• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

BBC Monitoring Quotes From the African Press 11 Jul 05

Posted on: Monday, 11 July 2005, 06:00 CDT

The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and other material published in the 11 July editions of the African press. As indicated some material from 9 and 10 July is also included. Unless otherwise stated, the newspapers are published in English.

G8 summit, London blasts

Kenya's Nation [top selling daily - independent]: "Thursday's [7 July]... attack in London... must be condemned by all... it was callous, senseless and reckless... Kenyans, who have suffered several terrorist attacks, know all too well the revulsion, despair and helplessness that befalls a people and a country in the wake of such outrage... Shame on all terrorists. Shame on all forms of terrorism." (Editorial on 9 July - "London bombing cowardly")

South Africa's Star [independent daily]: "... the announcement by the G8.. that they have agreed to boost development aid to Africa... as part of a package to fight poverty on the continent is to be welcomed... it is an important start in dealing with the root causes and conditions from which terrorism, as witnessed in London last week, draws its vile sustenance..." (Editorial - "Is Gleneagles a watershed?")

South Africa's Sunday Times [independent]: "What happened in London this week is a consequence of a counter-terrorism strategy that has gone awfully wrong... No matter how much we denounce these attacks, Blair must take responsibility for putting his nation in such grave danger...The Muslim world can no longer be dismissed as one populated by bloodthirsty fundamentalists who are opposed to peace. The whole world needs to do some serious soul-searching about our future." (Editorial on 10 July - "London blasts a cruel reminder")

Kenya's Nation [top selling daily - independent]: "The London bombings show that no one is safe anywhere. Not even in the London Underground, a sanctuary for thousands of Londoners during World War II... If there is something that globalization has achieved it is the sense of bringing us together immediately to share in horrors as well as celebrations..." (Commentary by Betty Caplan - "London now has its own Saba Saba")

South Africa's Business Day [independent]: "... the G8 communiqu\ shows that, certainly for Africa and global climate change, the focus of the summit, there was progress.... the terrorist bombings in London did not result in a big shift of focus...The absence of an actual timetable for the ending of agricultural subsidies remains a concern. Nevertheless, it is heartening that G-8 countries said they would 'redouble' their efforts to reach a deal through the Doha round..." (Editorial - "Progress on Africa")

Burkina Faso's L'Observateur Paalga [French-language, daily independent]: "After New York and Madrid, London is the third Western capital to become victim of the shadowy Al-Qa'idah terrorist network... but the [terrorism] threat continues to exist, especially when one knows that the Iraq war has become, in the long run and as a result of the coalition being up against a brick wall, a true catalyst for the multiplication of terrorist groups..." (Editorial - "Anti-terrorist solidarity for Africa")

Sudan's unity government

Kenya's EastAfrican [independent weekly, published on Mondays]: Both... President Umar al-Bashir... and Dr John Garang... face a huge task in ensuring that the government of national unity holds despite the teething problems that occur when erstwhile foes come together... Al-Bashir and Dr Garang must not let their people down, they must broker peace with the holdouts and bring them into the fold." (Editorial - "El-Bashir, Garang, must not falter")

Kenya's Standard [independent]: "After 21 years of war, Sudan embraced a new era on Saturday [9] after Dr John Garang... was sworn in as the first vice-president... even as Sudan enjoys the new- found peace the leaders must ensure that the Naivasha Accord that brought a new dawn to the country is upheld... for the benefit of the Horn of Africa and the people of Sudan. We also hope that the new political leadership will do its best to bring a lasting solution to the Darfur crisis." (Editorial - "Godspeed to Sudan's new political set-up")

Burundi

South Africa's Business Day [independent]: "The success of last week's elections in Burundi has brought the tiny central African country one step closer to peace and to establishing the rule of democracy on its soil... the elections sends a clear message to political parties in Burundi, and its neighbouring states, that peaceful access to political power pays off more than seizing power by brutal means..." (Editorial - "Hope for Burundi")

Uganda

Uganda's Daily Monitor [independent]: "It is less than three weeks before the referendum on political systems but there is very little to suggest we are on course...The government, which insisted on the referendum and rejected cheaper alternatives, has not released enough money to the EC [Electoral Commission]]... It is not possible to have a meaningful election in such circumstances." (Editorial -"Time running out for meaningful referendum")

Cote d'Ivoire

Cote d'Ivoire's Le Patriote [French-language, opposition daily]: "A confidential report on the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire [UNOCI] probe into the mindless violence committed against Guitrozon and Petit Duekoue villagers on 1 June revealed that the savage massacres... 'were not perpetrated by the Dioula or Dozo natives' resettled in the area since independence... [The] Petit Duekoue and Guitrozon victims... need justice and only the international community, that is to say ONUCI, can help them and they have to do this without complaisance" (Editorial - "Shifting responsibility")

DRCongo

DRCongo's Le Potentiel [French-language, govt-controlled daily]: "Human history shows that brutal force has never solved anything. All conflicts or wars, whatever their absurdity or insignificance, have always been resolved by negotiations, by compromise. Common sense suggests that this logic be used in sorting out the [DR]Congolese crisis... Confrontations and use of force will not bring anything to the people, if not desolation, disunity and disillusionment..." (Editorial - "Indispensable compromise")

Algeria

Algeria's La Tribune [French-language, daily independent]: "While Algeria attempts to fight barbaric terrorism, it is also the target of NGOs and governments that continue to deny it the right to defend itself and preserve its sovereignty. While tirelessly fighting terrorism and its links in the country, Algeria... has not stopped attracting the attention of Europeans, Americans and Arabs who say it is a base for terrorists who have already assumed a transnational organic dimension with supranational doctrines and goals" (Commentary by Abdelkrim Ghezali - "If only Algeria was heard...")

Sources: As listed

Source: BBC Monitoring Newsfile

More News in this Category