[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Mali, South Sudan, Somalia, Mauritania, Djibouti, and Comoros Islands and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the On the Margins Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each month`s roundup to info@jadaliyya.com.]
Comoros
A really scary guy from the Comoros gives me hope that Africa will survive everything thrown at it Christine Mungai discusses the unusual policies of late Comoran President Ali Solih
Originaires des Comores, des enfants de Seine-Saint-Denis raviveront dimanche la flamme du soldat inconnu A group of Comoran youth were invited to rekindle the flame at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Paris.
Comores: le gouvernement réitère son attachement au calendrier électoral The Comoran government said in early September it remains committed to the existing calendar for upcoming elections.
Vietnam, Comoros set up diplomatic ties Vietnam and the Comoros officially establish diplomatic relations.
The power of liquid: a startup story American entrepreneur Jacob Shidler cites his experiences doing graduate fieldwork in the Comoros as an inspiration for an iPhone app to monitor water quality.
Djibouti
لاجئونيمنيونيتعرضونلسوءالمعاملةفيجيبوتي Yemeni refugees in Djibouti have experienced ill treatment since many began fleeing to Djibouti from the ongoing conflict.
رئيسوزراءجيبوتييضعحجرأساسقريةدوحةالخير Djiboutian Prime Minister Abdul Qader Kamel Mohamad laid a foundation stone for a Qatar-funded aid project.
Will China take over US military facility in Djibouti? The government of Djibouti may have ordered the United States military to vacate a base that it intends to grant to China.
The investment hotspot of Djibouti Chloe Curtis discusses the port infrastructure development projects in Djibouti seeking to capitalize on its location along major shipping channels.
Mali
Writing the Afropolis Bruce Whitehouse reviews Ryan Skinner’s book Bamako Sounds, about the contemporary Malian music scene and the idea of Afropolianism.
Malian web activists finance academic support for Timbuktu students Recam, an association of Malian citizen activists is paying for classes to help students affected by the conflict resume their academic progress.
Malian faces war crimes court over Timbuktu destruction Ahmed al-Faqi al-Madi, a Malian citizen, stands accused at the International Criminal Court for war crimes charges related to the destruction of historic buildings in Timbuktu.
The Secret of Mali`s Ebola Response Success, and How It Could Transform Child Health Andy Bryant writes about Mali’s successful anti-Ebola strategy last year and how it plans to replicate it regarding infant mortality.
Jihadists push south in Mali Two extremist groups have conducted attacks against civilians in central and southern Mali, regions previously unaffected by the conflict.
Mali: going through some bloody changes Strategy Page summarizes the recent political developments in Mali, including details about the tribal rivalries that make the conflict more difficult to resolve.
Mauritania
Mauritania: government submits $17 billion-plan to reduce pollution The Mauritanian government has submitted a proposal to the United Nations for a 17 billion dollar climate change reform policy, which critics say is excessive for a smaller nation.
Mauritanian TV hopes to make up for the scarcity of professors The Mauritanian Ministry of Higher Education is attempting to utilize satellite uplinks to broadcast lessons from university professors to a broader audience.
ولدالطايعيعيشالعزلةبالدوحةويأملفيالعودةإلىأطار Former Mauritanian President Maaouya Ould Sid`Ahmed Taya is living in exile in Qatar, this article reports on his situation.
الرئيسيتدخللتسويةأزمةبين "الموريتانية" و"التركية" President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz intervened to resolve a dispute following an incident between Mauritania’s state-owned airline and Turkish Airlines at the Nouakchott airport.
Stop the trafficking of Mauritanian Women to Saudi Arabia Jeroen Beirnaert from Equal Times urges the Mauritanian government to prevent women working in Saudi Arabia from abuse.
Behind the imprisonment of Mauritanian anti-slavery activists Hassan Ould Moctar argues the recent imprisonment of several Mauritanian anti-slavery activists was part of the state’s effort to monopolize narratives opposed to slavery.
المعارضةالموريتانيةتتساءلعن «مصادرتمويل» هيئةخيريةلنجلالرئيس Mauritanian opposition activists are questioning the source of funds for a charity operated by a son of President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
منالمسؤولعنتعثرالحوار؟ Said al-’Amin Ould Bab suggests the Mauritanian government and opposition’s dialogue would benefit from psychological intervention.
Mauritania: Prime Minister calls on parties to join Political Dialogue Mauritanian Prime Minister Yahya Ould Hademine urged opposition parties to participate in a dialogue scheduled for the beginning of October.
المعارضةالموريتانيةترفضالمشاركةفيالحوار Leading Mauritanian opposition activists and political parties declined the government’s invitation for dialogue.
خلافاتبينقادةالمعارضةالموريتانيةبشأنالحوار Al-Bawaba news reports that Mauritanian opposition leaders are divided over the government’s proposed political dialogue.
سواحلنواكشوط.. 4 أسبابتهددالبيئةالبحريةالموريتانية Pollution of the Atlantic Ocean near Mauritania threatens the country’s economically important fishing industry.
Mauritanie : la parole est à la défense… des Noirs Numerous activists are attempting to raise the profile of issues such as slavery that are important to the country’s largely disenfranchised black African population.
La ferme de Ahmeda à Toujounine, Nkc Sketch artist Isabel Fiadeiro portrays scenes of life in Mauritania in watercolors.
Mauritania to boost economic situation through renewable technology advancements The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have released a report lauding the potential of renewable energy in Mauritania.
Mauritania: U.S.$19 Million to Assist Vulnerable Groups in Mauritania The World Bank has awarded a 15 million dollar grant for social safety net projects in Mauritania.
Mauritania: Police, Security Forces Use Excessive Force to Silence Peaceful Demonstrations The Media Foundation for West Africa (MWFA) has submitted an annual report to the United Nations documenting human rights violations by security forces.
Somalia
The politics of insecurity in Somalia Abukar Arman writes that the UNISOM peacekeeping force has lost credibility in Somalia due to widespread foreign interference in it.
Analysis: Somalia`s hopes for 2016 elections hang in the balance The National Consultative Forum (NCF) faces a difficult test in planning the 2016 elections in which a “one person, one vote” process appears logistically unfeasible.
Communique of consultative process congress At a recent Consultative Process Congress held in Mogadishu from 16-18 September 2015, leaders of the federal government and several regions agreed to conduct a forum to plan the 2016 electoral process.
Somaliland FM refutes media reports alleging he was contending for the ruling party`s top post Somaliland Foreign Minister Mohammed Bihi Yunis denied reports that he was planning to run for the leadership of the ruling party.
As Madobe Wins the Presidency, Jubaland Politics Remain Highly Contested in Somalia Ahmed Madobe’s victory in the Jubaland Presidential contest demonstrates the continued challenges in the region’s politics and its relations with the federal government.
The Somali fisheries industry, a potential gold mine According to an Oxfam blog, Somalia’s fishing industry has major potential despite obstacles including relative lack of experienced fishermen.
South Sudan
South Sudan peace deal likely to be signed by President Salva Kiir On 26 August, Africa Times reported that President Salva Kiir is likely to join rebel leader Reik Machar in signing the draft peace agreement.
AUPSC urges full implementation of South Sudanese peace agreement The African Union Peace and Security Council urged all parties in South Sudan to implement the peace agreement signed by the government and rebels in August.
A fractious rebellion: Inside the SPLM-IO by John Young Paanleul Wel reviews John Young’s new study on the rebel SPLM-IO in South Sudan, its origins, structure, and future goals.