Showing posts with label SADC. Show all posts

Monday, September 22, 2014

Of Interest 09/15 - 09/21

09/15 - 09/21 2014 SADC: Do not forget about the UN Climate Summit

12 more Ugandans facing death in China - Simon Masaba, New Vision, September 6, 2014: "The conviction and sentencing of more Ugandans to death by hanging, was confirmed by the Interpol chief, Asan Kasingye, in an interview with New Vision this week. In July this year, the Chinese authorities executed two Ugandans — Omar Ddamulira and Ham Andrew Ngobi over drug trafficking. Kasingye identified the Ugandans recently sentenced to death in China as Joseph Kiberu Mulindwa, Sara Basima, Alex Kayiwa, Benjamin Bisuka, Derrick Kiryowa, Willy Musoke, Ambrose Tsimi, Scovia Nakintu, John Luke Wasonye, Peter Wamoka and Geoffrey Ogwal. There was no information yet about their next of kin in Uganda. Kasingye also said the list recently received from Interpol on Ugandans convicted abroad also includes a number of people serving long prison sentences in China, Japan and Kenya."
How Africa's first education tablet computer was created - Tamasin Ford, BBC News, September 15, 2014: "At the moment the tablets are all made and assembled in China, but Qelasy's vision includes setting up a factory in Ivory Coast. 'It's our dream,' says the entrepreneur. 'I'm passionate about education because I would like our country, our continent to take the place that it should have in the world and without education it's not possible.'"
Fourteen Nobel laureates urge Zuma to give Dalai Lama visa - The Citizen, September 16, 2014: "The Dalai Lama was to attend a summit of Nobel peace prize winners in Cape Town next month, the first-ever meeting of its kind in Africa. But, according to an aide, he cancelled after Pretoria denied him a visa in a bid to avoid angering China, which regards the Buddhist monk as a campaigner for Tibetan independence. 'We are deeply concerned about the damage that will be done to South Africa’s international image by a refusal – or failure – to grant him a visa yet again,' the group said in a letter to President Jacob Zuma. Signatories include Poland’s Lech Walesa, Bangladeshi entrepreneur Muhammad Yunus, Iranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi, Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee and Northern Irish peacemakers David Trimble and John Hume. The Dalai Lama has applied three times in the last five years to visit the country once led by Nelson Mandela."
Better local price challenges Ethiopia’s shoes export - Andualem Sisay Gessesse, The EastAfrican, September 16, 2014: "Chinese shoe manufacturing company Huajian, which has its own shoe city in China, is currently producing 2,000 pairs of shoes every day in Ethiopia. At about $40 per month, the cost of labour in Ethiopia is 10 times less than that in China, which stands at about $400.Huajian recently secured 138 hectares of land in Ethiopia where it plans to establish its own industrial zone at a cost of about $2.2 billion. Foreign shoe factories like Huajian with an international marketing network are expected to boost Ethiopia’s foreign currency from the sector but the question begs: For how long will foreign brands dominate the industry?"
Chinese man arrives in Namibia on bicycle - New Era Newspaper, September 17, 2014: "Yesterday, traffic almost came to a virtual standstill in the northern part of Windhoek when an uncommon heavily loaded bicycle, paddled by a Chinese rider, strolled along the outstretched Mandume Ndemufayo Avenue. Our team spotted the unusual attraction and resolved to have a word with the leg-weary but friendly, courageous cyclist. Li Jianbo, 29 is a man on a serious mission to have his name engraved in full print in the famous Guinness Book of Records. He cycled from his native China to Namibia through a journey that took 14-months through the African jungle, arriving in Katima Mulilo in July this year en route to the Mother City in South Africa."
How Much Can China Offer in Africa’s Ebola Crisis? - Yanzhong Huang, Asia Unbound | Council on Foreign Relations, September 18, 2014: "In short, China cannot become Africa’s savior in the current crisis. There is no evidence that Chinese leaders actually buy into the fantasy created by the state media. They might be convinced that allowing the latter to keep up the pretense helps spread soft power in Africa. But as Joseph Nye of Harvard University noted, soft power depends on credibility. By exaggerating its contributions to the Ebola outbreak, the state media is undermining China’s humanitarian efforts in Africa as well as its image internationally."
For Poor Countries, China Is No Model - Dambisa Moyo, The Wall Street Journal, Sept. 19, 2014: "Other rising powers are eager to emulate China's success and pursue statist policies that can quickly deliver a short-term jolt. Under state capitalism, China has delivered phenomenal growth, brought hundreds of millions out of poverty, bulked up infrastructure and delivered social services. Moreover, as autocratic China has surged, democracy and capitalism have suffered a series of setbacks that make them less tempting options. These range from high levels of income inequality in the U.S. to the rise of governments in Russia, Venezuela and elsewhere that are nominally democratic but sharply limit free speech and the rule of law."
Fronteir Advisories hosted the China Africa Business Forum - SABC Digital News, Sep 19, 2014: "Fronteir Advisories hosted the China Africa Business Forum in Johannesburg on Friday - bringing together leading decision makers from Chinese and African companies. It notes that China's engagement of Africa has been the leading megatrend over the last decade. China is now the single largest trading partner of Africa, the largest financier of infrastructure and the largest lender to African governments."

