By: Dan Krupinsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a stern warning to the media on Wednesday, after the identity of a witness in Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto’s trial was apparently exposed on social media.

The woman, who was to be known only as Witness 536 for her protection, took the stand on Tuesday as the first witness for the prosecution in the trial of Ruto, accused of crimes against humanity. She testified about an attack in January 2008 by a mob on a church in Kenya’s Rift Valley region, which she and her children survived. The incident left at least 28 people dead.

Because of safety concerns, she testified from behind a curtain, and her image was pixilated and voice distorted on the court video.

However, after her testimony on Tuesday, which was broadcast live on Kenyan TV, speculation began about her true identity on Twitter and other Internet sites. By Wednesday, numerous Twitter posts had supposedly identified her, and one Kenyan blogger and the website of a tabloid newspaper published photographs supposedly of the witness.

The woman in the photograph was identified by name, but the name attributed to her was different than the actual name of the woman in the photograph. So, while the woman in the photograph is not Witness 536, it is still unclear if the reported name of the woman is accurate. But the woman whose photograph is being circulated has asked for police protection.

“The photograph is mine but I have nothing to do with the ICC cases. I am not a witness in any case,” the woman said.  “Some began condemning me for going to The Hague to testify even without asking me whether it was true I had gone to testify. I am in shock.”

The woman in the photograph was one of the survivors of the attack on the church, which is likely why she was mistakenly believed to be the witness.

On Wednesday, Presiding judge Eboe Osuji issued a warning to the media that anyone who acts to expose the identities of witnesses in the case will be held in contempt of court, and may face prosecution.

“Let me warn everybody: bloggers, journalists or anyone else intimidating witnesses, that you will be investigated and prosecuted,” Osuji said.

“Revelation of identity of a witness protected by the court is an offense and considered as contempt of court.”

The possibility that the protected identity of a witness has been uncovered after only one day of testimony will undoubtedly make an already difficult case for prosecutors even harder.

Claims by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda of witness intimidation were already being investigated. Because of the controversial nature of the case, many potential witnesses were already scared to come forth. Four witnesses withdrew just before the trial began, with several more following before the prosecution even began its case.

For more on the charges and accusations, please read earlier reports from Impunity Watch.

For further information, please see:

All Africa – ICC Judge Warns Against Exposing Ruto Trial Witnesses – 18 September 2013

BBC – William Ruto trial: Kenyan’s fears over witness claims – 19 September 2013

Human IPO – ICC judge warns Kenyan media and bloggers against exposing Ruto trial witnesses – 19 September 2013

News24 – ICC warns journos after Kenya witness ‘outed’ – 19 September 2013

News Observer – Branded an ICC witness, Kenya woman fears for life – 19 September 2013

UPI – ICC judge: Witnesses names to be kept out of media – 19 September 2013

 

By: Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch News Reporter, Africa

ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s army and Boko Haram militants engage in a fierce battle in Borno state, leaving many dead on both sides. In May, Nigeria’s air force carried out similar attacks, killing at least 20 insurgents at suspected militant Islamist camps.

After all of the fighting, the army reports that it has killed 150 militants, while 16 soldiers died and 9 are missing. However, local media reports that around 100 soldiers may have died.

“Our military has overrun a number of the militants’ camps in north and central Borno state,” said defense spokesman Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade.

“Within those insurgents’ camps, we discovered that they have been storing sophisticated, high-caliber weapons including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons.”

Several thousands of people have been killed by Boko Haram since it launched its insurgency in 2009, seeking to create an Islamic state in the mainly Muslim north of Nigeria.

A state of emergency was declared in Borno and two neighboring states in May, with thousands of extra troops sent to the area.

Local vigilante groups have also been formed to help counter the militants, but scores of these volunteers have been killed in recent weeks.

Last month, the army said it killed Boko Haram’s leader Abubakar Shekau but this has not been confirmed and the militants’ attacks have continued.

