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1.	Somalia: A precarious and perilous place for the press
	Author: Editorial, Mogadishu	Date Written: 29 December 2008
	Primary Category: Eastern Region	Document Origin: National Union of Somali Journalists
	Secondary Category: -none-	Source URL: http://www.nusoj.org/
	Key Words: Somalia, press, freedoms, violence, NUSOJ,
	Summary & Comment: The Annual Report of The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) claims 2008 saw continued violence against the media. Across Somalia, violence, attacks, impunity and injustice against journalists and media remained widespread, systematic and involved a variety of perpetrators.
2.	Somalia - Two years after the invasion
	Author: Editorial, Asmara	Date Written: 27 December 2008
	Primary Category: Eastern Region	Document Origin: Shabait.com
	Secondary Category: -none-	Source URL: http://www.shabait.com/
	Key Words: Somalia, Ethiopian troops, peace, TPLF,
	Summary & Comment: On the second anniversary of the arrival of Ethiopian troops to Somalia, this editorial claims there has been no success. "... the ineffective, so-called, transitional government installed in Mogadishu by the TPLF troops could gain neither control nor acceptance among the Somali people". What will 2009 bring for Somalia? DH
3.	Somalia: To move beyond the failed State - ICG report
	Author: Africa Report N°147 & Media Release, Nairobi/Brussels	Date Written: 23 December 2008
	Primary Category: Eastern Region	Document Origin: International Crisis Group
	Secondary Category: -none-	Source URL: http://www.crisisgroup.org
	Key Words: Somalia, peace, political settlement,
	Summary & Comment: "Somalia’s latest transitional government is collapsing, but there is a chance to rescue a dire humanitarian and security situation if Western and other powers fundamentally revise their approach to a political solution," states the writer of this media release. The Executive Summary and Recommendations of the latest International Crisis . . . [expand]
4.	Somalia: Obama’s first Africa test
	Author: edited by William Minter	Date Written: 14 December 2008
	Primary Category: Eastern Region	Document Origin: AfricaFocus Bulletin
	Secondary Category: -none-	Source URL: http://www.africafocus.org
	Key Words: Somalia, USA, policy, test,
	Summary & Comment: This AfricaFocus Bulletin contains the December 10 statement from the Enough Project, and a press release and extracts from the summary of the report ""So Much to Fear: War Crimes and the Devastation of Somalia", a new report from Human Rights Watch that denounces human rights abuses on all sides of the conflict and charges that the . . . [expand]
5.	Uganda: Crippled and destitute stranded in camps
	Author: Caroline Ayugi, Gulu	Date Written: 14 December 2008
	Primary Category: Eastern Region	Document Origin: Institute for War & Peace Reporting
	Secondary Category: -none-	Source URL: http://www.iwpr.net/
	Key Words: Uganda, camps, destitution, displacement,
	Summary & Comment: There are many people left in about 200 refugee camps in northern Uganda. Many of the able bodied have returned to their villages, but the disabled and elderly have been left to fend for themselves. This is their story ... DH
6.	Uganda: Lira corruption arrests controversy
	Author: Patrick Okino, Lira	Date Written: 14 December 2008
	Primary Category: Eastern Region	Document Origin: Institute for War & Peace Reporting
	Secondary Category: -none-	Source URL: http://www.iwpr.net/
	Key Words: Uganda, Lira, corruption, police,
	Summary & Comment: Kampala lawyer, Cryspus Odongo, has criticised the police over their handling of arrests of local representatives suspected of fraud. These are further cases that relate to corruption involving government funds provided for the rebuilding of northern Uganda following 20 years of war. DH
7.	Eritrea: Many journalists still detained without charges, says Article 19
	Author: Press Release, London	Date Written: 11 December 2008
	Primary Category: Eastern Region	Document Origin: Article 19
	Secondary Category: Human Rights	Source URL: http://www.article19.org
	Key Words: Eritrea, UDHR, anniversary, journalists, detention,
	Summary & Comment: As the world celebrates 60 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, many Eritrean journalists and political opponents are still detained without charges for more than seven (7) years. Eritrea has the highest number of jailed and exiled journalists in Africa.

News from Additional Sources

IPS Inter Press Service - East Africa

1. KENYA: Press Freedom: Going, Going, Gone
   NAIROBI, Dec 24 (IPS) - Dark clouds are forming against freedom of expression in Kenya, following the recent passing of a controversial Bill by parliament. The Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill, awaiting presidential assent to become law, gives the state powers to invade media houses, seize broadcast equipment, control broadcast content, even taking a station off air.
2. DEVELOPMENT-AFRICA: Sanitation: 'This Is the Way We Live'
   NAIROBI, Dec 19 (IPS) - In 1925, Mahatma Gandhi remarked that "Sanitation is more important than political independence." More than 80 years later, access to basic sanitation remains out of reach for 546 million people in sub-Saharan Africa.
3. SOMALIA: Piracy Threatens Aid Effort
   MOMBASA, Dec 17 (IPS) - Pirate attacks in East African waters this year have disrupted the delivery of much-needed food aid to Somalia. With millions of lives at stake, U.N. World Food Program officials said the commencement last week of a European Union naval escort mission should help guarantee regular food shipments in the early months of 2009.
4. GENDER-KENYA: Renewed Campaign to Protect Women's Land Rights
   NAIROBI, Dec 16 (IPS) - Pressure is mounting to include a National Land Policy that ensures equal access to land between women and men in Kenya's new constitution.
5. AGRICULTURE-ETHIOPIA: Can Foreign-Owned Farms Solve Food Crisis?
   ADDIS ABABA, Dec 13 (IPS) - Tola Melka was planning to throw a traditional party at his shanty home in rural central Ethiopia, anticipating a bumper harvest. He was grief-stricken in late October when unexpected rains totally destroyed his almost ripened teff, a native staple crop used to make spongy bread.