By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – After seven days of closed testimony, the Charles Taylor trial resumed open session this week and heard testimony from a former RUF Radio Communication Officer and a former member of the Gambian military.

Perry Mohamad Kamara, a former RUF Radio Communications Officer, testified regarding the close relationship and coordination between RUF leader Foday Sankoh and Taylor, the RUF’s command and structure at that time, and the methods of communication used by the RUF.  Kamara testified that he heard Sankoh and Taylor communicate via code names, and heard Taylor giving military advice to Sankoh.  Kamara also testified regarding RUF attacks on civilians, the attack on Freetown, and forced diamond mining.

On cross examination the Defense counsel questioned Kamara on what he had actually observed or witnessed and the procedures used regarding communication.  Defense counsel also questioned him regarding the likelihood of Taylor giving Sankoh military advice, considering Taylor had never served in the military. 

The prosecution next called Mr. Camara, nicknamed Suwanzy.  Camara testified that after spending five years in the military, he left Gambia and traveled to Liberia where he met Koukoi Samba Sanyang and eventually joined the Special Operational Force for Africa (SOFA), which was planning on training people in Liberia to overthrow the government in Gambia.  He further testified that he met Sankoh and Taylor in 1990.

The prosecution will continue their examination of Camara next week.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica.com – Prosecution Completes Redirect Examination of TF1-371; Begins Examination of Fromer RUF Radio Communications Officer – 5 February 2008

AllAfrica.com – Former RUF Radio Operator Testifies Concerning RUF Operations – 6 February 2008

AllAfrica.com – Kamara Testified Concerning RUF Attacks on Civilians and Freetown – 7 February 2008

AllAfrica.com – Cross Examination of RUF Radio Operator Concludes – 8 February 2008

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

LAGOS, Nigeria – The government of Nigeria has ordered oil firms and gas companies that left Niger Delta during the militant attacks to return to Niger Delta to restart operations. Godsday Orubebe, the Minister for Special Operations, has approved the return of oil firms, claiming that the area is now safe.

Nevertheless, oil executives are skeptical about returning to the area. Moreover, many companies are perturbed that the Nigerian government is forcing them to return. The announcement that the area is safe comes a week after militants captured a wife of a top politician and blew up a major pipeline.

During a meeting in Lagos with representatives of about 140 oil companies, Mr Orubebe stated that “Some have done a complete relocation of their operational offices and activities out of the Niger Delta. But we wish to state that there has been a great improvement in security in Port Harcourt in particular and within the Niger Delta in general.”

He also stated that “it is now time for these companies to return back and keep the productive wheel of the region busy again.” He promised that if the companies defied the orders, the Nigerian government will cease to use their operations.

Due to violence and kidnappings of foreigners in the Niger Delta, the oil production in the region has dropped substantially in the past four years. In response, many oil firms have moved from Port Harcourt to Lagos, the commercial capital.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Oil Firms Ordered to Niger Delta – 8 February 2008

All Africa – Nigeria: Return to N’delta Or Quit, FG Orders Oil Firms  – 8 February 2008

Reuters- Nigerian oil delta rebels announce return to talks  – 8 February 2008

CHEPKIOYO, Kenya – Yesterday Kofi Annan spoke of progress and hopes of a deal by next week, however opposition leader Raila Odinga has returned to his original sentiment. During the funeral of legislator David Kimutai Too today, Odinga returned to the theme that rallied supporters earlier: “You cannot steal my cow, and I catch you red-handed, and then expect me to share the milk because the cow is mine.”

Annan and western diplomats were hopeful both sides would agree to a power-sharing government. Negotiators reported, yesterday, that Odinga’s mediators had agreed to recognize Mwai Kibaki as the duly elected president but his speech at the funeral indicates an end to the reconciliation period. Odinga is once again demanding Kibaki’s resignation and a re-election.

The funeral was the first mass gathering since the government lifted the ban of rallies after the election. Nearly 5,000 people fled the western town of Kericho, fearing that violence would erupt at the funeral. Fortunately, the thousands of mourners that gathered to bury Too remained peaceful.