“The operation continues, we are injecting even more troops and resources into those areas,” Olukolade added.

In May, a spokesman for the U.N. human rights commissioner told reporters that Boko Haram could face war crimes charges for alleged ethnic and religious cleansing in Nigeria.

According to Human Rights Watch, the group has killed more than 2,800 people in an escalating campaign to impose strict Islamic law on largely Muslim northern Nigeria.

The U.N. human rights office is calling on Nigeria’s government to respect human rights principles during security sweeps, following reports of heavy casualties in some parts of the country.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, with a population of nearly 175 million according to the CIA World Factbook, and is the political and economic powerhouse of West Africa.

For more information, please visit:

BBC News – Nigeria’s Boko Haram unrest: Scores killed in Borno state – 18 September 2013
CNN – Nigeria military: Insurgents killed in raid on militant camps – 17 May 2013
Sunnews – Nigeria Boko Haram attack kills 11 – 17 September 2013
Nigeria70 – Nigeria’s Boko Haram unrest: Scores killed in Borno state – 18 September 2013
World News Inc – Nigeria’s Boko Haram unrest: Scores killed in Borno state – 18 September 2013
Word Press – Nigeria’s Boko Haram unrest: Scores killed in Borno state – 18 September 2013

By: Dan Krupinsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The prosecution in the trial of Kenyan deputy president William Ruto at the International Criminal Court (ICC) called its first witness on Tuesday, a woman known only as Witness 536.

Witness 536 broke down during her testimony, describing an attack in January 2008 by a mob on a church in Kenya’s Rift Valley region. According to her, thousands of youths armed with machetes and sticks surrounded the church, which had become a place of refuge from attacks that were occurring in the area, and set the building on fire with people trapped inside. At least 28 people were killed in the incident, with some estimates putting the fatality count at 35.

The church was completely full of women and children from the Kikuyu ethnic group, she said. Members of the rival Kalenjin tribe approached from two sides, singing.

“They were painted with white clay…some had matches, axes and sticks…they were singing,” said the witness, describing the mob. “We were all trying to find a way to escape. I was carrying my small child with me. The church was set alight.”

The mob used bicycles to block a main exit, while other members of the mob guarded other exits to prevent escape.

“When somebody tried to leave the church, they would grab the person and push them back inside,” said the witness. “I went mad.”

In court documents, the prosecution also claims that others who tried to flee were hacked to death.

The court rules that Witness 536’s identity will be kept secret, for her own protection. She is testifying from behind a curtain, and her image is pixilated and voice distorted on the court video. Ruto, present in the courtroom, cannot see her.

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has voiced complaints of interference and threats against witnesses. In addition to four witnesses who withdrew just before the trail, several more have withdrawn in recent days.

Bensouda announced that accusations of witnesses being bribed to withdraw their testimony are being investigated, warning of tough penalties.

Some witnesses say they were under family and community pressure, according to Kenyan media reports, as the trial is severely embarrassing for Kenya’s government.

Ruto and his co-defendant, radio executive Joshua Arap Sang, face charges of crimes against humanity in connection with their alleged in a swarm of ethnic violence that followed Kenya’s 2007 election, where more than 1,100 people were killed. For more on the charges and accusation, please read earlier reports from Impunity Watch.

 

For further information, please see:

ABC News – Kenya’s William Ruto trial: ‘Baying mob trapped hundreds’ in Kiambaa church fire massacre – 17 September 2013

BBC – Kenya’s William Ruto trial: ‘Church victim’ testifies at ICC – 17 September 2013

Los Angeles Times – First witness testifies in Hague trial of Kenya’s deputy president – 17 September 2013

Voice of America – First Witness Called in Ruto ICC Trial – 17 September 2013

By: Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch News Reporter, Africa

KIGALI, Rwanda – Two people were killed in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, by grenade blasts. These blasts also wounded about twenty-two people, police report.

The first attack occurred on Friday in a marketplace, which killed one and wounded fourteen.

