By Impunity Watch Africa

Two recent developments provide hope that peace will come to Sudan, although many problems still lie ahead.

On Sunday, at an international summit to push peace in the Darfur region, the Sudanese government agreed to meet rebel groups that have so far refused to join peace talks.   If the meet does in fact take place, it will be an important step towards re-starting peace negotiations that stalled last year following the unpopular Darfur peace agreement.  The non-signatories to that agreement will meet the first week of August to prepare a unified position for talks with the government in late August or early September.   Negotiations will be tough, with agreements needed on how much to compensate families driven from their land, how to protect them when they return home, and how to disarm the militias.

In another positive development, a huge underground lake has been found in the Darfur region, prompting many scientists to claim that it may help end the conflict in the arid region.  Boston University researchers discovered the lake and plan on drilling 1,000 wells in the region.  Many analysts say competition for resources between Darfur’s Arab nomads and black African farmers is a big force behind the conflict.  The director for Boston University’s Center for Remote Sensing, Farouk El-Baz, said that “access to fresh water is essential for refugee survival, will help the peace process, and provides the necessary resources for the much needed economic development in Darfur.”  The lake was discovered using radar data, and it is believed to be the size of Lake Erie – the 10th largest lake in the world.

However, a draft Security Council resolution to authorize the deployment of a joint UN-AU peace-keeping force in Darfur has been opposed by Sudan and South Africa. The objection is over a sanctions clause in the resolution.  Sudan’s Ambassador to the UN said the resolution should be more Sudan-friendly and drop the “irrelevant and alien issues” such as the threat of sanctions.   Last month, the Sudanese government agreed to allow the hybrid force into the region.  UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged the Security Council to approve a draft resolution to get the approved peacekeeping force on the ground as soon as possible.  UN reports have stated that security on the ground is deteriorating, with a rise in attacks on aid workers and peacekeepers. The hope is to get forces on the ground by September or October, in order to help the small AU force that is failing to stop the violence.  Since the start of the Sudan conflict, 200,000 people have died and more than 2 million have been displaced.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica – Darfur Resolution Opposed – 18 July 2007

BBC – Water Find ‘May End Darfur War’ – 18 July 2007

Washington Post – Scientists Find Lake Remnants in Sudan – 17 July 2007

LA Times – Sudan Agrees to Meet with Rebels – 16 July 2007

By Meryl White

Impunity Watch, Africa

Presently, one out of every three Nigerians are malnourished. On a daily basis, over 46 million people go to bed hungry despite the fact that Nigeria is Africa’s most oil rich nation.

Action Aid, a non-governmental organization involved in development work, organized a march in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, to raise awareness “about widespread hunger in Africa’s most populous nation.” At Friday’s march, participants hoped to present petitions to President Umaru Yar’Adua and government officials to encourage implementation of new laws and policies to help end hunger.

An organizer of the march described the situation in Nigeria as “their hunger is an indictment of those who have more than enough to eat in a country with more than enough resources and potential to banish the hunger it breeds.”

On Friday, the marchers became rowdy and played loud music. Environmental policy protection officials became disturbed when marchers littered the ground with discarded polythene bags. Marchers ignored attempts from the environmental officials, and the police were called to the scene. Ultimately, the police dispersed hundreds of campaigners with teargas and arrested twenty one individuals. The march was deemed illegal as organizers never obtained a permit from the board.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has attempted to obtain comments from the leader of the mobile police team on the action of his men. However, all attempts by news agencies have been rebuffed by the police leader.

For more information, please see:

Angola Press – Police Stop Nigeria Hunger March – 17 July 2007

BBC – Police Stop Nigeria Hunger March – 16 July 2007

Daily Triumph – Hunger march protesters, teargased, 21 arrested – 13 July 2007

BBC – Country Profile: Nigeria – 29 May 2007

By Myriam Clerge

Impunity Watch, Africa

Rwanda continues to take actions to seek out and prosecute those involved in the 1994 Genocide of Rwanda. The UN-backed International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was founded in 1994 in Tanzania. Since then 28 genocide suspects have been convicted and five acquitted.

This past Friday, a former Rwandan mayor, Juvenal Rugambarara, plead guilty to committing crimes against humanity. Although Rugambarara, a Hutu, did not actively participate in the genocide, he admitted his failure to take measures to punish subordinates involved in the massacre of Tutsis in his community.

In response to Rugambarara’s guity plea, prosecutors of the Tanzania-based court have dropped eight of his nine charges and have elected to seek a reduced sentence of nine to 12 years.

