JUBA, South Sudan – 120,000 South Sudanese hiding out in malaria-infested swamps cannot receive medical attention because the South Sudan government has prevented humanitarian aid from entering the outside areas of Pibor County, where the victims are hiding. The medical charity Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) stated that the thousands of displaced people will die unless the government allows aid in.

A refugee woman and her child wait for medication (courtesy of Thomson Reuters)

In early May, thousands of South Sudanese fled because of the fighting between the government and South Sudan’s rebels. Now the government’s army has refused to allow or facilitate the provisions of emergency medicines, food, and water to the displaced South Sudanese. Those hiding have no access to safe water, food, or medical care.

“MSF knows from years of experience in Jonglei that without medical care people will not be able to live for long and will die of pneumonia and other respiratory diseases,” MSF’s director of operations, Bart Janssens, said in a statement.

This time of the year is the rainy season, which means the area where people are hiding will flood. Also,  malarial mosquitos will be in the area and those sleeping outside will be easy targets for the mosquitos.

Aid agencies were in this area until May 10^th, when security forces went on a rampage and looted several agencies’ compounds and homes, including MSF’s hospital. However, the army denies regular soldiers were involved in this attack, claiming a state wildlife force caused this damage.

Further, people are too afraid to walk into town to seek medical care because they fear being confused for rebels or being caught in cross-fire.

This violence began when South Sudan separated from Sudan in 2011, causing widespread ethnic violence centering in Pibor County. The rebel leader, Yau Yau, is Murle: a minority ethnic group. Yau Yau launched a rebellion in 2010 after failing to secure a seat in the state parliament.

Now the Murle are believed to be angered by the activities of the South Sudanese troops stationed in the area, who are mainly drawn from the Nuer ethnic group, which clashes with Murle.

MSF has made repeated requests to the government to allow them to travel to the areas the South Sudanese people are hiding, but the government still denies them access.

“This will not be a place where people can remain alive,” Janssens further stated.

For further information, please see:

KBC (Kenya National Broadcaster) – South Sudan ‘blocks aid to 120,000′ - 16 June 2013

Africa Review – South Sudan ‘preventing aid to Jonglei victims’ - 15 June 2013

The Frontier Post – South Sudan preventing aid - 15 June 2013

BBC News – South Sudan ‘preventing aid to Jonglei victims’ - 14 June 2013

Thomson Reuters Foundation – Thousands face death in swamps as South Sudan govt blocks aid – MSF - 14 June 2013

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WASHINGTON, D.C., United States – At a press conference, Justice Hassan Bubacar Jallow, Prosecutor of the (ICTR) and the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunal urged UN member states “to live up to their obligations to cooperate with the [residual mechanism], and the tracking and the arrest of these fugitives.”

Prosecutor Hassan Bubacar Jallow (Photo Courtesy of UN Photo)

The ICTR is based in Arusha Tanzania and was set up after the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. The Rwandan Genocide saw the killing of at least 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus in a span of three months.

The tribunal has indicted 93 people, all of whom were arrested with the exception of nine men who are still on the run. The nine men are, Augustin Bizimana, the Minister of Defense of the interim Government ; Félicien Kabuga, who is believed to have financed the genocide; Protais Mpiranya, Fulgence Kayishema, Pheneas Munyarugarama, Charles Sikubwabo, Aloys Ndimbati, Ladislas Ntaganzwa and Charles Ryandikayo.

Justice Bubacar Jallow’s call comes as the mandates for the ICTR and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia are set to expire and the U.N. Security Council has urged the tribunals to conclude their work by the end of 2014. The Council set up the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) in December 2010 to take over any tasks left unfinished when the mandate for the ICTR expires.  The ICTR branch of the Residual Mechanism began functioning in July 2012.

Jallow confirmed that the trial phase of the tribunal’s work is completed and that the tribunal is currently focused on managing appeals. Five of the six remaining appeals will most likely be completed in 2014 before the mandate expires but there is one appeal that is not expected to conclude until July 2015.

Judge Vagn Joensen, president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, has stated that a main concern for the tribunal is relocating seven people who were acquitted and three released after serving their terms. The ten individuals are currently in Tanzania in safe houses under the tribunal’s protection. “The ICTR is deeply concerned about the consequences of failing to uphold the fundamental right of freedom to live one’s life after being acquitted, and the importance of finding host countries for these persons before the Tribunal closes cannot be stressed enough,” Mr. Joensen said. “We call upon all Member States [... ] to assist with this persistent problem.”

There is no time limit on prosecutions and when the ICTR’s mandate expires the IRMCT can be activated at anytime to try the fugitives when they are apprehended and precautions have been taken to preserve evidence and testimony against the accused.

Mr Jallow confirmed that even though the tribunal’s mandate is drawing to a close the nine fugitives if apprehended will still face justice. “There is no time limit to the prosecution of these cases. Your hiding does not pay off. The mechanism will not relent,” Mr. Jallow said.

