African press review 23 March 2012

Mali's coup, Senegal's presidential run-off, a trap for "Kadhafi's black-box" and semen hunting... are in today's African newspapers.

“Africans must unite against the Mail coup”, says Kenya’s The National in its one of two editorials today. The author condemns the mutinous soldiers, saying they should have sought a resolution of their grievances through peaceful means.

“The world is not an island, which is why Africa must unite against the Mali coup plotters and any comeback elsewhere of the once familiar culture of military coups d’états".

“Wade must be joking!” exclaims the Daily Nation in its editorial two days ahead of a presidential run-off. The author scorns Senegal's president Abdoulaye Wade for pretending his country won’t be able to function if he is not re-elected.

“Such a bizarre assertion beats all logic, and may be a product of the senility that must be creeping up on the 85-year-old”, blasts the author who notes that Wade’s desire to hang on to power is a characteristic of many African leaders.

“They fail to recognise when they are past their sell-by dates…because they cannot contemplate living without power, while others are just afraid their misdeeds may catch up with them,” concludes the author.

South Africa’s Business Daily reports on the suspension of Iranian oil imports into the country. It says what is surprising is the statement by the country’s Minister of Energy,  Dipuo Peters, who claims the ministry does not yet have a plan to replace Iranian oil which accounts for 29 per cent of oil imports to the continent’s biggest economy. The minister underlines that the country had to cut supplies now or face severe American sanctions.

South Africa’s Times says the man it describes as “Kadhafi’s black box” has walked into a trap set by French and Mauritanian intelligence services”. The paper gives a gripping account of the capture of Abdullah al-Senussi, who was arrested in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott last week.

It says his arrest sets Libya on a collision course with France and the International Criminal Court, which both want Senussi extradited. The author claims Western and Arab powers are eager to deny the former head of Kadhafi’s intelligence a public trial which would expose their “dirty secrets”.

The paper also quotes a “senior Arab intelligence source” as saying Senoussi is the main witness to financial corruption and deals which involve many leaders and countries, including France.

The Boko Haram sect still dominates Nigerian papers. In its lead story, The Vanguard reports on a dramatic call by the Arewa Consultative Forum to resume negotiations between the Federal government and Boko Haram.

“In view of the overriding need across the nation for peace and security, we appeal to all the parties concerned to please reconsider their withdrawal from the talks and resume the dialogue!” the paper writes.

And finally...

“Sperm-hunting women prowl Zimbabwe highways”, claims South African’s Sowetan on its front page. It appears that Zimbabwe’s men are now scared of travelling in cars driven by women as there are “gangs of beautiful women picking up male travellers to have sex and harvest their sperm in condoms”.

According to the article, the sperm is thought to be intended for “juju” or traditional rituals to bring luck - whether it is in love, business or in crime!

According to a researcher from the University of Zimbabwe, interviewed by the paper, semen has become a lucrative commodity. So if you are a male tourist travelling in Zimbabwe and you are offered a ride by an attractive female… beware!