Africa

Restoring an Image

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia– Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi finds himself in an unfamiliar and unwanted position. At a time where the African continent is becoming more and more synonymous with political corruption and human rights violations, Zenawi is slowly becoming one of the faces of this image. During President Obama’s speech in Ghana, he expresses his intolerance for African rulers who try and manipulate the political process. President Obama has made it clear that he will not support governments who perpetuate “strongmanship”.

Zenawi, once lauded by the Western World as a progressive and democratic African leader is now amongst the many African rulers President Obama was speaking of in his speech regarding political corruption. In 1991 Zenawi took reigns of the Ethiopian government after 17 years of a military dictatorship. Over the years he has relied on his reputation to sustain the support of the American government. However the worlds regard for him began to decline in 2005, during Ethiopia’s government elections.

In 2005 after allegedly “fixing” the election results for his bid to remain Prime Minister wide rage and protest by Ethiopians erupted. During these protests Ethiopian law enforcement, in an attempt to break up the protests, fired gun shots into the crowd killing 40 protesters. Subsequent protests occurred with similar responses by law enforcement. This incident marked the beginning of the altered view many countries such as Great Britain and the United states had of Zenawi role as a “Democratic” ruler.

In what some call an insincere attempt to restore his image as a progressive African ruler Zenawi will be heading an African Climate change summit. More importantly his image will rest on how he facilitates the government elections in 2010. Many are concerned that Zenawis political party, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (“EPRDF) will again try and intimidate other parties participating in the election, which will only do more damage to his image.

For more information please see:

All Africa – Ethiopia: 2010 Election and Zenawis New Game – 24 September 2009

NY Times – Mr. Good Governance Goes Bad – 27 November 2005

Gambian President Threatens to Kill Those Who Dare to Help

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

BANJUL, Gambia– In Monday’s television broadcast Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, announced that he would kill “anyone who wants to destabilize this country.” Jammeh’s “exact words” in his television broadcast were, “If you think that you can collaborate with so-called human rights defenders, and get away with it, you must be living in a dream world. I will kill you, and nothing will come out of it. We are not going to condone people posing as human rights defenders to the detriment of the country. If you are affiliated with any human rights group, be rest assured that your security, and personal safety would not be guaranteed by my Government. We are ready to kill saboteurs.”

In response to Jammeh’s remarks, activists from non-governmental human rights organizations launched a campaign to have the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which is currently headquartered in the Gambian capital, Banjul, removed from the country entirely. Jammeh’s threat “leads us to fear for the safety, security, and lives of ourselves and our colleagues who have to work with the… Commission,” the petition says.

Jammeh, who has ruled since taking power in a bloodless coup in 1994, has been repeatedly attacked by human rights campaigners for his repressive attitude, particularly towards the media. He came under fire earlier this month from press watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which urged Jammeh to “loosen the vice” on the media after six journalists who criticized him were jailed. The journalists spent just under a month in prison after publishing critical comments of Jammeh. They were originally given two-year jail sentences but were freed two weeks ago after receiving a presidential pardon. Despite freeing the journalists, Jammeh has kept up pressure on the media by warning journalists they could still be prosecuted for being “disrespectful”.

The President never explained what might have triggered his latest outburst, but insisted in no uncertain terms that Gambians, and non Gambians arrested on saboteur related charges would be murdered. Jammeh said his administration would no longer condone what he calls “human rights activists” in the country. The President also expressed his belief that taking people to court is a waste of time. “From now on, we will kill anyone trying to sabotage this country. Don’t be fooled by Human Rights Groups. They cannot save you from dying.” the President threatened.
For more information, please see:

Freedom Newspaper – Jammeh Threatens To Kill Saboteurs – 21 September 2009

Sydney Morning Herald – Gambia president threatens death to troublemakers – September 22, 2009

All Africa – Jammeh Threatens to Kill Human Rights Defenders – 24 September 2009

Newstime Africa – Yahya Jammeh Threatens To Kill Human Rights Workers in the Gambia– September 24th 2009

Bombings Leave Somalia Between a Rock And a Hard Place

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – At least 21 people have died following the dual suicide car bombing at the African Union (AU) peacekeeper’s main base in the Somali capital, Mogadishu Thursday September 17th. Witnesses said the bombers entered the compound using two vehicles with United Nations markings and packed with explosives. Twelve Burundian, five Ugandan and four Somali soldiers are confirmed dead while 26 others who were injured seriously, were evacuated to Nairobi for treatment. Among the dead was Maj. Gen. Juvenal Niyonguruza, the Burundian deputy force commander. Thursday’s attack brings the total number of peacekeepers killed to 35 with Maj.-Gen Niyoyunguriza the highest ranking officer to be killed so far.

Al-Shabaab, the Islamist movement opposing Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG), has vowed to step up suicide attacks against foreign forces operating in the country. The Al-Shabaab group said these attacks were revenge for a US raid on Monday in which Kenyan-born al-Qaeda suspect Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan was killed. Earlier on Thursday, Al-Shabaab demanded that France ensure that AU forces are pulled out of Somalia. This was one of several demands issued by the group for the release of a French security adviser captured in July.

Al-Shabaab and its allies control most of southern and central Somalia, while the government, helped by the AU force, just runs parts of Mogadishu. Representative for Somalia, Mr Nicholas Bwakira, has urged the international community to play a bigger role in bringing the Somali instability to an end. “We need more superior weapons, human capacity and technical ability to wipe out the insurgents,” Mr Bwakira said. “Their presence in this country is not wanted,” he added.

