By Heba Girgis
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan—The Sudanese army and rebel militants clashed late last week on Thursday, September 6, 2012, leaving dozens of people dead and injured. The army noted that it killed thirty-two rebel insurgents who moved in and attacked a small village in the western Darfur area.

Near the South Sudan border, in the village of South Kordofan, forty-five rebels were also killed. These casualty claims, however, have not yet been verified, as there is still restricted access to both the Darfur and South Kordofan regions.

A spokesman of one of the biggest rebel groups called the Justice and Equality Movement noted that his rebel group attacked and killed the army soldiers in order to repulse an attack on the village.

About a year ago, several rebel groups in the two separate states of Sudan and South Sudan, formed an alliance with the goal of toppling President Omar al-Bashir’s regime. It was also a year ago that South Sudan won its independence from Sudan. This split cooled down decades of fighting between the mainly Muslim north, and the Christian south. The division of the country was finally carried out after a 2005 peace deal that finally ended a 22-year civil war. The capital city of Khartoum blames and accuses residents of the South Sudan region of backing these rebel insurgents.

Throughout March and April of this year, Sudan and South Sudan fought along their unmarked borders, which then began to spark the fear of a wider war between the divided countries. This fear led to a United Nations Security Counsel resolution ordering a ceasefire as well as negotiations amongst the African Union.

The latest clashes between the army and the rebel groups comes just as the United States warned the United Nations of a suspected “outright conflict” between the two Sudanese states over a border dispute that has been going on for over a year now. Susan Rice, United States ambassador to the United Nations, was the one to bring this suspicion to the United Nations after a meeting of the Security Council.

One thing that complicates this border struggle even further is that South Sudan has accepted the border roadmap that was proposed by the African Union, while Sudan refuses to do so. An agreement deadline was set for early August on August 2, 2012; however, this deadline failed to produce an agreement between the two sides. The United Nations criticized Khartoum for refusing to undertake the suggestions of a demilitarized zone and border monitoring mechanism that was first proposed by the African Union.

Currently, Sudan and South Sudan are holding talks in Ethiopia in order to discuss a solution regarding border security. Both sides in this dispute will be kept under pressure for the remainder of September in order to set up a deal by their new deadline on September 22, 2012.

 

For further information, please see:

The Associated Press – Sudan Army Push Repulsed Near Kadugli: Rebels – 9 September 2012

Daily News Egypt – Renewed Clashes Between Army and Rebels in Sudan Leaves Dozens Dead – 9 September 2012

News Day – Dozens Killed in Clashes Between Sudan Army and Rebels – 9 September 2012

BBC News – ‘Dozens Killed’ as Sudan’s Army and Rebels Clash – 8 September 2012

CapitalFM News – Sudan Army, Rebels Clash on Two Fronts – 8 September 2012

By Ryan Aliman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 MAPUTO, Mozambique – After 2 years since its creation in 2009, the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) finally takes office as its first commissioners were sworn in by Mozambican President Armando Guebuza on Wednesday, September 5, 2012.

The CNDH is the first independent oversight body of its kind in Mozambique. It consists of 11 members chosen as follows according to law: three are elected by the political parties who hold seats in the Assembly, four are chosen by civil society, three are appointed by the Prime Minister, and one is chosen by the Mozambique Bar Association.

The ruling Frelimo Party and the main opposition party Renamo chose the three Assembly CNDH members. Two were elected by Frelimo, namely, Aminuddin Mohamad, a prominent imam in the country, and Alberto Viegas, a distinguished expert in educational and cultural matters in the northern province of Nampula. Renamo, on the other hand, elected Eduardo Namburete, the previous Renamo parliamentary deputy from 2004 to 2009.

Civil society groups chose Farida Mamad, Amilcar da Paz Andela, Maria Hunguana and Anastacio Nhomela; while the Prime Minister appointed Augusto Zacarias, Luis Nahe and Dalmazia Cossa. Augusto Zacarias shall serve as deputy chair of the Commission.

The Mozambique Bar Association, meanwhile, appointed Custodio Duma, a notable human rights lawyer, as the chairperson of the Commission.

During his speech at the ceremony, President Guebuza reminded the newly sworn in members that they have major role to play in upholding respect for the constitution and for the fundamental rights of citizens. “We should be fully aware that this fight can only be waged effectively, when each of us contributes, and we unite our efforts, convinced that poverty has its weakness and can be overcome in this country of heroes”, he said.

President Guebuza also added that launching the CNDH was an important step in building the democratic rule of law and in improving the constitutional principles of Mozambique.

The National Human Rights Commission is the highest human rights oversight body in the country. It derives its mandate from the Mozambique Constitution. It has the power to investigate alleged human rights violations, including summoning public officers to answer questions, and to issue recommendations on human rights matters.

