KHARTOUM, Sudan – Chinese engineers arrived on Saturday in Sudan as part of the UN peacekeepers to work alongside the African Union peacekeepers to continue security in Darfur.  The 135 engineers are supposed to implement building bridges and roads, as well as digging wells.  However, the rebel group, Justice and Equality Movement (Jem), wants the Chinese to leave Sudan and have accused the Chinese of being a culprit of the Darfur conflict.  According to Reuters, Jem leader Khalil Ibrahim stated that “we oppose them coming because China is not interested in human rights.  It is just interested in Sudan’s resources.  We are calling on them to quit Sudan, especially the petroleum areas.”  When asked about whether Jem would target the engineers, Ibrahim stated, “I am not saying I will attack them.  I will not say I will not attack them, what I am saying is that they are taking our oil for blood.”  The rebel group has stated that they will accept peacekeepers from any other country except for China.  The President of Sudan, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, has stated otherwise.  The President announced that China and Pakistan were the only non-African countries he would accept.  According to the BBC, one month ago Jem attacked the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company, a Chinese-controlled consortium in Sudan’s oilfields.  At that time, Jem stated that the Chinese company had one week to leave Sudan.  This conflict continues to add to the struggles in Sudan, and according to AFP “since February 2003, more than 200,000 people have died from the combined effects of the war, famine, and disease in western Sudan’s Darfur region, while 2.2 million others have been left homeless.”

For more information, please see:

AFP – China peacekeepers arrive in Darfur – 24 November 2007

BBC – Darfur rebels spurn Chinese force – 24 November 2007

Reuters – Darfur rebels reject new Chinese peacekeepers – 24 November 2007

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa

HARARE, Zimbabwe – After speaking to President Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe’s leading opposition group, South African President Thabo Mbeki claims that significant progress has been made concerning the political crisis within the country. Mbeki has been actively mediating a solution between Mugabe and the MDC after several claims of political oppression and abuse by security forces and supporters of Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party.

Last month, several members of the MDC were allegedly assaulted. Three MDC officials were abducted from their homes in Chipinge South. George Makuyaya, the MDC’s parliamentary candidate for next year’s elections was one of the three men allegedly kidnapped in the middle of the day. In another incident, Tobias Gundavakura, the MDC ward chairman for Mutare was attacked by a machete. Furthermore, the MDC claims most of its meetings have been banned without reason.

Along with concerns of political violence and sanctions, the MDC has accuse Mugabe and his government of rigging past elections. As part of the negotiations, the MDC is demanding the passage of democratic reforms for the upcoming 2008 election.

Although the negotiation talks have stalled due to missed deadlines in several months, the parties have agreed to four of the five points on the agenda. The first four agenda items were constitution, electoral laws, security legislation, and media laws. The last point which deals with the political climate, along with demilitarization of state institutions, the role of traditional chiefs, use of food aid for political benefit and foreign broadcasts into Zimbabwe, may prove to be a more “sticky” subject. However, both sides are confident the agenda will be addressed before the upcoming election.

The rise in political oppression coincides with the economic depression which has ranked the country’s inflation rate at over 8,000 percent, the highest in the world. Many critics have blamed the crisis on government mismanagement but Mugabe continues to accuse the West of conspiring against him.

For more information please see:

Reuters: Africa- Mbeki Confident of Solution to Zimbabwe crisis – 23 November 2007

BBC- Mbeki Upbeat after Zimbabwe Talk – 23 November 2007

AllAfrica.com- Zimbabwe: Mbeki Pressure Mugabe – 23 November 2007

Impunity Watch- Political Oppression and Violence – 25 October 2007

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

DAKAR, Sengal –   In Dakar, the capital of Senegal, rioters threw stones and burned tyres in response to a new government policy to remove vendors.  Rioters also blocked main streets and toppled cars. The clash broke out following a trade union demonstration against rising food and oil prices. Garbage cans, old tyres, and wooden stalls were lit on fire to gain attention to the riots.

In response, police fired tear gas at hundreds of protesting street vendors. Moreover, the police arrested at least 15 people involved in the riot.

In Dakar, thousands of people earn their livelihood by peddling food and goods on Dakar’s streets.  In a recent study, the World Bank said 95 percent of workers in Senegal are found in the informal sector.

Last Thursday, new policy by President Abdoulaye Wade banned thousands of street vendors from informal trading in the city. These new laws were passed because uncontrolled street vending had cost Senegal around 125m Euros because traffic jams were deterring investors.

In March, Dakar is to host a 57 nation Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit. In an attempt, to meet the needs of the organizers, the city has undergone a major “facelift,” by building new hotels, conference rooms, bridges and roads.

