May 19, 2008
From today's papers
British newspapers often try to increase circulation by serialising parts of a bestselling book – often the bonk-buster memoirs of a disgraced politician.
Here is the Sudanese version, from the front page of today's Advocate newspaper:
**********
Announcement
The Advocate Daily Newspaper shall be serializing:
The 'Oslo 2008 Donors' Report on Sudan' and 'Towards a Strategic Framework for the Multi-Donors Trust Fund for Southern Sudan' on pages 4 and 12 respectively.
**********
The thing is, these turgid, acronym-filled UN/donor/NGO reports do often count as mini-bestsellers here.
Go to Abyei or Juba and you will find people who can recite parts of the Report of the Abyei Boundaries Commission (ABC) or the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) verbatim.
And while we are in an unpleasant sneery mood, here is a front page apology from today's Citizen newspaper.
**********
Apology
The Citizen would like to apologize to our sincere readers for the mistake that appeared on our yesterday's lead story about Melez Zenawi, who was quoted as the President of Eritrea. The correct is that Melez Zenawi is the President of Ethiopia.
We are sure that our readers have observed that was unintended mistake.
**********
It is an easy mistake to make. Aren't Melez, the President of Ethiopia, and Izias, the Prime Minister of Eritrea, cousins, or something like that?
Posted by aheavens at May 19, 2008 7:30 AM
Comments
Why apologize for the sol called leaders, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Andrew, both of them are the usual African big men. Yes, you are right they kind cousins, or something like that.
Posted by: Baheilu at May 20, 2008 4:45 AM
Well, It is sort of funny. The honest mistake in way says the European media or public doesn't care much about this corner of the world. I am sure the British media would not make a similar mistake with Prime Minister of Israel and President of Egypt.
As much egoistical and self-centered both leaders are, it is good see the outside world can't tell them apart.
By the way, Eritrea has a president and not prime minister- which does not mean much since it is one man show and there is no resembles of democrac...
I am not sure about the cousin thing... but they both come from the same ethnic or tribe-tigrinya.
Posted by: jonah at May 20, 2008 7:12 AM
Meles is PM of Ethiopia. Issais is president of Eritrea.
Posted by: John at May 20, 2008 7:48 PM
Is this a joke?
Ok, they made a mistake at first but why can't they get it right the second time.
I really wonder sometimes who are their sources and where they gather their info.
Posted by: abyssinia at May 20, 2008 10:16 PM
Thanks for the correction John. Actually, I was just trying to by funny with the name/title mix up - admittedly not very funny
Posted by: andrew at May 21, 2008 8:31 AM