Reports show that the planned priority areas for the CNDH include: addressing cases of torture and violence by law enforcement agencies, corruption in the judiciary, the rights of prisoners and detainees, alternative sentencing, outstanding ratifications of international human rights instruments, access to water, food, sanitation, education and healthcare, and strengthening of civil society.

 

For further information, please see:

AllAfrica – Mozambique: Giant Leap for Human Rights in Mozambique – 6 September 2012

AllAfrica – Mozambique: Human Rights Commission Takes Office – 5 September 2012

UK in Mozambique – Human Rights Commission created in Mozambique – 3 May 2012

Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa – Human Rights Commission in Mozambique – 15 April 2012

United Nations Development Programme – Mozambique to adopt a new mechanism to protect human rights – 16 September 2010

 

By Ryan Aliman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

DODOMA, Tanzania – A Tanzanian journalist was killed by police during an alleged political rally on September 2, 2012.

Daudi Mwangosi, a journalist for the local station Channel Ten and the Chairperson of the Iringa Press Club, was covering a gathering of members of the conservative opposition party Chadema cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) in Nyololo village when he was killed by police.

Law enforcement officers arrived on the scene to order the Chadema members to disband the assembly in compliance with the government’s ban on political rallies. Chadema supporters, however, denied that they were holding a rally. They argued that they were merely conducting an internal meeting.

As these two opposing forces clashed, Mwangosi, was trying to question Regional Police Commander Michael Kamuhanda. Other journalists reported that Kamuhanda was frustrated with Mwangosi’s persistent interrogation that he snapped at him asking, “why are you always not satisfied with the answers?”

A few minutes later, the police started to break up the crowd by force. Eyewitnesses report that the police assaulted and arrested both Chadema members and journalists. Some members of the crowd attempted to appease the law enforcement officers by sitting with their hands on their heads to show they were not a threat. Despite this, however, the police fired teargas into the crowd.

It was around this moment when Mwangosi saw a fellow reporter being harassed by a police officer for taking pictures of the commotion. He interfered to rescue his colleague, but as another journalist recalled, “police turned on him and started to beat him. Seeing that his life is in danger Mwangosi started to struggle, apparently seeking to disentangle himself from the grips of the law enforcers. One unidentified police officer fired a teargas canister at Mwangosi, ripping off his stomach and injuring another policeman who was standing nearby. After seeing Mwangosi’s dismembered body, people started to scamper for their lives.”

Media groups in Tanzania report the death of Mwangosi, a father of four, as the first work-related fatality for a journalist in the country since it began keeping detailed records in 1992. The same groups have also pleaded with the government to “immediately lift the indefinite ban on rallies and demonstrations” so as to uphold its Constitution and international human rights obligations.

Meanwhile, organizations such as the Tanzania Constitution Forum called for the resignation of Commander Kamuhanda. Deus Kibamba, the Forum’s Chairman, said at a press conference that “there will be no fair and free investigations if the involved people are left in office.”

 

For further information, please see:

IPPmedia – Fire all police officers involved-Press clubs – 7 September 2012

The Citizen – Suspend officers in Mwangosi killing case, minister urged – 6 September 2012

AllAfrica – Tanzania: The Shocking Death of a Journalist Tests Democracy – 6 September 2012

AllAfrica – Tanzanian Journalist Killed in Political Rally – 5 September 2012

By Heba Girgis
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

RABAT, Morocco—Very early on Tuesday morning, September 4, 2012, several units of Spain’s paramilitary Civil Guard rounded up a group of hopeful African immigrants on a small and uninhabited island on the North African coast. After securing the group, the Spanish paramilitary shipped them off back to the shores of Morocco—a country that is only a few dozen yards away from their rocky sanctuary.

The Spanish media has reported that ten “would be” immigrants—two mothers and eight children—would be allowed to remain on the territory per an agreement between Spain and Morocco. The approximately seventy others were taken back to Morocco and now face a possibility of expulsion to a no-man’s land region between Morocco and its neighbor, Algeria.

Describing the failure of this small group of African migrants attempting to escape to what they believe to be the prosperity of Europe, Spain’s El Mundo said, “Thus ended the dreams of dozens of sub-Saharans.”

This type of incident highlights the lengths to which people will go to fight for a better future. However, it also shows that authorities will create obstacles for these migrants. European governments are facing pressure to stop illegal immigration as it seems to be putting even more pressure on the scarce resources of the continent as the economies of southern European countries are struggling themselves.

