Skip to main content

African press review 2 March 2012

Poaching in Cameroon, a possible free trade agreement between two Kenya and Tanzania and breaking off an engagement in Nigeria, are all stories in some of Africa's papers today.

Advertising

The Nairobi Star, a Kenyan newspaper, reports that the owner of Anglo Leasing, Deepak Kamani, has had his financial assets frozen by the Swiss authorities.

Anglo Leasing, which is widely referred to in Kenya as Anglo Fleecing, gained notoriety in 2002 for its involvement a corruption scandal involving a government contract for updating the passport printing system.

The article cites unconfirmed reports that Kamani-associated companies might have one hundred and thirty million euro in accounts in Geneva with HSBC, Schroders, UBS and Pictet.

The Kenyan Anti Corruption Committee lodged the request with Swiss authorities two years ago, the paper says.

In Cameroon, the government owned Tribune newspaper, reports that efforts are underway to combat poaching.

According to the paper, 128 elephants have been killed for their tusks this year alone, by foreigners, the paper says.

The government has pledged to beef up security in the region by employing an unspecified number of additional park rangers, in the Bouba N'djidda national park.

Returning to the Nairobi Star. Kenya and Tanzania are edging ever closer to a free trade agreement.

The two countries share a border of course. 

And anyone who has tried crossing the border between the two countries will know how time-consuming that can be because of the bustling markets on either side.

But the paper says the Ngorongoro, Loliondo and Sirare markets will now benefit from a permanent free trade agreement which will allow traders to cross the border freely.

Now, one doesn’t often read stories about women seeking justice in Sharia courts.

The Leadership newspaper in Nigeria, which is widely viewed as independent, has such a story.

The paper reports that a 45-year old man was dragged to Kaduna Sharia Court - perhaps literally, who knows? by his would-be mother-in-law for trying to back out of marrying her daughter.

The man told the court the reason he wanted out was, I quote, "because of the certain unbecoming attitude," of his future bride.

Although he refused to state exactly how the unbecoming behaviour manifested itself, he did request a full refund of his dowry of seventy-five euro.

But like so many women who seek justice in a sharia court, the woman lost and will have to give the dowry back, despite having spent it on wedding preparations.

Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning

Keep up to date with international news by downloading the RFI app

Share :
Page not found

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.