By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

HARARE, Zimbabwe – The former opposition leader, Mogan Tsvangirai, who has temporarily withdrawn from the unity government, and President Robert Mugabe recently held a four-hour meeting for the first time since the split.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai met with Mugabe for the first time since the prime minister pulled out of the unity government on October 16th.   Tsvangirai cited a lack of co-operation as the main reason for the split.  He also claims that Mugabe’s persistent human rights abuses support his reason for withdrawal from the unity government.

Sources say that these two leaders remain “poles apart” regarding the key unity government issues.

“The principals met.  Sadly and tragically the stalemate continues . . . we are poles apart on fundamental issues,” said Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesman Nelson Chamisa.

Although Mugabe’s spokesman said that that this was going to be a “regular Monday meeting,” Tsvangirai spokesman James Maridadi said, “This is not a regular meeting.  The meeting will discuss the issue of disengagement and the other outstanding issues related to the Global Political Agreement.”

After the meeting the leaders did not make any comments on how it went.  But Maridadi said that Tsvangirai would issue a statement this coming Tuesday.

Tsvangirai’s movement, which was in opposition in Zimbabwe for many years, may be meeting in Harare later this week with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to try to break the deadlock between the two groups.

The MDC leader said that he will only resume cooperation in the unity government once all the outstanding issues regarding the Global Political Agreement are resolved.  These issues include wrangles over key posts and a crackdown on his supporters.

On Saturday, Mugabe was quoted in the state-run Herald newspaper vowing not to give in to the MDC demands, “We will not do that.  They can go to any summit, any part of the world to appeal.  That will not happen,” he was quoted.

A splinter faction from the MDC said that at the very least – the latest talks between Mugabe and Tsvangirai are a step in the right direction regardless of whether or not a resolution was reached.

“At least now they are talking.  These people were not talking.  We are hopeful that a solution will be found eventually,” said spokesman Edwin Mushoriwa.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Zimbabwe Leaders “Poles Apart” as Unity Talks Stall – 26 October 2009

AP – Zimbabwe Leaders in Split Unity Government Meet – 26 October 2009

BBC – Zimbabwe Talks End “Without Deal” – 26 October 2009

VOA – Top-Level Meeting Fails to Resolve Deadlock in Zimbabwe Unity Government – 26 October 2009

By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – On Thursday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called for the Kenyan government to immediately stop the recruitment of Somalis in refugee camps.

Hundreds of Somali men and boys in the Dabaab refugee camp have been recruited to fight for an armed force in Somalia.

The Dabaab camps in northwest Kenya, near the Somali border, are the largest concentration of refugees in the world with over 280,000 refugees, mostly from Somalia.  These camps have been ripe for recruiters looking to enlist young refugees.  These recruiters have been claiming that they are recruiting on behalf of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to put together a new force to fight in Somalia.

“Permitting recruitment of fighters in refugee camps undermines the very purpose of the camps – to be a place of refuge from the conflict.  Kenyan authorities need to immediately put a stop to this recruitment drive targeting Somali refugees,” said Georgette Gagnon, the Africa director for HRW.

Many of the refugees are fleeing the conflict between the TFG and armed opposition groups, including al-Shabaab.  Originally Kenyan military spokesman Bogita Ongeri sait that this was all “propaganda.”

Recruiters for this new force have used deceitful practices, promising exorbitant pay and telling enlistees that they are backed by the UN and the international community.  They have also encouraged young recruits to lie about their age and to join without telling their families.

Kenyan authorities, including the foreign minister, deny that there is a recruitment drive in refugee camps.  Somali Prime Minister Omar Sharmarke said, “We never recruited in Kenya.”

“We are not involved in any such operation,” said Ongeri.

On Friday, a Somali general said that 1,500 young men are receiving military training in Kenya, a contradiction from the country’s original position denying that recruitment is taking place.

General Yusuf Dhumal, Commander of Somali military forces, said that Somalia and Kenya are working together to recruit.  He said that the 1,500 that have been recruited are being trained to fight Islamist rebels.  The recruitment is part of Somalia’s plan to build a strong army to defend the country.

Ongeri said that they are in line with all international agreements.

“The Kenyan military has not done anything outside the UN and AU frameworks of assisting Somalia as a country to achieve peace and tranquility.  Kenya was to chip in my training the Somali police.  We will continue to train them,” he said.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has called on the international community to support the TFG and help Somalis achieve a stable and peaceful nation.  He also asked the international community to fulfill $214 million United States dollars in pledges to support the Somali peace process.

We’re not saying the Kenyan government should not fear the seepage [of violence],” said Letta Tayler, researcher for HRW.  “But what we’re saying is: play by the rules.”

