The 'cancer from within we need to fix' in Africa.

Kofi Annan asserts to NewsWeek that this 'cancer' is the lack of a constitutional structure within Governments in Africa that distributes power evenly, and so governments that fail to let people of different ethnic groups [as in the case of Kenya] " feel that the cloth of government is stretched to cover everybody, that nobody is left out or discriminated against in terms of economic well-being and resources, access to money and power". Too true.

Peace and sustained prosperity could only be a possibility when there arises among African leaders, an earnest committment to honest leadership. A committment to honest leadership immediately appreciates the dangers inherent in creating a climate of distrust among different ethnic groups.

Honest leadership would recorgnise that faced with the situation of having to deal with different ethnic groups, equitable disribution of wealth and resources is perhaps the only sure way to unity, sustained prosperity, and ultimately peace.

Responsible leadership, and Peace: The Chadian story

The denouncing of rebel attacks in chad by the French government last week, on the grounds that the Chadian government was legitimately elected, brings into sharp focus the way that irresponsible leadership impacts on Peace.

The Chadian government seems not to have fulfilled its promises to the man, woman and child on the streets, to provide the basic amenities that would make their lives worth living.

This has clearly led to the people applauding rebel attacks on the infrastructure of their government, even if these rebels do not neccessarily guarantee unity, prosperity and ultimately, peace.

The current situation is a recipe for the perpetuation of conflict in Chad, and for that matter any other country in the same predicament.

Perhaps Western governments should spend time visibly encouraging the governments of countries where they have interests, to provide for the needs of their people.

The tragedy that is a lack of consideration for the man, woman and child on the streets.

Real peace can only be negotiated with the Governed and not 'Governments'. Israeli blockade of Gaza leads only to an alienation of the Man, Woman, and Child on the streets. This can only serve to perpetuate mistrust and conflict.

Mwai Kibaki's declaration that he was the duly elected President of Kenya directly after shaking hands on a truce with Odinga sends the wrong message to the man, woman and child on the streets. It is a declaration of contempt for their concerns. This again would only perpetuate mistrust and conflict.

"Gaza is a tough situation. I don't know whether you can solve it in a year or not".

... a statement [from Bush to Abu- Mazen]. At present, Gaza is possibly the single most undermining factor in the achieving of peace in the region within one year. Without a unified Palestinian authority it is difficult to see how peace can be negotiated effectively. Rather than leave Abu- Mazen with the task of 'solving' the tough situation in Gaza, he needs to be supported to achieve this. This of course will involve negotiating with Hamas, and if that is what it is then so be it.

The Bush visit to the Middle East: Will it achieve anything?

Difficult to imagine that it would, especially as he has not started by exhorting both the Israelis and the Palestinians to adopt an HONESTY and SINGLE MINDEDNESS OF PURPOSE to achieve an elusive peace.

An honesty and single mindedness of purpose have become of urgent importance as the road to peace has become dogged by pitfalls engineered by elements from both sides, and from without. these elements have selfish interests that could never serve as a catalyst, but would rather hinder the march to peace.

On the post-election violence in Kenya

For the sake of unity, peace and prosperity, the peoples that constitute Governments must seek a middle-line between the extremes of inaction and a resorting to outright violence, in the wake of flawed elections. Inaction encourages the political class to alienate the citizenry and mismanage resources. Outright violence breeds mistrust between peoples, leading ultimately to a lack of unity, peace and a push for prosperity.

The death of Ms Bhutto and the future of Pakistan.

The war being fought against terror on the one hand, and the war against 'authoritarian' rule on the other, represents a conundrum for proponents of democracy in Pakistan. Ms Bhutto's most unfortunate death suggests that Pakistan has become a far more complicated and dangerous place since she last ruled it, so much so that whatever push for democratic rule spearheaded by her could not guarantee her safety. Perhaps for all concerned, concentrating on the war on terror at this time should have taken precedence over the war on 'authoritarian' rule.