The AU peace keepers were deployed in 2007 to guard the Presidential Palace, airport and seaport. Years of fighting and anarchy have left some three million people, more than half of the country’s population, dependent on humanitarian aid, with nearly 300,000 refugees crammed into a few square kilometers at the Dadaab camp in northeastern Kenya alone. Al-Shabaab wants foreign peacekeepers out of the country while Somalia’s TFG wants more foreign support. Should the AU forces leave, thousands of Somali’s will suffer with out the AU’s humanitarian aid. Should the AU forces stay and maintain their foreign fortification against the Al-Shabaab insurgents, Al-Shabaab will continue its attacks.

For more information, please see:

The East African – AU Troops Sitting Ducks – 21 September 2009

Impunity Watch – Somali Rebels Seek Foreign Reinforcements – 20 September 2009

Daily Nation – Death Toll from Militia Attack on AU Base Rises to 21 – 19 September 2009

BBC – AU urges more weapons for Somalia – 18 September 2009

BBC – Suicide blasts hit Somalia base – 17 September 2009

Italy Sends Migrants Back to Abusive Conditions

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Rome, Italy – Italy and Libya are two countries facing scrutiny by human rights activist world wide, specifically Human Rights Watch (HRW).  In May of 2009 the two countries came to an agreement that they would work together in reducing the amount of migrant workers who flee Libya to seek asylum in Italy, via sailing through the Mediterranean Sea.  The agreement included instituting a practice of towing boats found in international waters back to Libya without evaluating the conditions and circumstances of those on the boats.  What has resulted in response to the “interdiction program” is thousands of individuals have been sent back to unfavorable living conditions in Libya.  According to one migrant worker who was able to find refuge in Italy, the migrant workers are treated horrendously.  Many are beaten, forced to live in unsanitary quarters, while women are sexually assaulted by law enforcement.  Many of these workers come from different parts of the Central East Region of Africa including Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea.

According to a 92 page report by HRW the details of the experiences of migrant workers in Libya are revealed.  The agreement between Libya and Italy stems from a treaty signed by the two countries in August of 2008. This treaty is known as, “the Treaty of Friendship, Partnership, and Cooperation between the Italian Republic and Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiria” or simply, “the Friendship Pact.”  The Friendship Pact called for intensifying cooperation in fighting terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking and illegal immigration.  The transfer of boats holding migrant workers to Libya by the Italians are one of the acts that fall under the goals of the Friendship Pact.

The issue however is that Italy is violating the international legal principle of non-refoulement, when it interdicts boats and sends them back to Libya without any evaluation of the circumstances regarding those on the boats.  Refoulement is the forced return of people to places where their lives and freedom could be threatened or subject to torture and degrading treatment.  Here many are sent back to Libya only to return to inhumane conditions.  HRW is urging the government of Italy to stop “summarily returning” boats containing migrants to Libya.  The HRW is also encouraging the European Union, who is currently working on an agreement with Libya, to include an end to the inhumane treatment of migrants in Libya.

For more information please see:

All Africa – Libya: Migrants Returned to Face Abuse – 21 September 2009

HRW – Migrants Describe Forced Returns, Abuse – 21 September 2009

IPS – Migrants Returned to Face Abuse – 21 September 2009

Rwandan Genocide Suspect Deported by the DR Congo

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Kivumo, Rwanda – Gregoire Ndahiman, accused of being responsible for the killings of over 2,000 ethnic Tutsis, has been sent from the Democratic Republic of Congo to a United Nations-backed tribunal.  Ndahiman, the former Mayor of the small Rwandan town of Kivuma has been detained in the DR of Congo since being arrested in August during an attempt to capture Rwandan rebels in North Kivu, located in the eastern part of the DR Congo.

In April of 1994 attacks began to take place against Tutsis who resided in the Kivuma communes along with those in other parts of Rwanda. Ndahiman is alleged to have been responsible for the specific attacks that took place against the Tutsis in Kivuma. It is reported that Ndahiman participated in several meetings with local church and government officials regarding the genocide that would eventually take place.  It is alleged that at these meetings the order was given to have all of the Tutsi citizens from the Kivuma commune brought to a church in the Nyange parish.  While held in the church reports indicate Ndahiman ordered that the church be destroyed, killing all of the Tutsis who were held in it.

Ndahiman will be tried in Arusha, Tanzania at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The court has indicted him for genocide, or complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity.  Many see Ndahiman’s transfer to Tanzania as an encouraging sign of improved relations between the DR Congo and Rwanda.

Relationships have been strained since the Rwandan Genocide, after many of the Hutu Rebels responsible for the deaths of thousands of Tutsis fled to the DR Congo, sparking years of unrest between both countries. Rwandan leadership believed that the DR Congo was not being cooperative in Rwanda’s attempts to bring the Hutu’s responsible for the genocide to justice. However after years of tension between the two countries, earlier this year they began working together to neutralize rebel groups in both countries.  Many are hopeful that Ndahiman’s transfer will begin a trend towards a better working relationship between the two countries.

For more information, please see:

BBC – DR Congo Deports Genocide Suspect – 20 September 2009

VOA – DRC Forces Capture Major Rwandan Genocide Suspect – 13 August 2009

TRIAL – Gregoire Ndahimana – 12 August 2009