NAIROBI, Kenya – Amnesty International has accused the Chadian Government of persecuting political opposition members under the guise of a state of emergency. The state of emergency was declared February 14^th by President Idriss Deby after a long standing armed opposition movement launched a major offensive on the capital city of N’Djamena. This movement has led low level insurgencies on towns since 2000. The latest offensive saw the rebels lay siege to the capital for three days, before government forces drove them out of the city. President Deby’s state of emergency gave provincial governors increased powers, instituted media controls, and imposed an overnight curfew.

Amnesty believes the government issued the state of emergency solely to flush out its political opposition. In the wake of the rebel attacks at least one opposition leader was arrested, and at least two others have disappeared. Amnesty International believes the government has used the state of emergency to “flush out and arrest supporters – actual or perceived – of political opposition parties.” The London-based organization is very concerned about the missing political members, and has urged Chad to either charge or release the detainee’s. It has also reached out to France, the former colonial occupant of Chad, to reveal any information it may possess with regards to the opposition leaders’ disappearance.  French authorities claim to be prioritizing the fate of the prisoners, but emerging information seems to point to the conclusion that the French Government knew about the arrests.

For more information, please see:

Yahoo! News – Amnesty: Chadian opposition persecuted – 21 February 2008

allAfrica.com – Chad: Human Rights Crisis Brewing in Aftermath of Attack on N’Djamena – 20 February 2008

NAIROBI, Kenya – After three weeks of back and forth talks of a power-sharing resolution, today’s meeting adjourned with a “more or less” agreement to a prime minister post. The details of the agreement have not been confirmed by Kofi Annan, who has been leading the negotiations between mediators for President Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Annan has reported that a broad governance structure and a joint outline have been approved. Also, an amendment to the Kenyan Constitution will likely take place since the prime minister post does not currently exist within it. Oppositions are demanding the post carry a number of responsibilities and a necessary allocation of authority and power.

Although the tentative agreement by both sides is a positive sign that may cease the deadly clashes, the International Crisis Group’s Donald Steinberg is warning against making short-term deals without addressing long-term issues, mainly the division and resentment amongst the ethnic groups.

According to the recent ICG report, Kenya is balancing on the edge of violence until an agreement has been finalized and approved. On Wednesday, the opposition warned of a mass protest unless power-sharing talks continued. Today, a man was hacked to death in a Nairobi slum during a fight between Kiyuyus and Luos.

Odinga’s party and supporters argue that the power-sharing resolution is the only way to end the violence but some fear the compromise may spark new fighting.

Talks are expected to resume on Friday.

For more information please see:

Yahoo News- Kenya OKs Prime Minister for Rivals – 21 February 2008

BBC- Annan Hails Kenya Talks Progress – 21 February 2008

DARFUR, Sudan – The bombing of a refugee camp in western Darfur and the presence of government forces and militia in the Jebel Moun region are “worrying signs”, according to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, “that there will be continued hostility in the area.”

Although the camp was empty at the time several people were injured. Witnesses claim army planes were responsible for the bombing. The Sudanese army claims the offense was carried to clear out the Jem rebels whom they accuse of blocking aid deliveries to the area.

Between January 1st and January 24th, 23 fully loaded U.N. World Food Program trucks have been hijacked. Yesterday, Ban urged both sides to agree to a cease fire. UN humanitarian chief Sir John Holmes warns that the consequences for 20,000 civilians in the area could be disastrous, if the attacks continue.

Presently, only about 7,500 military personnel and 1,500 police officers are in Darfur. The UN and AU have authorized the deployment of 26,000 officers and troops.

Roughly 200,000 people have been killed and nearly 2.2 million displaced since the fighting began five years ago.

For more information please see:

BBC – Darfur Bombing is ‘Unacceptable’ – 20 February 2008

Yahoo News- UN chief urges cease-fire in Darfur – 20 February 2008

By:  M. Brandon Maggiore
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – International Crisis Group (ICG) issued a report stating that Kenya is at risk of further violence if the political crisis is not resolved soon. Kofi Anan has been mediating talks in Narobi; however, an agreement has not been reached. There are armed groups preparing for attacks in support of both President Mwai Kibaki and the opposition.

Kenya’€™s opposition party will launch nationwide protests in one week. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), led by Professor Peter Anyang Nyongo, accuses President Kibaki of derailing the gains made in negotiations. The ODM accuses President Kibaki of failing to respect both the wishes of the majority and the mediation led by Anan.

President Kibaki and affiliated parties will not accept a power-sharing deal that violates Kenya’s constitution. A solution to the political impasse proposed by President Kibaki’€™s rival, Raila Odinga, would create a sharing of power in which President Kibaki would remain head of state and Odinga would be the head of the government. In response to this proposal, Kenya’€™s foreign Affairs Minister, Moses Weangula, said, “Agreeing to enter into a quick fix for the sake of Raila is a betrayal of the people of Kenya and the constitution. Legitimizing an illegal deal that violates the constitution will mean that we will be playing in creating an illegal office of the prime minister.” The international community views a power-sharing agreement as the most viable solution to the political situation and supports such a plan.

Kofi Anan responded to discouraging reports asserting that the negotiations are going well and are on track.

Raila Odinga was first elected a Member of Parliament for the cosmopolitan constituency of Langata, Nairobi in December 1992. He retained his seat in general elections in 1997 and 2002.

Over 1,000 people have been killed and nearly 500,000 people have been displaced since President Kibaki was declared the winner of the December 2007 presidential election.  Human Rights Watch researchers have documented instances of extra judicial killings, excessive use of force by the police, and attacks based on ethnicity.

The ICG report warns that the risk of ethnic and territorial conflict and a failure of the democratic process in Kenya “would have sever[e] consequences for the whole of east Africa…”€

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Kenya ‘at risk of fresh violence’ – 21 February, 2008

Human Rights Watch – Kenya: Justice Key to Securing Lasting Peace – 17 February, 2008

Raila2007.com – About Raila Odinga – accessed 20 February, 2008

Africanews – Kenya opposition back to streets next week – 20 February, 2008

Africanews – Kenya: Kibaki rejects power sharing principle – 20 February, 2008

allAfrica.com – Kenya Talks Facing Uncertainty – 21 February, 2008