https://www.salo.org.za/formats/articles/Recent content in Articles on Southern African Liaison OfficeHugo -- gohugo.ioen-zaMon, 24 Feb 2025 09:29:28 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/world-day-of-social-justice-20-feb/Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:28:00 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/world-day-of-social-justice-20-feb/? Strengthening a Just Transition for a Sustainable Future ? On February 20th, the world will come together to observe World Day of Social Justice, a day proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 and first celebrated in 2009.https://www.salo.org.za/salo-virtual-multi-stakeholder-dialogue-on-the-crisis-in-swaziland-28-nov-2024/Thu, 28 Nov 2024 19:56:00 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/salo-virtual-multi-stakeholder-dialogue-on-the-crisis-in-swaziland-28-nov-2024/Watch here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15Wdm9xS9p/https://www.salo.org.za/salo-virtual-public-dialogue-11-aug-22/Mon, 08 Aug 2022 13:02:51 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/salo-virtual-public-dialogue-11-aug-22/The Southern African Liaison Office (SALO), invites you to a virtual public dialogue, Recent trends in South African Zimbabwe policy, including migrant policy, against the backdrop of a recent upsurge in hostility against African foreign nationals. Date: Thursday 11 August 2022 Time: 11:00 - 13:00 (CAT) Venue: Zoomhttps://www.salo.org.za/salo-public-dialogue-on-eswatini-building-a-diplomatic-response-from-south-africa-and-sadc-on-eswatini-17-may-2022/Tue, 17 May 2022 18:39:00 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/salo-public-dialogue-on-eswatini-building-a-diplomatic-response-from-south-africa-and-sadc-on-eswatini-17-may-2022/Policy-Dialogue-Report-17-05-2022-FinalDownloadhttps://www.salo.org.za/salo-womens-month-regional-public-dialogue-19-08-2021/Tue, 19 Oct 2021 10:46:00 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/salo-womens-month-regional-public-dialogue-19-08-2021/Download Downloadhttps://www.salo.org.za/international-day-against-homophobia-transphobia-and-biphobia-17-may-2020/Sun, 17 May 2020 21:15:31 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/international-day-against-homophobia-transphobia-and-biphobia-17-may-2020/https://www.salo.org.za/global-peace-inter-generational-dialogues-initiative/Fri, 10 May 2019 08:08:56 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/global-peace-inter-generational-dialogues-initiative/ACCORD launched its GLOBAL PEACE Inter-Generational Dialogues initiative in Ghana hosted by the President of Ghana and Mrs Graca Machel, Chair of ACCORD and GLOBAL PEACE on Monday 06 May 2019 in Accra, Ghana.https://www.salo.org.za/once-again-hope-deferred-in-zim/Tue, 23 Oct 2018 18:15:39 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/once-again-hope-deferred-in-zim/Source: https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2018/10/26/once-again-hope-deferred-in-zim/ Posted on October 26, 2018 by The Independent in Analysis, Comment, Opinion Motorists queue to buy petrol in Harare, Zimbabwe, October 8, 2018. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo THE hope that was generated by the removal of Robert Mugabe from power in the November coup in Zimbabwe was always provisional and tainted by the persistence of Zanu PF’s legacy.https://www.salo.org.za/african-union-election-observation-mission-to-the-2018-general-elections-in-the-kingdom-of-eswatini-preliminary-statement/Sun, 23 Sep 2018 07:29:18 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/african-union-election-observation-mission-to-the-2018-general-elections-in-the-kingdom-of-eswatini-preliminary-statement/Source: https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20180924/african-union-election-observation-mission-2018-general-elections-kingdom I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • The Kingdom of Eswatini held primary and secondary level elections on 18 August and 21 September 2018 respectively. The primary level elections were held in each of the country’s chiefdoms to nominate candidates as well as elect the members of the Executive Committee (Bucopho).https://www.salo.org.za/6657-2/Mon, 17 Sep 2018 12:46:29 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/6657-2/PRESS STATEMENT The passing away of a Mother 15 September 2018 |https://bit.ly/2OpOmwx The human rights and Palestine solidarity organization BDS South Africa mourns the passing away of mama Wafieh, the 76 year-old mother of senior Palestinian BDS leader, Comrade Omar Barghouti.https://www.salo.org.za/eswatini-forced-evictions-expose-flawed-land-laws-as-hundreds-face-homelessness-30-aug-2018/Thu, 30 Aug 2018 12:19:54 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/eswatini-forced-evictions-expose-flawed-land-laws-as-hundreds-face-homelessness-30-aug-2018/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/08/eswatini-forced-evictions-expose-flawed-land-laws-as-hundreds-face-homelessness/ Eswatini: Forced evictions expose flawed land laws as hundreds face homelessness 30 August 2018, 09:58 UTC The Eswatini government must halt forced evictions which have left hundreds of people homeless and pushed them deeper into poverty, Amnesty International said in a new report today.https://www.salo.org.za/burundian-experience-offers-insights-for-the-zimbabwe-opposition-by-patrick-hajayandi-19-august-2018/Sun, 19 Aug 2018 12:12:24 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/burundian-experience-offers-insights-for-the-zimbabwe-opposition-by-patrick-hajayandi-19-august-2018/Source: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-08-19-burundian-experience-offers-insights-for-the-zimbabwe-opposition/?tl_inbound=1&tl_groups%5B0%5D=80895&tl_period_type=3&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=First%20Thing%20Monday%2020%20August%202018%20Wits%206652&utm_content=First%20Thing%20Monday%2020%20August%202018%20Wits%206652+CID_2cff2dfe48a33ed3a8ea435b7cb07677&utm_source=TouchBasePro&utm_term=Burundian%20experience%20offers%20insights%20for%20the%20Zimbabwe%20Opposition