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The ASEA Daily News & Resources

Africa Southeast Area Monday 14 September 2015

The ASEA Daily News and Resources is now available online at

South Africa Mormon Newsroom (Click on “ASEA Daily News” link on page-

find the date of news you would like to read)

The Church has: . 37 Official General Authority Facebook Pages & 27 Official Church Organizations Pages

Africa Southeast Area Websites

Countries Mormon Newsroom Sites

Link from these sites to Facebook!

Mormon Newsroom Facebook sites.

Church HQ Mormon Newsroom Mormon Newsroom Facebook page

Angola Angola Mormon Newsroom Angola Mormon Newsroom Facebook

Botswana none Botswana Mormon Newsroom Facebook

Cameroon none (Awaiting Approval)

Congo DR DR Congo Mormon Newsroom DR Congo Mormon Newsroom Facebook

Congo Rep none (Approved-This should be active shortly!)

Indian Ocean Indian Ocean Newsroom Indian Ocean Mormon Newsroom Facebook

Kenya Kenya Mormon Newsroom Kenya Mormon Newsroom Facebook

Madagascar Indian Ocean Newsroom Madagascar Mormon Newsroom Facebook

Malawi None Malawi Mormon Newsroom Facebook

Mozambique None Mozambique Mormon Newsroom Facebook

Namibia None Namibia Mormon Newsroom Facebook

South Africa South Africa Mormon Newsroom South Africa Mormon Newsroom Facebook page

Uganda Uganda Mormon Newsroom Uganda Mormon Newsroom Facebook page

Zambia none Zambia Mormon Newsroom Facebook Page

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Mormon Newsroom Zimbabwe Mormon Newsroom Facebook page

Totals for ASEA 7 Country-Mormon Newsrooms! 13+2 Country Newsroom Facebook pages!

ASEA YouTube ASEA (Africa Southeast Area) Public Affairs YouTube Channel

AFRICASE Africa Southeast Page Africa Southeast Area Facebook page

Helping Hands Mormon Helping Hands - Africa Southeast Facebook page

Public Affairs All Public Affairs individuals are able to access the Public Affairs Network (Secure Site) at this link: Public Affairs Network

Online Resources Use of Online Resources in Church Callings When carefully used, the Internet can help coordinate the work of the

Church, strengthen faith, and minister to the needs of others. The Internet can also help with missionary work as people connect with friends and family and share Church content. However, electronic communication should not replace face-to-face contact.

Law and Religion Symposium BYU Law International Center for Law and Religion Studies

Emergency Preparedness: Emergency Preparedness and Response

Africa Southeast Area (ASEA)

Calendar

September 2015 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Johannesburg SA Temple

18 October 2015 Tanzania Presidential and Parliamentary elections

20 October 2015 Kenya Mashuja Day (Heroes Day)

25 October 2015 DR Congo Provincial elections

25 October 2015 Tanzania Parliamentary and Presidential elections

26 November 2015 African Girls Summit to end child marriage. Lusaka, Zambia

Tuesday 16 December 2015 South Africa, Day of Reconciliation

25 October 2015 Tanzanian General Elections

27 November 2015 DR Congo Presidential Election

21 February 2016 Niger Parliamentary and Presidential elections.

Keyword News Topics below in Tan

Country Specific News Topics in Light Blue

Church Articles of Interest to Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

LDS addiction recovery video: Lindsay’s story about heroin addiction In the 11th video of "12 Steps to Change," a 12-video series produced by the Mormon Channel and LDS Family Services, a woman named Lindsay shares her struggle with a heroin addiction and the role personal revelation played in her recovery. Lindsay is one of 12 people featured in the series. They discuss their addictions and the hope they found through the LDS Addiction Recovery Program. In this video, Lindsay says she had surrendered to her heroin addiction, leaving her children with her mother and doing everything she could to feed her addiction. While working through the recovery program, Lindsay applied the 11th step, personal revelation, by praying to Heavenly Father. ‘Jesus the Christ’ exhibit opens at LDS Church History Library SALT LAKE CITY — The LDS Church History Library launched a new temporary exhibit titled “Jesus the Christ” on Tuesday in the lobby of the library. Its creation celebrates the 100th anniversary of the first publication of the book “Jesus the Christ” by Elder James E. Talmage of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Items in the new exhibit include his lecture outlines and pages from the original, handwritten manuscript, as well as a first edition of “Jesus the Christ,” a 1963 edition, and a few foreign language editions. The book was compiled from information and insights presented by Elder Talmage during a course he taught from 1904 to 1906 on the Savior. In 1905, the First Presidency asked him to convert the lectures into a book.

Interesting Stuff about Africa & ASEA area Found in the news stream.

The Eerie Shipwrecks of Namibia's Skeleton Coast (many pics.-rb) The Skeleton Coast of Namibia is littered not only with the carcasses of long-dead animals, but also of hundreds of ships that met their demise on the sandy shores. The cold water of the Atlantic's Benguela current collides with dry, warm, air of the Namib Desert and the resulting cold, dense fog extends out to the sea. The wind and currents combine to produce a force pushing inexorably towards shore. These conditions led seafarers to christen this seemingly inhospitable 976-mile (1579-kilometer) stretch of coastline the Skeleton Coast. It's the graveyard of out-of-luck sailors and sea captains whose ships lie in shallow waters off some of the world's harshest terrain. It's desolate, but beautiful. Many of the wrecks are completely destroyed by the sun and salty sea air, but a few are visible and can be seen up close.

Cave divers uncover new humanlike species in South Africa (2 videos, 4 min and 3:18) Paleontologists have discovered an ancient human relative in South Africa thanks to a tricky cave diving excavation that recovered close to 1,550 fossils buried 100 feet underground. The fossils were found by recreational spelunkers two years ago who were climbing 30 miles northwest of Johannesburg. “In the first half of the 20th century, this region of South Africa produced so many fossils of our early ancestors that it later became known as the Cradle of Humankind,” Jamie Shreeve wrote for National Geographic who broke the story todaywith our PBS sister program NOVA.

South Africa is Not for the Faint-Hearted (This surf and surfing pictorial is for Bryan J.:-rb) Surfing and photographing in South Africa really is for the strong of heart. I found that out from my first days

as a nipper (competitive junior lifesaver) swimming in the cold, rugged surf in my little speedo. Clinging onto the backline swim-buoy and tears streaming down my already salty eyes, I wanted out. The surf was giant, onshore, and slamming up against the rocks to the right of the bay. Everyone else had rounded the last buoy and was making their way ashore, but I was frozen by fear and calling out to the rubber duck support crew to save me and take me home to my mom and dad. Unknowingly, I had reached one of those critical points in life where something

either makes or breaks you—this was one of those moments.

Medical News Found in the news stream.

Can dams increase the risk of malaria? Living close to a dam could increase the risk of contracting malaria, a new study conducted in sub sahara Africa has found. The research looked at infection rates among people living close to 1,268 dam reservoirs, and found that about 15 million people reside in "risk areas" -- fewer than 5 kilometers away from a dam. By comparing the difference in the number of cases for communities further away, the researchers from the CGIAR program on Water, Land and Ecosystems and the International Water Management Institute stipulate that at least 1.1 million cases of malaria annually can be directly linked to the presence of dams. Doctors Without Borders tries to ward off measles outbreak in Congo The measles epidemic in Congo's Katanga province must be halted in fewer than 60 days to prevent a major health crisis, according to Doctors Without Borders. The outbreak has claimed over 320 lives and impacted an estimated 30,000 people. Cholera outbreak in Tanzania Five cholera treatment centres have been established in Tanzania following recent outbreaks of the disease in the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported. Reports say so far, there have been more than 970 cases of the diarrhoeal disease, including 13 deaths. WHO says cholera is recurrent in many African countries due to factors such as poor hygiene and sanitation, but also a lack of planning ahead of potential outbreaks.

Social Media Found in the news stream.

