SAVE for unforeseen and dramatic circumstances, the re-election of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame for another seven-year term was just a matter of course.

His position at the helm will determine the levels of prosperity and growth as Rwanda fights to attain the Millennium Development Goals among other visions and missions of the region.

Indeed, Kagame’s runaway victory has been attributed to his steady and deft hand at returning Rwanda to normalcy after the murder and mayhem of 1994, putting Rwanda on a path of sustained economic growth and making it the best place to do business in the region.

To his credit, Kagame has led Rwanda’s rebound to the path of growth and prosperity, essentially a rebirth. Its economy has grown an average of 6.4 per cent since 2001 and the World Bank has named Rwanda the most improved country in the region. The parameters used were roads, schools, running water and telephony, which are evidently on the upswing.

With the referendum only 6 months away, the country is at a crossroads but as JANE MWANGI writes, unity appears to be the principal affirmation

Sudan is on the threshold of a new era. In slightly over half a year, the country will vote for either going the unity way of having the South secede from the north. But Sudanese ambassador to Kenya Majok Guandong says that he stands for peace. “In the upcoming January 9 referendum we are encouraging dialogue among the Sudanese whilst promoting peace and tolerance.”

The ambassador holds that civic education which is now in its infancy is being looked upon to create awareness in order for the people to know why and what they are voting for. “We stand for peace and this can only be done by making unity attractive through emphasising our common history, culture and way of life,” he said.

Senegalese leader Abdoulaye Wade failed to mobilise his supporters to oppose Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s chairmanship of a key African Union (AU) committee tasked with the running of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) activities at the highest level.

President Wade, who had the support of West African allies, including Nigeria and Ghana, had planned to raise objections to Zenawi’s three-year term at the helm of NEPAD when the Committee held its 23rd session during the African Union Summit in Kampala last month.

Sources said there was discomfort over Zenawi’s stay at the helm of the NEPAD Committee of the AU. Opponents also argued that the Ethiopian leader - fresh from an overwhelming electoral victory - was already representing Africa at several forums and should have relinquished some responsibilities to his peers.

Iran, home to the world’s oldest continuous major civilisations, continues to occupy the global centre stage, thanks to a long running standoff with the West over its nuclear programme.

Characterised as a quasi-theocracy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the standoff has put the 18th largest country in the world on the receiving end of military, trade and financial sanctions from the UN Security Council.

The most imperative figure in the former Persia remains Ayatollah Khamenei. He is the Supreme Leader whose word is final in Iranian political affairs. According to the constitution, the Supreme Leader is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and controls the intelligence and security forces. He alone can declare war.

The president is second to the Supreme Leader followed by eight vice-presidents and 22 cabinet ministers. The 290 members of the Iranian parliament are publicly elected every four years. DEA had an extensive interview with Iran ambassador in Kenya Dr Seyed Ali Sharif.

To the typical urban, urbane and upwardly mobile woman, her breasts are the ultimate symbol of feminine beauty and not much else.Nothing could be further from the truth, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which says breast milk holds the power to unlock thousands of child deaths .

“Breastfeeding is today the single most effective preventive intervention for improving the survival and health of children. It is estimated that more than 1 million deaths in children under the age of five could be prevented every year with the improvement of breastfeeding practices,” the 2010 WHO Secretariat Report on Infant and Young Child Nutrition (May 2010) says.

In its World Health Statistics Report for 2009 WHO included poor infant feeding practices among preventable risks. The role of WHO is to work with partners to advocate breastfeeding at all times, including during the World Breast Feeding Week.

Breastfeeding has numerous benefits for both baby and mother. This includes composition of perfect nutrients at the correct temperatures, is easily digested, protects against infection and as food security.

DEA’s BOB WEKESA interviewed African Union Commission Chairman JEAN PING on a wide range of issues during last month’s 15thAfrican Union Summit in Kampala.

Excerpts:

DIPLOMAT EAST AFRICA: The Somali problem has dominated this summit. What, as a result, are the tangible steps that the African Union is taking to solve this conflict?

JEAN PING: Somalia is a major challenge that the AU is addressing. The Africa Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) troops started with 3,000 peacekeepers and stayed that way for some time.

Today we have 6,300 troops from the troop contributing countries - Burundi and Uganda.

Lobbyists galore when African leaders go into summitry

One would have been excused for imagining that the African Union (AU) Summit in Kampala last month was some global forum happening on African soil.

At the various meeting venues at the Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo, on the shores of Lake Victoria, there were as many non-Africans as there were Africans themselves. Donning ‘observer’ badges, the representatives from Japan, EU countries, China, Australia, US and Canada were very much part of the ebb and flow of the 15th AU Summit.

ALLIANCE

Countries such as Brazil, Mexico, India and Pakistan were not to be left behind. Business lobby groups, prospecting companies, think tanks and consulting groups from across the globe were not only present but could be seen aggressively pushing business and strategic deals. So were members of civil society organisations.

The US Ambassador to Tanzania HE ALFONSO E LENHARDT was recently accredited as envoy to the East African Community. He spoke to DEA’s KIISHWEKO ORTON about the American dream on East African integration. Excerpts

IPLOMAT EAST AFRICA: Please comment on your recent accreditation as an envoy to the EAC. How did this come about given that you are the first diplomat to be formally accredited to the EAC?

ALFONSO LENHARD: Last March, Foreign Minister Benard Membe circulated a diplomatic note to all diplomatic missions in Dar-es-Salaam, followed up by a letter from East Africa Community Secretary-General Juma Mwapachu, encouraging resident ambassadors to seek accreditation to the EAC.

I expressed to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton my view that the East African Community had developed into an effective regional body pursuing ambitious plans that have the potential of significantly increasing prosperity and opportunity for millions of East Africans.

I suggested that my government seeks accreditation.  In April, Secretary Clinton nominated me to serve as Ambassador to the EAC, pending agreement by the EAC Secretary-General and simultaneous with my office as American Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania.  In May, Mwapachu kindly granted the request for my accreditation.