File Photo: A Burundian protester runs through smoke raising from a burning barricade during an anti-government demonstration in the capital Bujumbura, Burundi, 22 May 2015. The Burundi crisis started after an announcement from the President Pierre Nkurunziza that he intended to run for a third term mandated in the upcoming elections.https://www.salo.org.za/mnangagwas-government-caught-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-as-chamisa-threatens-to-disrupt-elections/Sat, 28 Jul 2018 12:05:50 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/mnangagwas-government-caught-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-as-chamisa-threatens-to-disrupt-elections/Source: https://www.myzimbabwe.co.zw/news/28414-mnangagwas-government-caught-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-as-chamisa-threatens-to-disrupt-elections.html Mnangagwa’s government caught between a rock and a hard place as Chamisa threatens to disrupt elections By Muza Mpofu 24 July 2018 Government is caught between a rock and a hard place on whether to use force in quashing escalating anti-Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) protests or stick to its desire to project itself as a reformed administration, analysts said.https://www.salo.org.za/tensions-rise-ahead-of-zimbabwes-elections/Fri, 27 Jul 2018 12:07:42 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/tensions-rise-ahead-of-zimbabwes-elections/Crisis Group Q&A 27 July 2018 By Piers Pigou, Senior Consultant, Southern Africa On 30 July Zimbabwe will hold elections. For the first time since independence Robert Mugabe is not a candidate. His successor presents himself as a reformer – but many doubt the polls will be clean.https://www.salo.org.za/only-boys-allowed-seven-faces-of-zimbabwes-political-patriarchy-by-rumbidzai-dube-july-11-2018/Wed, 11 Jul 2018 12:14:27 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/only-boys-allowed-seven-faces-of-zimbabwes-political-patriarchy-by-rumbidzai-dube-july-11-2018/Source: https://africanarguments.org/2018/07/11/boys-allowed-7-faces-zimbabwe-patriarchy/ At less than 15%, women make up a tiny fraction of candidates in the upcoming elections. Here’s how society keeps it that way. Zimbabwe’s patriarchy takes many forms. Credit: Emmerson Mnangagwa. In the aftermath of Zimbabwe’s last set of elections in 2013, UN Women issued a glowing statement celebrating the progress made on female political representation.https://www.salo.org.za/zsf-statement-on-the-proclamation-of-the-2018-harmonised-zimbabwe-election-dates/Wed, 06 Jun 2018 08:28:12 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/zsf-statement-on-the-proclamation-of-the-2018-harmonised-zimbabwe-election-dates/Statement on the Proclamation of the 2018 Harmonised Zimbabwe Election dates ZSF has noted the Zimbabwe presidential proclamation which sets the election nomination date as the 14th of June 2018 and the plebiscite date as the 30th of July 2018. The ZSF wishes the people of Zimbabwe well in the coming elections.https://www.salo.org.za/south-africa-withdraws-israel-ambassador-with-immediate-effect/Thu, 17 May 2018 07:24:30 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/south-africa-withdraws-israel-ambassador-with-immediate-effect/The human rights and Palestine solidarity organization BDS South Africa joins fellow South Africans in welcoming the South African government’s withdrawal of our Ambassador in Israel “with immediate effect”. Earlier this evening South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) issued a media release stating: “The South African government condemns in the strongest terms possible the latest act of violent aggression carried out by Israeli armed forces along the Gaza border, which has led to the deaths of over 40 civilians.https://www.salo.org.za/south-africas-foreign-policy-agenda-is-due-for-a-massive-overhaul/Thu, 17 May 2018 07:23:06 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/south-africas-foreign-policy-agenda-is-due-for-a-massive-overhaul/South Africa’s foreign policy agenda is due for a massive overhaul, with a possible return to the era of pan-African politics exemplified by former president Thabo Mbeki’s administration. The department of international relations is attempting to reclaim South Africa’s position as a major influence on the continent by appointing a review panel to steer a new direction for the country’s foreign policy.https://www.salo.org.za/can-southern-africa-save-the-drc/Tue, 24 Apr 2018 08:47:53 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/can-southern-africa-save-the-drc/Can Southern Africa save the DRC? Simon Allison13 Apr 2018 00:00 Eternal war: Congolese, fleeing a flare-up in violence between the pastoralist Hema and agriculturalist Lendu in the Ituri region of the DRC in March this year. (Johan Wessels/AFP) COMMENTShttps://www.salo.org.za/memorandum-of-demands-to-the-kingdom-of-swaziland/Tue, 24 Apr 2018 07:58:10 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/memorandum-of-demands-to-the-kingdom-of-swaziland/To: Mswati III Kingdom of Swaziland CC: The High Commissioner, Pretoria From: People’s United Democratic Movement – PUDEMO MEMORANDUM OF DEMANDS TO THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND It is 45 years since Sobhuza II, the father to the current absolute monarch Mswati III, passed the 1973 tinkhundla royal decree and bestowed all legislative, executive and judicial powers upon the monarch.https://www.salo.org.za/press-release-issued-by-polisario-representation-to-europe/Wed, 14 Mar 2018 08:34:47 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/press-release-issued-by-polisario-representation-to-europe/POLISARIO condemns holding of Crans-Montana forum in occupied Western Sahara Brussels 13 