The Office of Global Criminal Justice  is offering up to a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any of the nine men.

For more information, please see:

RTT News - International Cooperation Sought For Capturing Rwanda Genocide Fugitives - 12 June 2013

The Gazette - UN tribunals for ex-Yugoslavia and Rwanda won’t meet UN deadline to finish work before 2015 - 12 June 2013

All Africa – Rwanda: Despite Procedural Delays, UN War Tribunals Still Making Progress, Officials Tell Security Council – 12 June 2013

UN New Centre - Prosecutor of UN Rwanda genocide tribunal urges cooperation to catch roaming fugitives - 11 June 2013

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BAMAKO, Mali – Taureg rebels and Mali army soldiers committed abuses against civilians over the past week and a half. Taureg rebels are accused of rounding up and beating members of rival, darker-skinned groups, while Mali army soldiers are accused of torturing Tauregs.

The Taureg group have long said they have faced discrimination in northern Mali (photo courtesy of AFP)

The Tauregs of northern Mali, a mostly light-skinned group, have a history of seeking autonomy from the rest of the country. The Tauregs state they have been discriminated against by the government in Bamako. The Taureg rebels – Taureg National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) – detained about 100 people, most of them darker-skinned men from non-Taureg ethnic groups, and robbed, threatened, and severely beat many of them.

One truck driver told Human Rights Watch that MNLA fighters robbed him of about 300,000 CFA francs ($600 U.S.) and took him to a detention center where he and several others were beaten.

“They hit me with the butts of their guns until I could no longer walk,” the truck driver told HRW, adding that they broke one of his ribs.

Further, the truck driver stated that MNLA told him: “You blacks, Kidal is not for you. It is for us.”

The Malian army also committed abuses against Taureg civilians, including threats to kill them, beating them, and using racial slurs. HRW stated that about 100 black Africans were arrested in Kidal, with many being robbed, beaten, or expelled towards the south.

The Malian army has been conducting patrols and other military operations throughout northern Mali, due to the lack of security forces in this area because of the periodic infiltration by armed Islamic groups.

“The Malian security forces’ human rights record since January is, simply, appalling. They continue to violate human rights with apparently no fear of being held accountable,” said Amnesty researcher Gaëtan Mootoo.

The government seeks to control the town of Kidal before the July elections; however, the MNLA Taureg rebels state that they will continue fighting if the Mali army tries to recapture Kidal. Negotiations for this political stand-off are currently underway.

BBC International Correspondent Mark Doyle states this re-ignited racial tension has been due to the Mali army’s attempt to re-take Kidal and their plans to hold an election in July.

The MNLA took Kidal last year in its attempt to create a Taureg homeland in northern Mali. The MNLA joined forces with al-Qaeda associated fighters and with their help they overran northern Mali. However, the better-armed Islamists soon took control of the Taureg rebels.

The UN is due to deploy a group of 12,600 people as a peacekeeping force before the planned elections in July. This peacekeeping force is to incorporate thousands of West African troops already in the country in support of the French intervention.

For further information, please see:

BBC News — Mali crisis: Human Rights Watch condemns ethnic abuses – 7 June 2013

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH — Mali: New Abuses by Tuareg Rebels, Soldiers – 7 June 2013

StarAfrica.com — HRW reports new abuses by Tuareg rebels, Mali soldiers – 7 June 2013

Yahoo!News — Malian army fights Tuareg rebels; unofficial truce over – 5 June 2013

Independent Online News — Mali army, rebels accused of rights abuses – 7 June 2013

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HARARE, Zimbabwe – Human Rights Watch has issued a new report accusing the Zimbabwean military and security forces of interfering with the upcoming election. The security forces are believed to be working to secure the reelection of current president Robert Mugabe and the Zanu-PF party.

The report comes as Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Mr. Mugabe’s opponent, says there is not enough time to institute security reforms before the court mandated election deadline of July 31st. The current government is a unity government formed between Zanu-PF and Mr. Tsvangirai’s party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) after the 2008 election.

A police officer with ballot boxes during the 2008 election. (Photo courtesy of The Guardian)

Security forces were also accused of intimidation and interference in the 2008 elections.  Mr. Tsvangirai ran against Mr. Mugabe in 2008 and won the first round of voting but did not win enough votes to secure the election. Mr. Tsvangirai boycotted the second round of voting because his supporters were being targeted by security forces. Mr. Mugabe went on to win another term but had to form a unity government with MDC.

The new report details how security forces have openly supported Mr. Mugabe and have refused to meet with Mr. Tsvangirai about his security concerns. On May 4th, the Zimbabwe Defense Forces commander, Gen. Constantine Chiwenga told The Sunday Mail: “We have no time to meet sellouts. Clearly Tsvangirai is a psychiatric patient who needs a competent psychiatrist.” Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri has also said that the security forces would never meet with Tsvangirai and that anyone who reported on the issue risked being arrested.

