By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – The death toll in Kenya passed 1,000 on Tuesday according to the Red Cross.   Political rivals are continuing their negotiations, however there has yet to be a cease in the ethnic violence.  Most of the killings have been the result of ethnic killings, police clashes with protestors, and looting.   An estimated 340,000 Kenyans have been displaced as a result of the conflict that began in December following the disputed re-election of President Mwai Kibaki. 

The United Nation’s top human rights official is traveling to Kenya today to assess allegations of grave human rights violations.  Louis Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, will conduct a three-week mission to gather information from both the government, opposition, victims, and witnesses.   “Truth and accountability are of critical importance in putting an end to the violence and preventing future human rights violations,” she said. 

East African foreign ministers arrived in Kenya today to participate in the peace talks.  Meanwhile, the opposition has threatened to boycott and demonstrate against meetings the government plans on holding with the seven-nation regional block IGAD on Thursday. IGAD’s rotating chairmanship is currently held by President Kibaki.  The opposition’s argument is that IGAD is too flawed or biased to hold negotiations.  Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General leading the negotiation talks, chided the opposition for threatening action will talks were ongoing. 

Due to the deteriorating situation in Kenya, the US Peace Corps has decided to temporarily pull out its remaining 58 volunteers.  There are fears that other aid groups and businesses will soon follow.  The crisis has also “significantly damaged the domestic economy” according to the U.S. consulting company Global Insight. 

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Kenya talks resume, African ministers arrive – 6 February 2008

AP – Kenya Opposition Threatens New Rallies – 6 February 2008

The Press Association – UN official to probe Kenyan violence – 6 February 2008

Times Online – Atrocities in Kenya must not go unpunished – 6 February 2008

Reuters – Kenya death toll hits 1,000, parties talk – 5 February 2008

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

N’DJAMENA, Chad – The commander of the Chadian government forces, Gen Mahamat Ali Abdallah, has stated that the rebels are “completely routed” in N’Djamena the capital.

Presently, heavy strain is now being placed on Kousseri, a Cameroon town bordering Chad. Thousands of refugees are fleeing Chad to escape rebels who have stormed N’Djamena, the Capital of Chad. The estimated number of refugees have reached 20,000. In response, France has stepped in to help in the evacuation process since Chad is a former French colony.

The UN refugee agency released in a new report that on Tuesday, “frightened people were still crossing in a continuous flow” from Chad to Cameroon. UNHCR plans to move the refugees to a campsite 30 kilometers from Kouserri that can hold up to 100,000 people. Today, more than 3,000 refugees from Chad have fled to Nigeria.

France has stated that country would be prepared to intervene in the conflict if the situation did not get better. President Nicolas Sarkozy said France would “do its duty” if necessary. He also stated, “If Chad were a victim of an aggression, France would have — and I stress the conditional tense — the means to resist this action.”

Presently, the government of Chad has accused Sudan of backing the rebels. Sudan denies the charges.

In the upcoming weeks, the European Union peace force is preparing to deploy troops to eastern Chad. 3,7000 peacekeepers will protect refugees from Sudan’s Darfur region and people displaced by the internal conflict.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Thousand of Refugees Flee Chad – 5 February 2008

BBC- UN Gives Support To Chad Leader  5 February 2008

Associated Press – France Ready to Give Chad Help – 5 February 2008

Newsweek – World Must Help Chad – 5 February 2008

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – Following a deadly weekend, which claimed the lives of at least 20 people in various parts of Kenya, parties from both sides met again today to resume peace efforts. Under the leadership of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, mediators for Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga met on Friday and agreed to a 4 point agenda to resolve the crisis.

The negotiations were met with a set-back. Chief mediator Cyril Ramaphosa, a South African business tycoon credited with negotiating the end of the Apartheid in South Africa in 1994, pulled out of the negotiations. Ramaphosa was chosen by Annan himself, but government complaints that he had business links to Odinga has led him to withdraw in order to maintain the negotiation momentum. Ramaphosa has denied such links to Odinga.

Even with this setback, Annan reports that the group dealt with Agenda Two, the humanitarian issues. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described Kenyan’s post election humanitarian state as “unprecedented.” More than a quarter million people have been displaced since the violence erupted and more than 900 people have died.