March 2018 - POLISARIO Front condemns the decision to host the 2018 Crans-Montana Forum in the Western Saharan city of Dakhla; illegally occupied by Morocco. The forum will take place on March 15-20; and is a clear attempt to whitewash the brutal daily reality of Morocco’s illegal occupation in Western Sahara.https://www.salo.org.za/zimbabwes-morgan-tsvangirai-heroic-herald-of-an-epoch-foretold/Wed, 07 Mar 2018 09:32:53 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/zimbabwes-morgan-tsvangirai-heroic-herald-of-an-epoch-foretold/http://theconversation.com/zimbabwes-morgan-tsvangirai-heroic-herald-of-an-epoch-foretold-91845 Morgan Tsvangirai, who was born March 10 1952 in Buhera, in Manicaland just across the border from Zimbabwe’s Gutu District in Masvingo, became leader of Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change in September 1999. He was a very brave and iconic figure in the leadership of Zimbabwe’s anti-authoritarian and social justice movements that emerged in the wake of the austerity inducing structural adjustment programmes of the 1990s.https://www.salo.org.za/old-beginnings-the-political-context-of-zimbabwe-and-a-report-on-biometric-voter-registration-bvr-a-national-and-matabeleland-perspective/Wed, 07 Mar 2018 09:30:55 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/old-beginnings-the-political-context-of-zimbabwe-and-a-report-on-biometric-voter-registration-bvr-a-national-and-matabeleland-perspective/http://solidaritypeacetrust.org/download/report-files/SPT-Old-Beginnings-February-2018-.pdf Solidarity Peace Trust LogoSolidarity Peace Trust — Old Beginnings – The political context of Zimbabwe and a report on Biometric Voter Registration (BVR): A National and Matabeleland Perspective Political Context: 2017-­-2018 Introduction: The Trigger of Factional Politics November 2017 witnessed tumultuous events in Zimbabwean politics.https://www.salo.org.za/south-sudans-million-strong-refugee-crisis-is-a-test-for-the-world-bank/Fri, 07 Jul 2017 21:38:46 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/south-sudans-million-strong-refugee-crisis-is-a-test-for-the-world-bank/“Around half a million of the refugees that have crossed the border into Uganda from South Sudan are children. They have been fleeing at the rate of one a minute for the past year, putting additional strain on an already stretched Ugandan education system.https://www.salo.org.za/lesotho-end-culture-of-impunity-to-reverse-recent-spike-in-human-rights-violations/Thu, 15 Jun 2017 09:29:32 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/lesotho-end-culture-of-impunity-to-reverse-recent-spike-in-human-rights-violations/Amnesty International’s Human Rights Agenda for the New Lesotho Authorities: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr33/6468/2017/en/ AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE 14 June 2017 Lesotho: End****culture of impunity to reverse recent spike in human rights violations Lesotho’s newly elected government must act swiftly to ensure accountability for past human rights violations and end the spike in abuses recorded in recent years, Amnesty International said today.https://www.salo.org.za/movie-migration-and-development-friedrich-ebert-stiftung/Mon, 09 Jan 2017 09:32:03 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/movie-migration-and-development-friedrich-ebert-stiftung/International experts shed light on the migration-development nexus, for example with regard to migration flows in and from the Middle East and South Africa. They highlight the diversity of reasons for people to leave their homes as well as their courage to do so, and point to political shortcomings and perspectives.https://www.salo.org.za/press-release-conflict-diamonds-from-car-entering-international-markets-via-cameroon/Mon, 05 Dec 2016 08:46:43 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/press-release-conflict-diamonds-from-car-entering-international-markets-via-cameroon/Kimberley Process must act after new report reveals shortfalls in Cameroon’s traceability procedures create opportunities for smuggling and corruption OTTAWA, Canada, December 2, 2016/ – Cameroon is allowing conflict diamonds from the Central African Republic to cross over its borders and into the legal supply chain due to poor controls, smuggling and corruption, Partnership Africa Canada (www.https://www.salo.org.za/the-threat-of-normalising-authoritarian-rule-in-zimbabwe-by-brian-raftopoulos/Sun, 20 Nov 2016 20:06:32 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/the-threat-of-normalising-authoritarian-rule-in-zimbabwe-by-brian-raftopoulos/Solidarity Peace Trust By Brian Raftopoulos Since the end of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) in 2013, a SADC facilitated settlement that sought to move Zimbabwe out of the legitimacy crisis of the widely discredited elections of 2008, Mugabe’s Zanu PF has been battling to find ways to re-engage Western Governments and the international financial institutions based on limited economic and political reforms.https://www.salo.org.za/brain-drain-impoverishes-africa-says-committee/Fri, 18 Nov 2016 19:48:28 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/brain-drain-impoverishes-africa-says-committee/Parliament, Wednesday, 16 November 2016 – The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation says it is time Africa highlighted in policy formulation the challenge posed by the brain drain, which continues to impoverish the continent. The call follows a briefing the Committee received on Wednesday from the South African Council on International Relations (SACOIR) where it was highlighted that the brain drain, among other challenges, erodes professional skills, knowledge and the capacity in Africa.https://www.salo.org.za/south-sudan-a-country-captured-by-armed-factions/Mon, 01 Aug 2016 17:30:51 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/south-sudan-a-country-captured-by-armed-factions/30 