By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan – Sudan government has signed the beginning of a ceasefire agreement with one of the main rebel factions in the volatile Darfur region.

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) agreed to sign the deal which includes a framework for further talks and for the cancellation of death sentences for around 100 figures.  When the conflict in Darfur began in 2003  there were two major rebel groups, the JEM and the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA).

This agreement is seen as an important step toward peace even though one of the SLA has not entered into the talks.   The framework agreement will hopefully be formally be signed on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar.  The deadline for signing this final agreement is March 15.

“Today we signed an agreement between the government and JEM in Ndjamena, and in Ndjamena we heal the war in Darfur,” Said President al-Bashir during a speech on aired on state television.

According to JEM spokesman and aid to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, this agreement starts with an immediate ceasefire, but is not a permanent peace accord.   It includes a framework for further talks where issues such as the sharing of power and wealth, and the return of internally displaced people and refugees will be discussed.

“it is a significant step for peace in Darfur . . . . It is a considerable achievement for both parties,” said JEM spokesman Ahmed Hussein.

The Sudanese official in charge of the Darfur peace process, Ghazi Saleh al-Din, said other groups will hopefully also be included.

“It does not exclude other movements.  I think we can try to emulate the agreement which we signed with JEM and try to speed up the process so that we can try to a final agreement as soon as possible,” he said.

Although the seven-year war between forces loyal to the government and rebels in Darfur has lost steam in recent years, the United Nations estimates over 300,000 deaths throughout the worst years of the conflict.    Roughly 2.5 million people are still displaced.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Key Darfur Rebels Sign Ceasefire Deal – 21 February 2010

CNN – Sudanese Government to Sign Formal Peace Deal with Darfur Rebel – 21 February 2010

Sudan Tribune – Sudan, JEM to Sign Darfur Peace Deal Within Three Weeks – Official – 21 February 2010

The New York Times – Darfur Rebels Agree to Truce With Sudan – 20 February 2010

By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NIAMEY, Niger – United States, African Union, and United Nations want Niger’s military junta to act quickly on pledges to restore democracy, saying sanctions could be lifted following moves to establish civilian rule.

During Thursday’s military coup, President Mamadou Tandja was taken into custody and the government was dissolved.  Because of this, the African Union imposed sanctions on Niger and demanded that they return to constitutional rule.

Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations Secretary General condemned the coup and appealed for the respect for human rights.

Colonel Goukoye Abdul Karimou, a junta spokesman, said that the situation was “under control” and that there was no “single voice of dissension” in the West African State.

“We are taking care of [Tandja] – remember he is one of our elder soldiers,” he said.

He also reassured reporters that most of the cabinet ministers captured along with the president had been released and returned home.  The three who remain captured will be freed in a couple of days.

The coup took place on Thursday when troops stormed the palace during a cabinet meeting seizing Mr. Tandja and his ministers before announcing that they were suspending the constitution and dissolving all state institutions.

Those supporting the coup call themselves the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD).  This coalition is made up of political parties, trade unions and human rights groups formed last year to protest against the constitutional changes.

The leaders of this council promised to turn Niger into an example of “democracy and good governance” and to save its people from “poverty, deception and corruption.”

The United States said it believed the coup had been triggered by Mr. Tandja’s actions late August, when he held a controversial referendum to abolish term limits on the presidency.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State William Fitzgerald said that the US position is clear:  they have to show as soon as possible that they are genuinely seeking to restore the constitution and move to a return to democratic and civilian rule.

Even though the African Union and regional group ECOWAS have condemned the takeover by force, there have been few kind words for Tanjda who’s rule was controversial and subject to sanction.

For more information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Niger Demonstrators Celebrate Coup – 20 February 2010

BBC – African Union Suspends Niger After Military Coup – 20 February 2010

National Post – Niger Coup Serves as Wake-Up Call – 20 February 2010

Reuters – US Says Niger Junta Faces Choice on Democracy – 20 February 2010

Reuters – Niger Opposition Rally Pressures Junta for Elections – 20 February 2010

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa Desk

ASMARA, Eritrea -In light of sanctions imposed on Eritrea by the United Nations Security Council, much blame is being put on the United States government for influencing the Council to push their own agenda. Eritrean media outlets are claiming that the sanctions that came in December after the U.N. Security Council Accused Eritrea of providing funds and weapons to Islamist insurgents in Somalia where violence has killed 21,000 people since 2007. The decision was supported by 13 of 15 council members and was designed to target Eritrea’s leadership, imposing an arms embargo as well as asset freezes and travel bans on individuals and firms to be designated by an existing sanctions committee.

