By Daniel M. Austin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo – According to a United Nations relief agency, five humanitarian workers and two other civilians were killed on Tuesday, October 4 by rebels in South Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The United Nations has called on the DRC government to thoroughly investigate this incident, capture the perpetrators, and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. The United Nations Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) claims this was the deadliest attack on humanitarian aid workers in the country’s history.

The attack occurred when rebels ambushed a vehicle transporting members of a local educational group in the city of Malinda. Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo blame the attack on members of the Congolese Mai Mai Yakatumba militia and rebel forces allied with Burundi’s National Liberation Front (FNL). In DRC, local and foreign militias fight each other and continue to terrorize the civilian population.

In a statement from the United Nations acting coordinator in DRC, Pierrette Vu Thi decried the violence and reiterated the need for the DRC government to take action to protect its citizens and members of national and international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Ms. Thi said “”We deplore with all our energy this aggression and all the other acts which hamper humanitarian work in DRC” and “we call on the Government to immediately open an inquiry to find the perpetrators of this odious act so as to bring them to justice.”

When asked by Reuters about this attack, local administrator, Selestin Kalume Mwanshima said “We are in the process of taking steps to secure the area. It’s each day that Yakatumba and its allies, the FNL and FDLR attack civilian vehicles, boats, even entire villages. This must stop.”

The National Liberation Forces, or FNL is a Burundian rebel group based in Congo that coordinates attacks in both DRC and in Burundi, including last month’s attack on a bar in Gatumda, Burundi that left more than 30 people dead. Meanwhile, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR is a Rwandan rebel group that has been operating in DRC for many years and is accused of carrying out numerous attacks against civilians, including killings and mass rapes.

The UN OCHA claims that roughly 40 incidents involving humanitarian aid workers have taken place since August 2011, 25 incidents taking place in the Nord-Kivu province, and another 15 taking place in Sud-Kivu province. Moreover, since January 2011, 140 such attacks have taken place. According to OCHA, ‘these incidents range from hold-ups to hostage-taking and the hijacking of humanitarian vehicles to transport military equipment.”

Beginning in 1999, and under a cadre of various names, the United Nations has supported a peacekeeping force of up to 20,000 uniformed personnel in DRC. The peacekeeping forces have helped DRC emerge from a fractious civil war and allowed national elections to take place in 2006, the first set of democratic elections in more than forty years. Notably, much of DRC, a nation as large as Western Europe, remains peaceful however; irregular fighting continues to plague the eastern portion of DRC. It is in the eastern portion of DRC where much of the United Nations mission, MONUSCO is focused.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera — ‘Rebels’ Kill Aid Workers in DR Congo — 06 October 2011

All Africa.com — UN Deplores Murder of Five Humanitarian Workers – 6 october 2011

Captial FM News — Rebels Kill Five Aid Workers, Two Others in DR Congo –07 October 2011

IC Publications — Rebels Kill Five Aid Workers, Two Others in DR Congo: UN – 06 October 2011

UN News Centre — DR Congo: UN deplores Murder of Five Humanitarian Workers – 6 October 2011

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Police detained over 200 people at an independence rally in Southern Cameroon this weekend. Police arrested 126 people for defying public order after they arrested fifty activists from the Southern Cameroons National Council (“SCNC”) at a demonstrated in Buea on Saturday. Saturday was the fiftieth anniversary of the merger between British Cameroon and French Cameroon that created present Cameroon.

SCNC seeks independence for the English-speaking minority in Cameroon. English-speaking separatist movements created the organization in 1995 to gain independence of their territory. The Council complains the authorities in Yaounde, Cameroon’s capital, politically marginalizes and neglects the English-speaking minority. SCNC did not receive permission to hold its rally in Buea on Saturday, and security forces dispersed the Anglophone separatist movement.

On Sunday, an anonymous source stated “As I am speaking to you, 150 of [the detainees] are held at (the mobile intervention unit), 30 at the central police station and 25 at the gendarmerie brigade.” The source asked for anonymity because he did not receive authorization to speak to the press.

Cameroonians will go to the polls for a presidential election on Sunday, 9 October. President Paul Biya has governed Cameroon since 1982. Biya is likely to remain president of this oil-producing country for another seven-year term. In 2008, Biya amended Cameroon’s constitution by removing presidential term limits. This amendment provoked unrest in the country.

This protest trials behind recent unrest related to the elections. On Thursday, 29 September, gunmen, wearing military uniforms, opened fire in Douala, Cameroon’s commercial capital, in an anti-government protest. They carried signs that read “Paul Biya Must Go At All Costs” and “Paul Biya Dictator”.

The gunmen blocked the mile-long Wouri Bridge as they protested against Biya. The gunmen and police shot at each other for hours, and one gunman fell off the bridge into the Wouri River. An eyewitness to the incident was unsure if he drowned. Residents continued to hear sporadic gunfire hours after the situation concluded.

