Free Election ነፃ ምርጫ

Japanese- Ethiopian Eskesta Dancer and Amharic Speaker - YouTube

2013-05-06T07:26:00.001-07:00

World Press Freedom Day 2013: 5 Countries With the Least Press Freedom

2013-05-06T00:17:00.001-07:00

World Press Freedom Day 2013 5 Countries With the Least Press Freedom

May 3 marked the twentieth anniversary of UNESCO's World Press Freedom Day. A day to celebrate press freedom around the world. Or the lack of it. Reporters Without Borders has released its annual report on world press freedom in 2013, which documents overall trends and has a region-by-region breakdown of key issues and developments. This yearalready, nineteen journalists have been killed and 174 imprisoned, and 9 netizens and citizen journalists have been killed and 162 imprisoned.

The Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders "reflects the degree of freedom that journalists, news organizations and netizens enjoy in each country, and the efforts made by the authorities to respect and ensure respect for this freedom."

According to Reporters Without Borders, following the Arab uprisings and "other protest movements that prompted many rises and falls in last year’s index [the] ranking of most countries is no longer attributable to dramatic political developments. This year’s index is a better reflection of the attitudes and intentions of governments towards media freedom in the medium or long term."

Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, and Andorra are ranked as the countries that most respect media freedom, while Eritrea, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Syria, and Somalia are the countries that least respect it.

1. Eritrea

According to Reporters Without Borders, with at "least 30 behind bars [Eritrea] is Africa’s biggest prison for journalists." Following a widespread government crackdown in 2001, there are no independent news outlets in Eritrea. Of the eleven journalists who were imprisoned in 2001, seven have already died in prison or killed themselves. The government, led by the Information Minister Ali Abdu, uses intimidation and imprisonment to maintain control information.

2. North Korea

The North Korean government exercises direct and total control over the media in the country, which is tasked with glorifying the state and its former leader Kim Il-sung. Although independent North Korean radio stations exist in South Korea, thousands "of North Koreans have been detained for listening to a foreign radio station, making phone calls abroad or publicly questioning the sole political party."

North Korea is also one of the hardest countries for foreign journalists to cover, with access and freedom of movement severely restricted.

3. Turkmenistan

Similar to North Korea, local media in Turkmenistan is "under total state control." According to Reporters Without Borders, journalists are required to "cover the president’s “achievements” and “good works,” radio and TV stations and newspapers are scolded when they fail to show enough fervour and deference towards him, and are subjected to arbitrary appointments and dismissals."

While the internet may offer some hope for change, access is severely restricted and "independent journalists have to operate clandestinely and risk arbitrary detention or even torture." Journalists Annakurban Amanklychev and Sapardurdy Khadzhiev, both held on fabricated charges, were only released earlier this year after seven years in prison.

4. Syria

While privately-owned media outlets have emerged in Syria, the state "has always maintained a stranglehold on news content," through web censorship, harassment and abuse of journalists, media blackouts on dissent, and the arrest and expulsion of foreign reporters.

According to Reporters Without Borders, of all the countries on the list, Syria is the one which saw "most attacks on freedom of information." It went on to say that reporters are being "targeted by all the parties to the conflict – the regular army and the various opposition factions – who are waging an information war."

5. Somalia

Already this year four journalists have been killed in Somalia, adding to the eighteen killed last year. Journalists in the country operate under the constant threat of arbitrary arrest and detention, surviving, in the words of one Somali reporter, only by living in a "state of paranoia constantly assessing and reassessing your surroundings." Not only is the number of targeted assassinations is alarming, but some journalists have "ended up in jail even without publishing or airing a report."

As we reflect on the severe restrictions that journalists in the above countries face, we must also remain critical of the state of the media in countries that are so often held up as beacons of freedom. While obviously not on the same scale as what is happening in Eritrea or Somalia, things such as the hacking scandal in Britain and the arrest of journalists covering the Occupy movement in the U.S. should also give us pause for thought.

Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Venezuela MPs have a punch-up in parliament over election dispute - YouTube

2013-05-01T06:59:00.001-07:00

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Museveni salutes Kenyans for 'rejecting ICC'

2013-04-10T02:12:00.001-07:00

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni addresses the public during inauguration of Uhuru Kenyatta as Kenya’s fourth President at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on Tuesday. [Photo: Govedi Asutsa/Standard]

By David Ohito

Kenya: Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni stirred fresh International Criminal Court debate during President Uhuru’s inauguration ceremony on Tuesday in Nairobi.

Museveni, who is also the the Comesa chairman, was among dignitaries attending the swearing in and handing over ceremony held at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.

“I want to salute the Kenyan voters on one issue – the rejection of the blackmail by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and those who seek to abuse this institution for their own agenda” Museveni said in statement.

