Ethiopian blogger, Weichegud!ET Politics (http://weichegud.blogspot.com/2006/06/letter-to-paul-wolfowitz.html) writes an open letter to World Bank President, Paul Wolfowitz who is soon to visit Ethiopia. She writes eloquently on the realities of Ethiopia under the dictatorship of Meles Zenawi and what she expects from the US:

“I don’t envy American diplomats in Ethiopia. How do you negotiate with a leader of a country who many diplomats privately admit has a “psychopathic willingness to kill his own people to keep power”? Seriously, how do you negotiate with that? How do you put pressure on a man not to shoot innocent people? How do you beg him to care for his own people?”

But even then, Paul, how does the American ambassador in Ethiopia venture out to exert pressure on imprisoned opposition leaders to give their blessing to a new political party created and manipulated by the ruling party? How does the American Ambassador quote Ecclesiastes and tell Ethiopians who have survived Mengistu Haile Mariam and 15 years of the EPRDF that it takes decades to build a democracy? “

While she admits that challenging the present Ethiopian regime is a huge task, she asks why Ethiopians have to “beg” the US to be on the side of those seeking peaceful democracy? Wonkette comes up with one of the best lines I have heard to date

“To Make Poverty History you have to make tyranny history” which leads to a couple of questions: Will the Americans do the “right” thing? Or is there one rule for Mugabe and another for Zenawi? If so what is the difference, or is that just to black and white?

Thinkers Room - Thinkers Room (http://www.thinkersroom.com/blog/2006/06/heads-up/) raises the possibility that Kenya will join other African countries (Egypt, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Gambia and Zimbabwe in harassing bloggers)

“The Internet bloggers bit without a doubt did not come from him. I have for a long time been of the opinion that Michuki and his ilk are of the opinion that the Internet is a new fangled fishing device. But one never knows……….Bottom line — bloggers are now on the government radar.”

So African governments are increasingly becoming aware of the blogosphere and bloggers. There are two ways of looking at this – half empty (we face detention and arrest, loose our jobs, get harassed by the police). I prefer the half full approach. African bloggers are not constrained like the mainstream media and are openly and daily challenging the dictators, bullies and their thugs, exposing their lies and corruption. Thinkers final words! ……..“I won’t be cowed online but I jolly well will keep a very low profile physically!!! And judging from the huge number of comments nor will other Kenyan bloggers. Keep on blogging – big brother is watching and reading.

Chippla’s Weblog - Chippla's Weblog (http://chippla.blogspot.com/2006/06/republic-and-underclass-caste-system...) tackles on of the taboo subjects in Nigeria, the caste system that continues to operate in Nigeria today.

“the caste system is not only alive but also kicking in present-day Nigeria. From the north to the south of the country, across the diverse ethnic affiliations, one finds dozens of traditions that define who an outcast is and why. The Fulanis in the north have a cast system as do the Igbos in the southeast. The Igbo caste system is probably the most widely known in Nigeria due to the fact that it has been well documented in literature. However, one can almost be certain that every Nigerian ethnic group practices it to a certain extent. The outcasts in Igbo land are known as osus. Going by tradition an osu (who is in principle a slave by birth) cannot marry a freeborn. Thus, an osu is only expected to marry an osu. Not even Christianity, which is quite a force among the Igbos, appears to have attenuated this caste tradition.”

The caste system is closely related to slavery – another taboo subject for which many are in denial. Slavery exists today in the North East of Nigeria, in Kanuri land. The use of child labour as unpaid domestics servants and labourers is also a form of slavery that is condoned across ethnic people and class. It is high time that progressive thinking Nigerians begin to tackle these abusive systems that exist openly in our society by bringing the discussion into the public arena.

Gambian blogger, Ousman Cessay of Home of the Mandinmories - Home of the mandinmories (http://gambian.blogspot.com/2006/06/bizarre.html) comments on a white man whose ancestor was supposedly the first to sell slaves in the Caribbean, and who went to Gambia, dressed himself in chains in Banjul Stadium and made a public apology for slavery. The President of Gambia then very kindly forgave him and removed his chains!

Cessay comments: “I wonder why this man finds it necessary to apologise to Gambians for the inhuman actions of his forbears. He could have done that in his neck of the woods. There are millions of descendants of African slaves in the United Kingdom. They are the people who bear the brunt of slavery. But I guess he knew that they will not tolerate his clownish behavior. So what better place to put up a clownish masquerade than the Gambia. Read the rest of the story below.”

I have to agree with him. This is a mockery. The man seems to have chosen public flagellation instead of privately having a visit with a dominatrix in his own home – maybe that is part of his kick – public humiliation except he wasn’t humiliated just played the part of a sad pathetic fool. If he feels so badly about his slave trade ancestors then choose to do something useful amongst the African descendents within his own community in Britain instead of a publicity stunt that helps no one but himself.

The Moor Next Door - The Moor Next Door (http://wahdah.blogspot.com/2006/06/china-america-and-arabs.html) comments on China’s public relations successes in the “battle for the hearts and minds” of the Arab world. Whilst America is failing in it’s project. For one thing the failure of Americans involved in the Middle East either as diplomats or journalists to speak Arabic. The other point is

“the Beijing Consensus" is more favourable in the eyes of many Arabs than is the "Washington Consensus. This is the handicap of US policy all over the Third World: US policy is perceived as being alien or oppressive while Soviet (in past years) or Chinese policy is seen as being favourable because China too is a Third World nation that has fought imperialism and has stood with the Third World peoples in the face of Western pressure. The US must continue to promote democratization in Arab countries, even when it is not popular in the US's domestic politics or with the dictators.” He concludes that the US can compete with China in the Arab world, they just have to make an effort and for example start by staffing their embassies and offices with people who speak Arabic.

Just Thots of a Naijaman - Just thots of a naijaman (http://davidylan.blogspot.com/2006/06/idiots-rascalsrats-and-bigger-rats...) has a rant at Nigeria’s leaders who he describes as “Idiots, rascals,rats and bigger rats in Power”.

In particular he takes a swipe at , Obasanjo’s latest ministerial nominee, Fani Kayode who last week “suddenly remembered he was a humble born again Christian when he faced the ministerial confirmation committee in the senate. After years of abusing his elders, "loud mouth" Fani was sweating as he desperately tried to convince the senate committee that he would not abuse anyone again!”

Senator Ahamdu Ali “takes the price as the most abusive Nigerian in power. Thanks to him, we now know that rats have been gnawing for years at our foreign reserve, idiots have taken control of our legislative houses and we have entrusted the future of our nation to rascals.”

And finally, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters. Florence Ita-Giwa aka mama Bakassi (“who we only just realised was an illegal alien”) “has still not told us if she would apply for residency permit or risk being deported to Cameroun. No one knows where the Bakassi residents would be relocated to, it is only in Nigeria that owners of a land belong to one country and their land to another country.”