Too was shot dead on January 21st by an officer. The police claim the killing was triggered by a love quarrel and have labeled the murder a “crime of passion.” However, Odinga and the ODM party claim the killing was an assassination. 

Another ODM legislator, Melitus Were, was killed the same week as Too’s murder and nearly 1,000 have died during the post- election crisis. Odinga’s sentiment is an unfortunate set-back to what appeared to be significant mediating progress.

For more information please see:

Reuters: Africa – Thousands Mourn Slain Kenya Opposition MP – 9 February 2008

Yahoo News – Kenya Opposition Drops Conciliatory Tone – 9 February 2008

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – Today, the Kenyan people huddled near radios and television sets to catch reports of national unity. For several days there have been speculations of a power sharing agreement between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga. Today the Associated Press quoted ODM negotiator William Ruto, confirming the rumors. The power-sharing resolution has been in and out of negotiations since the talks began.

However, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan claims the news of such an agreement is premature. In fact no deal has been made but a resolution is in progress. After meeting with President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga, Annan announced that a resolution to end Kenya’s post election crisis may develop within a few days and as early as next week.

Earlier in the negotiation process, Odinga refused to recognize Kibaki as the duly elected president and rejected all offers of a power-sharing government. However, a source close to the negotiation proceedings claimed that the ODM opposition agreed to recognize Kibaki as the re-elected president of Kenya and presidential negotiators have reciprocated by discussing a “broad-based government.”

The political crisis is easing and the mood is shifting throughout Kenya but returning the country to its pre-election state might be the hardest task.

The election controversy triggered an ethnic battle between Odinga’s Luos tribe and Kibaki’s tribe, the Kiyuyu and groups supporting the government. UN reports estimate that nearly 350,000 Kenyans have been displaced and more than 1,000 people have died since the disputed December 27 re-election of Kibaki. There has also been massive destruction of property.

Once the most stable and progressed country in South Africa, Kenya’s reputation and economy has taken a beating. The American Embassy in Kenya recently sent letters to Kenyan officials and businessmen on both sides, warning them that they would be barred from entering the United States if they took part or instigated the violence.

For more information please see:

International Herald Tribune – Kofi Annan Sees Progress in Kenya Talks – 8 February 2008

AllAfrica.com – Annan – “We’ve Reached Far on Political Issues” – 8 February 2008

BBC- Progress at Kenya’s Peace Talk – 8 February 2008

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, the former head of the Nationalist and Integrationist Fund (FNI) in the Democratic Republic of Congo and now a colonel in the Congolese army, was handed over to the International Criminal Court by Congo’s government today. 

Ngudjolo is accused of three counts of crimes against humanity – murder, sexual slavery, and inhumane acts.  He is also accused of six war crimes including the use of child soldiers.  He was arrested in Kinshasa yesterday and put on a plane to The Hague.  Ngudjolo allegedly planned a brutal attack on Bongoro village in the Eastern Ituri region in 2003.  200 civilians were killed in the attack and prosecutors allege it was part of a systematic campaign in 2003 directed against Ituri’s ethnic Hema people by the majority Lendu community.

The date of his first hearing should be announced shortly.  Ngudjolo is the third Congolese suspect to be taken into custody by the ICC, the world’s first permanent war crimes court.  In October 2007 Germain Katanga, also known as “Simba”, was transferred to the ICC to face war crimes charges.  In January 2007 the Court also indicted Thomas Lubanga for war crimes, including the use of child soldiers, and he became the first suspect to be taken into ICC custody. 

For more information, please see:

AFP – DR Congo war crimes suspect sent to international court – 7 February 2008

AP – Congo Turns Over War Crimes Suspect – 7 February 2008

BBC News – Congo warlord flown to The Hague – 7 February 2008

AllAfrica.com – Third Ex-Rebel Commander Charged With War Crimes – 7 February 2008