Senegal: The people rise up against land grabbing
The inside story of a 20,000-hectare deal

On October 26, the people of Fanaye, a rural community in northern Senegal rose up against the allocation of 20 000 hectares of land to an Italian company to produce biofuel. Two people died in the unrest. The Defence Collective sent a memorandum to the authorities explaining the fraudulent manner in which the land was expropriated and why it ‘is unacceptable to allow the production of biofuel and exports in an area of chronic malnourishment.’
http://pambazuka.org/fr/category/features/78295

Land grabbing: Farmers of the world say stop

Millions of hectares of arable land have been expropriated and given to multinational companies and investment banks for the purpose of industrial agriculture, mining, production of biofuel, carbon trading, tourism, big dams, etc. Farmers’ groups from around the world gathered recently in Mali to denounce the massive land grabbing taking place.
http://pambazuka.org/fr/category/features/78308

COP 17: Strengthening the movement for climate justice
Nnimmo Bassey

It is highly unlikely that a just solution will emerge from COP 17, but according to Nnimmo Bassey, the UN conference on climate change underway in Durban is nonetheless an opportune time to intensify the campaign against the business as usual attitude that has prevailed so far in climate talks.

Sénégal: The left still torn by political allegiances
Guy Marius Sagna

Since the disappearance of the African Independence Party in the early 1960’s when Senghor was in power, the Senegalese left has been experiencing a painful dismembering. Switching alliances between the liberals and the social democrats, it has never managed to construct a united party that could become a dominant political force in its own right. For Guy Marius Sagna, now is the moment for the left to resurrect itself and promote a new ‘manifesto for a united pan-African movement of workers, peasants, workers in the informal sector and the poor against imperialism’.
http://pambazuka.org/fr/category/features/78296

China, Africa’s best strategic ally
Jean-Paul Pougala (2011-11-28)

China is giving the West the jitters as it strengthens its strategic ties with Africa. Against this backdrop reminiscent of Cold War rivalry, Jean-Paul Pougala looks at the divisions beginning to emerge between countries favouring closer ties with China and those who seek to remain with their old alliances. He applauds the changes in Cameroon and deplores the Ivorian status quo.
http://pambazuka.org/fr/category/features/78297

Cameroun : Felix Moumie: the forgotten death of a Cameroonian hero
Idriss Linge

Twenty years ago Felix Roland Moumie was declared a national hero in Cameroon. But little is known about him and there is much confusion about his nationalist struggle against colonisation. November 2, when President Biya was sworn in for a third term, coincided with the 51st anniversary of Moumie’s assassination by French hit men.
http://pambazuka.org/fr/category/comment/78293

Gabon: Historic moments when the opposition should speak with one voice!
Mengue M'Eyaà

With upcoming elections in Gabon, the death of historic opposition figure Pierre Mamboundou on October 16 couldn’t have come at a worse moment and seems to have scuppered the chances of a united front which could have put an end to the Bongo regime. Mengue M’Eyaa calls on the opposition to come together and liberate Gabon from an illegitimate predator.
http://pambazuka.org/fr/category/comment/78294