By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

CAIRO, Egypt – It was January 11^th, 2011 and the people of Egypt would no longer take the rule of president Mubarak. A month of protests, some of which turned violent, would end with the president Mubarak resignation and eventual life sentence. Five years later Egypt is faced with the realization that it has traded one repressive regime with multiple others in this short period of time.

On February 11^th 2011, the people of Egypt had their victory and by June 2012 held their first real election in some 30 years. This victory was short lived. The newly elected Mohammed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, was overthrown with in a year by the Egyptian Military because of massive public outcry. The military would then declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization and wage a campaign against them.

 

Fast-forward to 2014, and Egypt has drafted a new constitution and elected the former Armed Forces chief, el-Sisi as their president. El-Sisi has held his presidency into 2016 but with a repressive hand. Many human right’s activists are calling el-Sisi’s regime the most repressive in decades. Egyptian human rights activist and reporter, Hossam Bahgat has said the levels of oppression are worse than the worst periods in ex-president Mubarak’s or Gamal Abdel Nasser’s regimes. Bahgat recently found himself victim of the regime’s oppressive nature, and was detained for a number of days for publishing false news harmful to national security.

 

Since el-Sisi took power, his regime has imprisoned a record amount of journalists according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Support of ex-president Morsi has also been outlawed. Not only has the Muslim Brotherhood been labeled a terrorist organization, but any political party with a religious base was also made unconstitutional by the 2014 constitution.

 

Most of the laws are focused on quieting any political dissidence. The country now has a protest law that criminalizes any unsanctioned march or rally. There have been reports that the regime is going so far to control the message that they are instructing preachers to declare any anti-government action a sin. Along with message control has also come increased surveillance around Cairo. Authorities have installed new surveillance equipment around Cairo especially in Tahrir Square. Authorities have also raided thousands of homes, taken political prisoners, and allegedly forced disappearances.

 

The joy and promise that was felt five years ago seems to be gone. The whole period of Arab Spring is merely a distant memory for the people of Egypt. Citizens and human rights activists must wonder how many more oppressive regimes must be toppled and replaced in Egypt until the that feeling of promise is not misplaced.

 

 

For more information, please see:

 

 

Bustle – It’s Been Five Years Since The Egyptian Revolution. Here’s What’s Changed – 25 Jan. 2016

Global Research – Five Years After Tahrir Square, Egypt’s Police State Worse Than Ever – 25 Jan. 2016

The Guardian – State repression in Egypt worst in decades, says activist – 24 Jan. 2016

The Atlantic – A Revolution Devours Its Children – 23 Jan. 2016

The New York Times – Hossam Bahgat, Journalist and Advocate, Is Released by Egypt’s Military – 10 Nov. 2015

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

ABUJA, Nigeria – Amnesty International and the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) released a report today calling Shell’s claims about its clean up effort in the Niger Delta “blatantly false.” Some of these un-cleaned spill cites date all the way back to 1970’s. Even though Shell Nigeria claims to have cleaned them twice, most recently in 2011, they are still polluting the surrounding area.

The long-term effects that these spills continue to have are a combination of poor handling by Shell Nigeria and minimal regulation by the Nigerian Government. The Niger Delta is the largest oil producing section of Africa and Shell Nigeria is the largest producer in that area. The Nigerian government also happens to be the largest share holder of Shell Nigeria, meaning that polluted, or not, the Niger Delta is one of Nigeria’s largest revenue streams.

This conflict of interest may be one of the reasons that government regulation of oil spills has been relaxed at best. Three out of the four contaminated sites in the Amnesty report were actually cleared by government regulators as clean. Shell Nigeria claimed that it had cleaned all four of these cites, but all still showed visible signs of damage and pollution. The report found that this visible pollution was a product of ineffective clean up and not from new spills in the area.

Contractors that Shell hired to clean the areas were questioned by Amnesty investigators about their methods of cleaning spill cites. They gave candid and troubling answers. “This is just a cover up. If you just dig down a few meters you find oil. We just excavated, then shifted the soil away, then covered it all up again.” Amnesty has said that this method of “clean up” does nothing to prevent lasting harm to surrounding areas. It his is hard to know who to blame for the inadequate job done by these local contractors. They are trained and supervised by Shell Nigeria, but until the Nigerian government forces a more stringent clean up little is likely to change.