Africa - Fixed Broadband Market - Statistics and Analyses (A very interesting report-rb) NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- There remains considerable activity and investment in Africa's national and international broadband infrastructure. Many countries have a range of government programs in place aimed at increasing bandwidth availability, and at extending networks deeper into non-urban areas. Submarine cables now provide 20-times more international bandwidth than was the case in 2010: international bandwidth broached 2Tb/s by the end of 2013. In North Africa alone, bandwidth increased 36% in the year, while in Sub-Saharan Africa it grew 39%. Submarine cables have been designed with vast capacity, and by mid-2015 barely 8% of capacity was being utilised. The total length of terrestrial infrastructure has also more than doubled during the last five years. Although these efforts have improved connectivity in many areas, and with it the social and economic benefits needed for sustained growth, much more investment is needed for local economies to capitalise on this growth into the future. 4 Methods for Analyzing ‘Social Data’ Four advanced methods for analyzing social data to target specific audiences are: 1. Interest targeting: Reach specific audiences by looking at their self-reported interests, activities, skills, pages/users they have engaged with, etc., by searching for particular keywords. Interests can be as general as an industry (e.g. automotive industry) or as specific as a product (e.g. convertibles). Offered by: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn (under “Skill”), Pinterest. 2. Behavioral/Connection targeting: With behavioral targeting, companies can reach people based on purchase behaviors or intents and/or device usage. With connection targeting, companies can reach people who have a specific kind of connection to a company’s page, app, group, or event. Both types of targeting take past behavior into account to help determine intent. Offered by: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. 3. Custom targeting: Reach audiences by uploading a list of email addresses, phone numbers, users IDs, or usernames. Facebook calls its custom targeting Custom Audiences, while Twitter calls its own Tailored Audiences. Both are largely based on the same concept: if an app has a known group of Users it would like to target, it can simply upload those Users and target them directly (provided that the social network can match the data you’re uploading with real profiles). Offered by: Facebook, Twitter. 4. Lookalike targeting: Reach new people who are similar to an audience you care about. Lookalike targeting helps businesses extend their custom audiences to reach new, similar users. For those businesses looking to acquire new customers through social media advertising, lookalike targeting can be a fantastic acquisition tool. Offered by: Facebook, LinkedIn.

Religious Freedom Found in the news stream.

Misc. Found in the news stream.

Animal Conservation and related articles Mountain gorillas thriving – but a new threat is looming Although numbers are up, plans for oil exploitation could seriously affect them ountain gorillas could be in for a boost this month: a census is set to reveal how many are left in the Virunga massif – an area that spans Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Only 380 mountain gorillas appeared to be left in the Virunga Massif according to a survey from 2003, but conservation efforts are taking effect – their population was estimated at 480 after a census in 2010. A second population of around 400 mountain gorillas live in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable national park. Safeguarding the gorillas’ survival is essential, says Dr Georges Muamba Tshibasu, executive secretary at the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration, which is coordinating the survey. “They participate in the cycle of life in the ecosystem but they are also valued for

tourism,” he says. His optimism, however, is cautious. Exploitation of the land for agriculture and the timber trade has devastated the habitat, while new roads built for timber trucks have made it easier for poachers to reach the gorillas. ….But another threat is looming. Virunga national park in the DRC is a target for oil exploitation. The park is a Unesco world heritage site, but, if the Congolese government goes ahead with oil plans, the park could lose its status. “There will be an impact on gorillas because more than 70% of the park will be affected,” says Muamba Tshibasu.

Multiple African Countries Millions going hungry because of Boko Haram ABUJA/DAKAR, 11 September 2015 (IRIN) - Families driven out of villages, farmers unable to tend crops, food stocks of entire communities raided: Boko Haram’s impact on the people of Western and Central Africa lingers long after the rape and slaughter. More than 5.5 million people living in conflict areas in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad, nearly half of whom have been displaced due to ongoing attacks by the Islamist militant group, don’t have enough to eat or else lack access to nutritious foods, according to the UN’s emergency aid coordination body OCHA.

IMF chief urges Africa to spend responsibly (AFP) - IMF chief Christine Lagarde urged African governments to spend responsibly as she visited Liberia on Friday, a week after it was declared free from an Ebola epidemic which has shattered its economy. Lagarde, wrapping up two days of meetings with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, business leaders and community activists, set out measures she said were necessary "for African governments to be financially disciplined". "I would say that for the economy to prosper, and to be seen as prospering, having sound and reliable data is certainly a condition," she told journalists in the capital Monrovia. "Second, not to be overburdened and, three, make sure that public spending, public finance, is deployed in the most growth friendly fashion," Lagarde told journalists. African scientists get Sh7b boost for research NAIROBI: African researchers will now access a new outfit that drives the continent’s research agenda. The Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (Aesa) launched recently is expected to hasten long term development projects by encouraging research to provide solutions within the continent. Led by biomedical scientist Tom Kariuki, the think-tank will manage Sh7 billion for research to build an African scientific capacity and leadership. “Africa is home to the most dynamic innovators and institutions poised to advance the continent's research agenda,” said Dr Kariuki who is the Aesa director. Dr Kariuki further acknowledged that the Aesa takeoff is a prime field to fund and train researchers and encourage them to propel Africa’s development. Mauritius first female President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim who attended the launch at Serena Hotel in Nairobi said it as the opportune time for governments in Africa to take action and prioritise funding for local scientific research and innovation. “As a scientist, entrepreneur and a president, I have seen the impact that investments in science can have on individual researchers and on a country’s development,” said Prof Gurib-Fakim.

Angola

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 64% / 26% Population: 24,316,360

Penetration of population w/ internet 19.4% Labor Force: 9,298,000

GDP per capita USD$ 8,100 Life Expectancy: 52

Unemployment / year est. 26% / 2014 Church Members: 1,436

Population below poverty line: 40.5% Congregations: 8

Authorities must free human rights activist in Angola Angolan authorities must drop the charge of “rebellion” against human rights activist José Marcos Mavungo and immediately and unconditionally free him, Amnesty International said today ahead of the court’s final decision on his case on September 14, 2015. “The trial against José Marcos Mavungo had nothing to do with justice. Instead it was designed to silence him and intimidate other human rights defenders in Angola,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for Southern Africa. “This trial is indicative of the shrinking human rights space in the country and Angolan authorities must release him and stop intimidating dissenting voices.” José Marcos Mavungo, who spent six months in pre-trial detention, was charged with “rebellion” after he was arrested on March 14, 2015 for helping to organize a peaceful demonstration against bad governance in Cabinda Province. Govt clears oil cargoes with help from open arbs But with Chinese buyers holding back amid refinery run cuts, planned maintenance and a shaky economic growth outlook, Angola also had to take action.

Botswana

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 164% / 26% Population: 2,115,710

Penetration of population w/ internet 13.2% Labor Force: 1,017,000

GDP per capita USD$ 16,000/2014 Life Expectancy: 47

Unemployment / year est. 17.8% / 2009 Church Members: 3,104

Population below poverty line: 30.3% Congregations: 12

With El Nino Botswana faces worst drought in 34 years, weather bureau says SOUTHEASTERN Botswana faces an “extremely dry” summer this year, in what the Department of Meteorological Services says will be the worst drought in 34 years. “There is a strong El Nino present and there is a greater than 90% chance that El Nino will continue through the Southern Hemisphere summer in 2015-16,” the department said in an e-mailed statement Friday. The U.S. Climate Prediction Center said last month this season’s El Nino could become one of the strongest ever recorded. Botswana President Ian Khama in June declared a drought year and forecast national cereal production would be 7,382 metric tons against a national annual requirement of 300,000 tons. Lawmakers in July approved a 445 million pula ($43 million) supplementary budget for various relief measures. Meanwhile, Botswana has adequate resources to fund its first budget deficit in four years by selling bonds and drawing down reserves, a senior Finance Ministry official said. A Hunting Ban Saps a Village’s Livelihood SANKUYO, Botswana — Lions have been coming out of the surrounding bush, prowling around homes and a small health clinic, to snatch goats and donkeys from the heart of this village on the edge of one of Africa’s great inland deltas. Elephants, too, are becoming frequent, unwelcome visitors, gobbling up the beans, maize and watermelons that took farmers months to grow. Since Botswana banned trophy hunting two years ago, remote communities like Sankuyo have been at the mercy of growing numbers of wild animals that are hurting livelihoods and driving terrified villagers into their homes at dusk. The hunting ban has also meant a precipitous drop in income. Over the years, villagers had used money from trophy hunters, mostly Americans, to install toilets and water pipes, build houses for the poorest, and give scholarships to the young and pensions to the old. Botswana's Debswana cuts diamond production due to market downturn

