Full Coverage: Africa

31.05.2004 Despite South Africa's pro-active initiatives in reaping the benefits of ICTs for societal development, its legislation prohibits deployment of technologies such as voice over internet. Such inhibition of easy-to-use and cost-effective ICT applications can have negative impact on the country's development, warn analysts.

31.05.2004 Despite South Africa's pro-active initiatives in reaping the benefits of ICTs for societal development, its legislation prohibits deployment of technologies such as voice over internet. Such inhibition of easy-to-use and cost-effective ICT applications can have negative impact on the country's development, warn analysts.

31.05.2004 A conducive funding model has to be built for enabling small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) grow in rural areas using ICTs, according to a senior offical of the International
Telecommunication Union.

28.05.2004 Government authorities in southern Sudan are imposing more taxes and tariffs on aid workers for humanitarian relief-related tasks.

28.05.2004 United Nations Development Programme has organised a two-day workshop on national e-strategies in Beirut, Lebanon. Delegates from the Arab region are attending this high-level meeting.

28.05.2004 AITEC is calling for presentation proposals on poverty-alleviation through digital inclusion, enabling universal, sustainable, ubiquitous and affordable access of ICT by all. Proposals should include a short biography of the presenter, a synopsis and contact details. There are sponsorship opportunities available.

28.05.2004 AITEC is calling for presentation proposals on poverty-alleviation through digital inclusion, enabling universal, sustainable, ubiquitous and affordable access of ICT by all. Proposals should include a short biography of the presenter, a synopsis and contact details. There are sponsorship opportunities available.

28.05.2004 After 21 years of war, and two years of peace negotiations, the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army have taken a major step towards ending their conflict in Sudan through the signing of three peace accords. Despite this, huge challenges remain says Christian Aid.

28.05.2004 The historic peace agreement signed between the government of Sudan and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), officially ends a war that has killed 2 million people. The agreement offers Sudan its best hope for peace in two decades. If observed in letter and spirit, it would allow people to return home and build new lives, free from fear and violence.

27.05.2004 The ICT Focus Magazine of Ethiopia has invited entries for its Best Website competition. May 30 is the last date of sending entries for this competition to be held during the INFOCOM 2004.

27.05.2004 "We were beaten and mostly were tied in the 'helicopter' position and tortured in groups of 10 to 15. We were tied up day and night, except for three short food and toilet breaks. I was tied up for two weeks. One of us got very ill with bronchitis and there was no medical treatment… Some got paralysed in the arms and legs." - Eritrean detainee in Adi Abeto prison

26.05.2004 As more refugees pour into camps in northern Darfur and across the border in Chad, the UN now estimates that at least two million people have been displaced by fighting and insecurity in Sudan.

26.05.2004 Farm expropriation is one possible approach to land reform for the Namibian government, but vague and contradictory statements are creating negative sentiment. The government has a host of other options, according to a report by Windhoek’s Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)

26.05.2004 SADC leaders met in Windhoek to endorse the Zero Emissions Research Initiative (ZERI). The project aims to create energy and new products from waste and materials that have been previously overlooked, like seaweed.

26.05.2004 Namibia plans to reduce its HIV infection rate of 22% by half before 2009. This is the target of the government’s Third Medium Term Plan (MTP III), which includes broad-based strategies to bring the disease below epidemic threshold.

26.05.2004 Local and international groups are in uproar about a proposed shark fin processing plant in Walvis Bay, citing links between the trade and the Chinese underworld, as well as concerns for depletion of stocks. However, the Walvis Bay Municipality says that so far it has received no valid objections.

From The Namibian

26.05.2004 The First Preparatory Meeting of the Phase 2 of WSIS will be held in Hammamet, Tunisia, from June 24 to 26, the International Telecommunication Union has announced. Representatives of the United Nations agencies, governments, civil society organisations and private institutions are expected to attend this high-level meeting.

26.05.2004 Join hundreds of Africans and their organisations on 3 July at London's City Hall for African Diaspora and Development Day - transforming the local everywhere: Africa here, there, Africa everywhere.

26.05.2004 Hundreds of thousands of people in Darfur do not have access to clean water, UNICEF has warned. Despite having doubled the numbers of people in recent weeks with available safe drinking water in Darfur, an estimated 700,000 conflict-affected people are still without which poses a grave health risk.

25.05.2004 A group of Nairobi slum dwellers banded together and asked the city council to give them the land that they had been squatting on illegally. In return, they promised to build proper houses, schools, and community centers without any government money. It's the latest example of what experts say is becoming a model for slum improvement around the world.