Peace deals are always enthusiastically welcomed in war-ravaged countries. This has naturally been the case with the June agreement signed by the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the moderate minority from the rebel Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. More on Somalia: Will Djibouti Do The Trick?

In “my salad days when I was green in judgment” and thought of courage what immediately leapt to my mind were JFK and his Profiles In Courage; and Papa Hemingway whose definition of courage, “grace under pressure”, JFK cited on the first page of his book. More on The courage and the long happy life of Dorothy Grove

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Nigeria. Rwanda. Uganda. Ethiopia. Gabon. Robert Mugabe’s regime in Zimbabwe has plenty of competitors for the title of “least democratic in Africa.”

But while he has been singled out for condemnation by the West, leaders of other autocratic states in Africa have largely been able to avoid sanctions and isolation. Many have friends in Western capitals. Or play a strategic role in the war against terrorist groups. Or sit on oil.