Said Museveni; Furthermore, " I was one of those that supported the ICC because I abhor impunity. However, the usual opinionated and arrogant actors using their careless analysis have distorted the purpose of that institution. They are now using it to install leaders of their choice in Africa and eliminate the ones they do not like."

He added: "What happened here in 2007 was regrettable and must be condemned. A legalistic process, especially an external one, however, cannot address those events. Events of this nature first and most importantly, need an ideological solution by discerning why they happened. Why did inter community violence occur? Was it for genuine or false reasons? Even if you assume they were genuine reasons as a hypothetical argument, why should villagers attack one another? Would the villagers have been responsible for whatever mistakes that would have occurred?"

Musveni who previously supported ICC and the arrest of Ugandan fugitive Joseph Kony said : "Instead of a thorough and thoughtful process, we have individuals engaged in legal gymnastics! In Uganda’s case, between 1966 and 1986, we lost about 800,000 persons killed by the leaders who were in charge of the country. How did we handle that sad history? Have you ever heard us asking ICC or the UN to come and help us deal with that sad chapter of our history?"

He argued: "We only referred Joseph Kony of LRA to ICC because he was operating outside Uganda. Otherwise, we would have handled him ourselves. Equally, Kenyan actors are the ones best qualified to sit and delve into their history in order to discover the ideological stimuli the Kenyan society needs. I, therefore, use this opportunity to salute the Kenyan voters again, rejecting that blackmail and upholding the sovereignty of the Kenyan people. The people of Kenya extended hospitality to Ugandans when they had to run out of their country because of criminal rule in Uganda."

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto are facing crimes against humanity charges at the ICC following the disputed 2007/8 presidential election that left over a thousand dead.

What Ghana can teach the rest of Africa about democracy - CNN.com

2012-12-06T11:33:00.001-08:00

By George Ayittey, Special to CNN

December 6, 2012 -- Updated 1113 GMT (1913 HKT)

Supporters of Ghanaian opposition candidate Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party, in Kasoa, December 1, 2012.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Ghana heads to the polls on December 7
It has successfully held elections and transferred power on five occasions since 1992
George Ayittey: Free media, civil groups, are secrets of the country's success
These factors can ensure free, fair and peaceful elections across Africa, he says

Editor's note: George Ayittey is a native of Ghana and president of the Free Africa Foundation, based in Washington, DC. He is the author of "Defeating Dictators."

(CNN) -- Unlike their Western counterparts, Africans take elections very seriously -- rising up early to queue patiently in line for hours under the hot sun and cast their ballots. Any misguided attempt to nullify or steal their votes will evoke a strong reaction from them. In fact, it explains why the destruction of an African country often begins with a dispute over the electoral process or transfer of power.

In recent years, allegations of electoral fraud have stirred political violence and civil war, causing death and destruction in Ethiopia (2005), Kenya (2007), Zimbabwe (2008), DR Congo (2011), among others.

The adamant refusal of their respective leaders to relinquish or share power damaged or destroyed these African countries: Liberia (1990), Somalia (1991), Rwanda (1994), Zaire, now Congo DR, (1993), Sierra Leone (1998), Ivory Coast (2000, 2011), Egypt (2011), Libya (2011).

George Ayittey

This largely motivated Mo Ibrahim, the telecoms billionaire mogul, to offer a $5 million prize to any African leader who shows "excellent leadership" and who steps down peacefully when his term expires or loses an election. This year -- and for the third time since the inception of the prize in 2006 -- he found no eligible recipient.

Though none of its leaders has won the prize, Ghana has successfully held elections and transferred power on five occasions since 1992 without imploding -- unlike its Western neighbor, Ivory Coast.

What are the secrets to Ghana's democratic success or maturity that other African countries can learn from?

Four factors account for this. The first is the existence of a free media; in particular, print and broadcast media.

Ghana in mourning after president dies

In Africa, radio is the life and death of information transmission and the proliferation of FM radio stations in Ghana provided an invaluable tool to expose problems, hold government accountable and ensure transparent elections. In the 2000 elections, for example, FM Radio stations sent their reporters to every polling station. Anything suspicious or unseemly was immediately reported on the air, leading electoral officers and observers to rush to the scene and fix the problem on the spot.

Watch: Media's role in Ghanaian politics

They did not have to wait months for a voluminous report to expose the problem, by which time it would have been too late. Thus, the FM Radio stations ensured a level of transparency seldom seen in African elections. So impressed was New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, that he wrote: "Let's stop sending Africa lectures on democracy. Let's instead make all aid, all IMF-World Bank loans, all debt relief conditional on African governments permitting free FM radio stations. Africans will do the rest," he wrote.

Sadly, Africans have not been able to do the rest because, currently, only 10 of the 54 African countries have a free media. In Ethiopia, for example, there is only one government-controlled television network for 83 million people.