The Human Rights Watch investigation has found that the army has deployed soldiers across the country to beat and intimidate anyone they believe to be a supporter of MDC.  The army has been accused of using food distribution programs and army research projects to gain admission into people’s homes and other areas. One MDC supporter told HRW:  “When I said I had voted in favor of the draft constitution they then asked me why I was wearing an MDC t-shirt and before I could respond they began to punch and kick me all over my body. They said I must vote for ZANU-PF in the coming elections without fail or they would come back for me.”

“Zimbabwe’s laws and constitution require neutrality and impartiality from the security forces but the security forces have shown no sign of meeting their obligations,”  Tiseke Kasambala, Africa advocacy director at Human Rights Watch said .  “The government needs to send a clear message by disciplining and prosecuting security force personnel and soldiers who violate the law for political reasons.”

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – The Elephant in the Room – 5 June 2013

Human Rights Watch - Zimbabwe: Security Forces Pose Election Risk – 5 June 2013

BBC News – Zimbabwe’s Tsvangirai wants polls delayed for reforms – 5 June 2013

Aljazeera – Rights group slams Zimbabwe security forces – 5 June 2013

Zimbabwe Independent – Security reforms: Elephant in the room – 7 June 2013

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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Around 10,000 Ethiopians gathered in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, on Sunday to protest for the release of jailed journalists and activists.

Hailemariam Desalegn became Ethiopian prime minister after the death of Meles Zenawi last year (photo courtesy of Xinhua/Landov/Barcroft Media)

Some protestors carried banners reading “Justice! Justice! Justice!” or pictures of imprisoned opposition figures. Others chanted: “we call for respect of the constitution.”

Yilekal Getachew, the chairman of the opposition party Semayawi (blue) that organized this protest, stated “We have repeatedly asked the government to release political leaders, journalists and those who asked the government not to intervene in religious affairs.” Further, he said, “If these questions are not resolved and no progress is made in the next three months, we will organize more protests. It is the beginning of our struggle.”

The demonstrators also seek action against unemployment, inflation, and corruption.

The government is able to jail journalists and activists because of the 2009 anti-terrorism law. This law states that anyone caught publishing information that could induce readers into acts of terrorism would be liable to be jailed for terms from 10 to 20 years.

Last year an Ethiopian court sentenced 20 journalists, opposition figures, and others, to jail for conspiring with rebels to destroy the government. In addition, last year 49 Ethiopian journalists were in exile and 72 newspapers had been closed.

However, Communications Minister Bereket denied  the protestors’ allegations. He stated that, “There are no political prisoners. There are only people who have been charged with criminal offenses.”

Further, Bereket said, “We don’t have any qualms about the protesters exercising their rights, but when you see the character of the demands, calls to give up the trials and release persons who are behind bars, convicted of criminal offenses, it is both unethical and unacceptable. Also, the government cannot interfere and release people suspected of criminal offenses. We will have to wait until the courts give verdicts.”

Although Ethiopia’s economy is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, it is often criticized for preventing opposition and the media.

For further information, please see:

BBC News — Ethiopian Protestors Take to Streets – 2 June 2013

The Guardian — Ethiopian Human Rights Protestors Take to Streets in Addis Ababa – 2 June 2013

The Huffington Post — Ethiopia: Thousands Protest Political Repression – 2 June 2013

Reuters — Thousands March for Rights in Rare Ethiopia Protest – 2 June 2013

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NAIROBI, Kenya – A new 68-page report from Human Rights Watch alleges that some 1,000 Somali refugees have been abused and arbitrarily detained by Kenyan police over the course of 10 weeks. The police abuse is believed to be retaliation for grenade attacks carried out in a mainly Somali section of Nairobi.

Ubah Abdi Warsame in her Nairobi apartment. (Photo courtesy of Aljazeera)

The police raids were carried out in accordance with a government plan to relocate Somali refugees from Eastleigh, or “Little Mogadishu”, to a large refugee camp outside of the city. Kenyan officials believe that moving the refugees will improve national security in the wake of attacks that are believed to have been carried out by Somalis.

Somalis report that police ransacked their homes, carried out beatings, and demanded cash payment. Seven women are believed to have been raped by the police and the refugees were repeatedly called ‘terrorists’.

Ubah Abdi Warsame, a 32 year-old mother of five, told Aljazeera that she was beaten by the police and then detained in squalid conditions for eight hours until a friend could pay the $60 bribe to get her released. “We’d got used to hassle from the police and paying small bribes,” Warsame, 32, said. “But when they started searching houses, beating Somalis and taking them to the cells, it was quite terrifying. I have nightmares because of the beatings I got from police.”