These sanctions are believed to have been a part of a conspiracy “masterminded by United States intelligence agencies, especially the CIA,” said President Isaias Afwerki.  Protests  against the recent sanctions are being planned by the Eritrean Diaspora in the U.S.  to take place in Washington D.C.  at the White House.  The Eritrean government has responded to these protests by saying that they are not involved in any way with the planning or execution of the protest. “to the contrary, it is the people who arose spontaneously when they heard about this unjust sanction. Actually, young women, men, elders, and even children were very angry because they’ve been victimized for the second time. So, it was absolutely popular appraisal against the unjust resolution. This resolution is not only targeting Eritreans, it is targeting the Horn of Africa entirely,” said an Eritrean official.

The official also went on to explain the sanctions were not justified because the Council had no way of proving Ertitrea’s complicitiy in the ongoing security instability in Somalia. The official further said, “United Nations had nothing to do when member states were asking about the evidence. Some of them were blackmailed and some of them were silenced. Until today, there has been no proof that has come out from the U.N. and people are asking where is the proof? Where is the beef? Because no proof was submitted against Eritrea.”

For more information please see:

Reuters – Eritrean Media Blames US For UN Sanctions – 17 February 2010

Reuters – Eritrean Rebels Say Killed 17 Intelligence Agents – 18 February 2010

VOA – Eritrea Official Denies Asmara’s Involvement in Organizing Protest Against UN – 17 February 2010

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Journal, Africa Desk

BRUSSELS, Belgium-Today the European Union decided to extend its sanctions on Zimbabwe for another year.  After deciding not enough progress has been made in implementing the country’s power-sharing agreement, 27 nations voted in favor of extending the sanctions that were imposed on Zimbabwe in September 2008. A statement by the EU published in the bloc’s official journal read, “In view of the situation in Zimbabwe, in particular the lack of progress in the implementation of the Clobal Political Agreement signed in September 2008, the restrictive measures… should be extended for a further period of 12 months.”

President Robert Mugabe and his rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai formed a “unity” government just about one year ago. The aim of this “unity” government was to end political unrest targeting a majority of supporters who backed Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (“MDC”).

Zimbabwe’s relationship with the European Union has been strained for the last ten years as a result of a string of elections that were marred by violence and widespread allegations of human rights abuses by Mugabe’s government. Since then, his government has been closely watched by the EU. Some of what the sanctions include is travel bans and assets freezes for many affiliated and part of Mugabe’s government. 

Many of the problems that have arisen within the “unity” government stem from Mugabe’s view of MDC members as just a Western puppet, lacking any objective or substantive perspective on development in Zimbabwe.

For more information please see:

AFP – EU Renews Sanctions On Zimbabwe for Another Year – 16 February 2010

BBC – EU Renews Sanctions On Zimbabwe – 16 February 2010

Telegraph – EU Renews Zimbabwe Sanctions – 16 February 2010

By Kylie M Tsudama

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MTWAPA, Kenya – Hours before Kenya’s first gay wedding was to due take place, it was violently stopped by protesting youths and police.

Dozens of Christian and Muslim adolescents raided the apartment where the gay couple and another man lived in order to stop the wedding.  The youths banded together under the name “Operation Gays Out.”

The police intervened and arrested several wedding guests, five of whom were suspected homosexuals.

“I sent Mtwapa OCS to rescue them from angry residents baying for their blood because they were trying to conduct that marriage between two men,” said Kilifi police chief Grace Kakai.

Homosexuality is illegal in Kenya and almost all of Africa is homophobic.  South Africa is the only African country that allows gay marriage.

When asked about Kenya’s intense homophobia, Kenyan police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said, “It’s culture, just culture.  It’s what you are taught when you are young and what you hear in church.  Homosexuality it unnatural.  It’s wrong.”

The wedding was supposed to be secret.  It was to take place at a private villa but a group of locals found out and a mob quickly formed.  They headed to Kikambala, a beach town on Kenya’s coast, where the ceremony was to be held.  Bystanders heard them say that the people at the wedding should be burned.

“You know, down at the coast, where there are so many tourists, people tolerate a lot,” said Kiraithe.  “But this is too much.  These people were nearly stoned.”

The two men who were set to be married were not arrested but the five who were may be subject to testing to determine whether or not they had “illegal carnal knowledge of each other.”  No reason has been given for letting the engaged men go.

Muslim and Christian clergymen condemn the planned marriage.

Sheikh Ali Hussein of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya said, “We cannot allow these young boys to ruin their future through homosexuality.  We shall use all means to curb this vice.”

Added Bishop Lawrence Chai of the National Council of Churches of Kenya, “This is immoral and we shall not allow it, especially here in Mtwapa.”

A Kenyan gay rights organization has appealed to the Human Rights Commission to step in.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Five Arrested in Kenya Over Planned Gay Wedding – 12 February 2010

BBC – Kenyan Police Raid ‘Gay Wedding’ and Arrest Five Men – 12 February 2010

Daily Nation – Mob Attacks Gay ‘Wedding’ Party – 12 February 2010

NY Times – Kenyan Police Disperse Gay Wedding – 12 February 2010

BBC – Kenya Chiefs Block Mombasa Gay Wedding – 11 February 2010