EthioPundit (http://ethiopundit.blogspot.com/2006/06/catch-up.html) comments on “ethnic, religious and tribal politics” in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Tigray. For Ethiopundit the issue is “dead” and questions whether the “TPLF represents the interests of Tigrayans or that the OLF represents the interests of Oromos”.

“Without cooperation as well as competition by the Oromo or Tigray or Amhara et al, Ethiopia would not exist today and of course would simply cease to exist in the future. Without them and others it will all fall apart into so many unviable mini-states whose destiny would be failure and suffering for tens of millions…To imagine that further bantustanization would benefit anyone or that any tribal liberation front actually speaks for the people that it is named after is simply absurd.”

Zimbabwean group blog, Enough is Enough (http://enoughzimbabwe.org/coltarts-procrastinated-decision-evidence-of-a...) comments on David Coltarts decision on his political future. Enough is Enough believes the decision is one that is common in Zimbabwe, placing person before duty and what he calls “cheap politics”.

“Zimbabwe's politicians have a complex [task] regardless of what part or party faction they belong; they take themselves way too seriously. Mr. Coltart's actions over the last few months illustrate my point well…Our politicians make decisions that have national and global ramifications without so much as batting an eyelid, yet [when] it comes to their personal involvement in politics, they take a much more cautious approach. They are in politics for their stomachs and enlarged egos, they haven't given their lives over to their convictions.”

Chippla's Weblog (http://chippla.blogspot.com/2006/06/bakassia-future-uncertain.html) continues his second part of an in depth report on the Bakassa Peninsula, a small piece of land claimed by both Nigeria and Cameroon. In 2002 the International Court of Justice ordered Nigeria to hand back Bakassa to Cameroon and recently President Obasanjo agreed to abide by the decision of the court.

“While one is left uncertain about what Nigerians think about their government's decision to hand over Bakassi (I am unaware of any opinion polls), the feelings of most Bakassi residents are well known. Mainstream media reports indicate that they see themselves as Nigerians (what else would you expect - Bakassi has been ruled as part of the Nigerian Republic for decades) and would want to see the Nigerian government reject the ICJ ruling.”

Chippla goes on to comment on the arbitrary borders of African countries drawn by the colonial government and asks:

“Is Bakassi a part of Cameroon? Given the arbitrary borders of most African nation-states, such a question might seem difficult to answer. But this old map seems to clearly indicate that Bakassi was governed as a part of German Kamerun. Well, so were Mubi and Uba, according to the map. But today, Mubi and Uba constitute part of Adamawa State in northeastern Nigeria. By the way, Cameroon also has a province called Adamawa (spelt Adamaoua) which borders Adamawa and Taraba States in Nigeria.”

Black Looks (http://www.blacklooks.org/2006/06/the_asylum_game.html) remembers World Refugee Day by publishing the outcome of “The Asylum Game” which replicates the “dangers, the perils the reality faced by migrants trying to reach Europe (in this case Norway) from Liberia and Iran”. The game is in Norwegian and a friend details her experience of “trying” to seek asylum in Norway from Liberia.

“I seek asylum and am rejected. I cheat and try the wheel of fortune again, and after about five tries I am finally granted asylum. I realize that I am no longer 26 years old, I am now over 30 and have to start my life over. I also realize that I am one of the lucky ones that actually made it. I cheated more than 15 times.”

Sotho (http://sotho.blogsome.com/2006/06/20/why-is-africa-poor/) writes on why he thinks Africa is poor. He first introduces some current thoughts on the answer:

“Africa is economically poor. Some Afri-philes and some Africans sometimes blame colonialism as part of the reason why the continent is economically poor. Afri-phobes insist that after half a century of freedom from colonialism, that particular excuse is no longer valid, and that we need to look elsewhere. Some people suggest that Africa is poor because Africans are inferior to other races.”

He concludes however that Africa is waking up and ends with a suggested list of “musts” for Africa to succeed in turning things around.

“As far as I'm concerned, the continent had to go through a period of realising its own worth, in order to be able to produce goods and do business in its own image and right, as only it knows how.”

Rantings of a Sandmonkey (http://www.sandmonkey.org/2006/06/20/anti-ghana-ism-redux) comments on the ongoing “anti-Ghana-ism” taking place in Egypt following their win and flying of the Israeli flag by a Ghanaian team member.

He runs through some of the Egyptian press headlines:

"Egyptians supported the Ghanaian team all the way until the 82nd minute, and regretted it after the Israeli flag (waving)," screamed a bold red headline in the independent daily Al-Masry al-Yom Monday. "As soon as the referee blew his whistle to start the match, Egyptians were out enthusiastically, almost hysterically supporting Ghana, until defender John Paintsil took out the Israeli flag," read the paper's front page article.

The live commentator on the Arab satellite channel broadcasting all World Cup matches in the region abruptly cut short his trademark "goooaaaaaaal" when Paintsil brought out the flag. "What are you doing, man?" the bewildered commentator said.

Apparently the real reason is many Ghanaians go through Israeli football training camps! And "the training program for these children starts every morning with a salute to the Israeli flag," Mestekawi claimed. So the questions are: Ghanaians please explain this Israeli flag flying business and why are your children saluting the Israeli flag every morning?

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks,

* Please send comments to [email protected]