The Gambia Missing $11 Million after President Jammeh Exile

January 24, 2017

By Samantha Netzband

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter

BANJUL, The Gambia– Former President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia has finally relinquished the office of the President after the threat of military intervention in the Gambia. West African leaders urged former President Jammeh to transfer power to President Adama Barrow. Jammeh ultimately heard their calls and fled the Gambia on Saturday, two days after his term as President had ended.

The Gambia’s new president, Adama Barrow. (Photo Courtesy of BBC Africa)

President Barrow has been in Senegal where he awaited Jammeh’s departure. He was sworn into office in Senegal and will be returning to the Gambia any day now. Security forces from other West African nations have entered the Gambia in order to ensure a peaceful transition. President Barrow has promised to bring change to a country that has been ruled for 22 years by former President Jammeh. Barrow hopes to create a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to bring to light some of the human rights abuses that Jammeh committed. Many of these allegations stem from the 1994 Coup in which Jammeh seized power.

Former President Jammeh on the other hand managed to flee the country while also stealing from the Gambian people. Jammeh was flown out of the Gambia on a jet reportedly with $11 million from the Gambia’s treasury. He also made away with three luxury car and has ten more waiting to be shipped to him. While Morocco has offered Jammeh asylum he is currently staying in Guinea. It is unclear what country Jammeh will make his final destination. President Barrow has made himself clear that he does not want Jammeh in the country. The former President’s presence would be distracting and unhelpful to the new government.

For more information, please see:

BBC Africa – The Gambia ‘missing millions’ after Jammeh flies into exile – 23 January 2017

Latest News New Zealand – The Gambia Missing Millions After Jammeh Flies into Exile – 23 January 2017

Voice of America – Regional Security Forces Arrive in Gambian Capital Ahead of New President’s Return – 22 January 2017

Washington Post – Gambia’s Defeated Leader Finally Gave Up Power-and took Luxury Cars and took luxury cars and millions of dollars with him – 23 January 2017

United Nations Estimates Over 10,000 People Dead in Yemeni War

January 23, 2017

by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen — A senior United Nations (U.N.) official issued a statement indicating that over 10,000 people have died in the Yemeni conflict.

Over 3 million people have been displaced due to the nearly 2-year long civil war in Yemen (Photo courtesy of RT)

The U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Mr. Jamie McGoldrick, stated that in addition to the estimated 10,000 people that have been killed, an additional 40,000 people have been injured. The U.N. humanitarian affairs office indicated that the figure was a low estimate derived from health facilities that keep track of victims of the war. However, the actual death toll is expected to be much higher because the country’s medical facilities have all been destroyed by Saudi-led coalition planes “in numerous incidents often blamed on ‘mistakes’ and ‘bad intelligence.’” Furthermore, those who are killed in the war are often buried without any official records.

In his statement, Mr. McGoldrick urged “both sides to come together to end nearly two years of conflict.” He indicated that the war has resulted in one of the worst humanitarian crises in history, adding that “there are 7 million people who don’t know where their next meal is coming from[.]” He stated that there are 11 million people needing human rights protection to defend their safety and dignity. He added that an additional 2.9 million people require “legal and other types of support,” for problems stemming from displacement or gender-based violence. Farhan Haq, the U.N. general secretary’s deputy spokesman, added “[t]his once more underscores the need to resolve the situation in Yemen without any further delay. There’s been a huge humanitarian cost.”

The war in Yemen is being waged between Houthi rebels backed by Iran and the Yemeni government, which has received military support from a Saudi-led coalition. The war has “devastated” the country due to the estimated 19 million people (80% of the population) in need of humanitarian aid, and over 3 million people that have been displaced.

For more information, please see:

Newsweek—Yemen: 10,000 Killed in Conflict, U.N. Reports—17 January 2017

Euronews—UN raises alarm about hunger and insecurity in Yemen—16 January 2017

RT—UN ‘estimates’ death toll in Yemen war surpassed 10,000—17 January 2017

BBC News—Yemen conflict: At least 10,000 killed, says UN—17 January 2017

The Guardian—Yemen death toll has reached 10,000, UN says—16 January 2017

U.S. and Cuba Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Fight Human Trafficking

January 23, 2017

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

HAVANA, Cuba — This past Monday, Barack Obama’s administration met with Cuban officials to discuss the sharing of information regarding international crimes, including human trafficking. Both the US State Department and the Cuban Interior Ministry signed the “memorandum of understanding” just a few days after the Obama administration ended the 21-year old “wet foot, dry foot” immigration policy which allowed any Cuban who made it on to US soil to stay and become a legal resident. Since the repeal of this immigration policy, Cubans who attempt to enter the U.S. illegally will be subject to removal from the country, even if they have been smuggled into the U.S. by human traffickers.

Obama waves to the crowd as he delivers a speech in Havana, Cuba in March 2016 (Photo Courtesy of Reuters)

In the memorandum of understanding, both countries expressed “their intention to cooperate in prevention, confrontation, surveillance, investigation, and prosecution” as well as the “need to establish cooperation between law enforcement and judicial bodies of both nations to effectively address these challenges.”

Planned actions include the exchange of information and the designation of specific liaison officers which will help improve bilateral communication between the two nations. In addition, both the U.S. and Cuba will carry out joint investigations and may station law-enforcement officials in each other’s countries to enforce the goals of the memorandum.

U.S. National Security Council explained that “[t]he goals of [Obama’s] Cuba policy have been simple: to help the Cuban people achieve a better future for themselves and to advance the interests of the United States.” The Obama administration further commented that it is in the interest of both countries to fight international crimes such as human smuggling and child sexual abuse.

