News

Boko Haram says They are Willing to Negotiate the Release of the Chibok Girls

By: Samantha Netzband

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

ABUJA, Nigeria—It has been over two years since the abduction of 219 girls from the Chibok school in Nigeria.  Islamic extremist group Boko Haram is responsible for the abduction.  Boko Haram has killed at least 2,600 people in Nigeria, but they are looking to make a deal with the government for the release of the girls.

chibok girls

Screenshot taken from a video showing some of the Chibok girls alive. (Photo Courtesy of CNN)

Amir Muhammad Abdullahi, who is reportedly second-in-command of Boko Haram, has said that only a third of the original number of girls abducted remain captive.  The Nigerian government has had success in securing the return of 11,595 people between February and April of this year.

One Chibok girl was recently released in what the government is perceiving as a sign of good faith from the members of Boko Haram.  She was found in the Sambisa forest reserve with a suspected member of Boko Haram.  The girl reported that only 6 of the captive girls have died, rather than the larger number claimed by Abdullahi.  The girl believes that they may be located in the Sambisa forest reserve where she was found.  The Sambisa forest reserve is a large forest located near the border of Cameroon.

Reports of a second Chibok girl release turned out to be false. The head of Chibok Abducted Girls Parents group said the second girl was not one of the abducted girls.  The second girl is said to have been abducted from her home in Madagali.  She was returned along with 96 other citizens who had been abducted from their homes and held hostage.

Abdullahi says that no one is winning the battle that Boko Haram has waged with Nigeria.

For further information please see:

Pulse – Insurgents reportedly call for truce to release Chibok girls – 22 May 2016

International Business Times – Boko Haram willing to discuss surrender and release of Chibok girls – 21 May 2016

All Africa – Nigerian Army Confirms Rescue of Another Chibok School Girl – 20 May 2016

BBC – Boko Haram abductees freed in Nigeria – 20 May 2016

Kenya Pushes to Close Dadaab Camp

By: Samantha Netzband

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

NAIROBI, Kenya –  Two weeks ago Kenya announced that they plan to close the world’s largest refugee camp, Dadaab, citing fears of terrorism as one of the reasons for the camp’s closure.  Dadaab has been open since 1991 and mainly hosts refugees from Kenya’s neighbor Somalia.  The Kenyan government has formed a task force aimed at disbanding the refugee camps and has said that they are committing $10 million towards the effort.

Kenya

Somali refugee girls attend a Koran class at the Dabaab Camp.  (Photo Courtesy of Reuters and Washington Post)

Other countries were quick to criticize Kenya’s decision, because the countries where many of the refugees are from are still unstable.  Kenya’s refugee camps mainly contain Somalia refugees, but there are also refugees from South Sudan and Burundi.  Some of these countries are not completely safe for the refugees to return to – and some of the refugees in the camps have never lived outside of Kenya.  Returning to their native countries will require assimilation into unfamiliar living situations that are still riddled with conflict.

Kenyan government officials countered that the nations that criticize them are not doing their part given the current refugee crisis in Europe.  Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, is up for reelection and has tried to use the call for the removal of refugees to his political advantage.

With 350,000 people estimated living in the camps the closure of the camps will require a very organized and coordinated closure plan from the Kenyan government.  UN and other countries have suggested that the camps close slowly to ensure that a new humanitarian crisis doesn’t happen.

For further information please see:

All Africa – Kenya: Ban Ki-Moon Urges Uhuru to Go Slow on Refugee Repatriation – 19 May 2016

The Star – Don’t Return Refugees Home Without Guarantees Of Safety – 14 May 2016

Wall Street Journal – Kenya’s Push to Close World’s Largest Refugee Camp Fuels a Sense of Displacement – May 14 2016

The World Post – Why Kenya Announced An Unrealistic But Alarming Plan To Rid The Country Of Refugees – 13 May 2016

Washington Post – Why Kenya’s threat to close its refugee camps is even worse than you think – 11 May 2016

All Africa – Kenya: UN Criticises Kenya for Plan on Refugees – 9 May 2016

Muirfield Golf Club Votes to Continue Ban on Women Members

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

EDINBURGH, Scotland —After a two year consultation process, over 600 male members of the Muirfield Golf Club in Scotland have failed to reach a two-thirds majority vote which would allow women to join the club.  While women can continue to use the club as guests and visitors, they will not be allowed to join as members.

Muirfield Golf Club (Photo Courtesy of The Guardian)

This decision is a deviation from the recent trend set by other golf clubs in the United Kingdom.  The Royal & Ancient Club of St. Andrew’s and Royal St. George’s have both voted to admit women as members within the last two years.  As a result, Muirfield and the Royal Troon club are the only remaining traditional British Open host venues to maintain a ban against women members.  Royal Troon is currently reviewing their own membership policies to consider allowing women to join as members.

Among the reasons given for voting against women to join the club, dissenters have stated that they believe women would endanger the speedy play of the game, and would “feel uncomfortable” as members.  They also urged that the allowance of women members would go against the very nature of the club – “a gentlemen’s club where golf is played.”

Prominent golfers and various leaders have voiced their disagreement with the vote.  Scotland’s first female Prime Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, called the vote “simply indefensible” and urged the club to revisit the vote in the future.  Rory McElroy, former British Open champion, stated that the vote would damage golfs image.  Lesley Sawers, the Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland commissioner, estimates that the decision will cost the Scottish economy £100m as a result of loss of revenue generated from the Open.