The police refute the allegations contained in the report. Police spokesman Masood Mwinyi told Sabahi that “The allegations by the refugees against [police] who protect them are total lies and unbelievable… It can never be that our way of operation is through torture, rape, extortion, arbitrary arrests and detentions. Our orders and policy is to protect everyone within our borders irrespective of social standing. If we were that bad as the report puts it, then I doubt we would be the largest hosts of refugees worldwide.” The police are to release a more comprehensive statement in the coming days.

Police in Kenya have a history of human rights and impunity issues that instigated police reform in 2010. Before the reforms the president had the power to hire and fire police chiefs which often lead to the harassment of political enemies and dissenters. A culture of corruption and bribe taking still exist as police officers are often underpaid, live in poor conditions, and are under-equipped and understaffed.

For more information, please see:

Washington Post — Kenya police accused of abuse, torture, rape of Somali refugees after terror attacks — 29 May 2013

Aljazeera –  ’10 weeks of hell’ for Somalis in Kenya — 29 May 2013

Sahabi — Kenyan police deny abuse allegations, watchdog agency to weigh in — 31 May 2013

Human Rights Watch — Kenya: Police Abuse Nairobi’s Refugees — 29 May 2013

Human Rights Watch — “You Are All Terrorists” – 30 May 2013

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NIAMEY, NIGER – Suicide bombers affiliated with the jihadist Mujao group (movement for unity and jihad in West Africa) attacked two locations in Niger around 5:30 A.M. on May 23.

Niger army soldiers patrol northern Niger. (Photo courtesy of AFP)

The first attack occurred at a barracks in Agadez, the largest city in northern Niger.  This attack killed about 19 people, including 18 soldiers and one civilian.  The suicide bombers drove a Toyota truck through the barrier of the town’s military base and detonated the explosives when soldiers opened fire. An Agadez resident, Barka Sofa, said he heard a strong explosion outside the army base, followed by heavy weapons’ fire. A local journalist reported heavy damage inside the camp.

The second attack occurred 30 minutes later and 150 miles north of Agadez in the Somair mines in the town of Arlit.  One person died and roughly 50 people were injured, mostly security agents at the mine.  A man driving a 4×4 packed with explosives had been mixed in with Somair workers.  Once his vehicle was in front of the mine he blew up the vehicle.

The mine in Arlit is controlled by a French-run operation, Avera, the world’s second largest uranium producer, which extracts more than one-third of uranium from Niger and has been operating there for more than 40 years. Areva stated that the mine had been “badly damaged” and they were forced to stop production.

Four of the Mujao attackers died in the explosions, while one is still alive and is holding four army officers hostage.

The jihadist Mujao group is part of a loose Islamist coalition which seized control of North Mali last year before being ousted by a French-led offensive in January.  Niger has been singled out because of its role in the military intervention in Mali and for its relationship with France and the United States, which signed an agreement this year to establish a new military base in the country.

A jihadist Mujao spokesman stated that they attacked these two locations in Niger because they were “enemies of Islam” and referred to Niger and France’s involvement in combating Islamists in Mali.

This attack occurred four months after a previous terrorist attack in neighboring Algeria.  Al-Qaeda linked militants seized a desert gas plant in a siege that left 38 hostages dead and had been in retaliation against the intervention in Mali.

Niger states that the attacks had been an inevitable consequence of the government’s decisions to intervene in Mali.  However, it states that the intervention had not been a mistake because it shares borders with Mali and would have been affected by the crisis regardless of its intervention.

French President Francois Hollande vowed to help Niger “destroy” the militants and would back all efforts of Niger to stop the hostage situation. However, it will not intervene as it had in Mali, but has the same willingness to cooperate to fight against terrorism.

For further information, please see:

BBC News – Niger Suicide Bombers Target Areva Mine and Barracks – 24 May 2013

Africa Review – 19 Killed in Niger Suicide Bomb Strike – 23 May 2013

The Dawn News – At Least 20 Killed in Al Qaeda-Linked Militant Attacks in Niger – 23 May 2013

The Guardian – Suicide Attacks Rock Niger – 23 May 2013

Ahram Online – Islamist Bombers Kill 20 in Niger Attacks, Seize Hostages – 23 May 2013

Yahoo! News – Islamist Bombers Kill 20 in Niger, Seize Hostages – 23 May 2013

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ABUJA, Nigeria – Militant Islamist group Boko Haram just released a video where the group claimed responsibility for the recent attacks and hostage-taking in Nigeria.

A screenshot from the recent video released by Boko Haram. (Photo courtesy of BOKO HARAM/AFP)

Acquired by the AFP news agency last week, the video features Abubakar Shekau – the alleged leader of the Nigerian extremist group. Speaking in the Hausa language, Shekau personally admitted that it was his group who led the latest attacks on the northeastern region of the country.

“We are the ones that carried out the Bama attack,” Shekau said, referring to the May 7 assault in a village at Borno state near Nigeria’s north-eastern border with Cameroon. During the raid, 55 people, including soldiers and local law enforcers, were killed and 105 prisoners were freed on a police station, military barracks and government buildings.