The second factor has been the existence of vibrant and vigilant civil society groups and NGOs -- all made possible by freedom of association, of expression and movement, as well as improvements in communication technology such as cell phones and text messaging. There are hordes of NGOs -- promoting a diverse range of issues such as good governance combating corruption, among others. Some have been formed specifically to oversee the December 7 elections.

Nearly all civil society groups, including religious leaders have been preaching peaceful elections.
George Ayittey

One with impressive credentials is the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), which organized the presidential debates. The IEA also facilitated the crafting of a "Political Parties Code of Conduct" and the setting up of a National Enforcement Body to enforce the code. Eight parties have signed on. The code ensures that the political parties behave responsibly and can be held liable for any unlawful or unethical acts they commit.

Nearly all civil society groups, including religious leaders have been preaching peaceful elections. Even former president Jerry Rawlings, the architect of "macho-men" violence in the past, is now campaigning -- not for any political party candidate -- but for peace.

To this group may be added Ghanaians in the diaspora, who have a passionate interest in the affairs of their home country. Last year, they reportedly sent more than $14.5 billion in remittances. They can shape and influence political opinion, as well as support various political candidates. With access to the foreign media, governments and institutions, they can raise a stink over electoral shenanigans in Ghana.

In most other African countries, the space for civic activism is severely restricted. In Ethiopia, journalists critical of the government have been branded "terrorists" and jailed.

There is no privately-owned news media left in Eritrea, the "North Korea" of Africa, and one can be jailed in Zimbabwe for insulting the president.

By contrast, Ghanaian presidents expect to be insulted.

The third important factor has been the maturing of political leaders, which was stupendously displayed in the 2008 elections, which the ruling NDC party won by a mere 40,000-vote margin. Elsewhere on the continent, an election that close would have spelled trouble -- angry calls for a recount and descent into violence. But Nana Akuffo-Addo, the losing candidate and now a contender, graciously conceded defeat.

Having hosted refugees fleeing political violence and mayhem in neighboring countries, Ghanaian politicians and the people are now well aware of the destructive consequences an irresponsible political decision may cause.

Political maturity was also on full display following the death of former president John Atta-Mills in July. Not only was the transition to a new president extraordinarily smooth but Ghanaians of all shades and stripes, buried their differences and came together to grieve over their departed president. A violent and chaotic election this week would dishonor his memory.

A nod should also be given to regional leaders, in particular those of Ghana's neighbors. Borders are porous in Africa and violence in one country can send refugees streaming across the border.

Ghana has hosted refugees from civil wars in Liberia and Ivory Coast. In the past, regional leaders have also helped ensure free, fair and transparent elections in Ghana. For example, for the 2000 elections, the former and late president of Togo, Gnassingbe Eyadema, closed the Ghana/Togo border to prevent some of his citizens from crossing it to vote illegally in Ghana's elections.

The fourth factor has been sheer luck. Ghana was fortunate to have one of its sons, Kofi Annan, serve as the United Nations Secretary-General (1997-2006) and co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

During his tenure, he hop-scotched around the world, trying to end conflicts, douse political flames. He is the first on call when a country implodes to broker a peace deal -- Kenya (2007), Syria (2011), etc. Imagine Annan telling combatants in Kenya and Syria to bury their differences when his own country is on fire with politicians at each other's throat. Kofi Annan has an NGO in Accra and plays an important role in ensuring peaceful elections in Ghana.

Though other African countries may not have a "Kofi Annan," the other three factors are still potent in ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections.

Alarm bells have been sounded over the possibility of massive fraud in the December 7 elections. But, given the current atmosphere in Ghana, it would be foolhardy for any politician to even dream of committing fraud in Friday's elections -- unless he wants to commit political suicide.

China unveils new leaders - YouTube

2012-11-17T11:03:00.001-08:00

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Obama Campaign Final Day ABC

2012-11-06T01:45:00.001-08:00

US election President Obama's full speech - YouTube

2012-09-07T02:41:00.001-07:00

Watch President Obama's full speech - YouTube: ""

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Mahmoud Jibril dominates Libyans legislative Elections-africanelections

2012-07-24T23:15:00.001-07:00

Final results from the long awaited Libya’s elections puts Ex –Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril’s National Forces Alliance (NFA) party in the lead giving them a commanding position in the new parliament as they won double the seats of their principle rival, the Muslim Brotherhood's Justice and Construction party.

In declaring the 7th July 2012 elections results, the Libya Elections Commission announced that the National Forces Alliance (NFA) and its allies got 41 seats, followed by the Justice and Construction party who had 17seats. In all 200 seats where contested..