Shell was quick to place blame on others about the remaining pollution. It first vehemently disagreed with the reports findings, but declined to comment any further. It also released a statement that said that oil theft and illegal refining was the major cause of   this pollution, but again promised to keep cleaning, no matter the cause.

 

For more information, please see:

 

VOA – Shell Accused of Failing to Clean Up Nigeria Oil Spills – 3 Nov. 2015

Al Jazeera America – Amnesty: Shell Has Not Cleaned Nigeria Oil Spills – 3 Nov. 2015

All Africa – Shell – New Report Slams Oil Spill Clean-Up Claims on 20^th Anniversary of Ken Saro-Wiwa Execution – 2 Nov. 2015

The Guardian – Amnesty report accuses Shell of failing to clean up Niger delta oil spills – Nov. 2 2015

 

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

JUBA, South Sudan – A report released this Tuesday by the African Union has shed light onto the unbelievable scale of the atrocities committed during the two-year civil war in the new country of South Sudan. Wide spread reports of murder, rape, mutilation, torture, and even forced cannibalism make the report a disturbing and depressing window into the short history this country has faced.

South Sudan came into existence in 2011 when 99% of the population voted to separate itself from North Sudan. President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his vice president, Riek Machar, held the new nation together for two years. Both leaders were representatives of their respective ethnic groups, the President, a Dinka, and the Vice President, a Nuer. Then, unexpectedly, in the summer of 2013 President Kiir abolished his cabinet and fired his vice president.

 

Kiir’s action sent shockwaves through the country and within days it had descended into full civil war between the two major ethnic groups, the Dinka and the Nuer. This August the fighting was halted when the two leaders, president and former vice president, came together and signed a peace deal. In theory ending the civil war. However, this shocking report threatens to shatter the fragile peace between the two groups.

 

The report from the African Union found “sexual and gender-based violence” and “extreme cruelty” in the practices of both sides during the war. Even more alarming is the report that most of the atrocities were carried out against civilians not involved in the fighting. These atrocities include mass rape against all ages, the beating and then burning of civilians based only on tribal facial marks, and the forced cannibalism of civilians by soldiers. Places of worship, hospitals, and places of protection were also attacked.

 

The report from the AU ruled that there were reasonable grounds to find that war crimes were committed and human rights violated. However, the AU was not yet willing to rule that genocide had been committed, even though the lines of the conflict were drawn between two distinct ethnic groups.

 

A lot is still yet to be decided and resolved. The AU report gave some advice on what is to happen next with the young country. First, it stated that the government was certainly at fault for what had happened. The reports by President Kiir that the fighting began because of an attempted coup do not seem to have any basis in fact. Second, the AU suggests that neither Kiir not Machar play any role in a transitional government.

 

It still remains to be seen if the peace agreement formed by the two sides will be completely effective. Both sides still remain hostile against one another, constantly accusing the other of breaking the peace deal. The AU report, which was written a year ago, was only just released because of fear it would incite more violence. This still remains a distinct possibility.

 

 

For more information, please see:

 

The Washington Post – South Sudan report shows civil war horror: “I have seen people being forced to eat other humans’ – 29 Oct. 2015

The New York Times – Rape and Cannibalism Cited Among South Sudan Horrors – 28 Oct. 2015

The Guardian – South Sudan civil war inquiry details torture and forced cannibalism – 28 Oct. 2015

Sudan Tribune – South Sudan’s Kiir moves to take down Machar & Amum, Khartoum says accords unaffected – 23 July 2013

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – A proposed student fee increase by the by the finance minister, Nhlanhla Nene, ended with students being tear gassed and hit with stun grenades last week in South Africa. Students were trying to stage a sit-in on the mid-term budget meetings to show their frustration with the proposed fee increases to higher education in 2016. Police responded with force when the students forced their way into the parliament complex in Cape Town. This clash with students continued outside of the parliament complex, where students threw bottles at police and chanted, “We want Blade, We want Blade.” These chants referred to Blade Nzimande, the education minister.