“We also carried out the attack in Baga,” he added. This time he was referring to the April 16 raid in the town near Lake Chad which caused the death of approximately 200 people.

Seated on a rug with a kalashnikov resting behind his right shoulder, Shekau accused the army of illegally detaining the relatives of Boko Haram members, saying their release was a prerequisite for any truce. He further pointed out the excessive force employed by the soldiers in retaliating to the group.

“It was you, the security agents that went into town the following day and burnt homes and killed people at will,” Shekau said.

The military have reportedly told the press that it killed at least 30 Boko Haram members during the Baga assault. However, Shekau staunchly denied this in the video, saying, “none of our people were killed in Baga.”

Half way through the 12-minute video message, the screen splits, showing Shekau on the left with a group of unidentified women and children on the right.

“We kidnapped some women and children, including teenage girls,” he said.

According to Shekau, these people are currently held hostage in retaliation for the relatives of several Boko Haram members who were arrested by the army. Reports say that soldiers detained women, as well as children and infants, related to the group’s members in Kano, Bauchi and Damaturu.

“In a single house in Damaturu, eight of our women and 14 children were arrested. . . . As long as we do not see our women and children we will never release these women and children,” Shekau threatened.

The Boko Haram leader did not disclose the number and names of the women and children captured by his group.

For further information, please see:

African Spotlight – Boko Haram kidnaps women and children, releases hostage video – 13 May 2013

AFP – Nigeria Islamist video claims attacks, shows hostages – 13 May 2013

BBC News – Nigeria’s Boko Haram releases hostage video – 13 May 2013

TVC News – Nigeria: Boko Haram releases hostage video, claims recent attacks – 13 May 2013

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N’DJAMENA, Chad – The governments of Senegal and Chad signed an agreement last Friday allowing Senegalese judges to investigate war crime cases in Chad from the regime of Chadian dictator Hissène Habré.

Former Chad dictator Hissene Habre leaving a court in Dakar eight years ago. (Photo courtesy of Voice of America)

According to Senegalese Justice Minister Aminate Toure, the agreement signed in Dakar will ease the movement of judges by allowing them to conduct their own investigations on Chadian soil.

“I have a pious thought for the victims who have suffered too much and begin to despair. The trial cannot take place unless the investigators are allowed to move freely in Chad,” Toure’s Chadian counterpart Jean Bernard Badare added.

The Senegalese judiciary is expected to look into the alleged atrocities committed from 1982 to 1990 for which Habré is tried for by a special tribunal in Dakar. He is currently facing charges of more than 40,000 cases of political killings, torture, and crimes against humanity. He has been living under house arrest in Dakar since 1990.

Chad allowing Senegal to try and investigate Habré is a first in world affairs. Usually, when a leader of one country is accused of human rights violations, his trial takes place within his home country or under the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

Nevertheless, human rights groups including Human Rights Watch (HRW) say that the decision of the two governments will “greatly facilitate the work of the court and help move the long-delayed case forward.”

“Investigating and prosecuting crimes that happened 20 years ago in another country is a very complex task. And normally, judges from one country have to go through a very cumbersome task to collect evidence from another country. What this agreement does, is it basically allows the court to investigate in Chad, as if they were investigating in Senegal,” explained Reed Brody, a HRW lawyer who has been working with Habre’s victims since 1999.

Brody also said that the agreement will compel the Chadian government to protect witnesses involved in Habre’s case and to hand over any documents the Senegalese judges may request.

“It’s important for the integrity of the process that Senegalese judges see that evidence and weigh that evidence before them – the court that’s going to try Hissène Habré. And the judges are also looking for evidence that could exculpate Hissène Habré. So they need to look at witnesses who Hissène Habré wants to present,” he said.

The Chadian government is expected to hand over the materials to the Senegal court this week for the ongoing preliminary investigations.

For further information, please see:

Africa Review – Senegal, Chad sign agreement to facilitate Habre’s trial – 5 May 2013

UPI – Senegal, Chad agree to investigate war crimes in Chad – 4 May 2013

Voice of America – Senegal, Chad Sign Agreement to Investigate Wartime Crimes – 4 May 2013

Global Post – Senegal investigators allowed into Chad for Habre case – 3 May 2013

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BANJUL, Gambia – Last Friday, Gambian journalists and activists demanded the government to stop harassing them. They clamored against the increasing number of arbitrary arrests and detention of the administration’s critics.

President Yahya Jammeh has remained in power since 1994. (Photo courtesy of The London Evening Post)

Reports say that the crackdown on alleged critics of the government has become more severe over the past few years. Security agencies such as the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) have been strictly monitoring the press and detaining anyone who published reports criticizing the government.

Five months ago, the NIA imprisoned an imam, Baba Leigh, for describing the government’s decision to execute nine death row inmates as “un-Islamic”.

