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African press review 27 February 2012

Bombs in Nigeria, Senegal's presidential elections and youth protests in Uganda are all big stories on the African continent today.

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The top Africa story today is the bomb blast in a church in Nigeria on Sunday carried out by the sect Boko Haram.

The recent attacks have had all sorts of consequences. Abuja-based Leadership reports on the bolstered security at police stations, so much so that there is no access to the car park in Abuja, there are increased security checks and gun-toting security officers. The place is almost unrecognisable, according to one local resident.

Leadership also fears that injured people were stranded at their homes during the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state capital, following the Friday bomb attack.

But the Lagos-based Guardian reports on a strange spin-off to the violence. 15 counties are eyeing the Nigerian arms manufacturers with a view to brokering deals.

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria was set up to produce small arms and ammunition by the Nigerian army and other security agencies.

The corporation also uses its excess capacity to manufacture spare parts for industry.

But over the next 2-3 weeks, the arms manufacturer is expected to hold meetings with Turkey and some other undisclosed countries who wish to produce arms and ammunition.

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria has said that it will do its utmost to ensure that the arms do not fall into the wrong hands.

As Senegalese voters wait to hear the results of the presidential election, This Day examines incumbent president Abdoulaye Wade’s past record.

It laments that for almost three decades he was the leading opposition figure in Senegal as he rallied the pople against the government of the day. Wade slowly garnered support and ran against former president Abdou Diouf whom he finally defeated in 2000.

This Day remarks that it was with great dignity that Abdou Diouf left office. And this is in comparison to the booing which greeted Wade yesterday. He is of course controversially running for a third term in office.

Who's who in 2012 Senegalese presidential election

Click to see the profiles

For This Day, it is unfortunate that Wade fails to appreciate the democratic tide that had in the past year has swept leaders from office. Including his late ally, the Libyan dictator Muammar Kadhafi.

To Uganda where The Monitor reports that the police may halt the ongoing countrywide rallies organised by political pressure group - Activists for Change.

This is apparently after a rowdy protest in the Kampala region on Saturday. Youths blocked the roads with logs and rocks causing heavy traffic.

According to the Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander, Mr Andrew Kaweesi, cars were also smashed.

Activists for Change campaign aims to raise awareness amongst Ugandans about the rampant corruption and embezzlement of public funds in Museveni’s government.

South Africa's Mail and Guardian, carries a story about the African Court on Human and People's rights. The paper finds it odd that the court is trying to raise its public profile and solicit new work, through seminars held in Johanesburg.

The paper remarks that it has only received ten cases this year despite a myriad of human rights violations across the continent.

But the paper notes, there has been a serious lack of commitment shown, for example, through delays in appointing judges.

The Mail and Guardian warns that the lack of commitment undermines the doctrine of 'African solutions for African problems'.

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