tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55887073186587668392024-02-08T09:03:23.616-08:00Our Man in AfricaAll the online reports and analysis by John James currently based in Dubai, but formerly in Ivory Coast/Cote d'Ivoire and the Republic of Congo / Congo-Brazzaville. This blog will be a simple list of stories that appear online. For my more traditional blog, try www.drogbascountry.com or follow @ourmaninafrica on Twitter.John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-44942924694017252752014-09-28T00:25:00.000-07:002014-10-16T07:08:34.840-07:00IRIN work 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/99545/uncertainty-delays-afghan-refugee-return" target="_blank">Uncertainty delays Afghan refugee return</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/99546/life-at-the-end-of-the-world-s-largest-refugee-repatriation" target="_blank">Life at the end of the world's largest refugee repatriation</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/99636/worsening-afghan-humanitarian-situation-but-lower-appeal" target="_blank">Worsening Afghan humanitarian situation but lower appeal</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/99667/jumble-of-needs-complicate-aid-to-afghanistan-s-displaced" target="_blank">Jumble of needs complicates aid to Afghanistan</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/99676/new-solutions-for-afghanistan-s-protracted-idps" target="_blank">New solutions for Afghanistan's protracted IDPs</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/99765/analysis-critical-year-ahead-for-afghanistan" target="_blank">Critical year ahead for Afghanistan</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/100059/wash-gains-mask-growing-inequalities" target="_blank">WASH gains mask growing inequalities</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/100075/water-in-gaza-what-the-analysts-are-saying" target="_blank">Water in Gaza</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/100113/afghanistan-film-the-sins-of-the-fathers" target="_blank">Sins of the fathers</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/100585/analysis-challenges-around-aid-access-in-afghanistan" target="_blank">Challenges around aid access in Afghanistan</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/100720/briefing-holding-isis-to-account" target="_blank">Briefing: Holding ISIS to account</a><br />
<br />
And during a three month surge deployment in the Central African Republic with OCHA...<br />
<a href="http://www.unocha.org/top-stories/all-stories/car-when-refugees-become-more-statistics" target="_blank">When refugees become more than statistics</a><br />
<a href="http://www.unocha.org/top-stories/all-stories/car-thousands-refugees-still-streaming-cameroon-gallery" target="_blank">CAR: Thousands of refugees still streaming into Cameroon</a><br />
<a href="http://www.unocha.org/top-stories/all-stories/car-supporting-battered-health-system" target="_blank">CAR: Supporting a battered health system</a></div>
John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-53505834791098660122013-12-17T05:37:00.003-08:002013-12-17T05:37:59.448-08:00IRIN work 2012-13<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a while since I posted - I'm now a sort of regional editor covering the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia (well, Afghanistan/Pakistan) for IRIN. Here are the stories from the last 14 months that I've written...<br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96905/MIDDLE-EAST-Talking-about-climate-change" target="_blank">Talking about climate change</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/96916/In-Brief-SARS-like-virus-in-the-Middle-East" target="_blank">SARS-like virus in the Middle East</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97023/AFGHANISTAN-Working-with-the-Taliban" target="_blank">Working with the Taliban</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97162/AFGHANISTAN-Bleak-humanitarian-outlook-for-2013" target="_blank">Bleak humanitarian outlook for 2013</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97263/In-Brief-More-than-1-3-million-child-labourers-in-Yemen" target="_blank">More than 1.3 million child labourers in Yemen</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97310/Aid-agencies-launch-Yemen-appeal" target="_blank">Aid agencies launch Yemen appeal</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97504/Libya-s-displaced-Tawergha-threaten-unilateral-return" target="_blank">Libya’s displaced Tawergha threaten unilateral return</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97554/Analysis-Towards-security-and-good-governance-in-Libya" target="_blank">Analysis: Towards security and good governance in Libya</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97596/Analysis-Export-oil-import-water-the-Middle-East-s-risky-economics" target="_blank">Export oil, import water – the Middle East’s risky economics</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97685/Disaster-Risk-Reduction-in-the-Arab-world" target="_blank">Disaster Risk Reduction in the Arab world</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97941/Arab-cities-aim-to-build-resilience-to-natural-disasters" target="_blank">Arab cities aim to build resilience to natural disasters</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97961/In-Brief-Raids-free-enslaved-migrants-refugees-in-Yemen" target="_blank">Raids free enslaved migrants/refugees in Yemen</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/98003/Getting-governments-to-cough-up-for-DRR" target="_blank">Getting governments to cough up for DRR</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/98296/deprivation-despair-at-a-migrant-dead-end-in-yemen" target="_blank">Deprivation, despair at a migrant dead-end</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/98389/exaggerated-hopes-for-yemen-s-national-dialogue-conference" target="_blank">Exaggerated hopes for Yemen's National Dialogue Conference?