Botswana may soon have its first uranium mine Botswana may soon have its first uranium mine as Australian firm A-Cap Resources (ASX:ACB) has applied for a mining licence for its flagship Letlhakane project. According to CEO Paul Thomson, technical studies to date have shown that the project can be competitive as forecasts indicate uranium prices are set to rise. The $351 million project has the advantage of being located near roads, a railway network and power supply, the company said. Further, it is also on the site of one of the largest uranium deposits in the Africa, with estimated deposits of 261 million pounds, A-Cap Resources added. Another Australian firm, Impact Minerals (ASX:IPT), is also exploring some prospective deposits in eastern Botswana, a country that is estimated to hold around 1.04 billion tonnes in uranium reserves, mostly in its central area.

Burundi

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 25% / 2% Population: 11,010,900

Penetration of population w/ internet 1.4% Labor Force: 4,806,000

GDP per capita USD$ 900 Life Expectancy: 54

Unemployment / year est. 35% / 2009 Church Members: 526

Population below poverty line: 68% Congregations: 3

Burundi: Armed forces chief General Prime Niyongabo survives assassination attempt The head of Burundi's armed forces survived an assassination attempt in the capital Bujumbura on Friday (11 September). "There was an attack against the armed forces chief, General Prime Niyongabo, but happily he was unharmed," deputy police chief, General Godefroid Bizimana said. Niyongabo, considered to be a core of President Pierre Nkurunziza's regime, helped foil a coup d'etat, led by factions of the army, on 13 May. At least seven other people were killed in the attack, which took place on Route Rumonge, at around 7am local time, according to the police, including two attackers. A third was arrested. Another senior police source said four bodyguards were also killed, as well as a female police officer. One senior police source, who asked not to be named, said the attack appeared to have been "meticulously prepared". "It was sudden and violent. Four bodyguards were killed instantly. He managed to survive only because the driver managed to overtake a bus transporting police officers to work, and the attackers could not keep up," said the source, as reported by AFP, adding that the attackers were wearing military uniforms and travelling in a military vehicle. Burundi president urges military unity after failed plot to kill army chief BURUNDI CONFLICT: CURRENT UNREST IS NOT AN ETHNIC CONFLICT ….Today In this context, President Nkurinziza’s ruling party holds a de facto monopoly on power and control, both politically and economically. And, with the ethnic integration of political parties, the military, and law enforcement, the defining features of Burundian political and economic life have shifted from an ethnic paradigm to a party-driven one. Like in Rwanda, asking whether a Burundian is a Hutu or a Tutsi is a serious cultural faux pas. One opposition leader summarized the difference in the current unrest, saying, “People are killing each other based on political orientation. If a guy from the ruling party is killed, maybe two from the opposition will be killed.” What to Expect Burundians are poor, hungry, and do not want a conflict that will undo many of the improvements in development that have taken place since the civil war. At the same time, many, especially in the capital of Bujumbura, have formed groups to fight against the corruption and abuse that has forcibly marginalized anyone outside of the ruling party. These opposition groups, however, do not have access to the communications infrastructure, arms, manpower, and experience necessary to pose a serious challenge to the ruling party. Federal police have been quick to arrest opposition members suspected of leading challenges, and the president, now fully sworn in to his controversial third term, has showed no sign of loosening his grip on the country’s power structures. The most likely outcome of the current situation is a continuation of targeted attacks and assassinations between opposition and ruling party members. As violence continues, and as western governments that support over 40% of the government’s budget respond to the ruling party’s abuses, it is likely that a power-sharing compromise will eventually be implemented. It is unlikely, however, that such a compromise will result in a significant shift in power away from the president during the next five years. Unless assassinations and unrest escalate, little will change, postponing the next big test for the country to 2020, when the current situation could duplicate itself with augmented impatience on either side. BURUNDIAN GOVERNMENT STEPS UP OFFENSIVE AGAINST FREEDOM OF INFORMATION In recent weeks, the government has been tightening its grip on the media outlets and journalists that are still operating in Burundi despite the ongoing situation of virtual civil war. With the leading privately-owned news radio stations still closed since 14 May, the government has now turned its sights on Iwacu, a privately-owned weekly that is regarded as moderate and professional and is the only independent newspaper to have kept publishing throughout the turmoil. Iwacu has been the target of virulent attacks by presidential media adviser Willy Nyamitwe, an official who has assumed an increasingly important and radical role on the Burundian political stage in recent months. In a Facebook post on 2 September in response to an interview he disliked, Nyamitwe described Iwacu’s journalists as “tricksters” and “swindlers” – charges that have not been taken lightly by Iwacu editor Antoine Kaburahe because of the chaos still prevailing in Burundi. In a reply on Iwacu’s website, Kaburahe accused Nyamitwe of “trying to prepare public opinion in advance in order to justify a future action,” and pointed out that his newspaper, like any responsible media outlet, had a duty to question what the authorities do. Burundi's August tax revenues fall due to political uncertainty KIGALI, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Burundi's tax revenues dropped 31.8 percent below target in August, official figures showed on Friday, owing to political turmoil sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to run for a third term in office.

Cameroon

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 71% / -% Population: 23,248,261

Penetration of population w/ internet Labor Force: 9,105,000

GDP per capita USD$ 3,000 Life Expectancy: 55

Unemployment / year est. 30% / 2001 Church Members: 1,498

Population below poverty line: 48% / 2000 Congregations: 7

Twin bomb blasts kill 7 in north Cameroon At least seven people have been killed and nearly 20 others injured in two bombings in Cameroon's troubled north, which is often targeted by Nigeria-based Boko Haram Takfiri militants. According to Midjiyawa Bakari, the governor of the Far North Region, the bombers blew their explosives in the northern town of Kolofata on Sunday. The official added that at least 18 people were severely wounded in the fatal assaults and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. According to Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, at least three people were killed in the first explosion, which struck near a well in the town, while at least four people were killed in the second bomb which exploded near a church. Cameroon to Pay Soldiers Protesting for Payment YAOUNDE - Cameroon's government says it has disbursed $12 million to calm angry soldiers protesting the non-payment of their dues for service as international peacekeepers in the Central African Republic. At least 200 soldiers blocked traffic on some streets in the capital, Yaounde, Wednesday before moving to the National Assembly and the Defense Headquarters. They demanded that all money owed them for their service in the C.A.R. be paid. Cameroon's minister of communication, Issa Tchiroma, said Cameroon had paid all the salaries of the soldiers and what is remaining are allowances the African Union has yet to pay. Video Purportedly Shows African Prison Up In Flames Cameroon news outlet Barnebi.com is reporting on a major fire at New Bell prison in Douala, the largest city in the French-speaking West African nation. Facebook user Martin Camus Mimb uploaded this video, which purpotedly shows the structure ablaze and billowing smoke.

