By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter

KAMPALA, Uganda– Police stopped gay pride marches just outside the capital of Kampala on Saturday September 24th.  This was after a statement on the 22nd from Simon Lokodo, minister of Uganda’s ethics and integrity cabinet, who told organizers they would be prosecuted if they marched.

Activists marching in August 2015. (Photo Courtesy of BBC)

Gay rights activist Frank Mugisha said more than 100 LGBTQ participants tried to participate in the activism activities.  Before activists could march, they were herded onto buses by police and bused back to Kampala.  Homosexuality is currently illegal in Uganda and Lokodo is known for his harsh anti-LGBTQ stance.  In the past, the march has been allowed to proceed without government intervention.

The crackdown on the gay pride march comes after a lawmaker tried to push through a harsher law on homosexuality.  The law would have allowed a sentence of death as punishment for homosexual acts.  This law was eventually determined to be unconstitutional by the courts in Uganda.

Despite the triumph in the courts the climate in Uganda has been similar to the blockade of the gay pride march.  A few months ago Lokodo authorized a violent raid at a pride celebration.  LGBTQ citizens are also continually outed, threatened, and killed for their sexual orientation.

For more information, please see: 

BBC – Ugandan police block gay pride parade – 24 September 2016

Citizen TV – Ugandan police stop gay pride parade – 24 September 2016

Fox News – Uganda: Police stop gay pride parade deemed illegal – 24 September 2016

Out – Uganda Official Orders Pride March Organizers to Cancel Parade – 22 September 2016

By Samantha Netzband

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo-17 are dead after violent clashes in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Violence broke out after current President Joseph Kabila said the government would be postponing the country’s Presidential election.  The election, which was originally scheduled for later this year, will now be held in mid 2017.

Protesters yell in front of a burning car during a demonstration in Kinshasa. (Photo Courtesy of The Guardian.

Opposition leaders are frustrated with the President, claiming that he is trying to stay in office even though the country’s constitution does not allow a President to be in office for three terms.  President Kabila and other government officials are claiming that this is not the case.  The government says that there are not enough resources to hold a fair election and the postponement is only to ensure a fair transition.

The United States and other observers are considering sanctions against the Congolese government if elections are not held as planned later this year. Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi, Congo’s Chief Diplomatic Adviser,  is currently in the United States pleading with United States officials to not sanction the Congo’s government.

“There are two resolutions that were pending in the House to impose sanctions on Congolese officials,” Kikaya said previously. “My mission is to plead with American officials and to prove to them that sanctions are not a solution to help us resolve our problems.”

The toll of the delayed election is already being seen at home.  Three police officers and fourteen protesters have been reported dead.  A police officer was burned in retaliation for shooting at protesters, and one opposition leader says he saw 25 protesters gunned down by security forces.  While the government reports the death toll as 17, other reports have marked the number as closer to 50.

For more information, please see:

CNBC Africa – Clashes in Kinshasa leave 17 dead – 20 September 2016

Digital Congo – Balance insurgency opposition: Evariste Boshab announces a provisional toll of 17 dead – 20 September 2016

The Guardian – Clashes in Kinshasa leave 50 dead, say DRC opposition groups – 20 September 2016

UN News Centre – DR Congo: Ban condemns deadly clashes between protestors and security forces in capital – 19 September 2016

By Samantha Netzband

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

JUBA, South Sudan–The South Sudanese government is planning on taking legal action against the Sultry group after the publication of what they believe is an incorrect corruption report.  The Sultry group was founded by American actor George Clooney and activist John Prendergast.  The group was also a key player in gaining South Sudan’s independence.

President Kiir seen giving a speech. (Photo Courtesy of Aljazeera)

The report, which was published by the Nation Mirror, alleges that President Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar amassed wealth throughout the time of the Sudanese conflict.  This wealth includes luxury cars, foreign properties, and stakes in oil and business ventures.  Both President Kiir and Riek Machar’s spokespeople have said that these allegations are “rubbish”.  This then lead to the closing of the Nation Mirror and the pursuance of a lawsuit.

