ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – On Saturday, Eritrea made allegations that Ethiopia planned to invade the nation in November. According to intelligence agencies in Asmara, the plot was expected to take place in the first week of November. Ethiopia however has denied the allegation, referring to the plot as “absurd fabrication.”

After nearly nine years, Eritrea and Ethiopia continue to feud over the small village of Badme. From 1998 to 2000, the two neighboring nations were involved in a border war that left nearly 70,000 dead. The war concluded with a 2002 ruling awarding the village to Eritrea. However, Ethiopia has not accepted the terms of the agreement. Instead Ethiopia has made several requests to the border commission concerning their decision.

In the meantime, on Monday the International Committee of the Red Cross announced that 885 people were repatriated back to their homes. During the war, thousands were expelled as national enemies.

For more information, please see:

Reuters: Africa- Ethiopia Denies Plot to Attack Eritrea – 29 October 2007

Yahoo (AFP) – Red Cross Repatriates 885 from Ethiopia and Eritrea – 29 October 2007

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The streets of Mogadishu are experiencing the worst violence in months, in the second day of protests against government-allied Ethiopian troops.  Several hundred Somalis have taken to the streets, many of them women and children, shouting anti-Ethiopian slogans, erecting burning barricades, and tossing rocks. Several people have been killed in gun battles.

The latest protests began after Ethiopia moved reinforcements and a convoy of 20 tanks and armored cars into the city on Friday. One of the vehicles struck a landmine and exploded.  On Saturday Ethiopian troops fanned out across the city, causing the recent protests by civilians.  BBC correspondents say the civilians are angry with the Ethiopian forces because of the use of artillery in the fighting, which has caused civilian casualties.

Mogadishu has faced growing violence since government troops and Ethiopian allies chased out the Council of Islamic Courts in December.   The Islamic group had controlled much of southern Somalia for six months, and remnants have vowed to fight an Iraq-style insurgency.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has repeatedly condemned the recurrent killing of journalists and harassment of media within the country.  On 19 October the acting chairman of Radio Shadelle, Bahsir Nur Gedi, was murdered in his home.  Gedi’s killing was the latest in a recent surge of attacks against the media, and brings the number of journalists killed since August of last year to nine.  Due to the rising violence, few international journalists are willing to travel to Mogadishu.

The rising insecurity in Somalia is not limited to journalists, and has effected employees of international humanitarian organizations such as the World Food Programme.

Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991 when rival warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and subsequently turned on each other.  The UN states that 400,000 people have fled the violence in Mogadishu in the past four months.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune (AP) – Somali protestors burn tires, throw rocks to demand departure of Ethiopian troops – 27 October 2007

BBC News – Mogadishu hit by fresh fighting – 28 October 2007

AllAfrica.com – Somalia: Country More Dangerous Than Ever for Journalists – 28 October 2007

Amnesty International – Amnesty International Calls for Probe in Killings of Somali Journalists – 26 October 2007

For more information on Somalia, please see the following Impunity Watch reports: Gunned Down Journalist; WFP Officer Released in Somalia; Piracy and Kidnapping Deepens Food Crisis; Bombing Kills Two During Quest for New Government; The ‘Forgotten’ Somalia

KHARTOUM, Sudan – Darfur rebels have accused the Sudanese government of attacking an area along the border of Chad in violation of a unilateral ceasefire declaration given at the opening of peace talks in Libya.  Two factions, who did not attend the talks, claim that the government attacked the Jabel Moun area on Saturday, at the same time the government was announcing the ceasefire.  A Sudanese army spokesman has denied the reports.

Peace talks have been scheduled since early September, however key rebel groups have refused to participate.  Repeated efforts to create a lasting peace in the region have been unsuccessful. 

Experts estimate that since the conflict began in 2003, 200,000 people have died and over 2 million have been displaced.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Darfur rebels say government attacks despite ceasefire – 29 October 2007