The current interim Prime Minister Abdurrahman al-Keib said the announcement of the results was "a time of celebration"

This election is a major step for a country emerging from 42 years of Muammar Gaddafi‘s one -man rule. It also marks the end for the interim National Transitional Council, which has been ruling Libya with varying degrees and success since Gaddafi was overthrown and killed last year.

Major hurdles ahead of Libyan elections - YouTube

2012-05-14T01:08:00.001-07:00

Major hurdles ahead of Libyan elections - YouTube: ""

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France Election Results 2012: Hollande, Sarkozy Advance To Runoff, Far-Right Gets 20 Percent

2012-05-07T01:35:00.001-07:00

Reuters | Posted: 04/22/2012 2:18 pm Updated: 04/23/2012 12:04 am

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By Catherine Bremer and Emmanuel Jarry

PARIS, April 22 (Reuters) - Far-rightist Marine Le Pen threw France's presidential race wide open on Sunday by scoring nearly 20 percent in the first round - votes that may determine the runoff between Socialist favourite Francois Hollande and conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Hollande led Sarkozy by about 29 to 26 percent in reliable computer projections broadcast after polling stations closed, and the two will meet in a head-to-head decider on May 6.

But Le Pen's record score of 18-20 percent was the sensation of the night, beating her father's 2002 result and outpolling hard leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon, in fourth place on 11 percent. Centrist Francois Bayrou finished fifth on less than 10 percent.

Le Pen, who took over the anti-immigration National Front in early 2011, wants jobs reserved for French nationals at a time when jobless claims are at a 12-year high. She also advocates abandoning the euro currency and restoring monetary policy to Paris.

Her score reflected a surge in anti-establishment populist parties in many euro zone countries from Amsterdam to Athens as austerity and the debt crisis bite.

Voter surveys show about half of her supporters would back Sarkozy in a second round and perhaps one fifth would vote for Hollande, making her a potential kingmaker in the runoff.

Jean-Marie Le Pen's 16.9 percent score in the 2002 first round caused a political earthquake, knocking then Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin out of the runoff and forcing left-wing voters to rally behind conservative Jacques Chirac.

Sarkozy, 57, has painted himself as the safest pair of hands to lead France and the euro zone in turbulent times, but Sunday's vote appeared to be a strong rejection of his flashy style as well as his economic record.

If Hollande wins on May 6, joining a small minority of left-wing governments in Europe, he has promised to lead a push for a bigger focus on growth in the euro zone, mainly by adding pro-growth clauses to a European budget discipline treaty.

The prospect of a renegotiation of the pact is causing some concern in financial markets, as is Hollande's focus on tax rises over austerity at a time when sluggish growth is threatening France's ability to meet deficit-cutting goals.

STYLE HATED

France's sickly growth, along with its stubbornly high unemployment, are major factors hampering Sarkozy's battle to win a second term, despite an energetic campaign against the blander but more popular Hollande.

Sarkozy would be the 11th euro zone leader to be swept out since the start of the bloc's debt crisis in late 2009 and the first French president to lose a re-election bid in more than 30 years. A deep dislike of a manner many see as arrogant and too informal has also driven many people to vote against him.

"France needs a radical change of direction, mainly on the economy," said Jean-Noel Harvet, a public sector worker voting earlier on Sunday in the northern town of Cambrai.

Hollande, 57, promises less drastic spending cuts than Sarkozy proposed and wants higher taxes on the wealthy to fund state-aided job creation, in particular a 75 percent upper tax rate on income above 1 million euros ($1.32 million).

He would be only France's second left-wing leader since the founding of the Fifth Republic in 1958, and its first since Francois Mitterrand, who beat incumbent Valery Giscard-d'Estaing in 1981 and ruled until 1995.

Hollande had called on his supporters to take nothing for granted, mindful of the fiasco for the left in 2002 when record abstention saw the Socialist Jospin pushed out in the first round by the elder Le Pen.

Turnout ended up at a healthy 70.6 percent three hours before polls closed, just below 73.9 percent recorded in the 2007, which was the highest in two decades.

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French presidential election 2012: Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande cast their votes - YouTube

2012-04-23T01:29:00.001-07:00

French presidential election 2012: Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande cast their votes - YouTube: ""

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GUINEA‐BISSAU / PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 318TH MEETING ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA 17 April 2012, news, StarAfrica.com

2012-04-22T10:27:00.001-07:00

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 18, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Peace and Security...