This one incident is not an isolated occurrence. Students all around South America have mobilized to protest the proposed increases to student fees for the country’s universities. The movement has been named the #FeesMustFall movement, based on the twitter handle used by the group to organize events around the country. The group is made up of students who are worried that the 10% to 15% fee increase will lead them to a lifetime of debt. Many of the students find themselves in a gap between the rich, who can afford the increase, and the poor, who qualify for government assistance with tuition.

 

Frustration with he cost of education has been growing for many years inside of South Africa. In 1994, the promise of free education and racial transformation was prevalent with the election of Nelson Mandela. Since then, the promise of free education was sacrificed for other political priorities. The cost of higher education has continued to rise almost as fast as frustration with the cost of that education. A medical degree at Wilts University in Johannesburg now costs 58,140 rand ($6,000) a year. Proposed fee increases could push that as over 65,000 rand in 2016.

 

In an attempt to ease riots around the country the government offered to cap fee increases at 6% annually. This cap would still be above inflation, doing little to help struggling students to keep up with tuition payments.

 

The government and school leads have been placed in a difficult position. They claim that the fee increases are necessary to maintain the standards of higher education. Educational leaders have pleaded with the government to find even more funding to support an already struggling higher education system. Nene pushed the government “to find solutions where the current situation is inadequate,” but admitted “the government is seized with this matter.”

 

For more information, please see:

 

SABC News – Free education policy sidelined post 1994 – 22 Oct 2015

ABC – South African riot police clash with student protestors, fire tear gas and stun grenades – 21 Oct 2015

The Guardian – South African police fire teargas at students in university fee protests – 21 Oct 2015

Al Jazeera English – South African students protest education fee hike – 26 Oct 2015

 

 

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Today, at the request of the Cameroon government, the U.S. has promised to deploy 300 troops to aid in the fight against Islamist militant group, Boko Haram. The troops will be there to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, but should not be expected to engage in any live combat.

President Barack Obama announced his decision today in a War Powers Act notification letter addressed to the U.S. Congress. This letter not only told congress of plans to send troops to Cameroon but also informed them that 90 military personnel had arrived as of Oct. 12. The non-aggressive nature of these troops was stressed by assuring congress that they were only armed for personal for security and not for any offensive combat.

 

Once the full 300 troops arrives they will be providing a multi-nation task force, made up of troops from Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Benin, with information from airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. There is no set time frame on how long these supporting troops are supposed to be in Cameroon. President Obama stated in his letter that, “they will remain in Cameroon until their support is no longer needed.”

 

The White House later commented that this decision was not prompted by any change in the assessment of threats in the region. It is notable that since Nigerian forces began having success fighting Boko Haram, the threat has spread out into neighboring countries and has taken on more guerilla style tactics. Although no change has been made to the threat assessment from the U.S.’s stand point, Boko Haram has certainly spread out of Nigeria in recent months and become more dangerous to the surrounding area.

 

In the last two weeks Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for multiple suicide bombings in Nigeria and neighboring countries. On Oct. 10, three suicide bombings went off in Chad and left 41 dead. The very next day, two suicide bombings took place in Cameroon and left 9 dead and 21 injured.

 

This is not the first time in recent memory that the U.S. has sent troops to help in the fight against Boko Haram. Last year, Boko Haram kidnapped nearly 300 Nigerian girls from their school during a raid. At that time the U.S. sent 80 troops with drone surveillance equipment to help search for the missing girls. Sadly many of them where never found. Time will tell if these 300 troops are able to be more assistance against Boko Haram.

 

For more information, please see:

 

ABC News – US Deploying 300 Troops to Cameroon to Help Fight Boko Haram – 14 Oct. 2015

France 24 – US to send 300 troops to aid fight against Boko Haram – 14 Oct. 2015

The Hill – Obama pledges more troops to fight Boko Haram – 14 Oct. 2015

The Guardian – Obama to deploy 300 US troops to Cameroon to fight Boko Haram – 14 Oct. 2015