Joined by other activists, Hamat Bah of the opposition National Reconciliation Party (NRP) cried out for the imam’s release, reminding the administration of the unconstitutionality of Leigh’s arrest.

According to the Gambia Press Union (GPU), by depriving its citizens their right to voice their opinion and be informed, the government effectively tarnishes the image of the country. It also “retards professionalism and overall development of the media,” said GPU President Emil Touray.

“The banning of journalist Binta Bah of the Daily News from covering a court proceedings, deportation of BBC journalist Thomas Fessy, the summary closure of Teranga FM, Daily News and Standard newspaper in addition to arrests of journalists Babucarr Ceesay, Abubacarr Saidykhan and Abdoulie John are clear indications that media freedom is deteriorating in this country,” Touray stressed out. He also added that the executive should continue to investigate the murder of Deyda Hydara, co- publisher’s of The Point newspaper and the disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh of the Daily Observer. According to Touray, there remains a need “to expand the democratic space in the country.”

However, the government released a statement the other day denying any such claims of abuse. Reacting to a case study by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) about human rights, which included the Gambia, President Jammeh’s administration called the allegations of harassment a “blackmailing” tactic.

“All the issues highlighted in the FCO report on the death penalty, detentions, censure of newspapers and radio stations, the sanctioning of voices intent on social destabilization are soon remedied by consultation, collaboration and support to practitioners in the development of self-regulatory organisms and improved standards rather than the apparently more desired effect of the all-out blackmailing of the government of the Gambia while the abundant signs of progress and growth in the conditions of the people are ignored by the media and some others who are supposed to be partners in our development,” the statement said.

For further information, please see:

AfriqueJet – Medias: Gambian government urged to stop harassing journalists – 4 May 2013

All Africa – Gambia: Authorities Debunk UK Human Rights Abuse Claim – 3 May 2013

The Blade – Gambian activists want imam released – 3 May 2013

Yahoo News – Activists call for release of imam in Gambia – 1 May 2013

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ACCRA, Ghana – Seven communities in the Upper Eastern region of Ghana have officially decided to end the traditional practice of killing “spirit children” on Saturday.

David, formerly a ‘spirit’ child, is among those who were accused of being possessed by evil spirits. (Photo courtesy of The Guardian)

“Spirit children” are usually those who were born with physical disabilities, believed to have been possessed by evil spirits, or thought to cause the family bad luck. Babies labeled as such were then brought to “concoction men” who would give the young ones poisonous herbs to kill them and prevent them from bringing misfortune to their families.

Beginning Saturday, these “concoction men” will have new roles. Because of the ban on the killing of “spirit children”, the “concoction men” of the towns of Kandiga, Manyoro, Mirigu, Nabango, Natugnia, Sirigu and Yua, will now be working with disabled children to promote their rights. Now addressed as “life promoters”, they are tasked to visit various schools and communities to make residents aware of the lives and rights of children with disabilities. However, before they can assume this new role, they have to register themselves under the National Health Insurance – who will also reward them: four goats, a bicycle each and food for turning over a new leaf.

The proclamation to prohibit the practice once and for all is reportedly the result of 12 years of intensive education against infanticide by child rights group Afrikids Ghana. Nicholas Kumah, the organization’s director, attributed the success of Afrikids’ advocacy with the communities’ realization that there is a need to change the local mindset. After more than a decade of rescuing and resettling families of over 67 children affected by the spirit-child phenomenon, involved community leaders finally saw the importance of protecting children especially those with deformities.

“One major achievement is how one child, Paul Apowida, who was accused of being a spirit child and was given infanticide, fought for his life and survived. Today, Apowida is a rifleman in the British Army,” Kumah said. “What this means is that if anyone is caught in the act of accusing a child of being a spirit child and administering infanticide to that child, he will be made to face the full rigours of the law,” he further explained.

Speaking on behalf of the chiefs and people of the seven communities, the Paramount Chief of Kandiga, Naba Henry Amenga-Etego, said that the “spirit children” were “victims” of a “demonizing practice”. “We have lived with this practice for many years but it is a joy that we did not remain in this belief but did all we could to bring an end to it. No child should suffer any form of abuse as a result of whatever circumstances he or she is born with. . . . We will allow the law to deal with anybody who still goes ahead to engage in the practice,” Amenga-Etego added.

For further information, please see:

BBC News – Ghanaians ban ‘spirit child’ killing – 29 April 2013

Ghana Business News – Seven communities abolish practice of killing infants with deformities – 29 April 2013

Global Post – ‘Spirit children’ killings banned in 7 Ghana communities – 29 April 2013

GhanaWeb – Killing of ‘spirit children’ abolished in Upper East Region – 28 April 2013

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THE HAUGE, Netherlands — Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus, a Sudanese rebel charged with war crimes in Darfur by the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) has been killed, his defense team has said in a statement.

Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus voluntarily surrendered to the ICC in 2010. (Photograph Courtesy of the BBC via Associated Foreign Press)

An ICC document published on Tuesday read: “The Defense of Mr. Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus hereby notifies the trial chamber, with great sadness . . . that Mr. Jerbo died in North Darfur, Sudan on the afternoon of April 19, 2013, and was buried the same day.”

Jerbo, 36, faced charges regarding a deadly attack on African peacekeepers in Darfur in 2007.  Jerbo and fellow Darfur rebel leader Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain face three war crimes charges relating to the killing of 12 African Union peacekeepers in an attack on the AU’s Haskanita camp in September 2007.

The two men voluntarily surrendered to the ICC in 2010 and while facing charges, have been free to leave the Netherlands and appear before the Court when summoned.  In 2011, a pre-trial chamber found that there were “substantial grounds” to proceed with trial.

As such, the trial date was set for May 2014; however, before The Hague can drop the case, the Court must receive proof of his death.

Four others are wanted for war crimes in Darfur: Sudanese Defense Minister Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein; former Sudanese government minister Ahmad Harun; pro-government Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kushayb; and Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, whom prosecutors accuse of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

President al-Bashir continues remain at large, defying an ICC arrest warrant as he travels around the continent.

According to the United Nations, at least 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur and two million people have been displaced since the conflict began 10 years ago when rebels began attacking government targets, accusing the Arab-dominated Khartoum regime of oppressing black Africans in favor of Arab communities.

For more information, please see:

AFP  – ICC War Crimes Suspect Killed in Darfur: Laywers – 24 April 2013

All Africa – Sudan: ICC Suspect, JEM-Bashar Deputy Presumable Killed in Darfur – 24 April 2013

BBC – Darfur War Crimes Suspect Rebel Jerbo “Killed in Sudan” – 24 April 2013

Radio Dabanga – Lawyers say ICC Suspect Jerbo Killed in Darfur – 24 April 2013

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BAGA, Nigeria — Between Friday and Sunday, fighting between Nigeria’s military and Islamic extremists reportedly killed at least 185 people and injured more than 70 in a fishing community in northeastern Nigeria.  During the attack, insurgents used fire rocket-propelled grenades and soldiers sprayed machine-gun fire into neighborhoods filled with civilians.

A young girl amid the burned ruins of Baga, Nigeria, on Sunday. (Photograph Courtesy of the Associated Press)

The fighting began Friday when Nigerian army forces surrounded a mosque where they believed Boko Haram members were hiding out.  The fighting broke out after Boko Haram militants killed a military officer, news agencies reported.  Nigerian security forces then surrounded a mosque that they described as a base for militants and Boko Haram fighters exchanged automatic weapons fire in civilian neighborhoods.

Military officials said the militants deployed heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades and used the civilian population as “human shields.”  On Sunday, when government officials entered the city they found absolute destruction: homes, businesses and vehicles were burned throughout the area.

Many of the deaths occurred when a fire swept through the town, a small fishing town on the shores of Lake Chad in the Borno state near Nigeria’s three-way border with Cameroon and Chad.  It was not clear how many of the dead were soldiers, militants and civilians, in part because many were burned beyond recognition.

Borno state military spokesman Sagir Musa said initial reports were highly inflated.  “There could have been some casualties, but it is unthinkable to say that 185 people died,” Musa said, according to Agence France-Presse.  “On my honor as an officer, nothing like that happened.”

The assault marks a significant escalation in the long-running insurgency Nigeria faces in its predominantly Muslim north, with Boko Haram extremists mounting a coordinated assault on soldiers using military-grade weaponry. The killings also mark one of the deadliest incidents ever involving Boko Haram.

Boko Haram, which means “western education is a sin,” seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria, a country of 170 million split evenly between Christians and Muslims.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera  – Scores Killed in Nigeria Violence – 22 April 2013

BBC – Nigeria Fighting “Kills Scores” in Baga – 22 April 2013

Los Angeles Times – Dozens Killed in Gun Battles in Northern Nigeria – 22 April 2013

Reuters – Nigeria Says Heavy Fighting in Northeast, No Word on Casualties – 22 April 2013

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BANGUI, Central African Republic – Rebel groups continue to recruit child soldiers according to a report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) last week.

Young members of the Seleka rebel alliance were spotted patrolling near the Ledger Plaza Bangui hotel in Bangui last March 2013. (Photo courtesy of Associated Press)

Based on the UNICEF report, roughly around 2,000 children in Central African Republic (CAR) have been enlisted by various militias since last month’s takeover of the capital, Bangui.

“We have verified cases, but no precise number. What we are hearing from partners in the field is that there has been an increase in terms of the geographic scope and the magnitude of the practice. . . Children are recruited to be used as spies, porters, messengers, cooks, in addition to fighting on the front lines as well,” UNICEF spokeswoman Marixie Mercado said.

