By Simegnish Yekoye
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia
–One of Ethiopia’s largest opposition parties, the United Ethiopian Democratic Front (UEDF), announced yesterday Thursday April 10, 2008 that it would boycott the upcoming local and by-elections that is going to start this Sunday, April 13, 2008 are only two days away. Read More>>>

By Wilson Watson
HARARAE, Zimbabwe- Incidences of violence have resurfaced in most parts of Zimbabwe with cases of beatings and fresh farm invasions mainly the ZANUPF war veterans and militias reported after the elections. Read More>>>

By Kenneth Oduor,
NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya is again on the international spotlight albeit for the wrong reasons. The talks that have been going on between President Mwai Kibaki’s PNU coalition and the Raila Odinga’s ODM party have literally collapsed after Odinga pulled out of the talks citing frustration by the PNU side. Read More>>>

By agencies & SSI staff writer
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- African and Indian leaders on Wednesday have decided to hold Summits every three years to review the progress on areas identified for cooperation and spell out the future courses of action. Read More>>>

By Simegnish Yekoye
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Though African economies are forecasted to grow by an average of 6.2% in 2008, economic growth recovery in Africa has not yet translated into meaningful social development and inclusion of vulnerable groups, said the 2008 edition of the economic report on Africa (ERA) Read More>>>

BY Wilson Watson
HARARE, Zimbabwe- The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai has won the majority seats in parliament, and declared that its leader has also won the presidential elections although no official figures have been released four days after the people voted on Saturday. Read More>>>

By Simegnish Yekoye
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Ethiopian court re-adjourns the verdict over Professor Mesfin W/Mariam who was one of the defendants with Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) leaders arrested in connection with the May 2005 election violence, to his charge of inciting violence among Addis Ababa University (AAU) students. Read More>>>

By Moha Dahir Farah Jire
HARGEISA, Somaliland – Following last week’s statement by the Somaliland ministry for foreign affairs statement expressing its resentment in regards to the report of Ban Ki Moon, UN General Secretary to the security council which described security in Somaliland as being ‘fragile’ and omitting in his report the trip made by his Special envoy Ahmedou Ould Abdallah to Somaliland and talks with officials of the Somaliland government that Ahmedou Ould Abdallah this week in a press conference made mention of the visit . Read More>>>

By Simegnish Yekoye
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – An Ethiopian opposition party, the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement [OFDM] has opposed a loan, of 159.3 million USD by the Ethiopian government from the International Development Agency (IDA) that is meant for use for rural electrification. Read More>>>

BY Wilson Watson
HARARE, Zimbabwe- ZIMBABWE opposition presidential candidates Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai could bury their differences to unite against President Robert Mugabe in a run-off against the veteran leader if Saturday’s ballot is inconclusive. Read More>>>

By Simegnish Yekoye
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) is to kick off a year long commemoration of its 50th year anniversary during the ministerial meeting of finance, planning and economic development organized jointly by African Union (AU) and UNECA. Read More>>>

By Simegnish Yekoye
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - In response to the rising cost of living, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said only 10 percent of the Ethiopian population is affected by it, while the remainder - 90 percent - is benefiting from economic growth, which he says reflects a "healthy economy." Read More>>>

By SSI staff writer
PRETORIA, South Africa- South African Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and her Ethiopian counterpart, Minister Seyoum Mesfin, launched the inaugural session of the South Africa-Ethiopia Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) at the Diplomatic Guesthouse in Pretoria on Tuesday, 18 March 2008. Read More>>>

By Moha Dahir Farah Jire
HARGEISA, Somaliland – The dates for having Somaliland’s upcoming local government elections and presidential elections was announced this week, by the Somaliland electoral commission chairperson Mr. Mahamed Ismaaciil (Kabo-Wayne) and his deputy Mr. Hirsi Ali Haaji Hasan with the understanding and agreement of the three political parties in Somaliland. Read More>>>

By Samson Haileyesus
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- Amidst global concerns on the rise of food prices close to 200 policy makers, researchers, and representatives from the private sector, farmers’ organizations, and other civil society groups gathered convened this week in Addis Ababa to take part in an international conference to discuss technological, institutional, and organizational innovations that are transforming agriculture, reducing poverty and hunger, and improving people’s lives. Read More>>>

By Wilson Watson
HARAE, Zimbabwe- The Southern African Development Community has called an emergency meeting in Zambia on Saturday to deliberate on events that have been unfolding in Zimbabwe since the 29 March elections. Read More>>>

By Simegnish Yekoye
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - 18 people were killed last week over clashes over grazing and farm land near southern Ethiopian town of Wondo-Genet, police said. Read More>>>

By SSI and agencies
TUNIS, Tunisia- The Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), today announced today the results of the Fifth competition of the Akintola Fatoyinbo Africa Education Journalism Award. Read More>>>

Kenneth Oduor,
NAIROBI, Kenya- When Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga signed a power deal that required them to share power equally, including both ministerial and other public service jobs, pundits clearly pointed out that signing the deal was the easier part. And now the honey moon has ended and the need for the two principals to craft a working cabinet for Kenya is becoming elusive every single day. Read More>>>

By Moha Dahir Farah Jire.
HARGEISA, Somaliland – Kulmiye the biggest opposition party in Somaliland next to the ruling party (UDUB) in terms of politics held its second congress for three days at Ambassador Hotel this week. Read More>>>

By Simegnish Yekoye
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - African ministers in charge of Finance, Planning and Economic Development have requested the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and African Union (AU) to undertake a study on the implications for Africa of a possible slowdown in the United States economy and the global mortgage crisis. Read More>>>

By William Nguluwe
LUSAKA, Zambia-The Zambian government has said it will ban mandatory HIV testing by introducing laws that will ensure that employers did not ask the HIV status of their prospective employees, in order to curb employment discrimination. Read More>>>

By Simegnish Yekoye
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Dr. Maxwell M. Mkwezalamba, the African union’s commissioner for economic affairs has stated that despite economic growth rates of at least five percent per annum by most African countries in the last three to four years the growths have failed to generate adequate employment and significantly reduction in poverty levels. Read More>>>

By Wilson Watson
HARARAE, Zimbabwe- Zimbabweans on Saturday go to the polls to select, a President, Members of Parliament, Senators and Councilors in its first harmonized election since it attained independence in 1980. Read More>>>

By William Nguluwe
LUSAKA, Zambia-The task force on corruption in Zambia on Thursday questioned former President Fredrick Chiluba on investigations over a Maize deal that did not materialise but led to the government’s loss of 7.8million USD when he was in power. Read More>>>

By agencies
KHARTOUM, Sudan -Sudanese Foreign Minister discussed with the French Ambassador in Khartoum and France’s envoy for Darfur, Sudan-Chad relations and France efforts to bring peace in Darfur. Read More>>>

By SSI staff writer
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs this week issued a statement criticizing the report made by UN Somalia and environs stating that the report made substantial distortions on the situation in Somaliland suppressing the progress made in Somaliland. Read More>>>

By agencies
CAIRO, Egypt - Egyptian security forces have arrested 70 illegal Eritrean migrants in the extreme south of the country near the border with Sudan, the official MENA news agency reported on Sunday. Read More>>>

By Simegnish Yekoye
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi denied the death of human beings and livestock in Ethiopia’s Borena zone, saying there is only a food shortage due to the failure of seasonal rains. Read More>>>

By Wilson Watson
HARARE, Zimbabwe- Zimbabwe has imported generators to power remote polling stations during next week’s harmonized elections while provisions have been put in place to airlift ballot boxes from areas that were affected by floods. Read More>>>