By Heba Girgis
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

BAMAKO, Mali—French troops have just launched their first ground operation attack against Islamist rebels today, Wednesday, after six days of air strikes. Officials have noted that these air strikes, however, have raised the risk of revenge attacks on French citizens in other parts of Africa. The French ambassador Christian Rouyer told journalists yesterday that, “French interests are threatened all over. Yes we are worried that our interests in Bamako could be targeted by attacks.”

This first direct operation involving Western troops brought French soldiers to a desert village in central Mali. The Malian colonel said that his own army’s ground troops have now joined the French forces and encircled the village of Diabaly which had been seized by Islamist fighters the day before. Now, the colonel said, the French-Malian group is engaged in trying to extricate the rebels who had taken over homes in the village.

French President Francois Hollande has about 1,700 troops committed to the mission in Mali, with 800 troops already in the country. Hollande’s goal is to destroy or capture the militants who split the country in two last year, and just last week began moving south toward the capital of Bamako. “Our goal is that when we leave, there will be security in Mali, a legitimate government, and no terrorists threatening the security of Mali,” Hollande said two days ago in Dubai. Hollande also noted that the French forces would remain in Mali until stability returned.

France is not the only country coming to Mali’s aid. West African military chiefs said that the French troops would soon be supported by about 2,000 more troops from Nigeria, Chad, Niger and several other regional powers. Ivory Coast General Soumaila Bakayoko, who presided over a meeting on the regional force in Bamako said, “they are coming to fight and not for a parade. We are coming for battle and that is clear.”

The military conflict in this region broadened as Islamist militants seized a foreign run gas field near the Algeria-Libya border, taking at least 20 hostages, including Americans in order to retaliate against the French intervention in Mali and Algeria’s cooperation in the effort. The French expect that this kind of retaliation will not end here.

 

For further information, please see:

The New York Times – French and Malian Ground Troops Confront Islamists in Seized Mali Village – 16 January 2013

Reuters – France Launches Ground Campaign Against Mali Rebels – 16 January 2013

San Francisco Chronicle – French Ground Forces Move North to Attack Mali Islamist Rebels – 16 January 2013

Voice of America – Africa’s French Citizens Take Islamist Threats in Stride – 16 January 2013

By Hannah Stewart
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan — On the night of January 14, Abdul-Aziz Khalid, Chairperson of the Central Council of the National Sudanese Alliance Party, was arrested at his home by Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).  Reports state that he is being detained incommunicado in an undisclosed location.

Abdul-Aziz Khalid is the sixth political opposition member to be detained by NISS since a coalition of Sudanese political opposition parties and armed rebel groups attended political negotiations in Kampala, Uganda.  Dr. Jamal Idris, Enstar Alagali, Professor Mohamed Zain Alabidein, Dr. Abdulrahim Abdalla, and Hisham Al Mufti are also reportedly being detained by the NISS.  The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) fears that the six detainees are at serious risk of torture and ill-treatment

At the Kampala meeting on January 7, opposition leaders discussed the overthrow of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir’s regime in order to institute a national democratic alternative.

President al-Bashir has been under international scrutiny over the years for the events transpiring in Darfur.  The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued two arrest warrants for Al-Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur in 2009 and 2010. The warrants charge him with criminal responsibility on 10 counts, including murder, extermination, forcible transfer of population, torture and rape.

The Kampala negotiations culminated in the adoption of the New Dawn Charter.  The charter calls on parties to work together to topple the regime through either “democratic civil peaceful means” or “revolutionary armed struggle.”  Abdul-Aziz Khalid signed the “New Dawn” document on behalf of the National Sudanese Alliance Party.

The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) of Sudan has publicly opposed the charter.  Sudanese authorities described the signatories as “traitors” and pledged that 2013 would be a year of “decisive action against armed opposition movements.”  The authorities also accused Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni of playing a “dirty role” in the region, asserting that they are aware of his conspiracies.

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) denounced the arrest of several opposition party leaders by security forces.  ANHRI stated that “the security forces’ harassment of the opposition is a serious violation of basic human rights and their freedom to express their political opinions and stances freely and safely.”

This comes at a time when the presidents of Sudan and South Sudan will hold their second summit in a month.  Sudanese President al-Bashir and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir are to meet on January 24, in an attempt to resolve tensions over oil, territory, military concerns and other disputes.

For further information, please see:

Sudan Tribune – Sudanese political opposition leaders detained incommunicado and at risk of torture – 15 January 2013

All Africa – Sudan: Security Forces Arrest Opposition Party Leaders – 9 January 2013

Al Monitor – Sudan Crisis Escalates as Dissidents are Arrested in Khartoum – 9 January 2013

Reuters – Leaders of Sudan, South Sudan to Meet in Second Push for Peace – 15 January 2013

By Heba Girgis
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KINSHASA, DR Congo—The Congolese M23 rebels have recently declared a unilateral ceasefire (on Tuesday January 8, 2013) with the government. This announcement boosted the hope for an end to the nine-month revolt against the Congolese government. Francois Rucogoza, the rebels’ executive secretary told Ugandan journalists, “We’ve been for peace…Today we are declaring that we are in a ceasefire.” “Even if the government refuses to sign a ceasefire agreement we will continue with the negotiations,” he added.