Translation Tuesday: China’s Follow-Up Strategy for the Prospective African Free Trade Zone

By Laiyin Yuan

Author: Shao Zhiyuan
Translator: Laiyin Yuan
Published on: 08/18/2014
Source: China Industrial Economy News
Original text (in Chinese): http://www.cien.com.cn/html/report/14081882-1.htm

A strong and united Africa has always been a dream for many Africans, and the upcoming African Free Trade Zone would be a milestone for its regional integration. However, how would it influence African countries and their Chinese investors? Would Africa still be a “fairytale land” for Chinese companies under a multilateral economic framework? The Chinese say: of course there would be risks, but we should focus more on potential opportunities.
--- Laiyin Yuan (translator)

On August 16, Stergomena Lawrence Tax, executive secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), said that if everything goes well, the African Free Trade Zone (AFTZ) will be established in 2015, a year earlier than originally planned.

Meanwhile, on August 17 and 18 the 34th SADC Summit was also held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. During the conference, national leaders from 15 member countries discussed SADC’s economic restructuring strategy with the AFTZ-related negotiations in particular.

SADC: Tuesday: U.S. Competitiveness in Africa w/ Members of Congress

I am trying something a little different. I cannot find time to suitably blog, but I have been putting together a biweekly newsletter for D.C.-area Sino-Africa watchers. I have a few things up my sleeve, but until then I am just going to post the newsletters, it is the most consistent output I can manage at the moment :(

On Tuesday there will be a ton of interesting events, so start figuring out which ones you would like to attend as soon as possible!

Dear Colleagues,

Monday was a lot of fun, and Prof. Campbell did not disappoint: there was enough radical Pan-Africanism to last for the month! Thanks to Maame, I was able to get good intel on some interesting events coming up. On Tuesday there are a whole bunch of things going on, and I hope to make it to the congressional discussion about US competitiveness in Africa as well as the remarks by the Honorable Raila A. Odinga, who will talk about Sino-African relations.

Jemila and Andy have been making moves on their respective Google+ Hangouts. Andy will have his on Sunday hopefully, with him, Shuang Bin, perhaps another guest, and myself participating. Jemila will have hers take place in late June, maybe between June 18 and 21.
Today the Chinese Speakers Bureau had a Google+ Hangout and spoke with Eric Olander about Chinese labor in Africa and Sino-African issues in general. I sort of live-tweeted it, and while I did not agree with all of Eric's points, it was a very interesting discussion. Check out the video here.
Since no one responded to the potluck idea, I am thinking of dropping it. I will leave this message up until the Monday newsletter and then go from there: We are still a ways off on the next event (the debate). Rather than risk losing momentum for the group, perhaps we could put together a potluck at someone's house? I am thinking it would have to be close to the metro (If anyone wants to do it at my place, you would have to take a short bus after getting off at Pentagon City, but I would be more than happy to pick you up from there). I would be quite willing to help set up and clean up if we were to do so, and even bring some of my famous (though neither Chinese or Ghanaian) garlic mashed potatoes. Thoughts? I think we could put something together by early or mid July.

Stay dry and safe today!