The capture of these migrants was the outcome of an overnight joint operation by both Spanish and Moroccan authorities only several days after more than two dozen undocumented Africans either swam or waded across the narrow channel that connects Morocco to Isla de Tierra. Isla de Tierra is a remnant of Spanish presence in Northern Africa along with other enclaves along the African coast.

Although these European countries are trying to protect themselves in these situations, human rights groups have criticized these nations and have expressed concern that in doing so, they are neglecting the rights of migrants especially those who may have a real case for asylum.

Amnesty International, a world-wide organization, has estimated that 600,000 men, women and children have been detained in Europe each year for immigration and migration control reasons. The organization noted that, “There has been a growing trend of ‘criminalization’ of irregular migration in Europe.” Amnesty International also said, “Today, Europe is failing to promote and respect the rights of migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees” and that, “Hostility is widespread and mistreatment often goes unreported.”

A Moroccan human rights group made the argument that the state is responsible for the safety and security of these migrants. However, instead of being handed over to the government they are subjected to beatings, by both the authorities and hired thugs or as stated before, they are sent to the border near Algeria.

According to many different human rights organizations, there are between 20,000 and 25,000 unregistered sub-Saharan immigrants currently living in Morocco who may also try to flee to what they believe to be more opportunity in southern Europe.

 

For further information, please see:

Radio Netherlands Worldwide – Rights Group Slams Morocco Expulsion of Immigrants – 6 September 2012

Zimbabwe Independent – Human Rights Group Slams Morocco Government – 6 September 2012

El Pais – Expelled From Spanish Rock, Immigrants Regroup in Morocco for Next Border Bid – 5 September 2012

ANSA Med – Immigration: Morocco Expels 200 Sub-Saharan Migrants – 4 September 2012

International Herald Tribune – On the Fringes of Europe, a Crackdown on Migrants

By Heba Girgis
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan—On Thursday, August 30, Sudan withdrew its candidacy on the United Nations Human Rights Council after receiving strong criticism from several human rights and pro-democracy groups around the world. Sudan’s representatives to the United Nations wrote a letter declaring its withdrawal and noted that, “it is no longer interested in taking up one of the vacancies available in the Human Rights Council.”

The current coordinator for East African countries at the United Nations, Djibouti, first received Sudan’s letter which gave no reason for the country’s decision to pull out of the election that will take place in November at the United Nations General Assembly.

The criticism from human rights groups and pro-democracy groups developed from human rights violations that took place in Sudan. Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir, has been accused of genocide and other war crimes in Darfur, and his regime has been accused of other human rights violations in other parts of the country. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a U.S. congresswoman who heads the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, noted that “As Sudan appears poised to win a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, the United Nations has hit a new low. Allowing this genocidal dictatorship, which has killed thousands of its citizens, to serve on such a body is beyond hypocrisy, it is callous, dangerous and tragic.”

Despite these accusations, Sudan was almost guaranteed a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Council itself is made up of forty-seven members and Sudan would have been one of the five African candidates for the only five African seats available.

While Sudan gave no indication as to why the country has withdrawn its candidacy, Philippe Bolopion, the United Nations director for Human Rights Watch, was happy with Sudan’s decision and noted that, “the worst human rights offenders are slowly recognizing they are not welcome on the Human Rights Council.” He further commented saying, “Sudan joins notorious rights violators Syria, Iran, Belarus, Sri Lanka and Azerbaijan whose hypocritical aspirations to sit on the Council have properly let to embarrassing retreat.”

Eight years ago, in May 2004, the United States representative at the United Nations Human Rights Commission left the room after Sudan was elected to sit on the Commission at the peak of the Darfur conflict. Despite the growing animosity toward Sudan, one African ambassador noted that no African country wants to jeopardize their own relations with Sudan by telling them that they don’t qualify because of their own human rights problems. The Ambassador further added, “we will be sitting at the table with them in the future.”

The famous actress Mia Farrow has been a leading campaigner for victims in Darfur. Farrow has also been campaigning against the Sudanese government and sought to have the country’s United Nations candidacy disqualified because of al-Bashir’s crimes. The Sudanese government has refused to arrest the president and the African group will now have to choose a replacement for Sudan in order to fill the fifth seat on the Council.

 

For further information, please see:

The Journal – Sudan Withdraws Candidacy for UN Rights Council – 1 September 2012

Zee News – Sudan Withdraws Candidacy for UN Rights Council – 1 September 2012

Boston News – Sudan Withdraws Candidacy for UN Rights Council – 31 August 2012

Sudan Tribune – Sudan Quietly Withdraws Controversial UNHRC Candidacy – 31 August 2012

The Washington Post – Sudan Withdraws Candidacy for UN Human Rights Council Seat After Criticism on Rights Record – 31 August 2012