The memorandum was signed by Jeffrey DeLaurentis, chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, and Cuban interior minister Vice Adm. Julio Cesar Gandarilla. It was witnessed for the U.S. by Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes.

This memorandum came as a last-minute effort by the Obama administration to strengthen ties with Cuba before the Trump administration took office. Trump has threatened to disintegrate relations with Cuba unless Cuba gives the US a “better agreement.”

For more information, please see:

International Business Times — US and Cuba Sign MoU to fight Terrorism, Drug Trafficking — 17 January 2017

ABC — US, Cuban Interior Ministry Sign Law-Enforcement Deal — 16 January 2017

Reuters — Cuba, United States to Fight Terrorism, Drug Trafficking and Other Crimes — 16 January 2017

Miami Herald — Obama Ends Controversial Policy that Allowed Cubans to Enter U.S. Without Visas — 12 January 2017

Germany Rejects Bid to Ban Neo-Nazi Party

January 22, 2017

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

BERLIN, Germany — This past Tuesday, Germany’s highest court unanimously rejected a proposal to ban the far-right neo-Nazi political party. In 2013, 16 German states submitted a petition to ban the party, citing an alleged racist and anti-Semitic agenda as reasons to support the ban. The petition also claimed that the group’s views violate Germany’s constitution.

President of Germany's Constitutional Court, Andreas Vosskuhle, and fellow judges leave the room after announcing the rejection of the bid to ban the neo-Nazi poltiical party (Photo Courtesy of the Times of Israel) — President of Germany’s Constitutional Court, Andreas Vosskuhle, and fellow judges leave the room after announcing the rejection of the bid to ban the neo-Nazi poltiical party (Photo Courtesy of the Times of Israel)

As reason for rejecting the proposal, the court ruled that the party does not pose a serious-enough threat to Germany’s democratic system. In its verdict, the Federal Constitutional Court explained that they rejected the motion to ban the group as groundless because of a “lack of concrete evidence to make it seem likely that [the party’s] actions will lead to success…” Per Germany’s constitution, a political party can only be banned if they pose an actual threat to democracy. Andreas Vosskuhle, president of the presiding court, further explained that in the court’s eyes, a party which “has aims that run contrary to the Constitution is not sufficient grounds for banning a party.”

In September, voters ejected the National Democratic Party (NPD) from the legislature in the last German state in which it held seats. The party is currently only represented on a local level, which Vosskuhle cites as a reason as to why the party does not have the means to carry out its actions. “In more than five decades that it has existed, the [NDP] has not been able to achieve lasting representation in a state legislature,” Vosskuhle explained. He does not see any “indications that this will change in the future.”

The court’s verdict has sparked great outcry. Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, labeled the ruling as “disappointing” and believes that the ruling “allows the NPD to pursue its destructive, anti-democratic activities and to spread more anti-Semitic and racist hatred.” The Central Council of Jews in Germany called the verdict “a lost opportunity to take action against an inhumane party.” Christoph Heubner, Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, called the move a “reality-blind and untimely decision” which is going to send a disastrous signal to the rest of Europe.

The court’s verdict marks the second failed attempt of the German government to ban the NPD, as a similar bid was rejected in 2003.

For more information, please see:

Fox News — German Court Decides Against Ban of Neo-Nazi Party — 17 January 2017

New York Times — German Court Rejects Effort to Ban Neo-Nazi Party — 17 January 2017

The Times of Israel — German Court Criticized for not Banning Neo-Nazi-Linked Party — 17 January 2017

USA Today — Germany’s Top Court Rejects Bid to Ban Neo-Nazi Party — 17 January 2017

Talks in The Gambia Fail as President Jammeh Still Refuses to Step Down

January 20, 2017

By Samantha Netzband

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter

BANJUL, The Gambia–The Gambia’s President-Elect Adama Barrow has left the Gambia for Mali as talks failed, and President Yahya Jammeh refused to relinquish power. President-Elect Barrow will meet with West African leaders at a summit in Mali. West African leaders as well as the African Union are calling for a smooth transition of power in The Gambia. The African Union has publicly stated that they will not recognize President Jammeh as the legitimate leader of The Gambia should he continue to refuse to step down on Thursday, the day that President-Elect Barrow is set to take office.

President Yahya Jammeh welcomes Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari, to the failed talks that took place late Friday in The Gambia. (Photo Courtesy of BBC Africa)

As talks failed in The Gambia, The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, addressed the Security Council stating that although the region has seen democratic progress there is still political uncertainty in some states. The Gambia is one of the West African nations that may face difficulty having a peaceful transition of power since President Jammeh has refused to accept the election results. The Security Council thanked Chambas for his remarks and decided to remain seized in the matter.

President Jammeh is rejecting election results that are viewed as legitimate by many African nations. President-Elect Barrow won the presidency by a large majority. President-Elect Barrow will focus a large amount of his time at the Mali summit seeking help from West African leaders. After the Mali summit West African leaders may ask Chambas, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, to ask the Security Council to deploy troops to The Gambia in the event that President Jammeh does not step down.

For more information, please see:

BBC Africa – Gambia dispute: African Union ‘will not recognise’ President Jammeh – 13 January 2017

BBC Africa – Gambia talks fail as president refuses to step down – 14 January 2017

UN News Centre – Amid progress in West Africa and the Sahel, UN envoy warns of region’s political challenges – 13 January 2017

Yahoo News – Gambian crisis takes centre stage at Mali summit – 14 January 2017