Africa News in Brief

Dec. 31 (GIN) – Taking a breather from the coverage of wars, political shenanigans, and climate change, journalists from around the continent gave thought to some of the top stories of the year – some familiar to Americans, many not.

NIGERIAN TAPPED AS LEADER BY FORBES MAGAZINE

Dec. 3 (GIN) – For adapting new technologies to address the financial needs of farmers, Nigerian Minister of Agriculture Akinwumi Adesina was tapped as the Forbes Man of the Year 2013.

ON WORLD AIDS DAY ACTIVISTS CHEER SMALL STEPS FORWARD

Nov. 26 (GIN) – South Africa will mark World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 with a full palette of music – from the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra to the New Apostolic Church Cape Choir – at the Artscape Opera House in Western Cape. Hope Maimane of the Waterfront Theatre College will offer a dance recital.

ANTI-CORRUPTION GROUP TAPS ANGOLAN BLOGGER FOR PRIZE

Nov. 12 (GIN) – Bloggers from China and Angola will share the “Integrity Prize” for taking on the corrupt elites in their respective countries despite great personal risk.

A DECADE-LONG PEACE IN MOZAMBIQUE NOW IN PERIL Oct. 22 (GIN) – Mozambique, profiled as the next Norway enjoying a windfall from its recent finds in off-shore gas, may be…

WAR CRIMES COURT TOLD TO BACK OFF SITTING HEADS OF STATE

Oct. 15 (GIN) – The African Union has given notice to the International Criminal Court that it should end trials of sitting heads of state and postpone the active trials of the president and deputy president of Kenya, both tied down by the recent Westgate shopping mall terror attack.

DESMOND TUTU TURNS 82, KEEPS HOPE ALIVE FOR PEACE

Oct. 8 (GIN) – Outspoken peace advocate, former Archbishop Desmond Tutu, marked his 82 birthday Monday amidst well-wishers including former U.N. chief Kofi Annan who delivered the third annual Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture at the University of the Western Cape.

JOBERG ART FAIR CENSORS LOSE BID TO BAN PORTRAIT OF DEADLY MINERS’ STRIKE

Oct. 1 (GIN) – Solidarity among artists rescued the larger than life painting of a tragic miners’ strike in 2012 where some 44 people were killed and 78 wounded in a murderous onslaught by security guards against workers that horrified the nation.

By Abiodun Oluwarotimi

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said that Nigeria deserved to have a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

President Jonathan made this comment while addressing the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Election for who occupies the seat will take place in October, this year