Central African Republic (CAR)

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 33% / 1% Population: 4,851,884

Penetration of population w/ internet 3.4% Labor Force: 2,217,000

GDP per capita USD$ 600 Life Expectancy: 50

Unemployment / year est. 8% / 2001 Church Members: 216

Population below poverty line: na Congregations: 1

Chad (This country borders ASEA)

47% / -% Population: 13,288,797

Penetration of population w/ internet 2.4% Labor Force: 4,919,000

GDP per capita USD$ 2,600 Life Expectancy: 51

Unemployment / year est. 22% / 2009 Church Members:

Population below poverty line: 80% / 2001 Congregations:

US Warns Citizens Against Travel in Chad The U.S. State Department is warning its citizens in the African nation of Chad to leave and is cautioning Americans against travel in the area. The State Department released a warning Friday saying it had authorized the voluntary departure of nonemergency government personnel and government personnel dependents. Consequently, it said, the U.S. Embassy in Chad will be able to provide only "limited emergency services" to U.S. citizens in Chad. The release urged U.S. citizens in Chad to guard against attacks by being cautious at public gathering spaces, including markets, restaurants, bars and places of worship. The State Department said there were no specific threats made against U.S. citizens in Chad, but it noted that there are violent extremist organizations in the region, such as Boko Haram and al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, that are "intent on harming Westerners and Western interests and are able to cross borders easily." It said kidnapping for ransom is a potential threat in the region. The statement said the U.S. government could choose to impose further restrictions on government personnel, such as curfews. It advised private U.S. citizens to take similar precautions.

BOKO HARAM THREATS CAUSES U.S. EMBASSY IN CHAD TO SHUT DOWN The United States Embassy in Chad, in response to a “credible threat” from the terrorist group Boko Haram, kept its doors closed from Tuesday through Friday, September 11, Fox News has learned from a military source. A message for Americans in Chad posted on the embassy’s web site, states, “the U.S. Embassy will be closed for normal operations Wednesday-Friday, September 9-11. Emergency consular services will still be available to U.S. citizens.” “For security and safety reasons U.S. Embassy staff are still prohibited from visiting public open-air markets; public places of worship; public events not held at U.S. government facilities or residences,” it adds. The Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL), which maintains a heavy presence in the northern African country of Libya, has accepted a pledge of allegiance from Nigeria-based Boko Haram, notorious for abducting hundreds of girls in northern Nigeria, much to the dismay of the international community. “This is the second security threat in the past two days on the African continent,” notes Fox News. The U.S. Diplomatic Mission to South Africa warned Americans that it had “received information that extremists may be targeting US interests in South Africa,” adds the article.

Boko Haram attacks creating major hunger crisis in Lake Chad area-WFP LONDON, Sept 11 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - New Boko Haram attacks have created a major hunger crisis in Africa's Lake Chad region with malnutrition reaching "catastrophic" levels in some areas, the World

Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday. It is appealing for $16.3 million to deal with immediate needs in Chad, Niger and Cameroon, where hundreds of thousands of people are displaced and three quarters of a million are going hungry. Boko Haram insurgents, who have been fighting for six years to establish an Islamist state in northeast Nigeria, have stepped up attacks on neighbouring countries which joined a Nigerian offensive against the Islamist group. "More and more people are being driven into hunger because of the impact of the Boko Haram violence. People are very vulnerable and the crisis is escalating," said WFP spokeswoman Adel Sarkozi, who visited the Lake Chad region this week. "In the worst affected areas one in three children has acute malnutrition. I visited health clinics which said three months ago they saw 20 malnourished kids every day and now they see 80. It's fair to say that it is catastrophic in some areas."

Congo Rep. (Brazzaville)

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 100% / 7% Population: 4,753,445

Penetration of population w/ internet 2.0% Labor Force: 2,890,000

GDP per capita USD$ 6,600 Life Expectancy: 59

Unemployment / year est. 53% / 2012 Church Members: 6,053

Population below poverty line: 46.5% / 2011 Congregations: 17

Congo DR (Kinshasa)

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 59% / 8% Population: 71,509,992

Penetration of population w/ internet 2.0% Labor Force: 27,590,000

GDP per capita USD$ 700 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 50

Unemployment / year est. 46% / 2009 Church Members: 42,689

Population below poverty line: 63% Congregations: 145

Leading Congo opposition party breaks off talks with Kabila Democratic Republic of Congo's leading opposition party said on Sunday it was breaking off talks with representatives of President Joseph Kabila, leaving the two sides deadlocked ahead of next year's presidential election. Delegates representing the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) and Kabila had been meeting in Europe to discuss conditions for a national dialogue to smooth the way for the November 2016 election in which Kabila is ineligible to stand. Critics accuse Kabila, who took power in 2001 after his father's assassination, of trying to stay in office beyond the end of his second elected term next year in violation of the constitution.

Equatorial Guinea

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 87% / -% Population: 802,008

Penetration of population w/ internet 16.0% Labor Force: 195,200

GDP per capita USD$ 32,600 Life Expectancy: 53

Unemployment / year est. 22.3% / 2009 Church Members:

Population below poverty line: na Congregations:

Ethiopia

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 26% / 49% Population: 101,683,016

Penetration of population w/ internet 1.7% Labor Force: 47,320,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,500 Life Expectancy: 64

Unemployment / year est. 17.5% / 2012 Church Members: 1,854

Population below poverty line: 39% / 2012 Congregations: 64

ETHIOPIANS USHER IN TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Ethiopians marked the New Year “ENKUTATASH” on Saturday with traditional celebrations, although skyrocketing commodity prices put a damper on festivities. Ethiopia’s unique calendar is comprised of 12 30-day months and a thirteenth month consisting of only five days, which become six every four years — as is the case this Ethiopian leap year. The first of Meskerem — the first month in the Ethiopian calendar — fell on Saturday, September 12. In capital Addis Ababa, fireworks lit the midnight sky Friday night, even though, according to prominent theologian Daniel Kibret, “counting down to 00:00 hours doesn’t tally with the Ethiopian system of counting days”. According to Kibret, the day — under the traditional system of counting time — technically begins at 6 a.m. Dr. Zerihun, another scholar in the field, told Anadolu Agency that Ethiopia “maintains the ancient Julian Calendar, which corresponds with the Egyptian Coptic calendar”. “Calendars outside Ethiopia and Egypt underwent two revisions,” he explained. “In the second revision, Pope Gregory added eight years to it.” “Until 530AD, the same Julian Calendar system was used,” he added. Ethiopian renegade general flees to Sudan: report September 12, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A well placed Sudanese source revealed today that a dissident Ethiopian general fled to Sudan on Friday evening along with his soldiers after clashes with the Eritrean army. The source who spoke to the Turkey-based Anadolu news agency on condition of anonymity said that General Mola Asgedom who heads the Tigray People’s Democratic Movement (TPDM) that is based in Eritrea, arrived at the Sudanese town of Hamdait at the border triangle between Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan. He explained that Asgedom escaped to Sudan after armed clashes broke out with the Eritrean army at the outskirts of the Eritrean city of Omhajer on Friday morning.

Gabon

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 175% / -% Population: 1,742,265

Penetration of population w/ internet 9.9% Labor Force: 636,000

GDP per capita USD$ 21,600 Life Expectancy: 63

Unemployment / year est. 21% / 2006 Church Members:

Population below poverty line: na Congregations:

Gabon names opposition leader, ruling party stalwarts in reshuffle Gabon reshuffled its cabinet on Friday to bring in a leading critic of President Ali Bongo and an elder statesman from his father's former regime, in what appeared to be a bid to shore up support ahead of elections due next year. The reshuffle, announced in a presidential decree, expanded the cabinet oil-rich central African country to 41 members from a previous 34. Jean de Dieu Moukagni Iwangou, a leader of the opposition Union of the Gabonese People (UPG), entered the cabinet as minister of state for agriculture. Moukagni Iwangou has been one of the most outspoken voices in the opposition and the president of the Opposition Front for Change - a coalition of groups dedicated to ending the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party's 47 years in power. Gabon: Opposition leader refuses post in new cabinet, contradicting government announcement LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) — A leading opposition politician in Gabon on Saturday refuted a government statement saying he would join the new cabinet, calling instead for the president's ouster. President Ali Bongo's government announced on Friday that Jean de Dieu Moukagni Iwangou, president of a coalition that has been pressing for a change in leadership after nearly 50 years of rule by the same family, would be the new minister of state for agriculture. But Moukagni Iwangou said in a Facebook post Saturday that he will not accept the appointment. "I said no, no, no and no to entering the government," Moukagni Iwangou said later at a press conference. "My refusal must be your refusal to this regime, which has humiliated us and must be removed." Moukagni Iwangou said in the Facebook post that he would focus instead on ensuring that "inclusive dialogue" takes place before a presidential election expected next year while following French investigations into the Bongo family's assets. Ali Bongo became president of Gabon in 2009 following the death of his father, Omar Bongo, who ruled the oil-producing country of about 1.5 million people for more than 40 years. Gabon: the most attractive market in Sub-Saharan Africa Gabon has been deemed the most attractive market in Sub-Saharan Africa in The 2015 African Retail Development Index. The study evaluated 48 countries in the region. This year’s index was published on Tuesday and focused on the economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa hailing the region’s progress. “Sub-Saharan Africa is still the Next Big Thing, and likely will continue to be for the next several decades. It is one of few markets with annual GDP growth of more than 5 percent. Its young and connected middle class is growing fast and still deciding on its favorite brands. In short, it is brimming with potential,” the index reported.