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 18, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 318th meeting held on 17 April 2012, adopted the following decision on the situation in Guinea‐Bissau:

Council,

1. Takes note of the briefing provided by the Commissioner for Peace and Security on the developments in the situation in Guinea‐Bissau. Council also takes note of the statements made by the representatives of Côte d'Ivoire, in its capacity as the Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and Angola, as the Chair of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP);

2. Reaffirms the provisions of the AU Constitutive Act, the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council, and Chapter VIII of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance on unconstitutional changes of government;

3. Strongly condemns the coup d'état that took place in Guinea Bissau on 12 April 2012, two weeks before the second round of the presidential election scheduled for 29 April 2012. Council stresses that the recurrence of illegal and unacceptable interference of the leadership of the Bissau‐Guinean army in the political life of the country contributes to the persistence of instability and the culture of impunity, hampers efforts towards the establishment of the rule of law, the promotion of development and the entrenchment of a democratic culture, while, at the same time, making it difficult to fight against the scourge of drug trafficking. Council underscores the need for Africa and the international community as a whole, to show firmness commensurate with the seriousness of the acts committed by the perpetrators of the coup d'état and its consequences for Guinea Bissau, the region and forAfrica as a whole;

4. Demands the immediate restoration of constitutional order and the continuation of the electoral process, with the organization of the second round of the presidential election, as well as the unconditional release of the Acting President of the Republic and the other political personalities sequestrated by the perpetrators of the coup d'état. Council holds the perpetrators of the coup personally responsible for the safety of the sequestrated personalities, whose physical integrity and dignity should be imperatively preserved;

5. Endorses the press statements issued on 13 and 14 April 2012, by the Chairperson of the Commission on the situation in Guinea Bissau, as well as the statements made by ECOWAS and the CPLP;

6. Decides, in conformity with the relevant AU instruments, to suspend, with immediate effect, the participation of Guinea Bissau in all activities of the African Union until the effective restoration of constitutional order. Furthermore, and given the frequency of coups d'état in Guinea Bissau, Council requests the Commission, in consultation with ECOWAS and the AU partners, to submit to it, within two weeks, for decision, proposals for additional sanctions against the perpetrators of the coup d'état and their civilian and military supporters, including travel ban, asset freeze and other measures, as provided for by the Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. In this respect, Council reaffirms the relevant provisions of article 25 of the Charter, which states that authors of unconstitutional changes of government will be liable to prosecution;

7. Calls upon the AU partners, particularly the United Nations, the European Union, the CPLP and bilateral partners, to support the measures taken by the AU, and to work together to force the perpetrators of the coup d'état and their supporters to accept the return to constitutional legality inGuinea Bissau;

8. Expresses its gratitude to Angola for its valuable contribution to the efforts towards the stabilization of Guinea Bissau and the reform of the defense and security sector. Council requests the Chairperson of the Commission to initiate consultations with ECOWAS, CPLP, the United Nations and the other partners, for the establishment of a mission that would continue the work initiated within the framework of the implementation of the ECOWAS‐CPLP Roadmap, in particular the aspects relating to the reform of the defense and security sector in Guinea Bissau, including the possible deployment of a new international stabilization operation;

9. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission, in close cooperation with ECOWAS, the CPLP and the United Nations, to take all necessary steps to contact the actors concerned in Guinea‐Bissau, in order to hasten the attainment of the objective of restoration of constitutional order, in conformity with the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. Council urges the stakeholders inGuinea Bissau to take all necessary measures to ensure the organization of the second round of the presidential election;

10. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

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2012-04-14T02:15:00.001-07:00

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Macky Sall Senegal win confirmed by official poll results-BBC News

2012-03-28T06:37:00.001-07:00

Macky Sall (R) is a former protege of Abdoulaye Wade, who he defeated in the election

Senegalese politician Macky Sall has won a crushing victory over veteran leader Abdoulaye Wade in the country's presidential election.

Official results showed he won 66% of the vote compared with Mr Wade's 34%.

Mr Sall, a former prime minister, will assume office after his inauguration on 3 April.

Mr Wade, 85, who had been in power for 12 years, conceded defeat just hours after polls closed on Sunday. The poll was praised by observers as being fair.

Thijs Berman, head of the European Union's observer mission which had over 90 observers in Senegal, said the campaign and election had been relatively trouble-free.

He said there were a few minor incidents of vote buying and use of state resources by both sides.

"It was a credible vote and the result was accepted by all," the Reuters news agency quoted him as saying.

The African Union said the peaceful conduct of the presidential elections "proved that Africa, despite its challenges, continues to register significant progress towards democracy and transparent elections".

Mr Wade brought in a two-term limit for presidential office, but argued that the limit should not apply to his first term which came in before the constitution was changed.

His argument was upheld by the constitutional court in January, prompting widespread protests in which six people died.

Ethiopia Election European Union Observer result declaration EUEOM -2010 - YouTube

2012-03-25T05:53:00.001-07:00

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Sarkozy, seeking re-election, wants border-free Europe to fight illegal immigration harder - The Washington Post

2012-03-24T23:25:00.001-07:00

PARIS — President Nicolas Sarkozy says that he will pull France out of Europe’s border-free travel zone next year if it doesn’t fight harder against illegal immigration — and if he’s re-elected.

