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 |
|---|---|
| 04.07.2013 | Coup in Egypt |
| A brief survey of the Egyptian military's removal of President Mohamed Mursi. | |
| 11.06.2013 | In brief: Mali - political and security developments |
| Mali is scheduled to hold presidential elections on 28 July 2013. Malian soldiers recently launched military operations to establish some semblance of state authority over Kidal in the north ahead of the elections, so that they can argue that they are fair and credible. Negotiations with the Tuareg nationalist MNLA and other stakeholders are under way in Burkina Faso and there are hopeful signs that a peaceful resolution can be agreed. The key issue is whether the MNLA will agree to be disarmed and, if so, on what basis. | |
| 10.06.2013 | Political progress in Libya? |
| Has Libya built on the achievement of successful elections in 2012 to make real progress towards a modern, democratic and secure state? | |
| 05.06.2013 | In brief: Kenya after the March 2013 elections |
| The 4 March presidential elections saw Jubilee Alliance candidate Uhuru Kenyatta win a narrow victory in the first round. , Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, are both due to be tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the violence that followed the December 2007 elections. The victory of Kenyatta and Ruto has presented Western governments with a dilemma. While Western rhetorical support for the ICC remains strong, many in Kenya and beyond believe that pressure is being exerted on it 'behind the scenes' to soften its position so that the cases do not excessively impede Western cooperation with the new Government. | |
| 13.05.2013 | Burundi: recent political and security developments |
| Since 2010 President Jean-Pierre Nkurunziza and his CNDD-FDD government have been at loggerheads with the main opposition parties. The stand-off has raised concerns that Burundi's status as a 'post-conflict' country might be in jeopardy. These concerns have been compounded by occasional armed skirmishes between the security forces and remaining rebel groups. However, with the next elections due in 2015, in recent months there has been some progress in terms of promoting political dialogue. |
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. |