Kenya

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 83% / 67% Population: 46,764,772

Penetration of population w/ internet 36.7% Labor Force: 17,700,000

GDP per capita USD$ 3,100 Life Expectancy: 62

Unemployment / year est. 40% / 2008 Church Members: 12,471

Population below poverty line: 43,4 / 2012 Congregations: 62

A $1,000 wheelbarrow has become a symbol of Kenya’s rampant government corruption The residents of Bungoma county in western Kenya are in an uproar over wheelbarrows. Specifically, a set of

10 wheelbarrows that cost a whopping 1.09 million shillings, or about $10,300, in taxpayer money. The purchase of the wheelbarrows by the county agriculture ministry emerged in an audit report last week and has quickly become a focal point for frustration over government graft. Local craftsmen and residents stormed a county slaughterhouse this week looking for the wheelbarrows, while activists have started calling for governor Ken Lusaka’s resignation.

Kenya unveils memorial to victims of torture, ill-treatment during British colonial rule NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Thousands of Kenyans attended the inauguration Saturday of a monument that pays tribute to the victims of torture and ill-treatment during the emergency period of British rule.

The memorial, backed by Britain, was officially opened in a ceremony witnessed by many veterans of the "Mau Mau" rebellion, which hastened the end of colonial rule in the East African country. Several thousand now-elderly Kenyans say they were beaten and sexually assaulted by officers acting for the British administration trying to suppress the Mau Mau rebellion, when groups of Kenyans attacked British officials and white farmers who occupied fertile lands.

The British High Commission said in a statement that the memorial was built as part of an out-of-court agreement reached between the British government and some Mau Mau veterans in 2013. The agreement, which included more than 5,200 claimants, was worth nearly 20 million pounds ($31 million). The memorial features a statue of an armed rebel receiving a bag of supplies from a woman. It "stands as a symbol of reconciliation" between the British government and all the victims of the emergency period, which lasted from 1952 to 1960, the statement from the British High Commission said. "This memorial is about reconciliation, allowing us to discuss together the issues arising from a difficult period in our shared history, and to move forward together," said British High Commissioner Christian Turner.

Lesotho

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 95% / 24% Population: 2,074,095

Penetration of population w/ internet 5.3% Labor Force: 894,400

GDP per capita USD$ 2,900 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 49

Unemployment / year est. 25% / 2008 Church Members: 867

Population below poverty line: 49 / 1999 Congregations: 2

SADC's inquiry into Lesotho's political instability resumes JOHANNESBURG - The SADC Commission of Inquiry into Lesotho’s political instability is expected to resume on Friday. The commission was set up after the death of the former army chief, Maaparankoe Mahao. Mahao was killed by soldiers in his home in June. He was an ally of Lesotho’s former leader, Thomas Thabane. Thabane is a rival of Lesotho's current army chief, Tlali Kamoli. Kamoli is expected to testify before the Sadec commission when it resumes. His testimony is probably the most anticipated session of the Sadec Commission, as our reporter Lenyaro Sello explained from Lesotho. Botswana judge caught up in Lesotho crisis Botswana High Court judge, Justice Mpaphi Phumaphi who is presiding over the recent political crisis that was precipitated by the killing of former army commander Maaparankwe Mahao in Lesotho is reported to have fled the kingdom following threats on his life, a newspaper reported on Sunday. The Sunday Standard newspaper said Phumaphi who chairs an independent commission set up by the Southern African Development (SADC), had to postpone a hearing at which Lesotho’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mothetjoa Messing was expected to appear citing an emergency. The paper reported Phumaphi recently fled to Botswana to meet SADC Chairperson President Ian Khama. He is also scheduled to meet Mozambican President and the chairperson of SADC Organ on Politics Defence and Security, Filipe Nyusi. Phumaphi is reported to have notified Nyusi about the threats he received from the Lesotho Defence (LDF). As the crisis escalates, the paper reported that SADC intends to deploy its armed troops o discipline the Lesotho army.” The Lesotho government is of the view that the commission is out to get its army commander Tlali Kamoli.

Madagascar

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 40% / ? Population: 24,540,641

Penetration of population w/ internet 73.5% Labor Force: 12,150,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,400 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 65

Unemployment / year est. 3.6% / 2013 Church Members: 10,322

Population below poverty line: 50% Congregations: 38

Malawi

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 37% / 10% Population: 17,393,962

Penetration of population w/ internet 72.2% Labor Force: 5,747,000

GDP per capita USD$ 800 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 55

Unemployment / year est. 6.6% / 2013 Church Members: 1,931

Population below poverty line: 53% / 2004 Congregations: 8

Malawi Court Convicts Man for Mutharika Insult The Balaka First Grade Magistrate Court in eastern Malawi has ordered a 60-year-old man to pay a fine of K3, 000 or in default serve three months imprisonment with hard labour for insulting President Peter Muthatika and denigrating him. Police Prosecutor Constable Christopher Nyirongo told the court that the suspect Alinafe Paul, committed an offence on August 31 at Kanyumbaka village in the district. "The suspect was coming from the garden when he found a grader grading the earth road past his village. "The suspect then started accusing the President of why he thought of grading the earth road during the dry season which was making a lot of dust. "He ended up calling the President all thoughts of names a development that annoyed Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) sympathizers who reported the matter to police," said Nyirongo. The suspect pleaded guilty to the charge of conduct likely to cause a breach of peace which is contrary to section 181 of the Penal code.

Mauritius

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 128% / 40% Population: 1,322,860

Penetration of population w/ internet 6.2% Labor Force: 600,200

GDP per capita USD$ 17,900 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 74

Unemployment / year est. 8.3% / 2013 Church Members: 458

Population below poverty line: 8% / 2006 Congregations: 2

Mozambique

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 58% / 22% Population: 27,282,161

Penetration of population w/ internet 5.6% Labor Force: 12,250,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,100 Life Expectancy: 50

Unemployment / year est. 17% / 2007 Church Members: 7,943

Population below poverty line: 52% / 2009 Congregations: 26

Mozambique: Dhlakama survives assassination bid At least four members of Mozambique’s main opposition Renamo party were injured when unidentified assailants attacked the motorcade of their leader Afonso Dhlakama in what his organization claimed was a failed attempt on his life in Manica Province on Saturday. Witnesses told journalists on Sunday the Renamo leader was heading for the provincial capital, Chimoio for a rally when his motorcade came under fire at Chibata about 20 kilometres from the town on Saturday. They said some Renamo bodyguards who were accompanying Dhlakama returned fire and chased the attackers who have not yet been identified. South Africa: Matola Monument a Symbol of Bravery Pretoria — President Jacob Zuma has called on South Africa and Mozambique to work together to confront the challenges of unemployment, inequality and poverty. "Comrade President [Filipe Nyusi], we must do this ever conscious of the heavy responsibilities we have to the people, as the foremost leading movements in our respective countries and as governments of our respective countries, in South Africa and Mozambique," President Zuma said.

He was speaking at the unveiling of the Matola Monument and Interpretative Centre in Maputo, on Friday, which was built in remembrance of struggle heroes from both nations who were executed during a raid. On 31 January 1981, the South African Defence Force of the then apartheid government raided the African National Congress safe houses in Matola, Maputo, and killed 13 members of Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) and one Mozambican national.

