Justin Sandefur: “Seeing Like a State in Africa: Data Needed.”
Chris Blattman: “Dear governments: Want to help the poor and transform your economy? Give people cash.”
“There are no foreclosed destinies, only deserted responsabilities” has become one of the mottos of the collective of Senegalese singers and journalists known as Y’En A Marre(“Enough is enough” in French). In the wake of the 2012 presidential elections, the group gained international recognition for leading the charge against then President Abdoulaye Wade, who was seeking a third term at age 86 while reportedly scheming to hand over the presidency to his son Karim Wade. Y’En A Marre’s international minute of fame may have passed with Macky Sall’s victory but its engagement as a new kind of political watchdog hasn’t faded since the ousting of Abdoulaye Wade. For its purpose is bigger: to form a united front against social injustice in Senegal and to shift the public debate away from politician bickering and back to the issues of ordinary Senegalese.
Africa in DC: “It’s Official: Obama to Africa This Summer.”
Shelby Grossman on upcoming elections in Equatorial Guinea.
Baobab: “Strauss-Kahn in South Sudan.”
Loomnie on Africans in China.
Somalia Newsroom: “Jubaland and the Future of Federalism in Somalia.”
Sahel Blog 
A few words about Obama’s visit to Africa.
1. He’s leaving out the most important nations in West Africa (Nigeria) and East Africa (Kenya). While it is great to visit Senegal & Tanzania, the economy of East Africa revolves around Kenya and Nigeria is extremely important in West Africa – and if a US president refuses to visit both countries, it will have zero impact on the strategic importance of both nations.
2. The second assumption is that US speaks with “moral authority”. That is a questionable proposition. America had moral authority pre-9/11, but post – 9/11, that moral authority is waning.
3. Many perceptive Africans will tell you that Obama’s visit is a little more than a PR excercise. They’ll tell you that while America delivers beautiful speeches, the Chinese are the more dynamic economic partner, by far. If you ask Ghanaians about the impact of Obama’s visit in 2009, you’ll draw blank stares, but they’ll tell you that the Chinese built Bui dam will have real economic impact.
4. At the end of the day, it boils down to “Obama visits some African nations, so what?”. Chinese leaders visit Africa a lot more often, with more productive outcomes & a lot less fuss.
From the Economist, one on the health (or the blackout about reporting on it) of Algeria’s president Bouteflika.
I’m reminded of events not too long ago in Nigeria and even more recently in Ethiopia (and in outside Africa in Venezuela) and of the fact that governments do not keep these details so secret unless they are worried.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/05/algeria-s-president-0