Africa
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on Africa. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.
Standard Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 22.02.2013 | The 0.7% aid target |
| This note examines the definition of the 0.7% aid target, its origins and the UK's and other countries' performance against it. It also summarises recent attempts to enshrine the target in legislation and some criticism of its relevance. | |
| 20.02.2013 | In brief: Malawi under President Joyce Banda |
| Joyce Banda became Malawi's president in turbulent circumstances in April 2012 and since then has sought to build domestic support and win back previously alienated Western donors through an economic and political reform programme. While she has had some successes, there is currently growing public discontent about the economy and her political position is still vulnerable. Her prospects in the 2014 elections are uncertain. | |
| 05.02.2013 | The crisis in Mali: current military action and upholding humanitarian law |
| This note describes the current military intervention in Mali, led by France, which began on 11 January as a reaction to the southward advance of militant Islamist armed groups with links to al-Qaeda. It also looks at the intervention in the context of upholding humanitarian law. | |
| 18.01.2013 | Algeria 2013 |
| Instability in North Africa appears to be spreading, as a hostage crisis unfolds in an Algerian gas plant run jointly by BP. The Algerian government seemed to have escaped lightly compared with other North African governments from the Arab uprisings. But the war in neighbouring Libya and increasing unrest in the Sahel region to Algeria's south have taken their toll. It remains to be seen whether Algeria's authoritarian regime will be seriously challenged by the twin threats of domestic political unrest and jihadi terrorism. | |
| 21.12.2012 | Large-scale land acquisitions in developing countries - camouflage for 'land grabbing'? |
| Oxfam has launched a campaign on the issue of 'land-grabbing' - or what others would call 'large-scale land acquisitions' - in developing countries around the world, including by foreign governments or companies, with the World Bank primarily in its sights. This note is a brief introduction to the debate, current multilateral initiatives on the issue and the stance of the UK Government. |
Research Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 15.11.2011 | The Arab Uprisings |
| Since December 2010, the most profound process of change has affected the countries of the Arab world. The change spread quickly between the countries of the region, underlining the many common factors that provoked unrest. How the region's revolutions progress, however, depends on the individual characteristics of each country, which are very different. This paper looks at these similarities and differences and considers the possible outcomes in each case. The legitimacy of ruling regimes, the effect of societies' divisions along confessional lines and the role of the region's militaries are considered. | |
| 02.06.2010 | Sudan: Peace or war, unity or secession? |
| This paper considers the current political situation in Sudan, including the impact of the April 2010 elections in which Omar al-Bashir was re-elected as national President. The prospects for Sudan over the coming year are examined, with particular reference to the two referendums to be held in January 2011, required under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and the recent resurgence of the conflict in Darfur. | |
| 24.11.2008 | Interlocking crises in the Horn of Africa |
| Interlocking crises in the Horn of Africa: House of Commons Library Research Paper 08/86. This paper looks at recent developments in the Horn of Africa, where there are a number of protracted and interlocking crises at work, and briefly discusses some of the main factors that have been described as 'root causes' of conflict in the region. | |
| 31.05.2007 | The International Tribunals (Sierra Leone) Bill [HL] [Bill 110 of 2006-7] |
| 25.10.2006 | The African Great Lakes Region: An End to Conflict? |
| The African Great Lakes Region: An End to Conflict? |
Select Committee Reports
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 20.03.2012 | EU: Sudan and South Sudan - follow-up report. |
| European Union Select Committee (HL) report [Lords] | |
| 20.12.2011 | Piracy off the coast of Somalia. |
| Foreign Affairs Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 14.06.2011 | EU and Sudan: on the brink of change. |
| European Union Select Committee (HL) report [Lords] | |
| 18.01.2010 | Department for International Development: aid to Malawi. |
| Public Accounts Committee report [Commons] | |
| 12.01.2010 | DFID's programme in Nigeria. |
| Government response. Department for International Development; International Development Select Committee report [Commons] |
Early Day Motions
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 24.01.2012 | SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS IN SOMALIA |
| That this House is concerned about the ongoing threats to, and arrests and killing of journalists in Somalia; condemns the mass arrest of journalists without charge in Somaliland; believes ... | |
| 11.01.2012 | CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA |
| That this House notes the continued frenzied attacks onChristians in Nigeria; condemns those who are choosing to attack people based on their religion; calls on the Government to apply ... | |
| 20.12.2011 | GUANTÁNAMO BAY |
| That this House notes that on 11 January 2012 it will be a decade since the first detainees were incarcerated at Guantnamo Bay naval base; believes that Guantnamo detainees should either ... | |
| 19.12.2011 | ELECTIONS IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO |
| That this House expresses deep concern at the conduct of the recent elections in Democratic Republic of Congo; notes that the respected Carter Centre found that the election results ... | |
| 19.12.2011 | THE CASE OF ALI AARRASS |
| That this House recognises the deep concern amongst human rights lawyers and experts ontorture across Europe about the 15-year sentence handed down by the Rabat court sitting at Sal ... |
Lords Library Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 19.03.2012 | Question for Short Debate on 26 March: Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army |
| This Library Note provides background information on steps to bring to trial Joseph Kony and other leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army. |
POST Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 01.04.2011 | Water adaptation in Africa, April 2011 |
| This POSTnote discusses adapting water resource management to climate change in Africa. | |
| 01.05.2007 | Tackling malaria in developing countries, May 2007 |
| Tackling malaria in developing countries, May 2007. POSTnote 07/284. |
