TransAfrica Forum expresses its sorrow at the news of a school collapse on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti that has killed at least 50 people and injured over 120. According to the BBC, an estimated 200 to 700 children were packed inside the three-story building at the time. Countless others are still trapped in the rubble.

After six months of political instability, politically motivated violence and amidst a worsening economic situation, the newly negotiated but unsigned power sharing agreement appears to be merely a pact between political elites but not an actual resolution of the Zimbabwean crisis.

TransAfrica Forum, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, and other non-governmental organizations will, in an act of solidarity with Southern African civil society, deliver a ‘People’s Indictment’ to the government of the Zimbabwe charging them with crimes against the Zimbabwean people and undermining the democratic process in Zimbabwe. The people of Zimbabwe have been betrayed, by the government that claims to represent them.

TransAfrica Forum is encouraged by the safe rescue of 15 hostages from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) including Colombian former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and U.S. citizens Thomas Howes, Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell as well as eleven Colombian police and soldiers. The rescue, led by the Colombian military, follows the release of other high-profile hostage releases earlier this year. Leadership from throughout the Americas has been essential to these exchanges, including Afro-Colombian Senator Piedad Córdoba, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Governor Bill Richardson. TransAfrica Forum expresses our utmost appreciation to these leaders for increasing the visibility of and taking leadership on the hostage situation, including negotiations with the FARC and meetings with Colombian and regional leadership.

Senator John McCain visits Colombia this week. At issue is the Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Plan Colombia, the multi-billion dollar, U.S.-backed, drug eradication effort designed to halt coca production and end cocaine shipments. According to news reports, his campaign committee is financing the trip.

TransAfrica Forum, the nation’s oldest African American human rights and social justice advocacy organization promoting diversity and equity in the foreign policy arena, condemns the violence perpetrated by the Mugabe regime against community organizers, unions and opposition party members and supports Zimbabwean Civil Society’s decision to reject the June 27th run off elections.

TransAfrica Forum is outraged at the arrest of the opposition party Secretary General, Tendai Biti, for the “treasonous act” of developing a document to transition the Zimbabwean government from ZANU-PF to a Movement for Democratic Change. Now, more than ever, it is essential to lift up the voice of the Zimbabwean people and their desire to have a peaceful and internationally monitored run-off election on June 27th.

Daily, I get forwarded informational emails from family members. Most are constructive. They remind me of the important fact that far too many women in our country are dying of cancer. Others are not so constructive, and talk about economic problems in the U.S. focusing on one central enemy: the immigrant.

May 25, Africa Day, a day on which millions around the world celebrate African unity. But for more than 25,000 immigrants displaced by South Africa’s worse violence since the apartheid era, African unity is a bitter dream.

TransAfrica Forum condemns the xenophobic violence that has erupted in South Africa, which so far has claimed the lives of at least 40 people and displaced an estimated 16,000 immigrants and nationals. TransAfrica Policy Experts available for interviews.