Sarkozy, in a campaign speech Saturday, said members should give the Schengen zone a president and new governing body, and punish member countries that don’t respect its rules.

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( Christophe Ena / Associated Press ) - French President and candidate for the 2012 elections Nicolas Sarkozy shakes hands with supporters as he arrives for a campaign rally in Rueil-Malmaison, outside Paris, Saturday, March 24, 2012.

If this doesn’t happen within a year, he said, “France will assume its responsibilities and leave Schengen.”

Sarkozy has taken a hard-line on immigration throughout his career and especially during his campaign for elections in April and May.

The Schengen zone makes it easier for citizens to travel between its 25 member countries. Some complain that it has also made it easier for illegal immigrants to cross borders.

Mbeki’s man admits 2008 election fraud | The Zimbabwean

2012-03-22T12:34:00.001-07:00

Mbeki’s man admits 2008 election fraud

A former senior aide to former SA president Thabo Mbeki has confirmed that he played a role in splitting the MDC in 2005, and scuttled Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s 2008 election victory because he was “un-African”.

21.03.1210:54am

by Mkhululi Chimoio

Former SA president Thabo Mbeki.

This follows claims by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in his book ‘At the Deep End’ that Mbeki helped in dismantling the then unstoppable movement and stymied his passage to state house.

The SA official also confirms Tsvangirai’s claim in the book that President Robert Mugabe was ready to hand over power to him after the 2008 elections.

In an exclusive interview with The Zimbabwean, the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mbeki never trusted Tsvangirai whom he suspected of working with the British and Americans. He highlights that the intact and powerful MDC posed a “threat to Africa”.

“MDC was too powerful. Unfortunately, our administration never trusted Tsvangirai. We knew very well that he was working with Western countries.

If allowed to take over power in Zimbabwe then it was going to spell disaster for our continent as he was dealing with wrong people. We had put him under counter-surveillance and we knew all about his movements,” he said.

Questioned on the necessity of surveillance, the official highlighted that the prime minister was not trusted with power as he was undermining the African agenda by working with western countries. He further agreed that Prime Minister Tsvangirai won the 2008 elections but they made sure that he wouldn’t get into power as he didn’t represent African society.

“Tsvangirai was working with the whites; our intelligence always worked on him and we had our proof of that and we didn’t want to invite trouble in our region. We therefore saw it necessary to have a coalition government in Zimbabwe for the time being as we were waiting for him to reform. In 2008 he absolutely won the election but it wasn’t the right time for him to take over the country as he was working with the wrong people,” he said.

The official also claimed that they had arranged for President Robert Mugabe to resign after losing the elections to Tsvangirai, but his henchmen and uniformed commanders refused to comply. He further alleged that Mugabe was to spend the remaining part of his life either in Namibia after an arrangement with retired president Sam Nujoma, or Guinea Bissau.

“Mugabe had agreed to retire either to Namibia or Guinea - but the commanders persuaded him to stay on. Tsvangirai was not an option to take them forward and that is when we settled for a government of national unity which saw both men agreeing to share power,” he added

Ex-intelligence chief shot dead hours after Guinea Bissau elections - CNN.com

2012-03-20T02:13:00.001-07:00

Ex-intelligence chief shot dead hours after Guinea Bissau elections

By Umaro Djau, CNN

March 19, 2012 -- Updated 1128 GMT (1928 HKT)

Electoral offciers count ballot papers at the polling station on March 18, 2012 in Guinea Bissau.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Djalo was shot seven times, officials say
Elections are held without incident
The results will be announced in about a week

(CNN) -- The former head of intelligence of Guinea Bissau was shot dead in the capital late Sunday, hours after the peaceful conclusion of the country's presidential elections.

Col. Samba Djalo was shot seven times, officials said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, and authorities did not have a motive, said Interior Minister Fernando Gomes.

Djalo served as the country's intelligence chief during a time when many key political figures were assassinated, including a high-ranking parliamentarian and an independent presidential candidate.

He was overthrown along with then-Army Chief of Staff Jose Amora Induta in a mutiny in April 2010. Both were jailed briefly but later released, and no charges were filed.

Meanwhile, elections were held without incident Sunday in the west African nation, with nine candidates vying for the seat of the president. About 180 international observers oversaw the voting.

The elections were triggered by the January death of President Malam Bacai Sanha at age 64 after a long illness.

Sanha became president in September 2009, months after the assassination of President Joao Bernardo Vieira.

Guinea-Bissau's history has been marked by military coups and attempted coups since the nation of 1.6 million gained independence from Portugal in 1974. Those conflicts ravaged the nation's infrastructure and economy and left it among the poorest in the world.

Despite Sanha's coming to power in what international observers deemed a fair and peaceful election, his tenure was marked by turmoil among the country's military and political leadership.