In response to Muirfield’s vote, Royal & Ancient, the organizer of the British Open, has refused to host the British Open at the club for as long as they continue to ban women as members.  Muirfield has hosted 16 British Opens in the past.

For more information, please see:

BBC — Muirfield to lose right to host Open after vote against allowing women members — 19 May 2016

CNN — Muirfield banned from hosting British Open after refusing women members — 19 May 2016

New York Times — Muirfield Golf Club Picks Discrimination Over the British Open — 19 May 2016

The Guardian — Muirfield loses right to hold Open after voting to remain men-only — 19 May 2016

Peace Talks Leads to Release of Child Soldiers

By Cintia Garcia

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

Bogota, Colombia— On Sunday March 15 in Havana, Cuba, the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed forces of Colombia (FARC) reached an agreement to release child soldiers from the FARC’s ranks. Both parties have agreed to release all children under the age of 15 from FARC, and FARC has agreed that they will no longer recruit children within this age range. In addition, the government of Colombia and FARC will develop a plan to release child soldiers under the age of 18. Furthermore, the agreement also proposes the creation of a reintegration plan that will assist in transitioning the child soldiers into society.

Child Soldier in Colombia. (Photo Courtesy of Colombia Reports)

The priority of the government of Colombia is to ensure the safety and the release of any child under the age of 15. FARC will assist the government of Colombia in finding and identifying any child who falls within this age group for their departure from the non-state military. Although FARC claimed it only had knowledge of 20 children under age 15 currently serving FARC, it has been confirmed that 170 children will be released. Upon the release of the child soldiers, FARC has asked the government of Colombia to not prosecute the child soldiers for crimes they have committed and provide them with “Victim Status.” About 100 boys and 70 girls will be released to UNICEF.

According to UNICEF, since 2013, the number of children soldiers that have been killed or injured under FARC has dropped by 40%. Additionally, in the past 17 years 60% of the 6,000 children that have left the rebel military belong to FARC.

UNICEF has been an integral partner during the peace talks in ensuring the children of FARC are reintegrated with their families and into society. UNICEF representative, Roberto de Bernardi, announced that UNICEF “stands ready to support the release of all children and their reintegration into their families and communities, in accordance with national and international law.”

The historic announcement comes amidst three years of peace talks between the government of Colombia and FARC. The peace talks are being held in Havana, Cuba with the goal of reaching a cease fire by the end of this year. FARC is the most mobilized rebel group in Colombia. Since the peace talks began, the number of fighters within FARC has reduced to about 8,000 through the voluntary disarmament, demobilization and reintegration program.

For more information, please see: 

BBC – Colombia and Farc Rebels Agreed Child Soldier Deal—16 May 2016

Colombia Reports—Farc to Release 170 Child Soldiers: Colombia’s Defense Minister—19 May 2016

New York Times—Colombia and FARC Rebels Reach a Deal to Free Child Soldiers—15 May 2016

Newsweek—FARC Rebel Rehab Hopes to Create Lasting Peace in Colombia—24 April 2016

UNICEF—UNICEF Welcomes FARC’s Announcement to Release all Children in its Rank—16 May 2016

Iraqi Forces Retake Rutba; Battle for Fallujah Next

By Zachary Lucas

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq — After a two-day battle with the Islamic State, Iraqi forces reported that they had retaken the remote town of Rutba in the Andar Province. This comes on the heels of other military victories against IS in the northern and western regions of Iraq. This string of victories has been followed by some Iraq military officials stating that plans are being made to retake Fallujah next.

Iraqi Forces Have a String of Military Victories Against IS (Photo courtesy of the BBC)

Iraqi forces, backed by United States led coalition airstrikes, entered Rutba on Tuesday. These forces were helped by elite commandos and local tribal fighters to retake the city within two days. Coalition spokesperson, Colonel Steve Warren, stated that there were approximately 200 IS fighters in the town. Colonel Warren and Iraqi military officials added that little resistance was made by IS to defend the city.

Rutba was captured by IS in June 2014 and quickly became a home for IS training grounds and bases due to its remoteness. IS used Rutba as staging grounds for attacks in both Syria and Iraq. Colonel Warren stated that the retaking of Rutba will deny IS a “critical support zone” for future attacks against military forces and civilians.

Retaking Rutba is one of a few victories that the Iraqi military has seen in the last few months. In February, the Iraq military retook Ramadi from IS and last month they retook the town of Hit in Anbar province. Coalition forces estimate that IS has lost more than 30 percent of its territory in Iraq and Syria. Some officials have stated that the loss of territory and supplies has led IS to put up less military resistance and instead focus attacks on civilian populations like the recent bombings in Baghdad.

These recent victories and the strategic victory in Rutba, lead many into thinking that Fallujah is next. Both Iraqi military officials and local, allied militia leaders stated plans for retaking Fallujah are in the works. Fallujah was the first city to fall to IS control in 2014 and was later followed by numerous Iraqi military defeats, including losing the second largest city Mosul. Fallujah and Mosul, where IS has headquartered military operations, attacks on civilians, and sex trafficking of women, have been IS strongholds for almost two years.

For more information, please see:

The Washington Post — Iraqi forces retake Rutba from ISIS and eye Fallujah for next battle — 19 May 2016

BBC — IS conflict: Iraq forces retake remote western town of Rutba — 19 May 2016

Radio Free Europe — Iraqi Forces Retake Remote Western Town From Islamic State — 19 May 2016

Reuters — Iraq says it retakes western town of Rutba from Islamic State — 19 May 2016