Africa Debate - Ellen Otzen

Should Africa rethink its strategy on Somali pirates?

Ellen Otzen Ellen Otzen — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:13:49 +0000

Maritime piracy is costing the global economy between $7bn (£4.4bn) and $12bn (£7.6bn) a year, but is enough being done to combat it?

Piracy in the Indian Ocean has taken a turn for the worse recently, with the killings of two seized Fillipino crewmen and the hijacking of an oil tanker with a cargo worth $200m (£125m).

Many of the pirates say they began as fishermen who lost their livelihoods because of foreign trawlers, but without doubt huge profits are being made through piracy.

Is there more that Africa can do to tackle the pirates? Is your country affected by Somali piracy? Does your government have the right strategy to tackle it? What is needed to put an end to piracy?

If you would like to debate this topic LIVE on air on Wednesday 16 February at 1600 GMT, please include a telephone number. It will not be published.

Can a cocoa ban oust Gbagbo?

Ellen Otzen Ellen Otzen — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:45:16 +0000

Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognised president of Ivory Coast, has called for a month-long ban on cocoa exports. Ivory Coast is the world's biggest cocoa exporter and 700,000 households in Ivory Coast rely on the cocoa industry for income.

The brown beans are also a key source of revenue for Laurent Gbagbo, who has rejected pressure to step down.

But can a cocoa ban oust Gbagbo?

If not, what would? How do you find the right sanctions?

If you would like to debate this topic LIVE on air on Tuesday 25 January at 1600 GMT, please include a telephone number. It will not be published.

Your visa questions to US embassy

Ellen Otzen Ellen Otzen — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:03:58 +0000

What does it take to get a visa to the United States? Each year, thousands of Africans apply for tourist and immigrant visas to the US.

What requirements do you need to meet in order to succeed and why might you be turned down?

Today on Africa Have Your Say, it's your chance to put questions to the US embassy in South Africa.

Have you had trouble getting a visa to the US, UK or elsewhere? Tell us your visa stories.

Can West Africa resolve Ivory Coast crisis?

Ellen Otzen Ellen Otzen — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 15:55:46 +0000

African leaders are offering amnesty to Ivory Coast's incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo following November's disputed elections.

Despite almost universal criticism, Mr Gbagbo is still refusing to step down as president.

The UN says some 200 people have been killed or have disappeared in politically motivated violence in the past month.

The African Union has suspended Ivory Coast from the organisation until opposition candidate Alassane Ouattara "takes over" from Mr Gbagbo.

West African regional bloc Ecowas has warned that it is ready to use "legitimate force" if President Gbagbo refuses to stand aside.

Should the AU support Ecowas and become more vocal about potential military action? Can West Africa countries resolve the standoff in Ivory Coast?

Your Hajj stories

Ellen Otzen Ellen Otzen — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:55:57 +0000

Thousands of African Muslims are now in Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage known as the Hajj.

Many Africans save money for years and travel thousands of miles to make it. So we'd like to hear your stories about going on the Hajj. What challenges did you overcome to get there and what was the experience like?

If you've tried to reach Mecca without success, what obstacles were in your path?

If you would like to debate this topic LIVE on air on Tuesday 16 November at 1600 GMT, please include a telephone number. It will not be published.

Is it the right time to invest in Africa?

Ellen Otzen Ellen Otzen — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:43:20 +0000

Anti-poverty campaigner and singer Bob Geldof wants to raise $1bn for a private equity fund to invest in Africa. Mr Geldof says he can bring more wealth to the continent by investing in business rather than campaigning for aid.

African economies have grown by 6% on average over the past ten years. In another show of optimism, Nigeria's finance minister predicts that his country's economy will grow by 10% by the end of 2011, and Ugandan officials are currently in London courting foreign investors.

Despite this, the Commission for Africa is urging donors to give billions more dollars in aid to the continent. Sceptics say a turbulent political climate and poor infrastructure still make the continent a risky place to invest.

Are the sceptics right? Are African markets still too volatile to allow major investment? If you are an entrepreneur, do you want to invest in African businesses?

If you would like to debate this topic LIVE on air on Wednesday 15 September at 1600 GMT, please include a telephone number. It will not be published.