To date, no democratically-elected president has served a full, five-year term.

Guinea Bissau will announce the results of Sunday's elections in about a week.

The African Charter of Democracy, Elections and Governance : arcproject

2012-03-10T00:55:00.001-08:00

The African Charter of Democracy, Elections and Governance

Posted by Gillian Higgins on Thursday, March 8, 2012 · Leave a Comment

On 17 February 2012, the African Charter of Democracy, Elections and Governance entered into force (the “Charter”).

15 ratifications were necessary for the Charter to enter into force pursuant to Article 48. Bearing in mind the recent civil unrest and violence in Arab nations such as Egypt, Tunisia and Egypt, and considering the potential for election-related conflict in 2012, the entering into force of the Charter is a significant development and a very important step for the Continent. Indeed, in 2012, there will be approximately 25 elections in Africa.

The entering into force of the Charter constitutes a real move forward, as it is the first binding African instrument to cover the issues of democracy, elections and governance. The Charter summarises and reconfirms existing African engagements on democracy and good governance.

The Charter aims to improve the daily lives of the people of Africa by providing a means through which an individual can exercise their civil rights. The Charter intends to establish a system of free, transparent and organised elections throughout Africa, led by independent and impartial electoral bodies. The Charter commits State Parties to, inter alia, the promotion of democracy; the rule of law; the elimination of all forms of discrimination; and the protection of the rights of migrants, ethnic minorities and women, encouraging their participation in political life. Specifically, the Charter requires that State Parties adopt legislative measures and establish public institutions to guarantee the holding of free and fair elections. The Charter also provides for the imposition of sanctions upon governments or other bodies engaging in unconstitutional transfers of governmental power or coups d’etat. Finally, it commits State Parties to fight against corruption, to guarantee the equitable allocation of the nation’s wealth and natural resources, and to respect economic and social rights. The Charter empowers the Peace and Security Council of the African Union to impose sanctions. However, although it is not specifically mentioned, the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) will also have a role to play. Indeed, as provided by Article 5 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s rights, “the African Commission, a State Party to the Protocol or any African inter-governmental organization” and “Non Governmental organizations (NGOs) with observer status before the Commission, and individuals, in accordance with article 34 (6) of this Protocol” are entitled to lodge petitions before the AfCHPR. Cases may be referred to the AfCHPR in relation to violations of the provisions of the 1981 African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights, its protocols, as well as any other relevant human rights instrument ratified by the State concerned. The jurisdiction of the AfCHPR is therefore based on a large range of legal instruments, including the provisions of the African Charter of Democracy, Elections and Governance.The entry into force of the Charter is a progressive step towards the Continent’s management of situations threatening peace, security and human rights, and the ratification by some of the ‘democratic’ countries is encouraging. However, the next step will be for the 53 remaining States members to undertake the ratification process.

By Jennifer Castello

Putin Victorious, Opposition to Protest Russian Polls | Europe | English

2012-03-05T01:26:00.000-08:00

Photo: AP

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who claimed victory in Russia's presidential election, tears up as he reacts at a massive rally of his supporters at Manezh square outside Kremlin, in Moscow, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Russian opposition leaders plan to rally near the Kremlin Monday to protest Vladimir Putin's return to the presidency.

With nearly all the votes counted, Russian officials say Putin won Sunday's presidential election by a landslide with 64 percent of the vote. His closest rival, Community Party chief Gennady Zyuganov, was far behind with 17 percent. Three other candidates won less than 10 percent.

Opposition leaders call the election a sham, rife with fraud. The independent watchdog agency Golos says it has registered more than 3,000 reports of irregularities, including "carousel voting," a practice in which busloads of voters are taken from one polling place to another to cast ballots.

Golos spokesman Grigory Melkonyants says that if the election were clean, Putin would be facing a runoff. He said the volume of fraud complaints was as high as December's parliamentary elections.

Putin Greeted by Cheering Crowd

But Putin says he won what he calls an "open and honest struggle." He tearfully greeted tens of thousands of supporters outside the Kremlin, thanking him for helping stop the country from, in his words, "falling into the hands of enemies trying to usurp power."

The late Russian president Boris Yeltsin named Putin his successor on the first day of 2000. Mr. Putin won a presidential election later that year and again in 2004. The constitution barred him from a third consecutive term. Putin has served as Russian prime minister for the last four years under outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev.

Putin's critics say he planned to return to the presidency all along and that he never really gave up his powers. A constitutional amendment has extended the president's time in office to two consecutive six year terms, meaning Putin could stay in power until 2024 - an outlook many Russians find unsettling.

Election Results Questioned

Communist Party candidate Zyuganov denounced Sunday's election as "illegitimate, unfair and not transparent." Others complained of doctored voting lists and said pro-Kremlin business leaders installed voting booths in factories and pressured workers to vote for Putin.