For more information, please see:

Daily Nation – Kenya Admits to Secret Police Training for Somalia – 26 October 2009

CNN – Rights Group Urges Kenya to Stop Military Recruitment of Refugees – 25 October 2009

Bloomberg – Human Rights Accuses Kenya of Recruiting Somali Refugees – 23 October 2009

VOA – Somali General Confirms Kenya Recruiting Soldiers – 23 October 2009

Xinhua – Kenya Urges World to Support – 23 October 2009

HRW – Kenya: Stop Recruitment of Somalis in Refugee Camps – 22 October 2009

By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

LAGOS, Nigeria – On Sunday MEND declared an “indefinite ceasefire” in order to pursue dialogues with the government regarding the Niger Delta region.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said in a statement that because the government has “expressed it readiness to engage in serious and meaningful dialogue with every group or individual towards achieving a lasting peace in the Niger Delta,” they are willing to submit to a cease-fire while the dialogues take place.

Over the past few years, MEND’s attacks have wrecked havoc on the local oil industry.  Oil prices in the world market have been effected from the loss of revenue caused by violence and damage.  Nigeria is the world’s eight-largest oil producer, although its oil production has been reduced by one third since 2006.

Since the beginning of the oil region’s unrest, one of the key demands from MEND as been that the local communities must benefit from the region’s oil wealth.  Once President Umaru Yar’Adua met with MEND leader Henry Okah, for the first time, the announcement came that the rebel group would cease-fire and accept the government offered amnesty.

On Friday, Okah urged other rebel groups and members of MEND who have shunned the recent government amnesty, to give the peace dialogues a chance.

From the talks between Okah and Yar’Adua, it emerged that there are plans to allot ten percent of the money it makes from the Niger Delta oil to be put back into the oil producing region.  Currently the nine regions in southern Nigeria receive thirteen percent of the oil revenue.

Hundreds of oil workers, including dozens of foreigners have been targets of kidnapping by MEND and other rebel groups.  Their attacks on pipelines and offshore facilities are what caused the intense drop in revenue.  If the government and rebel groups find a way to achieve a middle ground, there may be hope for the region to find peace.

“The successful conclusion of the amnesty deal is the culmination of honest and all inclusive dialogue between the federal government and diverse stake holders in the Niger Delta,” said Information and Communications Minister Dora Akunyili.

“The achievement is unprecedented, not only in the history of Nigeria, but also throughout the world, in places where such internal disorders have occurred,” she added.

Several hundred fighters and civilians have been killed in the Niger Delta since 2006 and the oil out put has dropped from 2.6 million barrels a day to around 1.7 million.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Nigeria Rebel Group MEND Declare “Ceasefire” – 25 October 2009

AP – Nigeria Militant Group Calls Indefinite Cease-Fire – 25 October 2009

BBC – Nigeria Militants Reinstate Truce – 25 October 2009

Reuters – Nigerian Rebels Reinstate Ceasefire in Niger Delta – 25 October 2009

Xinhua News Agency – Nigeria’s Main Militant Group Announces Indefinite Ceasefire – 25 October 2009

By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – Thomas Cholmondeley was released from prison on Thursday after serving more than two years.

“He has already left Kamiti [maximum prison].  I understand he is already at the farm,” said Cholmondeley’s lawyer, Fred Ojiambo.

Cholmondeley, the great-grandson of the third Baron Delamere, one of Kenya’s first white settlers, shot and killed Robert Njoya on his family’s estate in Rift Valley ranch.  This shooting was the second time in just over a year that he shot a black man.

He had previously faced murder charges after he killed a Maasai game park ranger in 2005.  Cholmondeley was acquitted, however, for lack of evidence. This time around he denied killing Njoya, saying that he and his friend only shot and killed dogs when they fired at the poachers trespassing on the property.

Cholmondeley’s charge was reduced from murder to manslaughter.  When High Court judge Muga Apondi read the sentence on May 14 he said that the killing was not premeditated and that Cholmondeley showed concern for the victim.  Also, he had already spent 1,097 days in custody.  The prosecution appealed the verdict, saying it was “gross miscarriage of justice” but so far there has been no ruling.

Earlier this year Cholmondeley was sentenced to eight months in prison for shooting Njoya, who he believed to be poaching on his property.

Racial tensions stirred after Njoya’s killing, re-opening wounds of Kenya’s colonial history.  Cholmondeley’s trial was one of the most high-profile in Kenya’s post-independence history.

“It’s now clear that we have two sets of law in Kenya.  My family continues to suffer after the brutal killing of my husband and the bread winner,” said Lucy Sisina, the widow of the ranger Cholmondeley killed in 2005.

Naivasha residents and relatives originally thought Cholmondeley’s May release date was too early and are upset at his even earlier release.  The release has caused some from the local black Kenyan community to believe that a colonial-era two-speed judiciary is still in place in the country.

Commissioner of Prisons Isaiah Osugo said that they often release prisoners a few months early if their release date is coming up.

“I can’t believe that he is free,” said Njoya’s wife, Sarah.  “There is nothing I can do.  This is beyond me.”

For more information, please see:

CNN – Kenyan Aristocrat Freed From Prison – 24 October 2009

AFP – Kenyan British Aristocrat Freed – 23 October 2009

AP – White Kenyan Aristocrat Released from Prison – 23 October 2009

BBC – Convicted Kenya Aristocrat Freed – 23 October 2009

NY Times – Kenya: Aristocrat Out of Prison – 23 October 2009