July 2016 Since August 2015, the gravest challenge to the South Sudan transitional process and to the viability of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) is posed by President Salva Kiir’s recent appointment of General Taban Deng Gai as first vice president, replacing Riek Machar.https://www.salo.org.za/the-indian-ocean-newsletter-museveni-plays-both-sides-in-juba-conflict/Mon, 01 Aug 2016 17:00:48 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/the-indian-ocean-newsletter-museveni-plays-both-sides-in-juba-conflict/29 July 2016 To read the newsletter in full, please click here.https://www.salo.org.za/amec-insights-a-failed-coup-and-the-domestic-regional-and-global-aftermath/Thu, 28 Jul 2016 14:43:51 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/amec-insights-a-failed-coup-and-the-domestic-regional-and-global-aftermath/28 July 2016 Although Turkey survived the recent coup attempt, the impact of that operation will be felt for a long time, and there are serious implications for the putchists as well as the rest of Turkish society and the Middle East region.https://www.salo.org.za/condolence-of-the-east-african-community-eac-citizens-on-the-assassination-of-hon-ms-hafsa-mossi/Thu, 21 Jul 2016 19:24:03 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/condolence-of-the-east-african-community-eac-citizens-on-the-assassination-of-hon-ms-hafsa-mossi/21 July 2016 The Pan African Lawyers Union have released a letter of condolence on the assassination of Hon. Ms. Hafsa Mossi, other high-profile Burundians, as well as ordinary Burundian citizens in the Republic of Burundi. The letter was released on behalf of 8 Burundian and Pan-African organisations.https://www.salo.org.za/international-crisis-group-de-escalating-south-sudans-new-flare-up/Wed, 13 Jul 2016 13:14:41 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/international-crisis-group-de-escalating-south-sudans-new-flare-up/12 July 2016 Violent clashes in the capital of South Sudan have soured the country’s fifth anniversary of independence. Hundreds of soldiers and civilians were killed in the four days after 7 July, including two Chinese peacekeepers. The confrontation threatens to destroy the fragile progress made toward implementing a 2015 peace agreement to end a two-year civil war.https://www.salo.org.za/communique-of-the-611th-meeting-of-the-psc-on-the-situation-in-south-sudan/Wed, 13 Jul 2016 12:51:58 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/communique-of-the-611th-meeting-of-the-psc-on-the-situation-in-south-sudan/The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 611th meeting, held on 11 July 2016, adopted the following decision on the situation in South Sudan: Council, Takes note of the briefing provided by the Commissioner for Peace and Security, as well as of the statements made by the representatives of South Sudan and Ethiopia, in its capacity as the Chair of Inter-governmental Authority for Development (IGAD); Recalls its previous communiqués and press statements on the situation in South Sudan, in particular communiqué PSC/AHG/COMM.https://www.salo.org.za/united-nations-news-centre-central-african-republic/Wed, 13 Jul 2016 12:27:17 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/united-nations-news-centre-central-african-republic/8 July 2016 Central African Republic’s leaders must commit to inclusive, transparent governance, Security Council told The Central African Republic’s (CAR) considerable progress over the past two years risks being reversed unless national authorities demonstrated commitment to inclusive and transparent governance, and to addressing the root causes of the crisis afflicting the country, the United Nations peacekeeping chief warned today.https://www.salo.org.za/south-sudan-joint-letter-to-the-un-security-council/Mon, 11 Jul 2016 11:28:13 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/south-sudan-joint-letter-to-the-un-security-council/10 July 2016 In response to what appears to be a resumption of all-out conflict in South Sudan over the weekend, Crisis Action supported a coalition of 20 South Sudanese organisations to write a joint public letter to the UN Security Council ahead of their emergency meeting.https://www.salo.org.za/jmec-chairmans-statement-to-the-extra-ordinary-session-of-the-igad-council-of-ministers-on-the-situation-in-south-sudan/Mon, 11 Jul 2016 10:27:18 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/jmec-chairmans-statement-to-the-extra-ordinary-session-of-the-igad-council-of-ministers-on-the-situation-in-south-sudan/11 July 2016 The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) for the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan has released the statement delivered by the Chairperson of JMEC, H. E. Festus G. Mogae, to the “Extra-Ordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers on the situation in South Sudan” on 11 July 2016 in Nairobi.https://www.salo.org.za/president-jacob-zuma-remarks-to-sa-france-business-forum/Mon, 11 Jul 2016 09:33:59 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/president-jacob-zuma-remarks-to-sa-france-business-forum/The Presidency, in Paris, France, 11 July 2016 President Jacob Zuma On the Occasion of the State Visit to France: Remarks to the SA-France Business Forum *MinistersThe President of MEDEFLeadership of Business Unity South Africa and the Black Business Council,**Captains of Industry from South Africa and France,**Excellencies Ambassadors,**Senior officials,*Ladies and Gentlemenhttps://www.salo.org.za/president-zuma-arrives-in-france-for-a-state-visit/Mon, 11 Jul 2016 09:22:28 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/president-zuma-arrives-in-france-for-a-state-visit/The Presidency, Pretoria, Media Statement, 10 July 2016 President Zuma arrives in France for a State Visit President Jacob Zuma has today, 10 July 2016, arrived in Paris in the French Republic for a State Visit aimed at further advancing