Jean-Marie Runiga, the head of the rebels’ political wing gave a slightly different opinion saying, “If President Kabmila refuses to sign the ceasefire deal we will to him in the language he understands better which is war. We will not participate in any form of talks with him if he does not agree to peace.”

Last month an attempt was made to come to an agreement between the government and the rebels, but this attempt failed. Up to 800,000 people in the DR Congo have been displaced as a result of the rebels taking up arms against the government in May of last year.

However, the M23 has accused the government of failing to honor a peace deal that would integrate the rebels into the army. The group later broadened its stated goals to include the “liberation” of all of the DR Congo as well as the removal of the country’s President Joseph Kabila. The group also claims that they would like to improve living conditions for the people living in the eastern region of the DR Congo. The United Nations says, on the other hand, says that the group is supported by Rwanda, which has been very heavily involved with its Congolese neighbors since the people held responsible for Rwanda’s genocide left in 1994.

Peace talks began between the rebels and the government in November of last year, after the regional Heads of State and Government International Conference on the Great Lakes Region met in Kampala to discuss and seek solutions to the security situation affecting the eastern DR Congo.

The leader of the M23 is wanted by the International Criminal Court as prosecutors have accused him of using child soldiers. The United Nations also noted that he is in control of several mines located in the east region of the country. A lot now hangs in the balance as the country awaits the government’s response to the M23’s declaration of a ceasefire.

 

For further information, please see:

New Vision – M23 Rebels Declare Unilateral Ceasefire – 9 January 2013

Standard Digital News – DR Congo’s M23 Rebels Declare Unilateral Ceasefire – 9 January 2013

AlertNet – Congo Rebels Declare Ceasefire Before Peace Talks – 8 January 2013

CRI English – Congo Rebels Demand Government Sign Ceasefire – 5 January 2013

By Ryan Aliman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

BAMAKO, Mali – Malian rebel groups Ansar Dine and AQIM (al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) have threatened France that its military intervention in Northern Mali could endanger the lives of its people.

They urged France to reconsider its military support to the Malian Army to avoid any harm to French hostages and other French citizens.

“There are consequences, not only for French hostages, but also for all French citizens, wherever they find themselves in the Muslim world,” said Sanda Ould Boumama, Ansar Dine’s spokesperson. “The hostages are facing death.”

AQIM posted a video online where its spokesperson, Abdallah Al-Chinguetti, gave a similar warning to France: “Stop your assault against us or you are digging your own sons’ graves.”

Since April last year, the Malian government had been asking for urgent military assistance from France to regain territories captured by several insurgent groups in the north. On Friday, French President Francois Hollande announced that France will help its former colony in west Africa. On the same day, France sent air strikes to Konna which allowed the Malian Army to drive the rebel convoy out of the city.

“Terrorists should know that France will always be there when the rights of a people – those of Mali who want to live freely and in a democracy – are threatened,” President Hollande said. According to him, the French military operation in Mali, named “Operation Serval”, would last “as long as necessary” mainly because “Mali’s very existence as a state was under threat” with insurgent groups trying to turn Mali into a “terrorist” state.

President Hollande added that the French military intervention complied with international law and had been agreed with by Malian interim President Dioncounda Traore.

Although Operation Serval had been successful in regaining control of several territories in a matter of days, it was not without casualties. A French pilot was killed on Friday when his helicopter was shot down near the town of Mopti. Hours later, a French hostage being held by extremist groups in Somalia was executed which further highlighted France’s conflict with such groups in Africa.

The French Foreign Ministry has since raised its security alert to red – the highest level, advising the 6,000 French citizens staying in Mali to leave the country. It has also extended the red alert on neighboring countries such as Mauritania and Niger.

Meanwhile, interim Malian President Traore declared a state of emergency on Friday. He also cancelled a long-planned official trip to Paris on Wednesday because of the ongoing conflict in his country.

 

For further information, please see:

BBC News – French soldier killed and hostage feared dead in Somalia – 12 January 2013

Huffington Post – France’s Mali Operation: Troops Make Progress Against Islamist Rebels – 12 January 2013

Reuters – France bombs Mali rebels, African States Ready Troops – 12 January 2013

Reuters – Mali intervention will put French citizens at risk: Islamists – 12 January 2013

RTE News – Over 100 rebels killed after French Air Strikes on Mali – 12 January 2013

Times Live – Mali war escalates with French intervention – 12 January 2013

RFI – Mali’s islamist Mujao group claims kidnapping of French citizen – 22 November 2012