Namibia

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 137% / 32% Population: 2,325,019

Penetration of population w/ internet 14.8% Labor Force: 1,168,000

GDP per capita USD$ 10,800 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 6

Unemployment / year est. 27.4% / 2012 Church Members: 793

Population below poverty line: 28.7% / 2010 Congregations: 2

Niger

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 25% / 2% Population: 19,289,323

Penetration of population w/ internet 1.6% Labor Force: 5,800,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,000 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 58

Unemployment / year est. 2.25% / 2009 Church Members: 793

Population below poverty line: 63%

Congregations: 2

Nigeria

(This country borders ASEA)

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 97% / 15% Population: 179,825,664

Penetration of population w/ internet 37.6% Labor Force: 54,970,000

GDP per capita USD$ 6,100 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 52

Unemployment / year est. 23.9% / 2011 Church Members: 129,989

Population below poverty line: 70% Congregations: 416

Bribes, Debt, $100 Billion Lost: Nigeria Can't Keep the Power On There’s no end in sight to the daily blackouts that the government says are costing Africa’s largest economy about $100 billion a year in missed potential and that President Muhammadu Buhari calls a “national shame.” Gas shortages, pipeline vandalism, inadequate funding, unprofitable prices and corruption mean fixing the electricity cuts two years after a partial sale of state power companies to private investors won’t be easy. Generated output has never risen above 5,000 megawatts, which is about a third of peak demand, and if it did the state-owned transmission system can’t deliver any more than that before it starts breaking down. South Africa, with a less than a third of Nigeria’s population of about 180 million, has nine times more installed capacity and it too is grappling with blackouts. Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer, ranked the worst of 189 countries after Bangladesh and Madagascar on the ease of getting electricity connected to businesses, costing almost 7 percent of lost sales each month, according to a 2015 World Bank Doing Business report. Nigeria tightens security after refugee camp blast Nigeria's president on Friday ordered security to be tightened at camps for people displaced by the Boko Haram conflict after seven people were killed in a bomb blast. The explosion happened at the Malkohi camp near the Adamawa state capital Yola just before 11:00 am (1000 GMT), when a homemade device left inside a tent went off, the National Emergency Management Agency said. The attack, which also injured 20 others, bore all the hallmarks of the Islamist militants, who have repeatedly hit "soft" civilian targets in the bloody, six-year insurgency. Elsewhere in Adamawa, residents in Madagali said a female suicide bomber detonated her explosives at a checkpoint, killing at least two. Bombs in northeast Nigeria kill at least 12 About 2.1 million people have been displaced and thousands killed in six-year-old campaign by Boko Haram YOLA, Nigeria: A bomb at a camp for people who have fled Boko Haram and a suicide attack on a bus station killed at least 12 people in northeast Nigeria on Friday, officials said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombings. About 2.1 million people have been displaced and thousands killed in a six-year-old campaign by the jihadist group to carve out an Islamist state. The group has killed around 800 people in bombings and shootings since President Muhammadu Buhari took office in May, vowing to crush the militant Islamists.

Reunion Island

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 105% / 48% Population: 874,345

Penetration of population w/ internet Labor Force:

GDP per capita USD$

Life Expectancy:

Unemployment / year est. 40% / ? Church Members:

Population below poverty line: Congregations:

Rwanda

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 61% / 28% Population: 12,540,798

Penetration of population w/ internet 9.2% Labor Force: 6,061,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,700 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 64

Unemployment / year est. 3.4% / 2012 Church Members: 281

Population below poverty line: 44.9 / 2011 Congregations: 3

Rwanda: Supporters of scholar Léopold Munyakazi struggle to stop his deportation from the US KPFA Weekend News Anchor: Supporters of suspended Gaucher College French Professor Léopold Munyakazi are urgently trying to stop his deportation to Rwanda because they feel it would lead to his imprisonment, torture and/or death. The Rwandan government accused Professor Munyakazi of genocide after he made several speeches in which he said that the Rwandan massacres that took place between 1990 and 1994 were not genocide. He said instead that Rwandans are one people sharing the same language and culture and that the war and massacres grew out of a long smoldering class conflict in which the social classes were labeled as Tutsi, Hutu and Twa.

Professor Munyakazi’s case is still pending in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, but Department of Homeland Security professionals arrested him last week anyway. KPFA’s Ann Garrison spoke to attorney Ofelia Calderón.

Rwanda to organise national referendum over presidential term limit A team of seven lawyers has been appointed by the Rwandan Cabinet to organise a national referendum over presidential term limit. A government official said on condition of anonymity on Friday in Kigali that the seven members of the commission, nominated during a meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame, were to decide on whether or not to amend a restrictive law in a move to allow President Paul Kagame to run for a third term in 2017. The official said among the seven members of the commission were former long-serving lawyers, academics as well as senior civil servants in the former and the current regime in Kigali. Analysts pointed out that it would not be a hard task for the country to amend the constitution. Analysts said because more than three million of Rwandan population have already signed a petition seeking to allow incumbent President Paul Kagame, to be reelected as candidate of the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) for the next election in 2017. Analysts said the petition had pushed both Rwandan parliament and Senate to approve a new draft law on the general referendum, but that this was still pending to be signed by President Paul Kagame to be enacted into law. The current Rwanda Constitution was promulgated in May 2003 during the referendum in which 42 per cent of Rwandan voters endorsed it.

Somalia

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 50% / 2% Population: 10,742,489

Penetration of population w/ internet 1.5% Labor Force: 3,011,000

GDP per capita USD$ 600 / 2010 Life Expectancy: 55

Unemployment / year est. 25.4% / 2012 Church Members:

Population below poverty line: na Congregations:

Somalia: Al shabaab fires mortar rounds on AMISOM base in Leego Al shabaab militants have fired mortar rounds at a military base belonging to the African Union peacekeeping troops in Somalia (AMISOM), the 2nd barrage in two months, residents said. A resident who asked not be named, says that militants with Al shabaab group attacked the AMISOM base with heavy mortar bombs last night, before they engaged gunfire with AU Soldiers manning the area.

South Africa

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 154% / 35% Population: 51,621,506

Penetration of population w/ internet 46.8% Labor Force: 20,230,000

GDP per capita USD$ 12,700 Life Expectancy: 57

Unemployment / year est. 24.9% / 2013 Church Members: 61,221

Population below poverty line: 31.3% Congregations: 159

South Africa: A dangerous place to be poor, black and a woman On paper, women in South Africa ought to enjoy the highest status globally. But this has not translated into fundamental freedoms of dignity, safety and security in practice. Judged against global gender benchmarks, South African women appear to have surpassed their expectations in terms of important indicators. These include:

solid representation and leadership in state decision-making structures;

extensive legal and constitutional mechanisms protecting their rights;

ground breaking laws safeguarding their interests; and

numerous civil society lobby groups. Statistics tell a chilling story This impressive national gender machinery belies the realities of most women, especially black women. These are degradation, grinding poverty and extreme violence. The majority of the South African population who live under the poverty line is black and female. South Africa’s violence against women ranks as one of the worst in the world. As much as 40% to 50% of women in the country have suffered intimate partner violence. Women are particularly vulnerable because of their lower socioeconomic status. They have fewer options and resources to escape domestic violence and seek justice. South Africa does not have accurate statistics of gender-based violence because there are no reliable government databases. Sexual violence is under-reported. The Medical Research Council estimates that three women are killed by an intimate partner per day. Even this is likely to be an under-estimate, as 18% of killers were not identified. South Africa's Richest Man Berates State Over Flawed Policies Christo Wiese, South Africa’s richest man, accused the government of implementing ill-considered policies that are curbing economic growth and undermining efforts to reduce poverty. Examples included the introduction of new visa rules that deterred tourism and bureaucratic procedures that made it costly and time-consuming for people to access title deeds to properties where they had lived for decades, according to Wiese, who is worth about $7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. “The one industry where South Africa consistently outperformed the world since 1994 was tourism,” Wiese, 74, said in an interview in his Cape Town office last week. “Then we impose new visa regulations that no one can explain, and the effect is immediate. We shoot ourselves through both feet and then claim unintended consequence.” President’s men to probe amaMpondo king’s insult Government to mediate after disdain shown for Zulu leaders who don’t have a tradition of circumcision An explosive dispute brewing between Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini and President ­Jacob Zuma on one side, and amaMpondo King Zanozuko Sigcau on the other, has ­become so serious that it is being handled by a high-level government team. So serious is the clash of kings – which started with a reference by King Sigcau toKing Zwelithini and President Zuma as “amakhwenkwe” (boys) – that it is now being handled by a senior team which consists of a deputy minister and two directors-general.