relations between the two countries.https://www.salo.org.za/president-jacob-zuma-address-to-the-south-africa-india-business-forum/Sat, 09 Jul 2016 10:37:14 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/president-jacob-zuma-address-to-the-south-africa-india-business-forum/The Presidency, Pretoria, 8 July 2016 President Jacob Zuma Address to the South Africa-India Business Forum Your Excellency Prime Minister of India, Narendra ModiMinisters in attendanceSouth African and Indian Business delegates,Distinguished guests,Ladies and GentlemenNamaste It gives me a great pleasure to address this august occasion that further marks the advancement of relations between South Africa and India.https://www.salo.org.za/apo-news-release-brexit-impact-on-africa/Fri, 08 Jul 2016 11:40:33 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/apo-news-release-brexit-impact-on-africa/8 July 2016 The short-term implications of Brexit for African economies will be mainly noticeable through market volatility. However, according to Control Risks and NKC African Economics, the longer-term impacts on Africa from Brexit are speculative and depend as much on the attitude of future British governments as on the terms of exit.https://www.salo.org.za/amec-insights-tunisian-ennahdas-second-founding/Mon, 04 Jul 2016 11:00:37 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/amec-insights-tunisian-ennahdas-second-founding/3 July 2016 Ennahda’s Tenth Congress in May 2016 was a leap of faith into re-endorsing the movement’s historical leadership as well as learning to ‘Tunisify’ its specific brand of Islamism – or whatever is left of it. The stakes are high, and so are the challenges lurking ahead.https://www.salo.org.za/brexit-is-bad-news-for-africa-period-by-alex-de-waal/Wed, 29 Jun 2016 10:50:38 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/brexit-is-bad-news-for-africa-period-by-alex-de-waal/27 June 2016 The British diplomatic corps is in a state of shock. Overnight, Great Britain has been reduced to Little England and the country’s global stature has shrunk by a fraction far greater than the economic losses registered on the London Stock Exchange — or even the plummeting value of the pound sterling.https://www.salo.org.za/statement-from-minister-lindiwe-zulu-on-the-impact-of-violence-on-small-businesses/Sun, 26 Jun 2016 16:10:45 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/statement-from-minister-lindiwe-zulu-on-the-impact-of-violence-on-small-businesses/Department of Small Business Development, Statement, 26 June 2016 Ms Lindiwe Zulu Minister of the Republic for Small Business Development, on Impact of Violence on Small Businesses “I condemn looting of small businesses in Tshwane in the strongest possible terms.https://www.salo.org.za/msf-internal-review-of-the-february-2016-attack-on-the-malakal-protection-of-civilians/Thu, 23 Jun 2016 20:39:08 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/msf-internal-review-of-the-february-2016-attack-on-the-malakal-protection-of-civilians/June 2016 Violence erupted between internally displaced persons (IDPs) of different ethnic groups in a Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in Malakal, South Sudan, on 17 February 2016 and continued until the next afternoon. There are strong indications that external military forces were also involved in the fighting.https://www.salo.org.za/pambazuka-news-special-issue-financing-development-in-africa/Thu, 23 Jun 2016 11:53:16 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/pambazuka-news-special-issue-financing-development-in-africa/23 June 2016 A special issue of Pambazuka Newsentitled ‘Financing development in Africa’ is now available. This special issue of Pambazuka News brings you analysis and commentary by experts, most based on the continent, outlining what it will take for Africa to achieve its much sought after transformation in the post-MDGs era.https://www.salo.org.za/eu-signs-economic-partnership-agreement-with-southern-african-countries/Fri, 10 Jun 2016 17:29:30 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/eu-signs-economic-partnership-agreement-with-southern-african-countries/The European Union and six countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) today signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the first of its kind between the EU and an African region pursuing economic integration. The signature took place in Kasane, Botswana.https://www.salo.org.za/president-jacob-zuma-to-visit-lesotho/Tue, 07 Jun 2016 20:57:14 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/president-jacob-zuma-to-visit-lesotho/The Presidency, Pretoria, Media Statement, 7 June 2016 His Excellency President Jacob Zuma will travel to Lesotho on 9 June 2016 to consult on matters relating to the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The consultations are a follow up to the discussions held by the SACU Heads of State and Government during the inauguration of the new SACU Headquarters building in Windhoek, Namibia, on 12 November 2015.https://www.salo.org.za/general-bashir-is-copying-and-pasting-the-darfur-genocide-experience-into-blue-nile-yasir-arman/Sun, 05 Jun 2016 21:48:36 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/general-bashir-is-copying-and-pasting-the-darfur-genocide-experience-into-blue-nile-yasir-arman/Yasir Arman, Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), has released a press statement appealing to the international community to “reassess the humanitarian and human rights situations in Sudan”. In the statement, which was released on 2 June 2016, Arman says that General Omar Bashir and his government in Sudan “instead of ending the genocide and war crimes in Darfur committed by their militias, is borrowing heavily from his experience in Darfur to extend it into the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile, especially after they failed to recruit local militias in the Two