Another step into the 21st century - 2 Nov 2009

If any of you thought that Somaliland is little more than warlords and pirates, the news is that the embattled country has made a step into this century - they have just introduced their first debit card. OK, they're a bit behind the rest of us, but at least it shows that there could be a functioning economy lurking in the background, and if they can shed their very dubious image of being an essentially lawless society, then outsiders - and that could include potential investors - might just be persuaded to take a closer look at our dilemma on the Horn of Africa.

Meanwhile, back in Tunisia, it seems that journalists might be fair game. The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has condemned the beating of a Tunisian journalist, allegedly by police, and the arrest of another. When are Africa's authorities going to get it through their collective heads that this sort of thing does absolutely nothing for the continent's image?

Freedom of the media and the freedom to do your job without being belted around the ear are part and parcel of a society that will tend to attract investments. Too many countries in Africa unfortunately seem to target members of the media too frequently - and by too frequently we mean one beating is one too many. That news gets around, and people outside of the continent do not look on it kindly.