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/98455/analysis-bringing-peace-stability-and-aid-back-to-yemen-s-north" target="_blank">Bringing peace, stability and aid back to Yemen's north </a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/98658/yemen-flash-floods-damage-idp-camps" target="_blank">Yemen flash floods damage IDP camps</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/98702/analysis-debating-the-best-way-to-improve-water-and-sanitation-post-mdgs" target="_blank">Analysis: Debating the best way to improve water and sanitation post-MDGs</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/98747/analysis-when-the-water-runs-dry-the-ideas-flow" target="_blank">When the water runs dry, the ideas flow</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/98770/analysis-sanitizing-the-truth-when-wash-fails" target="_blank">Sanitizing the truth - when WASH fails</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/98890/analysis-idps-return-amid-continuing-insecurity-in-yemen-s-war-torn-abyan" target="_blank">IDPs return amid continuing insecurity in Yemen's war-torn Abyan</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/98921/briefing-schools-start-fresh-after-years-of-disruption-in-southern-yemen" target="_blank">Schools start fresh after years of disruption in southern Yemen</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/99073/catastrophic-humanitarian-situation-in-yemen-s-dammaj" target="_blank">Catastrophic” humanitarian situation in Yemen’s Dammaj</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/99078/somali-refugees-in-yemeni-limbo" target="_blank">Somali refugees in Yemeni limbo</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/99123/small-disasters-neglected-despite-big-impact" target="_blank">Small disasters neglected despite big impact </a><br />
<a href="http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97423/Analysis-Afghan-government-promises-rethink-on-IDPs" target="_blank">Afghan government promises rethink on IDPs</a></div>
John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-48857005272123177222012-09-24T09:23:00.002-07:002012-09-24T09:23:45.952-07:00Cecile Fakhoury gallery opens its doors<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00y0jl9#p00yt28w" target="_blank">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-86001876322225083422012-09-13T03:35:00.001-07:002012-09-13T03:35:02.468-07:00The crocodile feeder of Ivory Coast<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19576296" target="_blank">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-78725135570124579322012-09-12T00:29:00.002-07:002012-09-12T00:29:55.016-07:00Augustin Kassi's large ladies<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19564547" target="_blank">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-60721550383870032512012-08-23T11:11:00.003-07:002012-08-23T11:11:57.307-07:00Ivorian making a living by mouth painting<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19362676" target="_blank">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-89154284096802588542012-08-06T10:29:00.002-07:002012-08-06T10:29:43.038-07:00Ivory Coast violence: Abidjan army attack kills seven<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19146623" target="_blank">Link</a><br />John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-54495837633094296072012-08-03T14:16:00.002-07:002012-08-03T14:16:37.921-07:00In pictures: Portraits of 1960s Ivory Coast<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19080876" target="_blank">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-58461906143192463942012-08-03T14:14:00.000-07:002012-08-03T14:14:06.485-07:00Ivory Coast truth commission 'not working'<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19108232" target="_blank">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-37884337926876148502012-07-26T15:36:00.002-07:002012-07-26T15:36:17.164-07:00UN investigates Ivory Coast camp attack<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18993133" target="_blank">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-26350653591795510142012-06-27T01:22:00.001-07:002012-06-27T01:22:21.340-07:00In pictures: Finding work in Burkina Faso<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18357253" target="_blank">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-31403514772132471822012-05-19T03:00:00.003-07:002012-05-19T03:00:50.518-07:00The Return of Cote d'Ivoire<a href="http://www.currentintelligence.net/analysis/2012/5/18/the-return-of-cote-divoire.html">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-63147491995813529172012-05-14T03:20:00.001-07:002012-05-14T03:20:18.611-07:00Holders Esperance join previous champions in last eightA photo of mine...<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18051661">link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-52713285996571263422012-05-14T01:28:00.003-07:002012-05-14T01:28:33.584-07:00In pictures: Celebrating Ivory Coast's large ladies<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17957766">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-25973781891206602992012-04-18T23:55:00.001-07:002012-04-18T23:55:55.928-07:00Husband and wife team survive Ivory Coast<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17709544">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-82288640310095437542012-04-03T09:47:00.000-07:002012-04-03T09:49:12.070-07:00Microsoft head speaks about IT in west and central Africa<a href="http://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/microsoft-head-speaks-about-it-in-west-and-central-africa/15935/">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-50501617595862453772012-03-27T07:23:00.001-07:002012-03-27T07:34:19.512-07:00From Our Own Correspondent: Guinea Bissau<i>Here's the text of a FOOC I wrote this weekend for the Radio 4 programme (25/04/2012)</i><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><p class="MsoNormal">Within five minutes of arriving in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Guinea-Bissau</st1:country-region></st1:place>, you realise why this sleepy backwater has become a favourite spot for Latin American cocaine smugglers. After a flight over the mangrove swamps, creeks and rice paddies, we arrive at the main airport, where the customs officer doesn’t even glance at our meticulously filled-in arrival cards before stamping our passports and letting us through. We’re met as soon as we get off the plane by a friend of a friend, Carlos, who doesn’t seem to have any trouble moving in and out of the airport’s so-called secure zones.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We jump in his 4x4 and within 15 minutes we’ve seen much of the capital <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bissau</st1:city></st1:place>. Carlos leaves us at the hotel and heads off for a coffee with Colonel Samba Djalo, until recently the nation’s intelligence chief. It was to be the last time they meet.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bissau</st1:city></st1:place> has a completely unexpected charm. What immediately strikes you is the small town feel – almost everyone seems to know everyone else. You can’t take a taxi or bus ride in this city, without the driver shouting out to old friends that he’s spotted along the road or in passing cars. The only time anyone pestered me in the street, it was to tell me that the pockets on my rucksack hadn’t been closed properly.