There are already calls to reopen the Nation Mirror, the newspaper that published the report.  Given the lack of independent and critical newspapers in the region those in the media in South Sudan would like to see the newspaper reopened.

Those who belief the report are suggesting that the United States threaten sanctions until reform is made.  This stems from the fact that George Clooney, the partner in the Sentry group, is an American actor.  Countries on the outside looking in are taking these allegations seriously considering war profiteering is a serious crime, and the conflict in South Sudan has displaced a million people.

For more information, please see:

Africa News – South Sudan urged to reopen newspaper that published corruption report – 16 September 2016

Al Jazeera – South Sudan to take legal action after corruption report – 13 September 2016

CNBC Africa – South Sudan: Actor George Clooney against the Kleptocrats – 17 September 2016

Fox News – South Sudan challenges US watchdog’s report on corruption – 17 September 2016

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia–Al Shabab has taken responsibility for two deadly car bombing that took place in Galkayo, Somalia on Sunday August 21st.  The death toll is unclear, but news outlets are reporting that over 10 civilians have died, with Al Jazeera reporting at least 20 dead.

The site of the two car bombings. (Photo Courtesy of CNN)

The first car bomb was set off in a truck, the second was set off in a car.  Local police Captain Abdi Hassan said the truck was rammed into the main gate of a building in Galkayo.  After the first bomb exploded and help started to arrive for the wounded the second bomb exploded.    The buildings near the site of the bombing included a school, market, and government building.  Authorities believe that Al-Shabab was targeting the government building.

Members of international society were quick to condemn the twin bombings.  The representative of the UN Secretary-General in Somalia, Michael Keating, issued a statement: “This act of terror highlights the vulnerability of Somali civilians including children to actors who continue to use violence to achieve their objectives.”  The Somali President and Prime Minister also condemned the attack as well as the President of the United States of America.

This bombing is one in a series purported by Al-Shabab in Somalia.  Upset with the presence of foreign sources in Somalia, Al-Shabab also attacked the city of Mogadishu in July killing 6 civilians.

For further information, please see:

Aljazerra – Al Shabab Claims Double Suicide Bombing in Somalia – 22 August 2016

CNN – Somali Suicide Bombings Leave 23 Dead; Al Shabab Claims Responsiblity – 21 August 2016

Press Herald – Twin Blasts Kill 17 at Government Building, Market in Somalia – 21 August 2016

Times of India – More than 10 Dead in Twin Blast in Somali Town – 21 August 2016

 

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa 

JUBA, South Sudan– Foreign aid workers were gang raped by South Sudanese soldiers in the bathroom of a hotel in Juba.  The attack that happened on July 11th is being called a turning point for foreign aid workers in the country that was considered safe until the attack.  Calls for help were made to a United Nations compound that was nearby, but there was no response.

The Terrain Hotel where the foreign aid workers were hiding before they were attacked.  (Photo Courtesy of NPR)

“The soldiers just came to the bathroom where all the girls were hiding and they just picked us out of the bathroom one by one,” says one women who was at the hotel.  Despite the violence from the civil war this unusual attack has created shock waves in the humanitarian aid community.  Some organizations are evacuating their staff while others are reducing their activities in the area.

The United Nations were not the only one’s who did not show up to save the aid workers.  The trapped aid workers also called the United States Embassy and private security firms.  The reported reason for their failure was the fact that the streets were too dangerous from clashes that were happening outside the hotel.

The aid workers were eventually rescued, but only after 5 of them had been raped for hours.  Many civilians have also reported being raped in South Sudan.  Some of these civilians were raped while under United Nations Peacekeepers watch.  The international attention brought to the gang rape of aid workers may force change that works to prevent the further spread of sexual and gender based violence in South Sudan.  While the gang rapes were happening, over 300 people were killed during 4 days of fighting.

For more information, please see: 

New York Times Live – Shock in South Sudan as foregin aid workers gang raped by soldiers – 24 August 2016

News Deeply – Aid Worker Attacks Expose Ongoing Assault of Women in South Sudan – 24 August 2016 

NPR – Gang Rape of Aid Workers In South Sudan Is A Turning Point – 23 August 2016