Africa

 UN Investigators Urge Establishment of War Crimes Tribunal for Central African Republic

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing Editor

BANGUI, Central African Republic –United Nations-mandated investigators warned on Wednesday that war crimes are currently being committed in the Central African Republic and called for the establishment of a ‘truly international’ tribunal with international judges who could objectively investigate and prosecute perpetrators of such crimes in the war torn country on both sides of the ongoing conflict in the African nation. Law professor Philip Alston, member of the International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic, warned against a proposal being discussed by the United Nations to establish a special criminal court in the country arguing that the Central African Republic does not have the capacity to handle such cases. Alston argued the country lacks judges with the independence and the ability to hold accountable the major political leaders who would likely be prosecuted by such a tribunal.

Fatimata M’Baye (right) and Philip Alston, two members of the International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic (CAR), brief the press. (Photo courtesy of the United Nations News Centre)

International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic was established up by the United Nations Security Council in 2013 with a mandate to probe reports of human rights violations in the Central African Republic, which has been engaged in a protracted civil war. The commission was mandated with compiling information and helping identify the perpetrators of potential human rights abuses. The commission is scheduled to release its most recent report to the Security Council tomorrow. Commissioner Alston said that the latest inquiry which was conducted over the strongly recommends the establishment of accountability mechanisms in order to identify the ‘cycle of impunity’ in the Central African Republic.

Two of the Commission’s three members have warned that unless the international community pays more attention to the ongoing siltation in the Central African Republic and works to hold the perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable, the situation in the country could intensify and even spiral into genocide. “We are here to say that we make some recommendations to the Security Council and Secretary-General but also to the African Union and the CAR Government,” said Commissioner Fatima. M’Baye, adding that: “We think that for the conflict in CAR not to grow even more, the international community must act fast against those who abuse human rights law and humanitarian law.” Fatima. M’Baye also said that the Commission has listed the perpetrators of abuses whom they are sure “are implicated in the ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic.” She also added that this list will be handed over to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, she said.

The Central African Republic has seen more than two years of civil war and sectarian violence which has displaced thousands across the country. According to the estimates of the United Nations, nearly 440,000 people remain internally displaced and 190,000 have become refugees seeking asylum across international borders. In December of last year, Under-Secretary-General for UN Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous warned of a potentially explosive situation in the African nation amid continuing violent clashes between the Séléka alliance, a majority Muslim group, and the majority Christian anti-Balaka militia.

For more information please see

ABC News – International Court Urged For Central African Republic – 21 January 2015

International Business Times – How European, Chinese Weapons Fuel Conflict In Central African Republic – 21 January 2015

United Nations News Centre – Central African Republic: UN Investigators Urge Establishment of War Crimes Tribunal – 21 January 2015

Reuters – U.N. Worker Kidnapped In Central African Republic: Mission – 20 January 2015

 

Kenyan police tear gas children protesting

By Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter, Africa

Nairobi, Kenya –

Many in Kenya, including the president, have recently condemned the violent actions police took against protesters, most of whom were primary school children between the ages of six and fourteen.  On Monday, January 19th, school children from the Lang’ata schools began to protest the ‘grabbing’ of their playground.  The students returned to school following a two week long teachers’ strike, to find that their playground had been sealed off by a large wall.  Whether the students were incited to revolt against the wall by activists, or whether they came to the conclusion that the taking of their playground without warning was wrong on their own, is currently unclear.

Ocuppy Playground
Lang’ata school children with an ‘Occupy Playground’ sign (Photo courtesy of Deutsche Welle)

The students began rioting; throwing rocks at the wall, pushing against it to knock it down, and coming towards police with sticks.  In response to the behavior of the children, the police guarding the wall unleashed tear gas on crowd, apparently in response to a command from a senior police member.  Videos of the scene show children scream, coughing, and in visible pain.  Some of the children were taken to the hospital for treatment following the incident.

President Kenyatta has condemned that violent behavior of the police forces that unleashed the tear gas, particularly as it was used on a crowd of children contesting the taking of their playground.  The president made it clear that violence against children is unacceptable.  He also touched on the issue of the playground being taken and sealed off on the first place.  While it is currently unclear, many residents and activists of the area speculate that the land was ‘grabbed,’ or taken illegally.  Residents and activists also point to local politicians, asserting that it is clear that the land was taken for some political reason, and the transfer of the land did not follow existing laws that would legitimize the transfer.  It appears that the playground will now be used as land for a hotel.  The president announced that the taking of the playground, and the police show of brutality is unacceptable and sets a unsavory example for the Kenyan youth.  The episode also reflects poorly on the nation of Kenya.