Biya faces twenty-two candidates opposing the 78-year-old incumbent in the race. However, Biya’s critics suggest with Biya’s tight control of the electoral commission, Biya will rig the election.

The Social Democratic Front (“SDF”) denounced the organization of the election. SDF’s spokesman Evariste Fopoussi says, “There is a whole mountain of irregularities” because the election rolls have double entries and is missing candidate names.

For more information, please see:
Antigua Observer – Cameroon Arrests More Than 200 Separatists – 2 Oct 11
Cameron Online – Cameroon: 126 Arrested Over Independence Protest – 2 Oct 2011
Voice of America – Cameroon Separatists Arrested Following March in Buea – 1 Oct 2011
BBC – Cameron Shooting: Douala Gunmen Kill One – 29 Sept 11

By Daniel M. Austin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

ARUSHA, Tanzania – On Friday, September 30,  Casimir Bizimungu, the former Rwandan health minister, and Jerome-Clement Bicamumpaka, the former foreign affairs minister in the Rwandan government during the 1994 genocide, had their convictions thrown out by the Appeals Chamber for the International War Crimes Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). The Appeals Chamber found a lack of evidence to support the convictions. Along with ruling on the convictions of these two ministers, the Appeals Chamber also upheld the sentences of two other ministers, Mr. Prosper Mugiraneza, the former civil service minister, and Mr. Justin Mugenzi, the former trade minister.  Up to this date, Mr. Bizimungu and Mr. Bicamumpaka are the highest ranking officials to have their convictions overturned in the International War Crimes Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Both men were quickly released after their convictions were thrown out.

The four ex-ministers had been jointly charged with a variety of crimes related to the 1994 slaughter of nearly 1,000,000 people. The crimes included genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, crimes against humanity (murder, extermination and rape) and war crimes. In the present case, all four ministers had been accused of calling for the killing of Tutsis during radio announcements and in public meetings that were held across Rwanda.

Speaking after the verdict had been announced, Mr. Bizimungu told Hirondelle news agency, “I am very happy and thank all the people who contributed to this success, I will mention first my lawyers, then my family, my friends, and I thank God.” Additionally, Mr. Bizimungu’s lead defense counsel expressed satisfaction, proclaiming “There is justice, there is justice. I am very happy.”

The two ministers who had their convictions upheld, Mr. Mugiraneza and Mr. Mugenzi were each sentenced to 25 years in prison. The trial for all four ministers took place from 2003 to 2008. Today’s decision comes nearly eight years after that trial began. Moreover, all of the ministers have been in ICTR custody for nearly  twelve years. According to the tribunal, Mr. Bizimungu was arrested in Kenya in February 1999, while the other three former ministers were all arrested in Cameroon in April 1999.

Commenting on the conviction of Mr. Mugenzi and Mr. Mugiraneza, ICTR Prosecutor Hassan Bubacar Jallow claimed ‘’We clearly welcome the conviction of the two, Mugenzi and Mugiraneza, for the crimes of conspiracy to commit genocide and also direct and public incitement to commit genocide.” However, when asked about whether the Prosecution would appeal the two acquittals, Mr. Jallow said he could not give an evaluation “until we receive the full judgment, look at it and consider whether there is any reason to proceed with the appeal”.

The International War Crimes Tribunal for Rwanda is based in the town of Arusha, Tanzania. The tribunal was formed in 1994 to try the alleged perpetrators of the genocide which killed nearly 800,000 people who were predominantly Tutsis.

For more information, please see:

BBC — Rwanda genocide court jails former ministers — 30 September 2011

Reuters — U.N. court acquits two ex Rwandan ministers of genocide –30 September 2011

Hirondelle News Agency – ACQUITTED EX-MINISTER HAPPY, PROSECUTOR TO DECIDE ON APPEAL – 30 September 2011

By Tamara Alfred
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

The first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari Maathai, died late Sunday in a Nairobi hospital at the age of 71 following a battle with cancer.  Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.

Maathai believed that a healthy environment helped improve lives by providing clean water and firewood for cooking, thereby decreasing conflict.  The Kenyan organization she founded, the Green Belt Movement, planted 30 million trees in hopes of improving the chances for peace.  Her triumph later inspired the United Nations to launch a worldwide campaign resulting in the planting of 11 billion trees.

Although the tree-planting campaign did not initially address issues of peace and democracy, Maathai said it became clear over time that responsible governance of the environment was not possible without democracy.

“The tree became a symbol for the democratic struggle in Kenya,” said Maathai during one of her speeches.  “Citizens were mobilized to challenge widespread abuses of power, corruption and environmental mismanagement.”

