According to IRIN, Andry Rajoelina's attempt to legitimize his rule as Madagascar's president by holding his inauguration on 21 March is serving to galvanize international opposition to his new administration. Rajoelina, the former mayor of the capital, Antananarivo, ousted the elected president, Marc Ravalomanana, with the backing of the military, claiming his rise was the "popular will" of the Malagasy. Foreign diplomats were conspicuous by their absence at the Antananarivo inauguration. The island state is heavily dependent on donor funding for its administration and the US - one of the biggest foreign donors - and Norway have already frozen aid in protest of the manner in which Rajoelina attained power.

South Africa Stands Ground on Refusing Dalai Lama a Visa

South Africa government is sticking to its decision to deny Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama a visa to attend a 2010 Soccer World Cup-related peace conference in Johannesburg on Friday. Demands for the cancellation of the conference grew yesterday, as leaders and political bodies protested at the government's decision, evidently to please trade partner China. The Nobel committee in Norway announced it would not attend if the decision was not reversed, as did Nobel Peace laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and FW De Klerk. "If His Holiness's visa is refused, then I won't take part in the coming 2010 World Cup-related peace conference," Tutu was quoted as saying, from the US. "I will condemn government's behaviour as disgraceful, in line with our country's abysmal record at the United Nations Security Council, a total betrayal of our struggle history.”We are shamelessly succumbing to Chinese pressure. I feel deeply distressed and ashamed.” The Nelson Mandela Foundation said former president Nelson Mandela would not be attending as he had never planned to do so.

Uganda to Get Rice Research Centre

Uganda has received a $6m (about sh12b) grant from Japan to construct a rice research centre at the Namulonge Crops Research Institute in Wakiso district. The research will focus on New Rice for Africa, a high-yielding, early-maturing species promoted by Japan according to New Vision. Finance minister Syda Bbumba yesterday signed the grant agreement, while the Japan International Cooperation Agency representative, Seki Tetsuo, signed for his country. The function, attended by the former Japanese Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, was held at the finance ministry headquarters in Kampala. Bbumba noted that promotion of research in rice was in line with the Government's Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture. "Uganda is centrally positioned to produce food for the region. Rice is one of the crops needed to feed the region," she stated. Regional trade based on agricultural produce, Bbumba observed, would be a stimulus for economic growth. She hoped that the centre would increase productivity and improve quality of rice grown in Uganda. Ugandans consume about 160,000 tonnes of rice pear year.

Nigeria Tenure - Senators Rally Round Iwu

Senators, among them Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Isiaka Adeleke, rose in defence of the Chairman of the commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu, saying his tenure has not expired according to press reports only expire in June next year. The defence came on the heels of the revelation by Lagos-based lawyer and President of the West African Bar Association (WABA), Mr. Femi Falana, that Iwu's continued stay in office was illegal. Falana told press that he would head for court over the matter. e had stated that the tenure of Iwu, who was appointed as INEC commissioner in 2003 and named chairman of the Commission in 2005, "expired last August by effluxion of time.” But it emerged yesterday that Iwu who joined INEC after the 2003 election as a national commissioner was actually screened by the Senate for the chairmanship position on June 1st, 2005 and sworn in by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on June 13, 2005 for a five-year tenure.