Area Events

U. S. Export - Import Opportunities for African Consumable Products 2013 Trade Show

By: U. S. Export - Import Opportunities for African Consumable Products 2013 Trade Show
Date and Time: Wednesday - Saturday, June 12 - 15
Location: Baltimore Convention Center
1 W Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Hilton Baltimore Hotel (Awards Dinner)
401 W Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

U.S. Competitiveness in Africa – Leveling the Playing Field
By: The Office of Ranking Member Karen Bass, House Africa Subcommittee
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 18, 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Location: The Member’s Room, Thomas Jefferson Building
Library of Congress

Reaching Across the Pacific: Latin America and Asia in the New Century
By: Woodrow Wilson Center
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 18, 8:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: 5th Floor
Woodrow Wilson Center

A Briefing by The Honorable Raila A. Odinga: African Achievements and Challenges: Learning from the Past but Looking Forward
By: Woodrow Wilson Center
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 18, 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: 5th Floor
Woodrow Wilson Center

Women as Agents of Change: Traditional Practices and Community-Based Social Change in Ethiopia
By: Woodrow Wilson Center
Date and Time: Thursday, June 20, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: 6th Floor
Woodrow Wilson Center

Miss Africa USA Pageant
By: Miss Africa USA Pageant 2013
Date and Time: Saturday, June 29, 07:00 PM
Location: The Fillmore Silver Spring
8656 Colesville Rd Silver Spring, MD 20910

Conferences

Calls for Papers

Call for Papers: State Policy and the Cultural Politics of Heritage-Making in East and Southeast Asia - International Institute for Asian Studies (Thank you Prof. Park)
Call for Papers - Verge: Studies in Global Asias (Thank you Prof. Park)
Call for Papers and Panels - Asian Studies Association of Australia (Thank you Prof. Park)
Call for Proposals: China, UK, Low-Income Countries and Agriculture/Food Security - AgriTT (Thank you Prof. Brautigam)
Call for Submissions - Politique Africaine (Thank you Prof. Park)

Opportunities (courtesy of Nina)

Of Interest

1,072 Chinese gold miners return from Ghana - "'Even if they paid me 50,000 yuan a month, I would not go there again,' said a villager surnamed Yang .. Yang went to Ghana and worked at a Chinese gold mine as an equipment guard. He earned a monthly salary of 4,000 yuan, far exceeding what he would have made planting paddy rice back home."
A Chinese investment view on mining in Africa - Though the article itself does not break new ground, it is interesting because it is written by Jianke Gao, the Chinese chief executive of Wesizwe Platinum and also it talks about the AU-sanctioned "African Mining Vision" of 2009, which I had never heard of.
China in Africa: The New Imperialists? - This piece is not my favorite and I find the title a little too provocative (since the article is basically about Zambia, perhaps it is a little too broad).but it does have a few interesting quotes and does emphasize that there are different Chinese actors in Africa, "and not just part of a faceless imperialist mass."
Chinese gold miners abused and raped Ghanaians, says online report - If the allegations are true, it might change the tenor of Chinese-Ghanaian relations. Quote that stuck with me: “I am not surprised - judging by how the Chinese treat their own mine workers at home,”
Chinese gold miners released in Ghana - The miners are released and the Chinese embassy recommends anyone who is being targeted by the authorities to buy a plane ticket back to China. According to the Global Times, nearly 300 Chinese had returned to Guangxi while many others were preparing their evacuation from China.
Due care for miners - A statesmanlike response about the detained Chinese miners in Ghana from the China Daily.
Fears for African rhino in China rainforest - Seven African rhinos were transported to a Chinese wildlife park, but it may be part of a husbandry project.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei's Regular Press Conference on June 7, 2013 - Hong Lei is quite the diplomat in his response to a question about miners in Ghana.
Hisense factory in Atlantis ‘to create 1,200 jobs’ - So China is bringing (more) manufacturing opportunities to Africa, it would seem. Also, calling anything "Atlantis" is just inviting trouble.
Nigeria: 'Doing Business Is More Profitable in China Than Nigeria' - This interview with Sani Tsoho Allassan, a Nigerian doing business in China, is a fabulous read, though Allassan might be a little to optimistic about life in China. Still, I found the interview to be very valuable.
Shanglin residents making millions in Ghana gold rush - This story one puts the number of Shangliners in Ghana at 50,000 and explains that they are changing the cultural landscape (Karaoke bars, possible brothels, etc.), among other observations.
Survey shows China main source of inspiration for Kenyans - Interesting study carried out in January of this year, as China (34%) just beat out the US (33%) and Japan (9%) came in distant third. Finally, there is this quote: “Increasingly, Kenyans’ perception to the ‘Made in China’ tag is turning positive.” Everyone at the Chinese embassy in Nairobi is probably doing the macarena now.
Wuhan Announce Double Signing: Faty and Stojanovic Arrive - The soccer team Wuhan Zall signed Senegalese defender Jacques Faty. I never heard of him myself, though.
网友独家-中国工人曝一人在加纳遭枪击遇 - (The title may be misleading or I read it wrong, but I did not see anybody get shot, I did not watch the entire video though) Sina video of Chinese being rounded up in Ghana. The video is really interesting, everyone apparently has a gun in the first clip.

