By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter

NAIROBI, Kenya– Kuki Gallmann, renowned author and conservationist has been shot at her conservatory in Kenya.  Gallmann is 73 years old and owns the Laikipia Nature Conservatory.  There is currently conflict between landowners, like Gallmann, and cattle herders in the Laikipia area.  Gallmann owned a luxury safari lodge which was burned to the ground last month.  It is suspected that the cattle herders may have been behind the arson.

Author and conservationist Kuki Gallmann. (Photo Courtesy of BBC Africa)

Currently it is unclear exactly who shot Gallmann, but those that were with her at the time claim it was a group of armed men without cattle.  Gallmann is not the only one who has been shot.  A British rancher, Tristan Voorspuy, was shot dead while inspecting his ranch in the same area.  Gallmann has also been shot before in 2009.

Gallmann and others fear that Northern Kenyan is become a land of lawlessness.  There are many who have nothing to lose and simply run around the country doing whatever they can to support themselves.  Sometimes that means targeting individuals like Gallmann.

The widespread drought that is happening in East Africa is only complicating matters.  Gallmann’s daughter said that she and her mother often will let herders graze on their land.  However, recently due to the drought, there have been many more herders than usual.  Some cattle, Gallmann’s daughter believes, actually belongs to wealthy owners rather than locals just seeking a place for their cattle graze.  This has cause conflict between Gallmann and some of the herders.

Gallmann is currently recovering in ICU at a Nairobi hospital after a seven hour surgery to do repairs on her abdomen.  She is expected to make a full recovery.

For further information, please see: 

BBC Africa – Kuki Gallmann shot and wounded at Kenya conservation park – 23 April 2017

CBS News – Kuki Gallmann, “I Dreamed of Africa” author, shot at Kenyan ranch, officials say – 23 April 2017

Huffington Post – Activist Kuki Gallmann Shot At Her Kenyan Ranch – 23 April 2017

The New York Times – ‘I Dreamed of Africa’ Author and Conservationist is Shot in Kenya – 23 April 2017

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter

LAGOS, Nigeria– 53 men have been arrested in the Nigerian state of Kaduna after celebrating a gay wedding.  The group was charged with conspiracy, unlawful association, and unlawful society.  Currently homosexual acts are illegal in Nigeria.  If caught for performing homosexual acts one can face up to 14 years in prison.

Kenyan gay and lesbian organizations demonstrate outside the Nigerian High Commission in Nairobi on February 7, 2014. (Photo Courtesy of NBC News)

Upon being charged the group plead not guilty to the charges of conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and unlawful society.  The groups defense lawyer, Yunusa Umar, claims that the group was illegally detained for 24 hours.  He also said that most of the group is students.  Gay rights group claim that the group was celebrating a birthday rather than a wedding.  Maria Sjodin, deputy executive director of LGBTQ advocacy group OutRight Action International, said she believes the gay wedding story is just an “excuse” and part of the police’s attempt to “crackdown on an emerging LGBTQ movement” in Nigeria.

Homosexual acts were made illegal in Nigeria in 2014.  The creation of this law came from the two conservative parts of the country: evangelical Christianity in the South and Islam in the North.  Human Rights Watch and other rights group claim that the law was also created to legitimize abuse in the LGBT community.  “Extortion, mob violence, arbitrary arrest, torture in detention, and physical and sexual violence” are common against people suspected of homosexual activities, Human Rights Watch said in a 2016 report.  The country also bans gay marriage.

Currently the group is out of jail on bail pending a hearing on May 8th.

For more information, please see: 

BBC Africa – Nigeria ‘gay wedding’ bust leads to charges – 20 April 2017

Deutsche Welle – Nigeria arrests 53 over Gay Wedding – 20 April 2017

The Journal – Nigeria charges 53 men with conspiracy to organise a gay wedding – 20 April 2017

NBC News – 53 Arrested in Nigeria for Celebrating Gay Wedding, Police Say – 20 April 2017

 

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter 

MOGADISHU, Somalia– For the first time since 1994, U.S. troops are being deployed to Somalia to help fight Al Shabab.  In 1993 during the Battle of Mogadishu 18 U.S. Special Forces personnel were killed and the U.S. withdrew troops fully in 1994.  After the incident the U.S. has been involved in the country’s affairs, but hasn’t had troops in the country.

AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) peacekeepers march near the outskirts of Mogadishu. (Photo Courtesy of VOA)

The U.S. deployment of troops to Somalia shows how the fight against Al Shabab has intensified.  Currently AMISOM peacekeepers are doing the best they can to fight the terrorist group, but U.S. troops will be able to train more peacekeepers and give training guidance.  Al Shabab is an affiliate of Al Qaeda and has a strong presence in much of the rural part of Somalia.  The group has staged terrorist attacks in the capital city of Mogadishu.

The U.S. troops will be deployed until September and will work alongside forces from the United Kingdom and Turkey to train AMISOM forces.  A spokeswoman for the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, the division deployed to Somalia, says the command will be working “inside Somalia’s borders” at the invitation of its government.  Other details were not made clear.

The U.S. intervention comes at a time when Somalia is also dealing with a record drought and humanitarian crisis.  Thousands are starving in Africa because of the drought and humanitarian assistance is needed from Somalia to Zimbabwe.

For more information, please see: 

BBC Africa – US Troops to help Somalia Fight Al Shabab – 14 April 2017

CNN – U.S. Sending Dozens More Troops to Somalia – 14 April 2017

Military Times – The Pentagon sends dozens of troops to Somalia as fight with al Shabab intenstifies – 14 April 2017

VOA – Dozens More U.S. Troops Deployed to Somalia – 14 April 2017

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter 

LUSAKA, Zambia–Zambia opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has been charged with treason after interfering with the presidential motorcade.  Hichilema was traveling in a convoy near the President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade.  Hichilema’s motorcade refused to move for President Lungu’s convoy and President Lungu’s convoy subsequently tried to overtake Hichilema’s motorcade.  Zambian police claim that Hichilema endangered the life of the President by refusing to pull over.

Zambia opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema. (Photo Courtesy of Al Jazeera)

In Zambia, treason is a severe offense and the accused cannot be released on bail.  The charge also carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.  Police chief Kakoma Kanjanga made a statement regarding Hichilema’s arrest.  “It has been established that the opposition leader disobeyed police orders to clear the way, thereby putting the life of the head of state in danger.  We have today jointly charged and arrested Mr Hichilema and five others with treason.”  Kanjanga continued by stating “I wish to reiterate that the actions by the opposition leader were unreasonable, reckless and criminal. Therefore members of the public are being warned that as police we are not going to watch such kind of behavior by any person, irrespective of their status,” he added.

Hichilema narrowly lost the Zambian presidency to President Lungu last year.  Many in Hichilema’s party, the United Party for National Development (UPND), do not see Lungu as the legitimate president of Zambia.  Tensions are rising between parties as the details of Hichilema’s arrest are reported.  Armed police raided Hichilema’s home during the night of Tuesday April 11th.  Hichilema was subsequently arrested and detained.

For more information, please see: 

Africa News – Zambian opposition chief gets treason charge for blocking presidential convoy – 12 April 2017

Al Jazeera – UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema Charged with Treason – 13 April 2017

BBC Africa – Zambia Police Hichilema over motorcade clash – 12 April 2017 

Bloomberg Politics – Zambian Police Charge Opposition Leader Hichilema With Treason – 12 April 2017