King Sigcau referred to the two as boys because they have not undergone traditional circumcision rituals. He made the reference two months ago at a traditional ­ceremony in Mbizana, Eastern Cape, after a local organisation that monitors traditional circumcision had invited Zwelithini to address the initiates. King Sigcau then allegedly questioned how “a boy” could be allowed to stand before young men coming back from an initiation school. He allegedly added: “Zuma is worse!” Government sources told City Press that a furious King ­Zwelithini, who was informed of King Sigcau’s comments by a number of people who attended the ceremony, raised the matter with Zuma last week, at the start of Heritage Month. Analysts Baffled as Unsecured Lender Tops South Africa Banks (A thought provoking article-rb) ‘Affordability’ must underpin South Africa’s power investment decisions - Ramaphosa

Sudan

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 70% / 31% Population: 40,313,269

Penetration of population w/ internet 24.0% Labor Force: 11,920,000

GDP per capita USD$ 4,500 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 62

Unemployment / year est. 20% / 2012 Church Members:

Population below poverty line: 46.5 / 2005 Congregations:

Sudan says controversial Russian mining company will soon begin producing gold September 10, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese minister of minerals Ahmed Mohammed Sadiq al-Karuri said that the Russian company of Siberian has already begun working at the mining concessions and will soon produce gold. A controversial agreement was signed in late July with the little known company for mining concessions in the Red Sea and River Nile states. President Omer Hassan al-Bashir reportedly attended the signing ceremony which was not made public. Al-Karuri announced at the time that the company discovered 46,000 tonnes of gold reserves in these two sites with a combined market value of $1.70 trillion. On top of the mammoth figure, scepticism grew deeper after a Sudanese consultant working for the ministry out of Moscow named Mohamed Ahmed Saboon tendered his resignation because of the contract with the company which he described as “unknown”.

Unknown gunmen kill two humanitarian worker in West Darfur September 10, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Unidentified gunmen killed two people in ambush on a humanitarian team in West Darfur state, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian affairs (OCHA) said on Thursday. "The attack took place (on Tuesday 8 September) about 40 kilometres from Geneina in Kreinik area, as the aid workers were returning from a routine mission. Unidentified gunmen ambushed the vehicle, killing the driver and a security official. Two health ministry staff and a WHO doctor in the vehicle were unharmed," said OCHA. The assailants stole the vehicle and fled the scene.

South Sudan

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration

28% / 12% Population: 11,749,434

Penetration of population w/ internet unkn Labor Force:

GDP per capita USD$ 2,000 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 62

Unemployment / year est. 12% / 2008 Church Members:

Population below poverty line: 50.6% / 2009 Congregations:

SOUTH SUDAN’S PARLIAMENT APPROVES PEACE DEAL NAIROBI - South Sudan’s parliament unanimously voted on Thursday to adopt a peace deal agreed last month by President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar, amid mounting pressure for both sides to lay down their arms. The world’s newest country has been ravaged by war since December 2013, when soldiers loyal to Kiir clashed in the capital Juba with troops loyal to his former deputy, Machar. Kiir signed the deal on 27 August but complained about the details and said he had faced intimidation from other nations prior to signing. Sporadic fighting has continued since then, with both sides blaming each other for ceasefire violations.

Swaziland Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 70% / 11% Population: 1,280,595

Penetration of population w/ internet 23.8% Labor Force: 435,000

GDP per capita USD$ 7,800 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 49

Unemployment / year est. 28.5% / 2010 Church Members: 1,768

Population below poverty line: 69% Congregations: 4

Swaziland counts cost of oppressive regime The slowdown in the South African economy, the biggest in the region, is being amplified in smaller neighbours such as Swaziland. Complicating the landlocked country's problems is its exclusion from the US 's African Growth and Opportunity Act, which gives preferential trade benefits to African countries. Swaziland was kicked out of Agoa this year due to transgressions related, in particular, to workers' rights...

Tanzania

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 62% / 24% Population: 50,998,619

Penetration of population w/ internet 15% Labor Force: 25,000,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,900 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 61

Unemployment / year est. 10.7% / 2011 Church Members: 1,336

Population below poverty line: 36% / 2002 Congregations: 6

Uganda

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 64% / 11% Population: 40,777,196

Penetration of population w/ internet 16.8 Labor Force: 18,000,000

GDP per capita USD$ 1,800 Life Expectancy: 59

Unemployment / year est. 4.2% / 2010 Church Members: 13,248

Population below poverty line: 25.5% Congregations: 26

Uganda's interior minister dies suddenly while returning home from trip to South Korea KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda's interior minister died suddenly while traveling home from an official trip in South Korea, the government announced on Saturday. Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, who was 56, died while transiting through Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda said in a statement. Nyakairima died early Saturday, according to Pamela Ankunda, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Nyakairima, who trained in the U.S. as a young officer, was "a dedicated servant of the people of Uganda and his death is a tragic and huge loss to the country," the statement said. The cause of death is not yet known and a team of pathologists has been dispatched to Dubai to assist with the postmortem examination and repatriation of the body, said the statement. Nyakairima served as interior minister since 2013. He had previously been the top commander of Uganda's military and was credited with helping to push infamous warlord Joseph Kony from Ugandan territory.

Zambia

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 73% / 10% Population: 15,549,296

Penetration of population w/ internet 15.4% Labor Force: 6,338,000

GDP per capita USD$ 4,100 Life Expectancy: 58

Unemployment / year est. 15% / 2008 Church Members: 3,359

Population below poverty line: 60.5% Congregations:

Zimbabwe

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 102% / 85% Population: 15,762,551

Penetration of population w/ internet 19.5% Labor Force: 5,0 63,000

GDP per capita USD$ 2,000 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 60

Unemployment / year est. 95% / 2009 Church Members: 26,156

Population below poverty line: 68% / 2004 Congregations: 64

Investors await Mugabe’s exit, says analyst Possible plans by Africa’s richest tycoon, Aliko Dangote, to set up a $400-million, 1.5-million metric tons-a-year cement plant in Zimbabwe seem to suggest that President Robert Mugabe’s new charm offensive is striking the right chords with investors. Mugabe has been trying to allay the misgivings of foreign investors over rigid indigenisation laws, political uncertainty and the prohibitive costs of setting up a business in the region. Mugabe’s call for foreign investment in the continent’s troubled country comes at a time when China — Zimbabwe’s vital investors — is struggling with its own economic woes. The launch of Zimbabwe’s 10-point plan comes as citizens dread the possible return to the era of hyperinflation that wreaked havoc on their incomes at the height of the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009. Other companies that have Zimbabwe on their radar include Hilton Worldwide, the parent company of Hilton Hotels. Michael Cooper, vice-president for development in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, said the group would like to include Zimbabwe in its Africa expansion strategy — but Hilton Worldwide has not found possible partners in that country. Experts believe Zimbabwe has the potential to grow its economy at an astronomical rate in the near future — albeit from a low base. Therefore it is not surprising that the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a subsidiary of the World Bank, recently held its first talks with Zimbabwe since 2001. The meeting is considered to be the first in a process that could lead to the resumption of lending to corporates in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe workers in shock over mass dismissals Some Zimbabweans, lacking gyms, exercise among the dead to stay healthy HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Caroline Vumbunu believes that exercising among the dead helps prolong her life. Every morning, the 59-year-old takes power walks in the Warren Hills cemetery in Zimbabwe's capital. She's not alone. The cemetery has become a workout site for dozens of other Zimbabweans due to a lack of gyms and other exercise venues in many Harare neighborhoods. Vumbunu navigates not only through rows of graves but also past people performing calisthenics. At 5 a.m. on a recent day, the well-maintained Muslim and adjacent Jewish sections of the cemetery were

already teeming with activity. The fitness enthusiasts tend to avoid other parts of the cemetery, established in 1957, that are poorly maintained, with collapsing grave markers and potholed roads. The dozens of men and women broke up into groups for routines led by instructors. Dressed in colorful track suits, they did pushups and crunches on a cemetery road bordered by countless graves.