Member Contributions

Brautigam, Deborah, "Chinese Land Grabs Revised Downward" China in Africa: The Real Story
Brautigam, Deborah, "Developmental State Meets Post-2015 Development Finance" China in Africa: The Real Story
Hansen, Peter C., "Investing in Nigeria: What It Takes" Nigeria Development & Finance Forum
Liu, Andy Shuai, "Have Something to Say about China? Grab the Open Mic" China Open Mic
Park, Yoon Jung, "Perceptions of Chinese in Southern Africa: Constructions of the "Other" and the Role of Memory" African Studies Review
Shinn, David, "African Mining and China" The official blog of Amb. David H. Shinn
Shinn, David, "African Traders in China and Chinese Traders in Senegal" The official blog of Amb. David H. Shinn
Shinn, David, "Comment on China-Africa Relations" The official blog of Amb. David H. Shinn
Shinn, David, "Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan and Nile Water" The official blog of Amb. David H. Shinn
Shinn, David, "Global Witness China Programme" The official blog of Amb. David H. Shinn
Shinn, David, "More Fiction Than Fact Being Reported on Ethiopia's Renaissance Dam" The official blog of Amb. David H. Shinn

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Monday, June 10, 2013

SADC: Tonight: Prof. Horace Campbell Talks Libya and NATO

Tonight there are two competing events: a China happy hour and an Africa tweetup. Both events will be great!

Dear Colleagues,

The Chinese miners in Ghana stories have justifiably dominated the recent Sino-Africa headlines. Sadly there is no upcoming local event that I can find for us to better learn about the issue, so I hope we might make that a topic of a future event.

Feedback for the new newsletter has been pretty positive, though opinions are split as to whether the old aesthetic was more pleasing or not. If there is any section you think I should add, please let me know..
Jemila and Andy are thinking of putting together some fantastic Google+ Hangouts about different Sino-Africa issues, I will keep you updated as to their progress (there is a chance I might participate in both, but I would be sharing this information regardless)
Here is one call for papers but I could not find a website, so I put it on here: We invite you to submit your essay dealing with globalization issues (broadly defined) to the Journal of International and Global Studies. The deadline for submission of essays is August 15, 2013. The Journal of International and Global Studies provides a peer reviewed multidisciplinary forum for the critical discussion of and reflections on the consequences of globalization throughout the world. The editors welcome essays that deal with globalization from economists, historians, political scientists, anthropologists, sociologists, geographers, linguists, religious, ethnic, or environmental studies specialists, cross-cultural education, media and communication researchers, or other humanities or social science scholars that have an international and global focus. One of our goals is to help undermine the fragmentation of specialization within the international academy by emphasizing broad interdisciplinary approaches to the comprehension of globalization in all of its many different forms and implications for different regions of the world.
Here is another call for papers without a website:The Scientific Committee of the General Labor History of Africa are seeking authors to contribute the underlisted topics for the ILO-supported Volume II of the General History of Africa, 1900-Present. (Work has not yet begun on Volume I.) Selected authors will participate in a conference of authors to take place in Addis Ababa in December this year. Social welfare implementation and consequences on labour (pension, security, safety and health) (max. 30 pages). Mutualistic, associational and cooperative labour (max. 30 pages). Entrepreneurs (max 15 pages). Service/trade (max. 15 pages). A case study of migrant labor within Africa (can be seasonal labor) (max. 15 pages). A case study on outside Africa (highly paid/poor migrants) (max. 15 pages). We request those who are interested in contributing any of the above chapters to please send an abstract of not more than 500 words to Ugo Nwokeji <ugo@berkeley.edu> and Stefano Bellucci <sbe@iisg.nl> by Tuesday, June 11, 2013.
We are still a ways off on the next event (the debate). Rather than risk losing momentum for the group, perhaps we could put together a potluck at someone's house? I am thinking it would have to be close to the metro (If anyone wants to do it at my place, you would have to take a short bus after getting off at Pentagon City, but I would be more than happy to pick you up from there). I would be quite willing to help set up and clean up if we were to do so, and even bring some of my famous (though neither Chinese or Ghanaian) garlic mashed potatoes. Thoughts? I think we could put something together by early or mid July.

I hope to see you at Prof. Campbell's talk tonight! Just so you know: there WILL be radical Pan-Africanist sentiment present. You have been warned!