Areas.https://www.salo.org.za/op-ed-an-african-identity-we-all-aspire-to/Thu, 26 May 2016 17:11:17 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/op-ed-an-african-identity-we-all-aspire-to/SADC BIG Campaign Coordinator Nkateko Chauke explores how we can achieve pan-Africanist ideals through the introduction of a universal cash transfer, predominantly funded through extractive industries, in an op-ed published by Daily Maverick today. To read the full article, please click here.https://www.salo.org.za/bds-south-africa-newsletter-africa-day-international-solidarity-over-the-years/Wed, 25 May 2016 16:58:23 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/bds-south-africa-newsletter-africa-day-international-solidarity-over-the-years/BDS South Africa marked and celebrated Africa Day with a newsletter focussing on the long standing and consistent solidarity offered by African people and countries against colonialism and apartheid - on the African continent and beyond. To read the full newsletter on the BDS South Africa website, please click here.https://www.salo.org.za/homophobia-and-the-churches-in-africa/Fri, 29 Apr 2016 17:06:03 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/homophobia-and-the-churches-in-africa/29 April 2016 A regional dialogue of more than 100 participants representing church-based lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) groups, interested ministers from local congregations and church leadership structures, leaders of ecumenical organizations and representatives of LGBTI community groups from 13 countries, was held in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, on 7 and 8 April 2016.https://www.salo.org.za/pambazuka-news-special-issue-africa-and-the-drama-of-migration/Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:39:20 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/pambazuka-news-special-issue-africa-and-the-drama-of-migration/*21 April 2016* A special issue of Pambazuka News entitled ‘Africa and the drama of migration’ is now available. Migration is as old as Africa itself. People have always moved in search of a better life. The economic crisis in Africa fuelled by development policies imposed on the continent by the World Bank, IMF and other donors is one of the factors forcing some Africans to undertake dangerous journeys to Europe in an attempt to improve their lot.https://www.salo.org.za/president-jacob-zuma-arrives-in-swaziland/Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:23:09 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/president-jacob-zuma-arrives-in-swaziland/*The Presidency, 21 April 2016* President Jacob Zuma has today, 21 April 2016, arrived in the Kingdom of Swaziland for consultation with His Majesty King Mswati III on matters relating to Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The President has already had discussions with Heads of States and Government of Botswana and Namibia on the matter.https://www.salo.org.za/bds-south-africa-newsletter-highlights-from-israeli-apartheid-week-campaign-in-south-africa/Sun, 17 Apr 2016 14:51:31 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/bds-south-africa-newsletter-highlights-from-israeli-apartheid-week-campaign-in-south-africa/The latest newsletter from BDS South Africa is now available online with a recap of some of the highlights from the 12th Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) campaign held in South Africa from 7 to 13 March. The newsletter includes details of the speech made by National Assembly Speaker Ms Baleka Mbete (MP) during IAW.https://www.salo.org.za/a-stellenbosch-university-professor-has-been-elected-to-serve-on-the-un-committee-on-economic-social-and-cultural-rights/Sun, 17 Apr 2016 08:50:04 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/a-stellenbosch-university-professor-has-been-elected-to-serve-on-the-un-committee-on-economic-social-and-cultural-rights/Sandra Liebenberg‚ who occupies the HF Oppenheimer chair in human rights law in the university’s law faculty‚ was nominated by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in recognition of her “extensive experience in human rights law‚ particularly in the area of economic‚ social and cultural rights”.https://www.salo.org.za/europe-and-africa-benefit-when-they-work-together/Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:24:36 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/europe-and-africa-benefit-when-they-work-together/8 April 2016 As we face the challenges of the 21st century, there is more that unites Africa and Europe than divides us. We share a common history of thousands of years. Today more than ever, we need to work together to build our common future and to work jointly on the defining global issues of our age.https://www.salo.org.za/sexual-abuse-by-french-soldiers-and-un-peacekeepers-in-central-african-republic-ask-your-questions-live/Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:16:31 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/sexual-abuse-by-french-soldiers-and-un-peacekeepers-in-central-african-republic-ask-your-questions-live/According to the Code Blue campaign, at least 98 girls in Central African Republic reported they were sexually abused by French soldiers and UN peacekeepers, and three girls told U.N. staff they were tied up, undressed, and forced to have sex with a dog by a French military commander in 2014.https://www.salo.org.za/media-statement-car-elections/Thu, 03 Mar 2016 08:58:42 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/media-statement-car-elections/Media Statement - CAR Electionshttps://www.salo.org.za/pudemo-welcomes-the-release-of-thulani-maseko-and-bheki-makhubu-but-still-demands-the-release-of-president-mario-masuku/Thu, 02 Jul 2015 11:39:30 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/pudemo-welcomes-the-release-of-thulani-maseko-and-bheki-makhubu-but-still-demands-the-release-of-president-mario-masuku/PUDEMO STATEMENT – 01 JULY 2015 The Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) welcomes the release of Human Rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and magazine editor Bheki Makhubu from prison. Even though their families and friends have suffered untold misery, it gives hope that sanity is beginning to prevail even though such had to be achieved through bitter castigation by local political activists, human rights advocates and the international community.https://www.salo.org.za/pudemo-secretary-general-question-and-answer-on-the-judicial-crisis-in-swaziland/Wed, 22 Apr 2015 10:02:12 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/pudemo-secretary-general-question-and-answer-on-the-judicial-crisis-in-swaziland/1. Mr Makhanya seemingly you are not joining in the celebrations of the reported arrest of Mpendulo Simelane, (pending) arrest of the Chief Justice Micheal Ramodibedi, Justice Minister Sibusiso Shongwe. Why? Mlungisi Makhanya (MM): Look, PUDEMO welcomes the arrest of anyone involved in criminal activities.https://www.salo.org.za/letter-to-swazi-prime-minister-from-kommunal-swedish-municipal-workers-union/Tue, 10 Mar 2015 14:42:37 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/letter-to-swazi-prime-minister-from-kommunal-swedish-municipal-workers-union/Sibusiso Dlamini Office of the Prime Minister Hospital Hill Mbabane Swaziland Prime Minister, On behalf of 515 000 members of Kommunal, the Swedish Municipal Workers’ Union, I am writing to express our concern for trade unions rights and to strongly condemn the systematic interference by police in lawful and legitimate trade union activities.https://www.salo.org.za/beyond-2015-recommendations-to-the-post-2015-declaration/Fri, 06 Feb 2015 07:32:06 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/beyond-2015-recommendations-to-the-post-2015-declaration/The position is available here: http://bit.ly/1DeiqRQ More info on Beyond 2015: http://www.beyond2015.org/https://www.salo.org.za/a-failure-of-governance-understanding-south-sudans-conflict-dynamics-beyond-the-political-and-humanitarian-crisis-lotje-de-vries-and-peter-hakim-justin/Tue, 13 Jan 2015 10:24:30 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/a-failure-of-governance-understanding-south-sudans-conflict-dynamics-beyond-the-political-and-humanitarian-crisis-lotje-de-vries-and-peter-hakim-justin/Read paper below: De Vries & Jusitn 2014 Failure of Governance in South Sudanhttps://www.salo.org.za/pope-francis-welcomes-renewal-of-cuba-u-s-relations/Thu, 18 Dec 2014 10:40:52 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/pope-francis-welcomes-renewal-of-cuba-u-s-relations/Prensa Latina, Havana, from the Vatican, Rome, 17 December 2014 Pope Francis welcomed today the first step for the reestablishment of relations between Cuba and the United States, after more than half a century of the bilateral riff. According to a communiqué released by the Holy See, the Pontiff is strongly pleased with the reestablishment of relations, to overcome in the interest of citizens of both nations, the difficulties that mark their history.https://www.salo.org.za/re-establishment-of-us-diplomatic-relations-with-cuba/Wed, 17 Dec 2014 22:35:38 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/re-establishment-of-us-diplomatic-relations-with-cuba/Wednesday, 17th December 2014 Today, US president Barrack Obama announced that the USA will be reestablishing diplomatic relations with Cuba, with the opening of an Embassy in Havana and the relaxation of several trade and travel restrictions with immediate effect.https://www.salo.org.za/madagascar-abolishing-death-penalty/Fri, 12 Dec 2014 08:57:06 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/madagascar-abolishing-death-penalty/On the 10th of December, World Human Rights Day, the National Assembly of Madagascar adopted a bill that abolishes the death penalty for all crimes. Madagascar is now officially the 18th AU member state to have abolished the death penalty.https://www.salo.org.za/us-senate-report-condemns-cia-brutality-al-jazeera/Wed, 10 Dec 2014 12:27:12 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/us-senate-report-condemns-cia-brutality-al-jazeera/From Al Jazeera, 10 December 2014 - http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2014/12/us-releases-cia-torture-report-2014129122456718264.html A US Senate report on harsh techniques employed to interrogate “terror” suspects post-9/11 attacks has condemned the CIA for brutality and deception. The heavily redacted 480-page report - published on Tuesday - covered the treatment of around 100 suspects rounded up by US operatives between 2001 and 2009 on terrorism charges.https://www.salo.org.za/inaugural-disability-rights-parliament-south-africans-with-disabilities-celebrating-20-years-of-democracy/Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:02:39 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/inaugural-disability-rights-parliament-south-africans-with-disabilities-celebrating-20-years-of-democracy/Celebrating 20 years of the rights of persons with disabilities in our Democracy! Together we move South Africa forward through radical socio-economic transformation Tuning in to DsTV Channel 408 (Parliament Live) from 10h00 – 13h00 on 3 December 2014. The broadcast will have simultaneous South African Sign Language interpretation as well as sub texting.https://www.salo.org.za/au-commission-of-inquiry-on-south-sudan/Sat, 25 Oct 2014 08:48:41 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/au-commission-of-inquiry-on-south-sudan/FINAL REPORT OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON SOUTH SUDAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FINAL REPORT OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON SOUTH SUDAN A Separate Opinionhttps://www.salo.org.za/raus-latest-opinion-paper-on-womens-experiences-with-elections-in-zimbabwe/Fri, 15 Aug 2014 12:15:23 