WITCH DOCTOR BUSINESS BOOMS AS 30,000 LOSE JOBS IN ZIMBABWE A Supreme Court decision allowing employers to fire workers with only three months’ notice has led to a boom in the witch doctor industry as the nation’s unemployed turn to any means possible to help land themselves a new job. The Zimbabwe Traditional Healers Association’s president, George Kandiero, told local media that workers in his organization had definitely seen an “upsurge” from those who have lost their jobs since restrictions on dismissing employees were largely diminished in July. “So, you find that being Zimbabweans, they will look for answers or solutions from within our membership,” Kandiero explained, “where others are saying can you deal with the person who caused my expulsion, or where someone says I want to get another job.” Those who have lost their jobs may look for “traditional healers” to use natural remedies to conduct spells that will allegedly attract jobs to them, or make them more charming during job interviews. Kandiero noted

that a large percentage of the growth in the witch doctor market came from Harare, the nation’s capital, where many who lost their jobs live. Those in more rural areas often live off the land or are self-employed.

….Zimbabwean politicians are now struggling to pass legislation that will help undo the Supreme Court’s decision. A number of amendments have been introduced to a new labor law this week that would force employers who have fired workers following the court decision to provide each worker with two weeks’ severance pay. This provision is among the most controversial, as many argue that it would further cripple businesses and cost more jobs in the long-term. The strength of Zimbabwe’s currency has hit unprecedented lows this year. In June, Zimbabwe announced it would begin to trade its dollars for U.S. dollars. While hyperinflation had hit 500

billion percent as early as 2008, it had somehow grown from there. At the time, 175 quadrillion Zimbabwean dollars would yield $5 American. Mugabe in bizarre Cabinet reshuffle PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday made additions to his already bloated Cabinet at a time the country’s economy is heavily choked by excessive government expenditure in the face of ever-deteriorating revenue collections. The appointment of 14 more ministers, which appears to be a consolidation of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s power base in the Zanu PF succession politics, comes at a time government has made an undertaking to adhere to International Monetary Fund recommendations to reduce its expenditure bill. Yesterday’s Cabinet reshuffle was the third in nine months. Zimbabwe, with a population of around 13 million, now has more than 72 ministers, almost the same size as neighbouring South Africa, whose population is over 55 million people. Government now requires more than $3 million to provide top-of-the-range vehicles, perks and allowances for the new team of ministers. On average, a Cabinet minister gets a new Mercedes-Benz which could cost as much as $170 000 and a new all-terrain vehicle valued at about $110 000, a monthly salary of between $2 000 and $4 500, fuel and other allowances such as airtime, security aides, State maids and housing, among other perks, further burdening the taxpayer. Political analysts yesterday roundly condemned Mugabe’s “recycling of deadwood” and described the move as insensitive and a sign of desperation to hold on to power at all costs. Academic and political analyst Ibbo Mandaza said: “I have not yet seen the entire Cabinet line-up, but my comment would be ‘Oh poor Zimbabwe, 14 new ministers! . . . eish my God’.” Zimbabwe's Mugabe appoints nephew empowerment minister Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe announced his third cabinet reshuffle in less than a year on Friday, appointing his nephew as minister in charge of a government push to give blacks greater control of the economy. Patrick Zhuwawo takes over as Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment in place of Christopher Mushohwe, who assumes the information portfolio. Zhuwawo becomes the third person to lead the empowerment ministry since Mugabe and his party won elections in 2013, heading up the drive to force foreign-owned firms, including mines, to sell at least 51 percent of their shares to locals. Mugabe rarely reshuffles his cabinet, preferring to stick to close allies, especially those who fought alongside him during Zimbabwe's 1970s independence war against white-minority rule. Last December, the 91-year-old fired his deputy of 10 years, Joice Mujuru, and several ministers aligned to her in what political analysts said was meant to quell simmering tensions over his future successor.

United States Data Provided for comparison

Cellphone/Smartphone penetration 102% / 85% Population: 324,343,287

Penetration of population w/ internet 86.8% Labor Force: 156,000,000

GDP per capita USD$ 54,800 / 2014 Life Expectancy: 79

Unemployment / year est. 5.5% / 2015 Church Members: 6,466,267

Population below poverty line: 15.1% / 2010 14,018 Congregations

Travel Advisories/Warnings US Warns Citizens Against Travel in Chad The U.S. State Department is warning its citizens in the African nation of Chad to leave and is cautioning Americans against travel in the area.

US embassy warns of possible terror threat in SA 9 September 2015 The US Diplomatic Mission to South Africa has issued a warning that extremists may target American interests in South Africa. According to the embassy's website, they don't know when or where the terrorists are supposed to strike, but their targets may include ' U.S. Government facilities and other facilities identifiable with US business interests.' The embassy is calling on Americans to 'Be vigilant and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security.' The US State Department does not appear to have issued a travel warning targeting South Africa at this time. According to the US State Department, "Anti-US violence is not common in South Africa, but the Department of State remains concerned about the continued worldwide threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations, and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas."

Tanzania Travel Alert, Saturday, September 05, 2015 : The State Department alerts U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Tanzania to the upcoming general elections scheduled for October 25, 2015.

US asks its citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Pak 28 August 2015 Citing increased terror activities in Pakistan, the United State on Friday asked its citizens to defer their all non-essential travel to the country. "The department of state warns US citizens against all non-essential travel to Pakistan," a travel advisory said. US Renews Travel Warning to Cameroon as Boko Haram Targets Americans 10 August 2015

Niger Travel Warning 18 July 2015 The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Niger and specifically recommends citizens avoid travel to the Diffa region, particularly those areas adjacent to Niger’s southern and eastern border, and Lake Chad.

US issues travel advisory for Burundi (17 May 2015) Washington - The United States issued a travel warning on Thursday for strife-torn Burundi, telling its citizens not to go there and urging those in the country to get out as soon as possible. Burundi's government survived a coup attempt this week that saw fierce fighting between rival army factions. It was the culmination of weeks of violent street protests against the president's bid to seek a third term in the poor east African country. In a statement, the US state department said Burundi was faced a "deteriorating security situation". It said it had ordered all non-emergency US government personnel and dependents of American staff to leave Burundi on Thursday.

Sources of information:

All church membership information is provided by Mormon Newsroom by clicking on the ‘Africa’ continent on the map (at the right) and then finding the desired country on the list. The information is reviewed from the list each month for correctness.

All keywords and country information is collected from an Internet scan of about 60 specific keywords that is supplied to me at 0300 each morning via Google alerts. This keyword list is reviewed and updated daily.

All Population data are from Country Meters and is updated each month for correctness.

All Cellphone and smartphone data are from GMSA Intelligence and is updated each month for correctness.

All Internet users by country data are from Internet Live Stats and Internet World Stats is reviewed each month for correctness.

GNI (Gross National Income per capita) and Life Expectancy data is from The World Bank

Unemployment and other data are from Photius , IECONOMICS, Quandl, Wikipedia, Theodora & The World Factbook.

Elder Berg Elder Berg & Sister Berg Africa Southeast AreaAssistant Directors of Public Affairs, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Email: ASEAPublicAffairs@ldschurch.org Cellphone……. +27 (0)83 443 3829 Office…………... +27 (0)11 645 1538

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