By Myriam Clerge

Impunity Watch, Africa

The U.S.- based Human Rights Watch (HRW) sent a letter to South African President Thabo Mbeki during the national celebration of Women’s Day, requesting that he take actions to commit to equality of gay and lesbian rights. Despite the fact that South Africa’s constitution is the most progressive anywhere in the world and has legalized same-sex marriage, a climate of violent homophobia exists amongst the people.

Three women were brutally killed in July. Sizakele Sigasa, a 34-year-old, openly gay, and an activist of people living with HIV/AIDS, was found dead in a field in Meadoland, Soweto along with the body of 24-year-old Salome Masooa. Sigasa was shot 6 times and Masooa once.

Later in the same month, in a case unrelated, the naked body of Thokozane Qwabe, age 23, was found in the field of Ladysmith, KwaZulu-natal. Qwabe has multiple head wound. In an earlier case in March, 19-year old Zoliswa Nkonyana was attacked and killed by a mob.

Local police have refused to speculate the murders were related to sexual orientation.

In September of last year, Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu warned of South Africa’s “moral failing”. Desmond was referring to South Africa’s high murder rate, corruption, rape and the lack of reverence for life.

This past week, South African opposition parties and AIDS activists condemned President Mbeki for the termination of Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge as deputy health minister. Madlala-Routledge raised global support for her means of tackling the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. The move created speculation and criticism regarding the future South Africa, whose has a death rate of 1,000 from AIDS and related disease. The South African government has been accused of dragging its feet on AIDS drug treatment.

For more information please see:

AllAfrica – South Africa: Lesbians Targeted for Murder – 09 August 2007

BBC – SA Lesbians ‘Targeted for Murder’ – 09 August 2007

Reuters – Mbeki Blasted Over Deputy Health Minister Sacking – 09 August 2007

BBC – S Africa is Losing its Way – Tutu – 27 September 2006

By Lindsey Brady

Impunity Watch, Africa

Sierra Leone is holding its first national election today since UN peacekeepers left the country two years ago.  The responsibility for running this election lies with the Sierra Leonean National Electoral Commission (NEC).  Close to 2.6 million people are registered to vote, about half of the population of Sierra Leone who are eligible.

Last election, organized by the UN, was held in 2002 immediately after the decade-long civil war had ended.  This election is seen as a test of whether or not Sierra Leonean security forces can maintain the peace.

Sierra Leone has been peaceful up to the elections, except for a few house burnings.  Since the elections began this morning long lines have formed at various polling stations in Freetown and people in the city are impatient to cast their ballots.  The voting has been described as peaceful in rural areas.  In general the voting has been running smoothly, except that a few polling stations have opened late and heavy rain last night caused a delay in delivering voting materials.  But overall “the process seems to be well-organi(z)ed and peaceful” according to Marie-Anne Isler, the chief EU observer.

There are seven candidates for the presidency and over 500 candidates for the 112 parliamentary seats.  President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah stepping down after serving two terms, amidst anger over a failure to supply jobs and possible corruption.  The two front-runners for presidency are considered to be Ernest Bai Koroma of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) and current vice-president Solomon Berewa of ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).  The presidential candidate must secure 55% of the vote to avoid a run-off.  If a run-off is necessary it will likely take place in early September.

There are international observers present for today’s elections, including a seven person team from the European Union.  The EU has awarded approximately $275 million (200 million Euro) to Sierra Leone for the period of 2007-2013 to rebuild under the European Development Fund.

Sierra Leone is still recovering slowly from the civil war.  Analysts warn that the conditions which fueled the war, like high unemployment and corruption, are once again prevalent.  The country remains very poor and the large youth population cannot find work, leaving them open to persuasion to join an offensive against the government.

Many remain optimistic.   NEC Chairwoman Christiana Thorpe believes that a successful election process “will indicate maturity in the democratic process and in self-governance.”  “Maybe now things are going to get better,” said Freetown resident Abubakar Kamara, before heading off to vote in the west of the city. “We must vote in peace and show the world that Sierra Leone is a peaceful country.”

Final tallies of today’s election are expected within the next 12 days.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Landmark Vote Begins in S Leone – 11 August 2007

Ireland.com – Ryan Joins Team of Election Observers – 11 August 2007

Guardian – Sierra Leone Holds Elections – 11 August 2007

Reuters – Sierra Leone Votes in Test of Post-War Recovery – 11 August 2007

AllAfrica – Sierra Leone: Elections “Will Indicate Maturity in the Democratic Process” – 10 August 2007

By Myriam Clerge

Impunity Watch, Africa

More than half a million people in Mozambique are in need of urgent food as the country faces a severe food shortage. The deputy director of Mozambique’s National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC), Joao Ribeiro, said the number of people facing famine is expected to rise from 520,000 to 600,000 between now and April 2008.

After a year of drought, cyclone Favio and flood, 30 percent of agriculture in southern and central Mozambique has diminished. Flooding killed 4700 people and left half a million homeless. Cyclone Favio displaced nearly 140,000 and malnutrition rate continue to rise in drought-hit regions.

The Mozambique government intends to find a national solution before requesting aid from the international community. According to the Territorial Administration Minister Lucas Chomera, one strategy is to take excess food from the northern region and redistribute them to the southern and central regions.

For more information please see:

Reuters – Mozambique faces food shortages left by floods – 09 August 2007

Yahoo – Over 520,000 people need urgent food aid in Mozambique – 09 August 2007

By Meryl White

Impunity Watch, Africa

In Northern Nigeria, eighteen men were arrested at a hotel and charged with sodomy. The men who had come together to celebrate a gay marriage, were arrested wearing women’s clothing as they prepared for the wedding. The arrests occurred in Bauchi city, the capital of a Muslim state which enforces Sharia law, a legal system based on “Islamic theory and philosophy of justice.” Prosecuting police officer Tadius Boboi believes that the eighteen men’s actions have broken Sharia law.

If the men are convicted of sodomy, their punishment will be death by stoning. In the past, Bauchi state has enforced the death penalty for three people who were convicted of sexual offenses. Moreover, another dozen Muslims have been sentenced to execution for adultery and homosexuality. However, none of these sentences were carried out due to prisoner appeals. Moreover, other executions were impeded as the result of pressure from international human rights organizations.

Presently, forty people in Bauchi state are awaiting amputation of one or both hands for theft convictions. Additionally, many Muslims have been sentenced to flogging by horsewhip for drinking alcohol.

In Nigeria, homosexuality is considered a taboo by society. Furthermore, the law treats same sex marriage and homosexuality as illegal. Recently, the Nigerian government has also been trying to pass a law introduced by former President Olusegun Obasanjo which would ban gay rights organizations. Gay rights activists and human rights groups have called for the rejection of this law.

For more information, please see:

Pink News – Nigerian Men Could Face Death Penalty for ‘Gay Marriage’ – 10 August 2007

AP – 18 Men Charged with Sodomy in a Nigerian Muslim Court Could Face Death if Convicted – 10 August 2007

BBC – Gay Nigerians Face Sharia Death – 10 August 2007