The model for Somalia is Switzerland

Somalia's Parliament Mogadishu 2010

"Don’t laugh! Political power in Switzerland lies in the cantons – the 26 proud self-governing communities. The state, such as it is, deals with international matters and national law. Who cares – or even knows – who the president of Switzerland is. The way people live and are governed is decided locally. The Swiss confederation means that cantons have joined the state willingly and can leave if they want to. If they were a simple federation, they could not."

Well, it's always fascinating - and kind of flattering - to observe the strange and exessively positive image of Switzerland in Africa. Honestly, I wasn't aware that the swiss cantons "can leave" the state, "if they want to." But the article in "African Arguments" is worth reading. Not to learn much about Switzerland, but interesting backgrounds about Somalia.

Contemporary African Art: „State of the Nation“

"State of The Nation" by Kudzanai Chiurai

Africa is not only war and misery. African culture is not only tribal masks, ritual dances and traditional drum beating. Africa has a very creative, lively culture and not least a very urban, sometimes very political contemporary art scene.

South Sudan: Selling Their Future

Farming in South Sudan's "Greenbelt" (Bild: Gurtong.net)

Everyone is talking about the oil in Southern Sudan. No wonder: About three-quarters of the known oil reserves in Sudan are under the new Republic of South Sudan. But the young State of the White Nile has other goods that soon will have much more much importance than what will be obtained with oil: fertile land - or more precisely: water.

Invest in South Sudan

Picture: Juba 2011 Reuters

Two and a half months ago, the Southern Sudan became officially independent. The political situation is far from providing an enabling environment for state-building and the much-needed private investment. But "the Wild West of East Africa" ​​is very important geo-politically, so the country still has a real chance to get on their feet. (I know, the Congo has said the same thing.)