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">People sit out in the small front gardens of their homes and shout greetings and jokes at the passersby as the Portuguese colonialists might once have done. The pastel-coloured houses they left behind, many with broad verandas and balconies, look unchanged in decades. There are numerous fine art deco buildings as well in a well preserved city centre – there’s not been much development here to replace them. At night the city centre’s almost pitch black – electricity here is a rare commodity. But people are still out and by the lights of passing cars and small shops lit by generators you see people walking home, chatting with friends and romantic couples strolling hand-in-hand along the uneven pavements.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In almost every measure this is one of the world’s very poorest countries. The infant mortality rate is nearly one in ten and according to the World Health Organisation the country’s 1.6 million inhabitations have access to only 72 doctors.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It’s an irony of history that the only West African country to fight and win its independence, has finished up in the worst state. I spent a few hours in the countryside walking through areas littered with tens of thousands of bombs and rockets left from the colonial war. Young children don’t know better than to use ancient hand grenades to try and knock down mangoes. The army continues to hold much of the power and frequently intervenes in civilian life - every year recently there seems to be some sort of mutiny, attempted coup d’état or upheaval. In 2009 a remote controlled bomb blew up the head of the army, and a group of soldiers from the interior of the country immediately made for <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bissau</st1:place></st1:city> and attacked the home of the president, blaming him for the assassination. The president was tortured, killed with machetes and then – military sources tell me – his heart was eaten to make sure his spirit wouldn’t seek revenge. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the recent presidential election there were nine candidates. The eventual winner will know that no elected president has ever completed his term in office without dying or being overthrown or assassinated. On the Sunday night I was there after the first round of the presidential election, the aforementioned Colonel Djalo was gunned down by armed men in military uniform, not far from his home. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But what violence there is concentrated among the elites – the people at the very top. You see plenty of people in the city who seem to be doing very well – driving the latest models of the world’s most expensive luxury cars and 4x4s on <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bissau</st1:place></st1:city>’s few tarred roads.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the last few years, progress has been made. The electricity supply is a little better, though everything is relative here. The government’s no longer nine months behind on civil servant salaries. And there are new roads – some so straight you can land drugs planes on them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To reassure us that Colonel Djalo’s assassination would not jeopardise the electoral process, the army summoned us to their headquarters inside a crumbling Portuguese fort still littered with ancient canons – almost the only weapons on display. Several of the buildings lack roofs and no-one stops us going in. Resources are thin on the ground – one soldier I see on patrol in the city has only one boot, so wears a flip flop on the other foot. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Guinea-Bissau</st1:country-region></st1:place> may frequently appear on the lists of failed states. The nation has indeed failed its citizens, but this is not a failed country. It’s one of most beautiful places in <st1:place st="on">West Africa</st1:place> with sacred forests, uninhabited islands and a manageable and friendly capital. You can eat prawns the size of your hand, dance at the carnival or the carnevalesque political rallies – and eat the freshest cashew nuts in one of <st1:place st="on">Africa</st1:place>’s major producers. Election day was peaceful and well-organised – they can do certain things well here. </p></div>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-30479813221432131842012-03-07T04:45:00.000-08:002012-03-07T04:46:52.132-08:00Gabonese football buoyant after co-hosting Nations Cup<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17273355">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-35631949706161493402012-03-06T09:38:00.000-08:002012-03-06T09:39:26.563-08:00Ivory Coast – who’s next after Laurent Gbagbo?<a href="http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice/article/ivory-coast-%E2%80%93-who%E2%80%99s-next-after-laurent-gbagbo">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-65608682680649647822012-03-05T09:18:00.000-08:002012-03-05T09:19:45.517-08:00In pictures: Mobile phones boost Ivory Coast cashew nuts<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17189321">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-36123126671425564142012-02-18T02:46:00.001-08:002012-02-18T02:46:42.396-08:00Ivory Coast's Drogba on 'difficult' Nations Cup failure<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17075535">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-31503299807925617582012-02-14T23:39:00.001-08:002012-02-14T23:39:30.238-08:00Do Ivorian Valentine lovers get chocolates?<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17033309">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-7092311341141976942012-01-05T08:02:00.000-08:002012-01-05T08:04:14.709-08:00Ivory Coast name 25 players for Africa Cup of Nations<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/16425375.stm">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-36345477112998048232011-12-10T22:31:00.000-08:002011-12-10T22:32:13.644-08:00Ivory Coast braces for parliamentary elections<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16128831">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5588707318658766839.post-59171275539078512652011-12-05T08:30:00.000-08:002011-12-05T08:31:23.536-08:00Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo appears at ICC in Hague<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16027845">Link</a>John Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206197386709152134noreply@blogger.com0