By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

NIAMEY, Niger – Since December, there have been three landmine explosions in the south of Niger. Just this week, the director of a private radio station, Abou Mahaman, was killed when he ran over the device with his car in Niamey, Niger. A woman traveling with Mahaman was seriously injured. Moreover, forensic experts believe that a second landmine was planted at the side of the road but did not explode.

Government officials have accused Tuareg-led rebels of planting the previous two landmines. At this point, no group has officially claimed responsibility. Moreover, it is unclear if Mr. Mahaman was a deliberate target. BBC reporter Baroue claims that Mahaman was not known to be a critical supporter of either faction.

This attack is the first attack to occur inside the capital where army officers, including the chief of staff, work and reside. Presently, journalists are banned from visiting northern Niger to interview rebel leaders of the Niger Justice Movement (MNJ). Last December, two French journalists were arrested when they ignored the ban and were charged with colluding with armed rebels.

In the past year, land mine explosions and ambushed have displaced over 11,000 citizens and cut off large parts of the northern region from aid.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Niger reporter killed by landmine –   9 January 2008

All Africa –   Niger: Mine Explosion in Niamey –  9 January 2008

All Africa – Niger: Media Director Killed by Landmine –   – 9 January 2008

KHARTOUM, Sudan – The UN peacekeeping chief announced today that the UN lacks enough troops and equipment to do much to improve the situation in Darfur before mid-2008.  Jean-Marie Guehenno, the UN undersecretary-general for peacekeeping warned of “dire consequences” for Sudan and voiced some doubt that the joint AU-UN peacekeeping force deployed this month would be able to provide for even its own security.   The mission currently has 9,000 soldiers and police officers, but is supposed to eventually have 26,000.   Sweden and Norway also announced today that they will not be sending 400 troops to Darfur due to opposition from the Sudanese government. 

Meanwhile, the UN and US have both condemned the recent attack on Sudanese troops and UN peacekeepers in Darfur.  The US has called for tougher sanctions in reaction to this attack.  State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement: “The United States believes this incident demonstrates the need for a stronger arms embargo for Sudan and we will be working with our security council partners to that end.” 

The Sudanese government has denied any responsibility for the attack and insists it was the work of rebels.  Sudan’s UN envoy, Abdalmahmood Mohamad, stated that “the armed forces have no relationship whatsoever” with the convoy attack.  The government has specifically blamed the rebel group Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).  JEM commander Abdel Aziz el-Nur Ashr dismissed the accusation and insists that that attack was in territory controlled by government forces.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – UN: 6-month setback for Darfur peacekeeping because of inadequate troops, equipment and security – 9 January 2008

AFP – Security Council, US slam Darfur attack – 9 January 2008

VOA News – Sudan UN Envoy Denies Army Attack on UN/AU Convoy in Darfur – 9 January 2008

AFP – US demands tougher sanctions on Sudan – 9 January 2008

Reuters – Sudan says rebels, not army, attacked peacekeepers – 9 January 2008

Reuters – Sweden, Norway withdraw plan for Darfur troops – 9 January 2008

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

NORTH KIVU, Democratic Republic of Congo –  In the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rebel delegates under the leadership of General Nkunda have arrived to attend peace talks between government and rebel actors. General Nkunda will not attend the nine day conference.

The fighting between rebel forces and the Congolese army has lead to the displacement of more than 800,000 civilians in the North Kivu province. More than 10,000 people live in the Buhimba refugee camp alone. People are suffering from sanitation, hygiene and health problems because they are living so close together. 

General Nkunda claims that his forces protect ethnic Tutsie in the Northern Kivu province from Hutus who drove them out of Rwanda in the 1994 genocide.

Presently, the rebels want the government to deal with Rwandan Hutu rebels, who have not been invited to attend the peace conference. All Africa.com has stated that the “Tutsi led rebels’ demands are not clearly defined.”

During the opening ceremony, more than 600 delegates from opposing parties were in attendance. Moreover, in the next few days, twenty government ministers will attend the conference. Congo’s Interior Minister Denis Kalume urged all rebels to disarm. Nevertheless, some members of President Joseph Kabila’s government in Kinshasa were reluctant to end the conflict, rejecting General Nkunda’s call for peace talks.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Rebels Attend Congo Peace Talks – 7 January 2008

VOA- Fleeing Civilians Swell Displacement Camps in Eastern DRC –   7 January 2008

All Africa – Congo-Kinshasa: Peace Conference Opens in Violence-Torn East  – 7 January 2008

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – South Africa starts the New Year off to a rough patch as newly elected African National Congress (ANC) leader, Jacob Zuma, is charged with corruption. Zuma has maintained his innocence since talks began that the prosecution had enough evidence to reinstate the corruption charges, in connection with an arms deal dating about a decade ago. Zuma faces charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering, and will stand trial in August.

The fight for the ANC leadership was fierce and bitter as Zuma, who served as Deputy President under Thabo Mbeki, went head to head with his former boss, a veteran of the fight against apartheid. In the end, Zuma came out victorious beating Mbeki with more than 800 votes.

Taking into consideration Kenya’s reaction to the 27 December presidential election that has left more than 300 dead, Zuma has urged his supporters, angered by the corruption charges, to refrain from any violence. Zuma was quoted as saying, there should not be “any violence or burning of property, or anything like that… there are other ways, legal ways, with which to deal with such matters.”

The announcement that Zuma would be charged for corruption has withered the already fragile truce, between himself and Mbeki. Zuma insisted that he will only relinquish his post if he is found guilty in court. Given the ANC’s massive electoral majority and the end of Mbeki’s term in 2009, Zuma is expected to sail into the South African President seat.

However, if Zuma is ultimately convicted, Kgalema Motlanthe will take the position as the ANC’s new deputy leader, thus making him the frontrunner to succeed Thabo Mbeki as South African president in 2009. Zuma’s supporters, which include the Congress of South African Trade Unions, believe that the charges are politically motivated in a ruthless campaign by opponents designed to ruin him.

For more information please see:

BBC – South Africa Faces Turbulent 2008 – 7 January 2008

Yahoo News – South Africa’s ruling party begins meeting on Zuma’s graft charge -7 January 2008

Yahoo News – South Africa’s ANC to discuss Zuma graft case – 6 January 2008

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, is on trial again today after a six-month delay.  Taylor is accused of controlling militia that killed and raped thousands in Sierra Leone.  Taylor is the first ex-African head of state to face a trial before an international war crimes tribunal. 

Video of mutliated Sierra Leonean victims was shown today and the first witness gave testimony regarding conflict diamonds.  The expert, Ian Smillie, testified as to the key role diamonds play in funding conflicts in countries that lack hard currency. 

Taylor is accused of arming, training, and controlling the notorious Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in exchange for an unknown amount of diamonds.  The conflict in Sierra Leone resulted in the death of 120,000 and the mutilation of thousands. 

Taylor’s trial before the Special Court for Sierra Leone was moved to The Hague from Freetown due to fears over security and the threat of destabilization.  The trial opened in June, but was initially boycotted by Taylor, and was postponed after Taylor fired his first lawyer.  In August Taylor accepted a new lawyer and received a $100,000 a month defense budget, with the trial being postponed to give the new defense team time to prepare. 

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Shocking footage at Taylor trial – 7 January 2008

AFP – War crimes trial of Liberian ex-president Taylor resumes – 7 January 2008

Guardian Unlimited (UK) – Taylor war crimes trial begins – 7 January 2008