For more information, please visit: 

BBC News- Police tear gas Kenya school children in playground row– 19 Jan, 2015

Washington Post- Kenya: Police tear-gas school kids in demo over playground– 19 Jan, 2015

Deutsche Welle- Kenyan President vows action over police tear gassing of children– 21 Jan, 2015

Ten Year Old Girl Used in Suicide Attack in Nigeria

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing Editor

ABUJA, Nigeria –  At least 19 people have been killed in a suicide bombing carried out in a crowded market in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the capital of the Borno State, reports say a young girl, believed to be about ten years old, was used to carry out the attack.  The attack was carried out at 12.40pm (1140 GMT) while the market was packed with shoppers and traders. The attack comes just a week after a major attack in the fishing town of Baga, also in Borno, carried out by Boko Haram, the largest attack ever carried out by the extremist military group. According to Amnesty International as many as 2,000 people may have been killed in the Baga attack. So far no group has claimed reasonability for the Maiduguri blast. The same market where the blast occurred was struck twice last year by suicide bombers. The city lies in the heartland of the Boko Haram insurgency.

A screen grab from a video released by Boko Haram, showing its leader Abubakar Shekau delivering a speech – 31 October 2014 The militants control large swathes of territory in north-eastern Nigeria. (Photo Courtesy of BBC News)

Ashiru Mustapha, a witness to the bombing said the young girl was searched at the entrance of the market, which has seen similar attacks in the past. However, the witness says the explosives detonated as the young girl was being searched. Mustapha said “The girl was about 10 years old and I doubt if she actually knew what was strapped to her body. “In fact, she was searched at the entrance of the market and the metal detector indicated that she was carrying something. But sadly, the explosion went off before she was isolated,” Mustapha said. Borno State police spokesman Gideon Jubrin said 19 people were killed and 18 others were injured in the attack but warned that the death toll could rise.

In the latest campaign by the African Islamic militant group Boko Haram, part of a string of attacks over the last several weeks and months, hundreds of gunmen reportedly overtook the town of Baga, its neighboring villages, and a multinational military base killing as many as 2,000 people. Last week attack in Baga lasted 5 days as gunmen overran local communities, Nigerian military police reportedly abandoned their posts after seeing the gunmen approach. In recent days the string of Boko Haram attacks has destroyed at least 16 villages. The attacks have forced thousands to flee their homes, approximately 10,000 people have fled to neighboring Chad, with reports of civilians drowning while attempting to cross Lake Chad.

Boko Haram is suspected in the suicide bombing attack in Maiduguri Saturday. The shocking use of a young child, who possibly was not even aware of what she was being used for, to commit such an atrocities is said by some to be unprecedented in the Boko Haram insurgency. However, the group, which was established to in opposition of young girls receiving education, is known to have kidnapped and abused young girls. Last April the militants kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls in the Chibok region. Nine months later, the majority of the girls are still missing.

For more information please see:

The Boston Globe – Boko Haram Uses Young Girl in Nigerian Suicide Bombing – 11 January 2015

BBC News – Boko Haram Crisis: Nigeria’s Baga Town Hit by New Assault – 10 January 2015

Christian Science Monitor – Another Massacre? Why Nigeria Struggles To Stop Boko Haram (+Video) – 10 January 2015

CNN International – Boko Haram Amps up Attacks on Nigerian Villages – 10 January 2015

The New York Times – In Nigeria, New Boko Haram Suicide Bomber – 10 January 2015

Air Strikes on Misrata, Libya

By Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter, Africa

Misrata, Libya-

Since the over throw of Mommar Guddafi in 2011, during the rash of international uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa, often referred to as the Arab Spring, Libya has struggled to remain stable, and civil war has permeated the nation. The internationally recognized government of Libya was forced out of Tripoli in August by an Islamist militant group called Fajr Libya, which translates from Arabic to English as Libya Dawn. Since August, the recognized government has been operating out of Tobruk, a city over 800 miles away from Tripoli.

