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 |
|---|---|
| 01.05.2012 | Madagascar's political crisis |
| The continuing political crisis in Madagascar began when Andre Rajoelina successfully ousted the incumbent President, Marc Ravalomana, in March 2009 and installed himself instead, albeit formally as a transitional leader pending elections. The international community considers Rajoelina illegitimate. Regional mediation efforts to return Madagascar to 'constitutional rule' led to a peace deal in September 2011, but implementation remains fraught and the danger reamains that the process could collapse. | |
| 27.04.2012 | Sudan and South Sudan: All-out war? |
| On 9 July 2011, South Sudan formally seceded from Sudan. But many issues remain unresolved and there has been an upsurge in conflict since then in Abyei, Blue Nile and South Kordofan - known as the 'Three Areas'. This note surveys the many challenges still facing the 'two Sudans'. | |
| 12.04.2012 | Chad: A political and security digest |
| This note provides a quick guide to political and security issues currently affecting Chad -a country that at the moment may seem superficially stable, but one for which the norm over the past half century has been a condition of permanent emergency | |
| 02.04.2012 | Zimbabwe: recent political developments |
| This note surveys developments since the beginning of 2011, during which time implementation of the 2008 Global Political Agreement has remained painfully limited. President Robert Mugabe is threatening to hold elections during 2012 even if the new Constitution, under protracted negotiation, has not come into force. Zimbabwe's political prospects remain highly uncertain. | |
| 28.02.2012 | Preventing and prosecuting piracy at sea: legal issues |
| The resurgence in piracy at sea, particularly hijackings off the coast of Somalia, has prompted a range of efforts to tackle it. These throw up a series of legal issues including the use of force by governments and private armed security guards, and transferring of suspects for trial or imprisonment. Library Standard Notes covering related issues include: Piracy at sea: overview and policy responses; Somalia: recent political, security and humanitarian developments; and Does Somali piracy have any 'developmental effects'?. |
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. |