Seen as a threat to the rich and powerful, Wangari Maathai was beaten, arrested and vilified for the simple act of planting a tree, a natural wonder Maathai believed, could reduce poverty and conflict.  At least three times during her activist year, she was physically attacked, including being clubbed unconscious by police during a hunger strike in 1992.  She also staged protests that vilified former Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi, a repressive and autocratic ruler, who called her a “mad woman” who was a threat to the security of Kenya.

In the summer of 1998, the Kenyan government was giving land to political allies in a protected forest on the outskirts of Nairobi.  Maathai launched a campaign to reclaim the land, ending in a confrontation with 200 hired thugs armed with machetes and bows and arrows.  While trying to plant a tree, she and her cohorts were attacked with whips, clubs and stones.  Maathai sustained a bloody gash to her head.

“Wangari Maathai was a force of nature.  While other deployed their powers and life force to damage, degrade and extract short term profit from the environment, she used her to stand in their way, mobilize communities and to argue for conservation and sustainable development over destruction,” said Achim Steiner, executive director of the U.N. Environmental Program, for which Maathai served as an inspiration.

Various world leaders expressed their sorrow at having lost Maathai and her efforts.

“Wangari Maathai combined the protection of the environment, with the struggle for women’s rights and fight for democracy,” said Geir Lundestad, director of the Nobel Institute.

“At last count, the Green Belt Movement…had assisted women to plant more than 40 million trees,” said Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a statement.  “She understood and acted on the inextricable links between poverty, rights and environmental sustainability.  One can but marvel at her foresight and the scope of her success.  She was a true African heroine.”

“The values she had for justice and civil liberties and what she believed were the obligations of civil society and government,” said Vertistine Mbaya, Maathai’s colleague at the University of Nairobi.  “She also demonstrated the importance of recognizing the contributions that women can make and allowing them the open space to do so.”

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore said Maathai “overcame incredible obstacles to devote her life to service – service to her children, to her constituents, to the women, and indeed all the people of Kenya – and to the world as a whole.”

For more information, please see:

CNN – Maathai: World mourns passing of ‘true African heroine’ – 26 September 2011

Huffington Post – Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Dies – 26 September 2011

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

CONAKRY, Guinea – On Tuesday, paramilitary police forces killed four people violently dispersing a march people attempted to join.  Nineteen opposition parties organized the march.  The police took control of the traffic circle and used tear gas and batons on people as they collated at September 28 Stadium, the prescribed meeting point.  Ministry of Defense spokesperson Commander Aliou Diakite reported twenty-three police officers received treatment from injuries sustained by the rock-throwing activists.

Former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, who narrowly lost current President Alpha Conde in last November’s run-off election, reported one of the four dead bodies arrived at the headquarters of Union of the Democratic Forces of Guinea, his political party.  The other three bodies rested at the local morgue, but the morgue denied the victims’ families access to the bodies.

Diallo called the march to protest the upcoming December parliamentary elections, which he contends the government will rig.  The country should have voted for parliamentary positions six months after the presidential election, but the Independent National Electoral Commission (“CENI”) pushed them back.  Diallo asserts Conde placed a close friend as head of CENI who will attempt to tamper the votes.

On Monday, Prime Minister Mohamed Said Fofana met with opposition leaders to resolve the claims.  After unsuccessful negotiations, Diallo announced the march would proceed despite a governmental ban.  Tuesday morning, riot police assembled at main intersections around September 28 Stadium, and they fired tear gas grenades towards people attempted to organize.  After pro-opposition youth began throwing rocks at the police, witnesses report he police fired live round in the Matoto district.

Spokesperson for the opposition parties Faya Millimono reported participants received injuries from gunshots and cuts.  However, General Mamadouba Toto Camara, minister of security and protection reported the security forces “do not use firearms.”

This march was the first major demonstration since last year’s elections.  Many shops and petrol stations did not open for business on Tuesday for fears of violence from the march.

The protest took place on the eve of the second anniversary of the September 28 Massacre.  Under the rule of Junta chief Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, 150 people died when security forces fired live rounds at the anti-juanta protestors.  Mass rapes also occurred at the hands of the security forces.

Shopkeeper Souleymane Sow, a supporter of Diallo, said “What is remarkable is that the police units are using riot control tools to disperse the protesters—tear gas and night sticks, and not fire arms for the most part…It’s my opinion that the repression I’m seeing is not too violent compared to what we are used to.”

For further information, please see:
Bloomberg – Guinea Opposition Says Four People Killed in Protests, 11 Hurt – 28 Sept 11
Alert Net – Timeline – Political Tensions Rise Again in Guinea – 27 Sept 11
BBC – Guinea Elections: Three Die as Police Break Up Protest – 27 Sept 11
Wall Street Journal – Police Disperse Guinea Opposition March – 27 Sept 11