According to the UN Human Development Index, Senegal is grouped in the bottom 20 of the world’s poorest countries. More than 27.5 percent of Senegal’s employable population have no jobs or are not adequately employed.

For more informaton, please see:

Reuters – Worst riots in years hit Senegalese capital    – 21 November 2007

BBC – Street vendors riot in Senegal  – 21 November 2007

IC Publications – Senegal vendors riot in Dakar over ban  – 21 November 2007

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees  (UNHCR) announced today that the number of displaced people in Somalia has hit a “staggering” one million.   About sixty percent, or 600,000 people are thought to have fled the capital of Mogadishu since February, with nearly 200,000 being displaced in the last two weeks alone. The total population is approximately 8.8 million according to the most recent World Almanac.

Citizens have been forced out of their homes due to a renewed conflict between Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian-backed government forces.  The UNHCR has stated that those who have fled may end up living in desperate conditions.  Those in the Afgooye area, about 30km from Mogadishu, are “using plastic bags and rags to patch up their flimsy mud and straw huts.” 

Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia in December of last year in an effort to drive the Islamic Courts Union out of Mogadishu and to establish and restore the UN-backed transitional government.  Following the invasion, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi promised his troops would remain for only a few weeks, however they have yet to leave and have become involved in a guerilla-type conflict.  Islamists responded to the invasion by launching an insurgency against the Somali government and Ethiopian troops. 

Meanwhile, Ethiopia is calling on the UN Security Council to deploy peacekeepers to Somalia.  The African Union previously pledged 8,000 troops to assist the weak government, however to date only 1,500 Ugandan troops have arrived. 

The increased violence and instability in the region has prompted UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to rule out sending any peacekeepers to the Horn of Africa, except for a “coalition of the willing.”  On Monday, the Security Council admitted that there is a need for a contingency plan for possible deployment of UN troops, but gave no promises.  Previous peacekeeping efforts by the UN and the US were extremely unsuccessful and disastrous in the mid-1990s and Somalia has since had a difficult time getting assistance. 

For more information, please see:

CNN – Million displaced in Somalia – 20 November 2007

BBC News – ‘One million’ homeless in Somalia – 20 November 2007

Reuters Africa – Number of displaced Somalis hits 1 million – 20 November 2007

AFP – Ethiopia urges quick deployment of peacekeepers in Somalia – 20 November 2007

VOA News – Tensions Grow in Somalia – 20 November 2007 

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Last week, an article in the United Kingdom (UK) newspaper, Independent, reported that British General Lord Gutherie and ex Prime Minister Tony Blair discussed invading Zimbabwe. According to the Independent, the UK and many western nations have accused Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe of causing an economic depression by seizing land belonging to white farmers and redistributing it to blacks. Subsequent poor policy decisions further deteriorated the already fragile economy. In addition, the British government accuses President Mugabe of grossly violating human rights.

In response to the article Mr. Charamba, a spokesman for President Mugabe, told the Sunday Mail that they were aware of the British’s desire to not only invade Zimbabwe but to also assassinate President Mugabe and several other political leaders. Mr. Charamba also states that a “defense plan had been operationalised” and that such a plan still exists in preparation for a possible British attack. Charamba claims that the British have not made a move because Blair was told that Zimbabwe had a “very capable army” and thus would be prepared to fight back. In addition, Blair did not have the United State’s support to invade. President Mugabe has always blamed the West for their economic demise. 

The British on the other hand continue to deny that they are trying to interfere with Zimbabwe’s political affairs. Despite the conflicting reports, there are some who support a British invasion. Leading Zimbabwe Cleric, Pius Ncube, feels the invasion and overthrow of President Mugabe is necessary when “millions [are] facing death from famine.” Ncube says that the people of Zimbabwe should rally together to overthrow President Mugabe and that he would be “ready to lead the people, guns blazing but the people are not ready.” According to Ncube, fear is preventing the people from acting.

Today, Zimbabwe reported that it has placed its army on high alert against its former colonial master.

For more information, please see:

Voice of America – Following UK Revelations, Zimbabwe Says It Still Sees Invasion Threat – 19 November 2007

AFP- Army on Alert to Prevent British Invasion: Zimbabwe – 19 November 2007

BBC- Zimbabwe ‘ready for UK invasion’ – 18 November 2007

Reuters: African – Zimbabwe accuses UK of plotting to kill Mugabe-paper – 18 November 2007

Reuters: Africa- Zimbabwe Accuses UK of Plotting to Kill  Mugabe – 18 November 2007