.
Dube was up against fellow Muvhango actor Lesley Musina, actor Abdul Khoza, Keeping Score star Nicholas Nkuna as well as Vuzu presenters Dash and Shane Eagle.
The duo were crowned at a star-studded soiree hosted by actress Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa at Level Three Premium Venue in Kramerville, Joburg. More pics after cut.....

Photos: Black Coffee and Enhle Mbali's star-studded wedding In Sun City

The super-couple's dreamy wedding ceremony was held in Sun City on sunday. We at FOB are saying HWL.
Isidingo actress Sophia Ndaba was the wedding planner.
The star-studded guest-list included Khanyi Dlomo, Julius Malema, Fikile Mbalula, Rami Chuene, Malusi Gigaba and Salamina Mosese. More pics after cut.....

Interview: State of Affairs in Gambia: Olumide Fafore

Salaamedia interview with Olumide Fafore

https://soundcloud.com/salaamedia/analysis-of-the-state-of-affairs-in-gambia-olumide-fafore

Photo: Mozambique's opposition extends ceasefire to aid peace talks

The Mozambique flag


Mozambique's Renamo opposition party said on Tuesday it had extended a ceasefire by two months to allow talks with President Filipe Nyusi's government, raising hopes for a nascent peace process.
Both sides have clashed sporadically since Renamo challenged the results of the southern African nation's 2014 elections.
Analysts say competition over natural resources could also be exacerbating unrest - Mozambique is on the verge of developing huge offshore gas reserves which could transform one of the world's poorest countries into a middle-income state.

Photo: Nigerian Tochukwu Nnadi Killed In CapeTown, South Africa By SAPS

 A Nigerian, Tochukwu Nnadi was killed over the weekend by Members of the South African Police Service in Cape Town on allegation of being in procession of hard drugs. Many Nigerians under the umbrella of the Nigerian Union including the The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa who released a press statement with regards to the killing. More pics after cut... Warning Graphic images. Hon Abike Press statement after cut

Photo: The warning of a looming genocide in South Sudan is a mere scam By Taban Abel Aguek

 

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” Joseph Goebbels, a Nazi politician and Hitler’s Propaganda Minister.
Taban Abel Aguek, MP

In the last few weeks, there have been sustained warning of looming genocide in South Sudan. As reported by Sudan tribune, UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon, was the latest to add his voice to the matter saying before UNSC Monday last week, “If we fail to act, South Sudan will be on a trajectory towards mass atrocities.”

Opinion: Shaken President Jammeh of Gambia Plots a Getaway Strategy As he Packs Valuables

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Photos: Books of the Year 2016

 The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso is a rare sort of novel that is funny, wise, insightful and beautifully observed. More after cut......