Before the recent unrest in Kenya, America's top diplomat to Africa was already busy. Jendayi Frazer, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, has tried to hold together fragile peace agreements in southern Sudan and Africa's Great Lakes region, while keeping an eye on Islamic militants in Somalia and the continued decline of Zimbabwe. An acolyte of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice from their days together at Stanford—where Frazer wrote her dissertation on military-civilian relationships in the Kenyan government—Frazer recently spoke with NEWSWEEK's Jason McLure in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: You've said that recent events in Kenya have amounted to ethnic cleansing. Are you concerned that the country could spiral into a Rwanda-type genocide?
Jendayi Frazer: No. I was there about Jan. 5. The attacks against the Kikuyu population in the Rift Valley were intended not to kill them, based on what the victims themselves were saying. Rather, they were given an hour in which to leave their land or their homes, and if they did not leave then they were attacked. It seemed the point was to move them out of the area, not to kill them. I was saying it was cleansing the area of this particular ethnic group, not to eliminate the ethnic group in terms of a genocide.
So this was the Kalenjins doing this to the Kikuyus?
Yes.
During the campaign last year, Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga said he would perhaps offer less cooperation in the U.S.-led war on terrorism than President Mwai Kibaki has. Immediately after the Kenyan election the United States congratulated Kibaki and recognized the election results. Did the initial reaction have anything to do with the respective candidates' views toward the United States?
[That was] another media thing. In fact, what we said is we congratulate the people of Kenya and we support the work of the chairman.
State Department spokesman Rob McInturff said on Dec. 30, "We obviously congratulate the president on his election."
I don't know about that quote. I know what the statement is that was cleared at the State Department. The statement came out the day before the election was announced, and the intention was to congratulate the people and to support the chairman of the electoral commission, so I can't speak to what that person said.
As one of the most prominent African-Americans in U.S. foreign policy, do you ever feel frustrated that African crises don't get as much attention as those in other parts of the world?
That's not been my experience.
In Kosovo there were 60,000 peacekeepers; about 12,000 civilians died. In Congo 5.4 million people have died 10 years on …
Yes, well 5.4 million people haven't died since this administration has been in office. This administration has been working very, very, very closely on the Congo. President Bush held the first meeting between [Joseph] Kabila, [Rwandan President Paul] Kagame, and [South African President Thabo] Mbeki in 2001, nine months into the administration. There has not been a lack of attention in this administration on African crises. This administration has supported every single peacekeeping mission in Africa.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Superstar U.S. preacher to hold 'Megafest' in S. Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -- It's time for Americans to look beyond their borders, superstar Texas preacher T.D. Jakes said Thursday as he prepared to hold his trademark Megafest in Johannesburg, South Africa -- outside the U.S. for the first time.
The best-selling pastor of Dallas megachurch The Potter's House is throwing his signature event -- part religious festival, part self-help fair, part gospel concert -- at a convention center near Soweto this weekend.
Jakes debuted the event in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2004 and has drawn hundreds of thousands of people over the years.
He cited the global economic meltdown sparked by America's credit crisis and the September 11 terror attacks as examples of why Americans need to pay more attention to the world and their role in it.
"We can no longer live in corners and just care about ourselves," he told The Associated Press. "Americans are becoming increasingly global-minded. If there were anything positive that came out of 9-11, it's the realization that we are our brothers' keepers."
Jakes has preached outside the U.S. before, and South Africans at the press conference Thursday quoted from his books. But he's never taken on anything so ambitious as staging a Megafest abroad.
For the past year, more than 300 people have worked in the U.S. and South Africa to prepare for the event, in which he said his church had invested $7 million (5.1 million euro). Tickets were selling for just 25 rand ($2.71,1.97 euro), and Jakes said he hoped only to break even.
The U.S. has a tradition of superstar preachers. Jakes is among the best known of today's group, along with Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California and Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston.
Their appeal is testament to the power of two ideas: That spirituality can be a kind of self-help therapy, and that churches can be more than places to worship, but catalysts for community and political activism.
When Jakes preaches that Jesus died to make us free, and "we are not truly free until we are economically free," he sounds distinctly American. But the sentiment is not foreign to South Africa, where religious leaders like retired Cape Town Archbishop Desmond Tutu helped lead the fight against apartheid, and megachurches are blooming in Johannesburg suburbs.
Nkanyiso Bhengu, a popular South African actor, TV host and gospel singer, says young preachers across South Africa are copying Jakes' approach and warm style after seeing his DVDs. Bhengu listens to Jakes' CDs when he's on the road with his gospel group.
"He's very spiritual, but he understands the world that we live in," Bhengu said. "It makes Jesus tangible. It makes God tangible."
Megafest participants will also be able to get free AIDS tests and advice on starting businesses. While he's been in the region, Jakes has built homes for AIDS orphans in the Johannesburg area and, working with the Christian aid group World Vision, opened a learning and feeding center for AIDS orphans in neighboring Swaziland.
Southern Africa suffers some of the highest AIDS rates in the world, but great stigma is associated with the sexually transmitted disease in conservative societies here.