Attacks on misrata
Attacks on Misrata- Courtesy of The Daily Times

Forces loyal to the internationally recognized government launched a missile strike on Misrata, an important port city that remained largely untouched by the civil war and conflict. The city has become a stronghold for Islamist militia groups. Among the sites in the city attacked, was an air force academy in the city, as well as the airport. The attack has been cited as a retaliatory response to the attacks on December 25th attack carried out by Islamist militia Fajr Libya that killed 22 government soldiers, in an attempt to gain control of an oil port. The government affirmed its role in the attack on Misrata, and at least one government official asserted that the attack brings Libya, “a step closer to victory.”

The country’s inability to re-stabilize will likely present further challenges to peace and security in Libya, as government loyal groups and Islamist militant factions vie for control of the country. Oil ports have already begun to close in response to the civil violence, which in turn, has led to drastically reduced oil production. Indeed, the closing of these ports have already reduced production by 300,000 barrels of oil each day. Despite calls for peaceful resolution to the current civil war, it does not seem that peace will be a likely, or attainable outcome without serious attempts by both sides to reduce violence as a means to securing control of Libya.

For more information, please see:

The Telegraph- Libya descends into chaos as air strikes hit Misrata– 28 Dec. 2014

Al Jazeera- First air strikes hit Libyan city of Misrata– 28 Dec. 2014

Reuters- New air strike on Libyan city Misrata, clashes near oil port– 3 Jan. 2015

 

Nigerian Oil Workers Plan Three Day Strike in Protest of Unfair Labor Practice

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing Editor

ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s two oil unions are planning to start a three-day strike this week to protest what they say are the unfair labor practices of the oil sector. The Unions are also planning to put pressure on the Nigerian government to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), a bill that experts believe is unlikely to pass before February’s elections. The strike is being organized by The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and has been described as a “warning strike” intended to remind the Nigerian government, as well as the oil sector as a whole, of the power held by the Nigerian oil worker.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest producer of crude oil. While the sector makes up the largest proportion of the Nigerian economy, the sector has had a devastating impact on the Nigerian Environment with oil workers put at risk. (Photo courtesy of BBC News)

The union alleges that the industry has failed to recognize and reach adequate collective bargaining agreements, failed to restate wrongly terminated employees and failed to promote qualified workers in the industry among other concerns. The union also alleged that oil workers have faced unfair victimization by their employees. The Union also alleges high levels of corruption within the Nigerian government, essentially in regard to the issues of oil theft and vandalism which has had a devastating effect on Nigeria’s environment and places oil workers at risk. PENGASSAN alleges a high level collaboration between agencies, politicians and highly placed Nigerians in the buccaneering racket of oil and gas installations, adding that the ugly trend signifies a looming extinction of the oil and gas industry with attendant job losses.

The strike follows the end of a 14-day ultimatum issued by the National Executive Council (NEC) of PENGASSAN to the federal government and other concerned employers’ and agencies in the oil sector. The NEC said the ultimatum had expired without any meaningful resolution or commitment from either the government or the concerned employers’ and agencies at resolving the issues. A statement issued by the oil workers union said all organs of the union have been fully mobilized for the strike actions which they say will affect every value chain in the upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas industry.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest producer of oil as well as the continent’s largest economy. Oil wealth from crude oil production accounts for 70% of the government’s revenue and 95% of the foreign exchange income. The majority of the country’s oil is extracted by major foreign corporation with more than 80% being pumped by Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., Total SA and Eni SpA in joint ventures with state-owned NNPC.

Speaking from Lagos, Nigeria’s industrial capital, Babatunde Oke, a spokesman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, said by phone from Lagos, said the exact timing of the strike will be announced once all plans are finalized. “Oil workers have concluded plans to shut down all oil and gas installations in the country due to the anti-labor activities of some employers,” Oke said in an earlier statement.

For more information please see:

All Africa – Nigeria: PENGASSAN to Embark on a Three-Day Warning Strike Over Non-Passage of PIB – 8 December 2014

Bloomberg – Nigeria Oil Unions Plan Three-Day Strike Over Labor Practices – 8 December 2014

Reuters – UPDATE 1-Nigeria oil bill unlikely to pass before Feb election – finance min – 18 November 2014

BBC News – Nigeria Profile –5 November 2014