Also on Friday, Interpol, the world’s largest police organization, held a conference in Arusha, Tanzania. The organization urged all countries to provide whatever assistance necessary to arrest the remaining fugitives of the Rwandan genocide. The request comes after the arrest of fugitive Isaac Kamali in France.

Rwandans and researchers have criticized France for supporting and training Hutu extremists involved in the genocide. President Paul Kagame, the Tutsi rebel leader that led the end of the massacre, has challenged France to study official documents that exposes the country’s involvement in the genocide.

The book, Silent Accomplice by British researcher and author, Andrew Wallis, claims that French troops advised Hutu extremist how to hide the massacre of nearly one million people from spy satellites.

France has denied any involvement and refuses to apologize for its inactions even though many countries such as the United States have.

For more information please see:

AllAfrica – Rwanda: Interpol Steps Up Pressure on Genocide Fugitives – 16 July 2007

Yahoo – Rwandan Former Mayor Pleads Guilty to Genocide – 13 July 2007

Reuters – Rwanda Says France Must Probe ‘Genocide Papers’ – 10 July 2007

CNN – Amanpour: Looking Back at Rwanda Genocide – 06 April 2004

By Impunity Watch Africa

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor, on trial in The Hague for war crimes committed during Sierra Leone’s civil war, will serve his sentence in Britain if convicted.  Britain’s government signed a sentence enforcement agreement with the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone this week.

Taylor’s trail opened last month, and he has plead not guilty to all eleven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Sierra Leone’s civil war that killed an estimated 50,000 people. He is accused of instigating murder, mutilation, and the recruitment of child soldiers while backing Sierra Leone’s rebels in exchange for diamonds.  After an initial boycott of his trial, Taylor made a surprise appearance earlier this month.  He has argued that he had inadequate funds to provide a defense, despite many suspicions that he his hiding a fortune somewhere.  Judges ordered that Taylor be assigned a new defense team, increased the amount of money available for his legal defenses, and postponed the trial until August 20.

Meanwhile, Liberia’s government has started to make moves to seize Taylor’s assets.  A bill that covers the property of Taylor’s relatives and associates has been passed to Liberia’s parliament for discussion.  The Liberian government is seeking power “to seek the assistance of other nations in tracking, freezing, confiscating the funds, properties and assets” of the ex-president and others concerned.   All of his assets held abroad have already been seized through a 2004 UN Order.  Taylor, who has claimed he is indigent, will be receiving $100,000 a month for his legal defense by the Special Court.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Liberia’s Taylor to be Jailed in UK if Convicted – 13 July 2007

Daily Mail – Former Liberian President Will be Jailed in UK if Convicted of War Crimes – 13 July 2007

BBC – Liberia ‘to Seize Taylor Assets’ – 12 July 2007

Jurist – Liberia Moves to Seize Taylor Assets – 13 July 2007

By Meryl White

Impunity Watch, Africa

Three year old son of Iriebe Chief Eze Francis Amadi was captured en route to school in Nigeria’s oil capital, Port Harcout. This most recent kidnapping in the Niger Delta comes four days after the three year old British girl, Margaret Hill was freed from captivity. Moreover, seven hostages, including five foreigners and two executive Nigerian managers, were recently released last week.

Nevertheless, in the past month, four children have been held hostage in this volatile region. Furthermore, in this year alone, more than 150 foreigners have been victims of targeted kidnappings. Presently, more than a dozen people still remain in captivity.

Tom Ateke, leader of a militant group in the Niger Delta calls for armed groups in the area to abandon their weapons and seek discussion with the Nigerian government. However, militants are likely to refuse this option, as they believe that it is unfair that they live impoverished conditions while residing in Africa’s largest oil producing nation. These militants want an increased share of the oil revenues.

Currently, criminal gangs take advantage of Nigeria’s oil state, as it allows for targeted kidnapping of wealthy and political individuals. According to journalist, Tony Tamuno, “It is all about cash; criminals have taken over,” he said. Conversely, other militants take hostages in an attempt to gain more political rights.

The “commercialization” of kidnappings have lead to much instability in the region. Moreover, it has decreased Nigeria’s oil production by more than 25%, which has ultimately lead to increased oil prices throughout the world.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Gunmen Seize Nigerian Chief’s Son – 12 July 2007

MSNBC – Police: Nigeria’s Chief’s 3 Year Old Son Kidnapped – 12 July 2007

VOA – Gunmen Kidnap Three-Year-Old Child in Nigeria – 12 July 2007