Several journalists for the Associated Press (AP) personally witnessed dozens of young boys patrolling Bangui. “They were riding in pickup trucks with other rebels and in some cases on foot patrol, always closely supervised by older, heavily armed fighters,” wrote Krista Larson, one of the AP journalists at Bangui. When approached by the AP reporters, one of the young soldiers revealed to them that he is 14 years old and joined the Seleka rebel alliance three months ago.

The UNICEF report states, however, that despite such “clear evidence of the continuing recruitment and use of children by armed groups”, Seleka officers persistently deny this practice.

In fact, the country’s new information minister, Christophe Gazam Betty, disagrees with the figures given by the UNICEF. Betty insisted that there are only about 40 child soldiers who are still with the Seleka group. “If there are combatants who are under the age of 18, there is a system in place through the United Nations,” he said. “They will be separated and picked up by UNICEF.”

Declaring it as a grave violation of international law, the UNICEF explicitly condemned the use of child soldiers.

“Recruiting children is both morally unacceptable and prohibited under international law,” said Souleymane Diabate, UNICEF’s country representative. “We have called on the new leadership in CAR to ensure that all children associated with armed groups should be released immediately and protected from further violations,” Diabate added.

The UNICEF remains hopeful that the rebels will heed the organization’s call to end the practice. In the report, the UNICEF cited previous instances where the rebel groups who make up the alliance currently in power have successfully disarmed their young members.

“Some child soldiers can be returned to their families or to other relatives. Others will be placed in foster homes where possible, though some will be given training on living independently,” Shannon Struthers, UNICEF senior adviser for emergencies, told the press as she explained the process of disarming children in CAR.

For further information, please see:

Associated Press – Child Soldiers Patrol C. African Republic Capital – 20 April 2013

AfriqueJet – CAR: UNICEF says CAR rebels still recruiting child-soldiers – 13 April 2013

UPI – UNICEF: Central African Republic still recruiting child-soldiers – 12 April 2013

Voice of America – UN: CAR Groups Still Recruiting Child Soldiers – 12 April 2013

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ABUJA, Nigeria – Last Wednesday, President Goodluck Jonathan announced a new committee that will work on an amnesty deal with insurgent groups including Boko Haram.

President Goodluck Jonathan is scheduled to inaugurate the National Security Council on Wednesday at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. (Photo courtesy of BBC News)

“Goodluck Jonathan has approved the constitution of a Presidential Committee to constructively engage key members of Boko Haram and define a comprehensive and workable framework for resolving the crisis of insecurity,” his office said in a statement.

This new Presidential committee, also known as the National Security Council, is tasked to develop a framework under a Federal Government dialogue through which disarmament of extremist groups could take place within a 60-day time frame. After the deadline, the government is expected to offer members of these groups amnesty for as long as they guarantee that they will no longer fight government troops and harm civilians.

“The 26-member committee will also develop a support programme for victims of the Boko Haram crisis as well as produce mechanisms to address the underlying causes of insurgencies,” Presidential spokesperson Reuben Abati added.

The National Security Council, which aims to put an end to the series of bombings and shootings in the northern region of the country, is based on a program similar to the one created in 2009. The 2009 program proved to be successful in quelling the insurgency in Nigeria’s oil-rich southern delta.

On the contrary, several human rights activists believe that granting extremist groups an amnesty “will not work”.

To begin with, it remains highly uncertain whether or not these groups will accept a deal with and concede to the government, they pointed out.

Shehu Sani, a well-known activist who rejected his own nomination onto the committee, told AFP that the lack of coordination among committee members may cause the program’s failure. “I suggested the need to consult the leadership of the (Boko Haram) group discreetly through some names I mentioned in order to get their input,” Sani said. “That advice was ignored. This new government approach will not get us anywhere and I don’t want to soil my reputation,” he continued as he explained his reason for turning down his nomination.

Thomas Mösch, head of Deutsche Welle’s Hausa Service, also asserted that the new program should not be expected to be successful just because the previous one was. “In the Niger Delta, we had groups that were interested in economic improvement, first of all for themselves and for their local communities. With Boko Haram it is totally different. First of all, we don’t have one group that follows a specific strategy, if they do – it is not visible. Then the core group of Boko Haram when they started with their violent attacks were taking revenge for the killings of their own leader and brothers,” Mösch said.

For further information, please see:

All Africa – Nigeria: Datti Ahmed Rejects Amnesty Committee – 19 April 2013

All Africa – Nigeria: As Jonathan Names Amnesty Panel, Boko Haram to Get 60 Days to Disarm – 18 April 2013

All Africa – Nigeria Pushes Amnesty Plan for Islamist Militants – 18 April 2013

IOL News – Nigeria edges towards amnesty deal – 18 April 2013

Reuters – Nigeria president considers amnesty for Islamist rebels – 17 April 2013

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