The black church in the U.S. is also conservative, but Jakes has been a leader among black clergymen speaking out about the disease. He said having black celebrities like Magic Johnson come forward about their HIV status helped start an important conversation.
"We started losing people and somebody had to say something about it," he said. "We have not mastered the art of communicating on this, but we are learning."
Jakes brought along more than 1,000 supporters from the U.S. to attend the weekend festival, and said he expected other worshippers from Europe, Latin America and elsewhere in Africa
The best-selling pastor of Dallas megachurch The Potter's House is throwing his signature event -- part religious festival, part self-help fair, part gospel concert -- at a convention center near Soweto this weekend.
Jakes debuted the event in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2004 and has drawn hundreds of thousands of people over the years.
He cited the global economic meltdown sparked by America's credit crisis and the September 11 terror attacks as examples of why Americans need to pay more attention to the world and their role in it.
"We can no longer live in corners and just care about ourselves," he told The Associated Press. "Americans are becoming increasingly global-minded. If there were anything positive that came out of 9-11, it's the realization that we are our brothers' keepers."
Jakes has preached outside the U.S. before, and South Africans at the press conference Thursday quoted from his books. But he's never taken on anything so ambitious as staging a Megafest abroad.
For the past year, more than 300 people have worked in the U.S. and South Africa to prepare for the event, in which he said his church had invested $7 million (5.1 million euro). Tickets were selling for just 25 rand ($2.71,1.97 euro), and Jakes said he hoped only to break even.
The U.S. has a tradition of superstar preachers. Jakes is among the best known of today's group, along with Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California and Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston.
Their appeal is testament to the power of two ideas: That spirituality can be a kind of self-help therapy, and that churches can be more than places to worship, but catalysts for community and political activism.
When Jakes preaches that Jesus died to make us free, and "we are not truly free until we are economically free," he sounds distinctly American. But the sentiment is not foreign to South Africa, where religious leaders like retired Cape Town Archbishop Desmond Tutu helped lead the fight against apartheid, and megachurches are blooming in Johannesburg suburbs.
Nkanyiso Bhengu, a popular South African actor, TV host and gospel singer, says young preachers across South Africa are copying Jakes' approach and warm style after seeing his DVDs. Bhengu listens to Jakes' CDs when he's on the road with his gospel group.
"He's very spiritual, but he understands the world that we live in," Bhengu said. "It makes Jesus tangible. It makes God tangible."
Megafest participants will also be able to get free AIDS tests and advice on starting businesses. While he's been in the region, Jakes has built homes for AIDS orphans in the Johannesburg area and, working with the Christian aid group World Vision, opened a learning and feeding center for AIDS orphans in neighboring Swaziland.
Southern Africa suffers some of the highest AIDS rates in the world, but great stigma is associated with the sexually transmitted disease in conservative societies here.
The black church in the U.S. is also conservative, but Jakes has been a leader among black clergymen speaking out about the disease. He said having black celebrities like Magic Johnson come forward about their HIV status helped start an important conversation.
"We started losing people and somebody had to say something about it," he said. "We have not mastered the art of communicating on this, but we are learning."
Jakes brought along more than 1,000 supporters from the U.S. to attend the weekend festival, and said he expected other worshippers from Europe, Latin America and elsewhere in Africa
South Africa: Mystery hemorrhagic fever kills 3
The U.N. health agency says it is investigating a mystery disease that killed three people in the South African city of Johannesburg.
The World Health Organization says the disease appears to be a form of hemorrhagic fever.
It says tests have proved negative for Ebola, Lassa fever, Rift Valley fever, Marburg fever and other main types of hemorrhagic fever.
WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl says the first death on Sept. 13 was a tour guide who had fallen ill in Zambia before being evacuated to South Africa. Two further deaths on Sept. 30 and Oct. 4. involved a paramedic and a nurse who treated the woman.
Hartl said Friday that 121 people are being monitored and WHO hopes to receive further test results by Sunday.
The World Health Organization says the disease appears to be a form of hemorrhagic fever.
It says tests have proved negative for Ebola, Lassa fever, Rift Valley fever, Marburg fever and other main types of hemorrhagic fever.
WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl says the first death on Sept. 13 was a tour guide who had fallen ill in Zambia before being evacuated to South Africa. Two further deaths on Sept. 30 and Oct. 4. involved a paramedic and a nurse who treated the woman.
Hartl said Friday that 121 people are being monitored and WHO hopes to receive further test results by Sunday.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Kinds Of People On This Earth
This world is made up of two kinds of people the good and the bad, but in Africa the bad are more than the good thats while every is difficult over there, the rich are getting richer while they want the poor too die.
Friday, December 14, 2007
How Can We Make Africa A Better Place
Africa as a nation is regarded as the poorest continent in the world but fisically we are naturally blessed by God, we have all the natura resources such as gold, silver, coal, crud oil, forestry, and so many others,but we are still recommended as the poorest, Your opinion is needed on what to do in other too change the standard of living of africans who are not living in the rightful way of live in general.
go down too make your comment on what you think about this great topic.
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