Tomorrow, the group intends to battle the key issue, the disputed December 27 re-election of Kibaki over Odinga that has triggered political and ethnic clashes. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), along with many countries from the West, insists the election was rigged but Kibaki claims he won the presidency fairly. Both sides have traded blame surrounding the violence accusing each other of planning and executing the post-election bloodshed.

Annan gave both parties 15 days to stop the violence. Yet, even as mediators agreed to peace, the violence continued.  Several homes were set on fire along with three schools, Koiyet Primary, St Ann Academy, and Ribaita Primary School.

However, there are signs of improvement. In the small town of Sotik, gangs have agreed to disarm according to local parliament member, Lorna Loboso. Also the government has lifted the month long ban on live television broadcasting since the violence has eased and “security is better.”

For more information please see:

AllAfrica.com – Kenya: Talks to End Crisis Resume Amid Continuing Unrest – UN – 4 February 2008

Reuters: Africa – Kenya Rivals Return to Talks but Mediator Pulls Out – 4 February 2008

Yahoo News (AP) – Kenya Ends TV Ban, says Violence Easing – 4 February 2008

AllAfrica.com- Kenya: Hopes and Fears as Talks Enter Key Stage – 4 February 2008

NAIROBI, Kenya – More than 20 people have died in Kenya following Friday’s agreement by the government and opposition on a framework peace plan.  Tribal gangs have continued to burn homes and tea plantations throughout the Rift Valley, sending even more residents from their homes.   

Further clashes have been reported in the Kericho district where opposition MP David Too was shot dead by a policeman on Thursday.  In Kericho, mobs set fire to slum dwellings inhabited by members of the Kikuyu tribe.  A youth manning a roadblock told Reuters: “Let Annan do his bit but there’s going to be no resolution.  The clashes will continue.” 

Also in the Rift Valley, in the town of Eldoret, a church was burned down by youths.  A witness said that those hiding inside the church managed to escape unharmed.   Furthermore, there are accusations that the police in Eldoret are using excessive violence, and that police have shot dead 16 people and injured 58 others in the last four days. 

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Kenya’s Rift Valley burns despite talks of peace – 2 February 2008

AFP – Dozens dead as clashes overshadow Kenya peace plans – 2 February 2008

AllAfrica.com – Kenya: Army Using Excessive Force in Eldoret – 2 February 2008

BBC News – Violence follows Kenya peace plan – 2 February 2008

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

N’DJAMENA, Chad – Chadian rebels seeking to overthrow President Idriss Deby have made their way to the capital and are fighting government troops around the presidential palace.   The rebels closed in on the capital with their pickup trucks mounted with machine guns following battles against Deby’s troops on Friday northeast of the city.

There has been intense gunfire in the city and witnesses report that army tanks have been burning in the streets. The country’s foreign minister however has said the President is safe and that the situation is under control. French Defense Ministry spokesman Christophe Pazouk told the BBC that the rebels numbered in the thousands and that they had entered the city with surprising ease.

The French and US embassies had begun evacuation procedures however once the rebels entered the city the French mission told its citizens to stay at home under cover.  French President Nicolas Sarkozy discussed the situation of France’s former colony with Deby and reinforced its military contingent on Friday. 

The rebels have said that if they take over they will impose transitional rule for two years before organizing free and fair elections.  Chad has had several coups since their independence from France in 1960.   

President Deby has been in power since 1990, and several years ago caused an outcry when he changed the constitution to allow him to run for a third term.   He has repeatedly been accused of corruption in the new oil sector, and recently there have been several defections from his clan-based inner circle to various rebel movements. 

Chad accuses the Sudanese government of aiding the rebels, claiming the rebels advanced from the war-torn Darfur region heavily armed.  Khartoum has repeatedly denied any such accusations.

Meanwhile, the African Union leaders meeting in Addis Ababa expressed concern over the situation in Chad which has led to a delayed deployment of European Union peacekeepers. 

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Chad rebels fight inside capital – 2 February 2008

Reuters – Rebels enter Chad’s capital, fight around palace – 2 February 2008

Reuters – France, US prepare to evacuate nationals from Chad – 2 February 2008

VOA News – Chadian Rebels, Government Forces Clash Inside Capital – 2 February 2008

Bloomberg – France Prepares Evacuation of Foreigners in Chad Amid Fighting – 2 February 2008