What is the difference between South Africa and Ethiopia? Simple. South Africa is a democracy (government of the people, by the people, and for the people). Ethiopia is a pluto-kleptocracy (a government of rich thieves, by rich thieves and for rich thieves). Two weeks ago in Hawassa, Ethiopia democracy was mocked. This past week democracy was vindicated in South Africa. Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa, did something that is rarely done, seen or heard of on the African continent. He relinquished power voluntarily, peacefully and gracefully. The African National Congress asked Thabo to step down. More on The Strange Career of Democracy in Africa

Washington,Dc : Somali Region President Abdillahi Hassen has been demoded from his position by Woyane cadres. He was the eighth president that Somali Region of Ethiopia has known. More on Woyanne demoded Somali region Cadres Presidents for eighth time

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia: An explosion outside a hotel in Ethiopia’s volatile eastern region killed four people Sunday and injured 20 others, a federal police spokesman said.

The explosion occurred at 10:20 a.m. (0720GMT) outside a hotel in the eastern Ethiopia town of Jijiga, some 430 miles (700 kilometers) east of the capital, Addis Ababa, said spokesman Demsash Hailu. More on 4 killed, 20 injured in eastern Ethiopia explosion

(CNN) — At least 52 Somalis died when the boat smuggling them across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen broke down, and they were left adrift with no food or water for 18 days, U.N. officials said Sunday.

Seventy-one people — ages 2 to 40 — survived the ordeal after the vessel drifted into Yemeni coastal waters September 21. They were rescued by coast guardsmen in Shihr, according to a news release from the San’a, Yemen, office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. More on At least 52 Somalis die in smuggling attempt

CBS) The first presidential debate helped uncommitted voters learn about the candidates – and it appears that Democrat Barack Obama benefited the most, according to a CBS News/Knowledge Networks poll taken immediately following the debate. More on CBS Poll: Obama Boosted Most By Debate

At least nine people have been killed during fighting in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, where hungry crowds have looted trucks carrying food aid.

The unrest came as Somali pirates seized a Ukrainian ship reported to be carrying about 30 T-72 tanks.

NAIROBI: For a moment, the pirates might have thought that they had really struck gold — Somalia-style.

The gun-toting, seafaring thieves, who routinely pounce on cargo ships bobbing along on the Indian Ocean, suddenly found themselves in command of a vessel crammed with $30 million worth of grenade launchers, piles of ammunition, even battle tanks. More on Warships of 2 big powers pursue Somali pirates who seized weapons

After African Union (AU) peacekeeping troops came under attack in Somalia for a third day running the BBC’s Mark Doyle, who has recently travelled to the country, reports on the worsening political and humanitarian crisis there.

A spokesman for the peacekeepers, Ugandan army Maj Bahoku Barigye, said the AU soldiers were attacked at the strategically important ‘K4′ roundabout – a central junction in the capital, Mogadishu, situated 4km from the sea port. More on AU peacekeepers mired in Somalia