· February, 2006

Stories about Governance from February, 2006

Singapore: Leap Backward

  28 February 2006

Singaland senses in the latest government budget a step backward for Singapore: “The most telling sign is the decision to build 2-room flats for sale. The government had stopped building two- and three-room flats for sale in the 1980s as Singaporeans became well off and wanted to live in bigger...

Singapore, Thailand: Photoblogging Protests

  27 February 2006

Singapore-based themediaslut is photoblogging protests in Thailand against business mogul and PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who last week dissolved parliament and called snap elections as a response to the public outcry over the tax-free millions earned from the sale of a controlling stake in his Shin Corp. to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.

Zimbabwe: Mugabe birthday speech

  27 February 2006

Zimbabwean blogger, the Bearded Man reports on Mugabe's birthday speech in which he blasts imperialism and gays and lesbians..on imperialism “in a state of readiness to fight the enemies who might dare to attack you, invade you or claim through the use of arms that a portion of Zimbabwe belongs...

South Africa: Mbeki Interview

  27 February 2006

South Africa reports on a recent newspaper interview with South African President, Thabo Mbeki in which he covered mistakes by the Government in the first five years of local government, on corrutpion and government poweres encroaching on the judiciary.

Ethiopia: Yacob Hailemariam

  27 February 2006

Nazret.com reports on the continuing imprisonment of Ethiopian professor, Yacob Hailemariam. “Hailemariam left Virginia Beach for his native Ethiopia last year to try and spread the democratic values he’d come to cherish after decades in America. He won a seat in parliament in last May’s elections.”

Uganda: Museveni wins

  27 February 2006

Jewels in the Jungle reports on the Ugandan elections won by Yoweri Museveni and writes “Museveni's win leaves Western donors in a dilemma. Unhappy that the constitution was changed to allow him to run for a third term, they were further infuriated by the brief detention of Besigye prior to...

The week in Kenyan Blogs

  27 February 2006

Image courtesy of White African This week has Kenyan bloggers writing about very diverse topics, let us start with sports White African reminisces about rugby in Kenyan High schools , generating about 20 comments, that is how passionate Kenyan's can be about rugby. Kenya Cricket has an excellent play by...

Lone Haiti-Based Haitian Blogger on Recent Haitian Elections

  26 February 2006

Yon Ayisyen, the sole Haiti-based Haitian blogger complains (FR) that he does not have an internet connection at home. But that has not stopped him from blogging regularly if not always promptly about the recent presidential elections. Special Rules for Favored Candidate? Riots over the possibility of a runoff in...

A Look at the Syrian Blogsphere

  26 February 2006

After a tense month of anti-violence campaigns, the Syrian blogsphere seemed to be quite calm this week… Discussions revolved about the new step from the US to give a $5 million to promote democratic governance and reform in Syria. While Joshua Landis of SyriaComment.com sees this step as a good...

Pulse of the Saudi Blogosphere

  25 February 2006

Many different and interesting topics were discussed in the Saudi blogosphere this week, so let's start our roundup right away. What is the difference between democracy and American democracy? Hassan thinks he has the answer (Arabic). “In democracy, those who gain more votes should win. In American democracy, those who...

Bahamas: Jeb Bush visit

  24 February 2006

On the occasion of Florida governor Jeb Bush's visit to the Bahama, Bahama Pundit offers an overview of Bush's achievements and some foreign policy suggestions for the Bahamas leadership.

Somaliland: possible independence

  24 February 2006

Inside Somaliland posts an article on the African Union accepting the split of Somaliland.…….Hopes of recognition for Somali-land’s 15-year independence have been raised by the favourable report of an African Union mission that visited the territory last year.”

Ethiopia: Illusions

  24 February 2006

Ethiopundit comments on the illusions being portrayed by the government of Meles Zenawi..”Another set of illusions being projected by the government has to do with how allegedly well the economy is doing under Meles Inc. ownership and how aid is therefore not a big deal.@