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader, told the Interfax news agency that he doubts the results reflect the true will of Russians. He said the challenge now is to change the country's election system to make voting fair, and restore direct election for governors.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

Ethiopia Challenges - YouTube

2012-02-27T05:34:00.000-08:00

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AU/ECOWAS Call for Compromise in Senegal Presidential Vote | Africa | English

2012-02-26T03:14:00.000-08:00

Photo: Reuters

Riot policemen stand in a row to block access to Independence Square during an opposition demonstration against Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade's controversial third term bid for presidency in Dakar February 24, 2012.

People in Senegal go to the polls Sunday amid uncertainty and continued calls from the opposition for elections to be postponed and incumbent president, Abdoulaye Wade, to withdraw his candidacy. The African Union and West African regional bloc ECOWAS are proposing that, if re-elected, Mr. Wade serve an abbreviated two-year mandate before fresh elections are organized.

Just hours before polls open, Senegal remains in political gridlock.

On one side is the opposition M23 movement, which is calling for a delay and the withdrawal of President Wade's candidacy. On the other is Mr. Wade, who has remained defiant in the face of weeks of street protests and says elections will proceed as planned.

Former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has proposed a controversial compromise to the pre-electoral discord which he says risks propelling the historically stable West African country into "chaos, tragedy and disaster."

"We have heard, and that has not been in doubt, that even the president had indicated that if he wins the election he will consider utilizing three years of the term. Then, we have heard, also talking to the opposition group, that they will not want to allow anything more than one year. So we said to ourselves if one side is talking of one year and the other side is talking of three years, we should stay in the middle and take an average. We suggested in our proposal two years," he said.

The former Nigerian leader arrived in Dakar Tuesday at the helm of a joint AU/ECOWAS election observation mission attempting to ease tensions following weeks of violent, anti-government protests that have killed at least six people.

Mr. Obasanjo is also proposing that the opposition be allowed to appoint a technician to join the existing electoral team, as he said there have been "rumors of manipulation." He would not elaborate on whether the mission had deemed current conditions conducive to a fair and transparent vote.

Mr. Obasanjo said late Saturday that neither side has agreed to the proposed compromise.

The opposition M23 Movement says Mr. Wade's bid for a third term is unconstitutional, citing a reform he signed into law in 2001 that limits presidents to two terms. The presidentially-appointed Constitutional Court ruled last month that reform did not apply retroactively to his first term.

The decision sparked the riots during which protestors throwing rocks and erecting fiery barricades clashed with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets.

The M23 movement, which includes several opposition candidates, has proposed that elections be postponed by six to nine months and held without Mr. Wade and under the supervision of a new electoral commission.

Opposition candidate and a leader of the M23 movement, Cheikh Bamba Dieye, says they support dialogue and peace. He says he knows that Senegalese want them to accept compromise in the name of peace, but not just any compromise. He says the M23 movement has been fighting for the respect of the constitution and the withdrawal of Wade's candidacy.

The 85-year-old incumbent faces 13 opposition candidates, many of whom did not stay in Dakar with the protest movement. Rather, frontrunners like former prime ministers, Macky Sall and Moustapha Niasse, campaigned nationwide and have called for the election to go forward as planned.

Critics of Mr. Obasanjo's eleventh-hour proposal say it accepts Mr. Wade's victory as a foregone conclusion.

Spokesman for candidate Macky Sall, Seydou Gueye, says they are not of a mind to compromise, negotiate or make deals. He says they will defend their institutions and the constitution without concession. He says Africa must emerge from this pattern of negotiation and power-sharing and act within the law. He says the law should be fair and apply to everyone, including President Wade.

Despite rising tension, campaigning wrapped up quietly Friday in Dakar. Indeed, police had not fired tear gas on demonstrators downtown since Mr. Obasanjo's arrival on Tuesday.

Still, Mr. Obasanjo said there remains an alarming "lack of trust" between the opposition and the ruling party. "We believe that even when the election is won, by whoever wins it, there will still be the need to win peace and win security and bring this country together for progress to be made," he said.

The volatile campaign season has put international observers on high alert. There are concerns that the president's desire to stay in power could send this celebrated democracy down the path of its coup and conflict-stricken neighbors.

U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon has expressed "concern" over the poll and called for a "peaceful, orderly and transparent" election.

GOP's 'final four' clash at CNN Arizona debate - YouTube

2012-02-23T10:32:00.000-08:00

GOP's 'final four' clash at CNN Arizona debate - YouTube: ""

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Falsified Deficit Statistics in Europe -Portfolio YouTube

2012-02-16T09:20:00.000-08:00

Portfolio: Falsified Deficit Statistics in Europe - YouTube: ""

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