“Two grenades were thrown” during the attack at a market on Friday that had already left one dead and 14 wounded, spokesman Damas Gatare said. “One was caught in the roof of the market but people didn’t identify it.”

Another grenade detonated on Saturday night, in the same area of Kigali. This grenade injured eight people and killed one. Police say that three people have been arrested since this day.

Although police have arrested three people, they gave no further details about who was likely responsible for the blasts.

Kigali, Rwanda is known for as one of Africa’s safest capital cities. However, these blasts are similar to blasts that occurred earlier this year in the capital and in 2010 before the presidential elections.

Since 2010 the country has been hit by grenade blasts that authorities sometimes blame on political dissidents.

This attack has occurred before a parliamentary vote on Monday.

Authorities believe these attacks may have been by political dissidents and Hutu rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) based in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

“I don’t think it is going to impact on the election… everything is in control,” police spokesman Damas Gatare told AFP news agency.

In 2010, Kagame won the presidential election by a landslide. However, rights groups stated that members of the opposition faced threats and attacks.

A coalition, led by Kagame’s party the Rwandan Patriotic Force, is expected to comfortably win in Monday’s parliamentary elections for the chamber of deputies.

Rwanda has undergone a dramatic transformation in the past two decades, with strong economic growth and a drop in corruption, which is credited to Kagame.

Last year 22 people were found guilty of launching a series of grenade attacks around Rwanda, including some former soldiers who were accused of having links with the FDLR rebel movement.

Some FDLR leaders are accused of links to Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.

For more information, please visit:

BBC News – Blasts in Rwanda capital Kigali kill two ahead of vote – 14 September 2013
SABC – Grenade attacks kill two, injure 22 in Rwanda – 14 September 2013
Business Recorder – Grenade attack kills at least one in Rwanda – 14 September 2013
Aljazeera – Two die in grenade attacks in Rwanda – 14 September 2013
Fox News – Rwanda grenade blast kills one ahead of polls – 14 September 2013

By Erica Smith
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

BANGUI, Central African Republic — As the humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) continues to escalate, President Michel Djotodia announced the dissolution of the Seleka Coalition. The rebel groups in the same group that brought Mr. Djotodia to power in March.

“The Seleka coalition is dissolved over the length and breadth of the Central African Republic’s territory. Only the Central African security force is in charge of protecting our territorial integrity. Any individual or group of individuals who act in the name of Seleka … after the publication of the present decree … will expose themselves to the full sanctions under the law.””  the statement broadcast Friday afternoon said.

The rebel group has increasingly turned towards violence and looting and it is unclear if Mr. Djotodia’s announcement will do much to curb the violence. It is also unclear if Mr. Djotdia will face any consequences for disbanding the group.

The chief of the Mandaba neighborhood of Bangui told the AP that the move was political. “The measure taken by President Michel Djotodia will change nothing in terms of the behavior of the militia known as Seleka. President Djotodia is trying to create distance and confusion over the acts of abuse committed by their fighters. This is a measure that was taken for the sake of appearance.”

To help maintain security in CAR a regional peacekeeping force that was assembled will receive a boost from the Republic of Congo and the United Nations. The Republic of  Congo already has 150 soldiers in the area and sent 200 more on Sunday.  There are about 2,000 peacekeepers already in the region as part of the Multinational Force of Central Africa (FOMAC). With the addition on U.N peacekeeping troops the number is expected to grow to more than 3,500.

“We need a big force to come here because we are suffering a lot under Seleka,” George Fakida who owns knife workshop in Bangui told the Voice of America.

For further information, please see:

ABC News — More Peacekeepers Head to Central African Republic — 15 September 2013

Voice of America — African-Led Peacekeeping Force Due for Boost in CAR — 14 September 2013

New York Times — Central African Republic: Leader Turns Against Rebels Who Put Him in Power — 13 September 2013

Washington Post — President of Central African Republic dissolves rebel group that brought him to power — 13 September 2013