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/raus-latest-opinion-paper-on-womens-experiences-with-elections-in-zimbabwe/Below please find RAU’s latest opinion paper on Women’s experiences with elections in Zimbabwe: Women and Elections in Zimbabwe Insights from the Afrobarometerhttps://www.salo.org.za/israel-gaza-concerned-africans-forum-statement/Thu, 31 Jul 2014 11:44:48 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/israel-gaza-concerned-africans-forum-statement/The statement put out by Concerned Africans Forum on the Gaza Israel crisis: CAFIsraelGazahttps://www.salo.org.za/official-announcement-of-presidential-elections-results-malawi/Sat, 31 May 2014 11:37:39 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/official-announcement-of-presidential-elections-results-malawi/Official results of Malawi elections where Peter Mutharika was declared winner. Final presidential results statement Presidential - National Results - Malawihttps://www.salo.org.za/judith-todd-remembers-south-africas-first-freedom-days/Wed, 30 Apr 2014 19:56:14 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/judith-todd-remembers-south-africas-first-freedom-days/Judith Todd Remembers South Africa’s First Freedom Days Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku nominated me a Commonwealth Observer to South Africa’s 1994 April elections. I could hardly believe my good fortune. He said he had simply informed President Mugabe of my appointment.https://www.salo.org.za/south-sudan-a-civil-war-by-any-other-name-crisis-group-africa-report-n217-10-april-2014/Sun, 13 Apr 2014 09:44:38 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/south-sudan-a-civil-war-by-any-other-name-crisis-group-africa-report-n217-10-april-2014/Executive Summary: On 15 December 2013 the world’s newest state descended into civil war. Continuing fighting has displaced more than 1,000,000 and killed over 10,000 while a humanitarian crisis threatens many more. Both South Sudanese and the international community were ill-prepared to prevent or halt the conflict: the nation’s closest allies did little to mediate leadership divisions within the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement’s (SPLM).https://www.salo.org.za/swaziland-maseko-and-makhubu-finally-released/Fri, 11 Apr 2014 14:54:53 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/swaziland-maseko-and-makhubu-finally-released/image from http://www.times.co.sz/news/96436-bheki-thulani-freed.html On the 6th of April Nation Magazine editor Bheki Makhubu and Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko were released after three weeks in detention. As the detention of Makhubu and Maseka is the latest in a long line of attacks on personalities who have openly criticized the Swazi government, the court room was full of pro-democracy activists from the major civil society organisations.https://www.salo.org.za/common-african-position-cap-on-the-post-2015-development-agenda/Fri, 21 Mar 2014 07:54:19 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/common-african-position-cap-on-the-post-2015-development-agenda/** “Preamble: We, Heads of State and Government of the African Union assembled in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union on 31 January 2014, NOTE: The participatory approach that led to the elaboration of the Common African Position (CAP) on the post-2015 Development Agenda involving stakeholders at the national, regional and continental levels among the public and private sectors, parliamentarians, civil society organizations (CSOs), including women and youth associations, and academia.https://www.salo.org.za/human-rights-lawyer-thulani-maseko-arrested/Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:50:30 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/human-rights-lawyer-thulani-maseko-arrested/THULANI MASEKO speaking at SALO’s first Policy Dialogue on Swaziland - October 2009 Longtime Human Rights Lawyer, pro-democracy activist and Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) lawyer Thulani Maseko was arrested the 17th of March 2014 outside his Mbabane office.https://www.salo.org.za/useful-links/Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:05:56 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/useful-links/http://allafrica.com/sudan/ http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/HRCIndex.aspx http://www.dialoguefacility.org/ http://www.unifem.org/news_events/news_archives.php?WebSectionID=8 http://agi.ac.za/news http://www.eac.int/index.php/about-eac/eacnews.html http://www.igad.org/ http://www.safpi.org/news http://www.ipsnews.net/news/south-south/ http://www.africagoodnews.com/ http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/news http://www.au.int/en/news http://www.osisa.org/ http://www.ibsanews.net/ http://www.sanews.gov.za/index.html <http://www.sadc.int/english/current-affairs/news/ - SADC News> http://www.dfa.gov.za/docs/index.html http://allafrica.com/ http://www.africafocus.org/ http://www.kubatana.net/index.htm http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/index.html http://www.africafiles.org/southern.asp http://www.einnews.com/swaziland/newsfeed-swaziland-government-politics http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/ http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/zimbabwe/ http://www.ngopulse.org/group/gender http://www.irinnews.org/Country/cd/DRChttps://www.salo.org.za/notes-from-bulawayo-may-2010/Fri, 28 May 2010 11:45:30 +0200https://www.salo.org.za/notes-from-bulawayo-may-2010/NAMES TO REMEMBER When I moved from Harare to Bulawayo two decades ago it was through the good offices of Palestine’s then Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ali Halimeh, that I already knew his friend, Rabbi Ben Isaacson. The Rabbi was moving from Harare to Bulawayo at the same time and Father Michael Lapsley should also have been joining us here, but his plans were shattered by the parcel bomb he received in Harare on April 28, 1990.