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Burundi: Strife in Silence

BUJUMBURA, Burundi – Last April President Pierre Nkurunziza announced that he would set aside Burundi’s constitution would seek a third term as the countries president. Three months later Nkurunziza was elected to a third term among claims that the election had been rigged. Since this election the country has suffered in silence as oppositionist to the president’s rule have been killed, fled the country, or disappeared all with very little notice from the outside world.

(Burundian Refugees in Rwanda. Photo Courtesy: BBC)

Before Nkurunziza could take office for a third term opposition parties staged a coup that eventually failed to oust the incumbent president. Following the failed coup were mass protests over the president’s third term and his alleged victory with 70% of the popular vote. Nkurunziza responded to critics violently. Since last April aid agencies have reported around 100 refugees daily cross the border from Burundi into Tanzanian with stories of the horrors they are leaving. This steady flow of refugees has put the number of displaced peoples from Burundi at an estimated 250,000 across the region.

In response to the worsening situation the UN Security Council passed a resolution to deploy security monitors to the region. This resolution has been met with resistance from Burundian government. In response to the resolution Burundi’s foreign affairs minister commented, “We don’t want deployment of hundreds of police officers. The United Nations has to remember that there are AU observers who are on the ground so we just need a few to help stabilize the situation in the country.” He then turned the conversation to reports that Rwanda had taken to training Burundi refugees as militants. If these rumors are true it could lead to more violence in Burundi and perhaps a civil war.

Yesterday there were reports of refugee, turned militant attacks on a town near the border between Burundi and Tanzania. These attacks, believed to be carried out by Nkurunziza oppositionist led by Leonidas Hatungimana left six dead. Hatungimana was a presidential aide to Nkurunziza but was fired after advising the president not to attempt a third term. Should these attacks continue they will likely only give the Nkurunziza regime more reason to be violent and oppressive.

 

For More Information Please See:

ABC News – Burundi: 6 People Killed in Gun Fire Linked to Rebels – 12 April 2016

The Guardian – The world looks away as blood flows in Burundi – 10 April 2016

All Africa – Burundi Rejects Deployment of UN Police, Monitors – 9 April 2016

Deutsche Welle – Burundi: Beneath the ‘peace’ lies fear – 6 April 2016

Dozens Killed in a Suicide Bomber Attack at an Iraqi Stadium

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On Friday, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt at a soccer game killing at least 41 people in a town south of Baghdad. Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a statement issued by its news agency al-Amaq.

Friends and relatives mourn during the funeral of some of the victims from the suicide bomb attack. (Photo courtesy of the Washington Post)

The attack which wounded 105 people occurred in the town of Iskandariyah in the Babil province struck a crowd gathering for a game between two local teams. The game was sponsored by Asaib Ahl al-Hag, a powerful Shi’ite militia with ties to Iran. A trophy was being presented to the winning team of the match when the bomb detonated.

Among those killed was the head of the local council and also injured two senior local figures of Asaib Ahl al-Haq according to the head of the local security, Falah Abdul Kareem. Sheik Jawad, the head of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq office in Babil Province, stated, ” The attack was carried to destabilize the confidence between the people and Asaib, to take revenge against us after our victories.”

The U.N Secretary-General for Iraq, Jan Kubis, condemned the attack carried out by the Islamic State. He stated, “The evildoers are aiming their wrath at the innocent and vulnerable civilians.” Kubis continued, “Today, Daesh committed yet another atrocity, targeting families who were enjoying their weekend attending a football game in their hometown. This abhorrent act deserves the strongest condemnation.”

The director of the U.S State Departments office of Press Relations Elizabeth Trudeau, provided a statement speaking against the attack, ” The United States condemns today’s suicide bombing claimed by Daesh… which killed and wounded dozens of Iraqis who had gathered to support a local football game.”

The Islamic State’s news agency, Amaq News Agency, reported that more than 60 people died and more than 100 people were wounded. They also reported that the bombing name was Saifullah al-Ansari, allegedly a fake name, and indicated that he was a local Iraqi or Syrian member. The news agency also provided the statement from Islamic State which stated, “Our knight immersed into their crowds until he detonated his belt, turning them into scattered parts.”

Earlier this month at least 33 people were killed and another 15 were wounded in a suicide bombing in Hilla in the Babil province. The Islamic State also claimed responsibility for this attack and stated, “the battle has just started and the coming will be worse.” This attack came just one week after two suicide bombings which targeted Shi’ite areas of Baghdad and killed over 100 people.

For more information, please see:

CNN – ISIS Claims Suicide Attack on Iraqi Stadium That Kills 33 – 26 March 2016

The Washington Post – Islamic State Suicide Bomber Kills Dozens at a Stadium south of Baghdad – 26 March 2016

BBC News – Iraq Violence: ‘IS Suicide Attack’ Kills 29 in Football Match – 25 March 2016

The New York Times – ISIS Suicide Bomber in Iraq Kills Dozens at Soccer Game – 25 March 2016

Fifth Anniversary of Syrian Conflict, UN Urges for Support

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria –March 15, 2016 marked the fifth anniversary of the Syrian Civil War. The Syrian conflict has caused the deaths of over 250,000 people, has displaced 4.8 million from their homes to other countries, has internally displaced another 6.5 million from their homes, and has left 13.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.

On February 2, 2015 an injured child waits for treatment at a makeshift hospital after airstrikes hit in a rebel-held area of Duma.(Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi stated, “Syria is the biggest humanitarian and refugee crisis of our time, a continuing cause of suffering for millions which should be garnering a grounds well of support around the world.” He further stated that more countries need to take a greater share in providing for refugees until the suffering in Syria ends.

Many European countries have imposed border and entry restrictions, making it even more difficult for those left in Syria to leave. This has also put a burden on countries neighboring Syria and refugees in the neighboring countries are taking greater risks to get to Europe. Other refugees in countries neighboring Syria are resorting to dangerous methods of survival, such as early marriage, child labor, or sexual exploitation,

“We are at a cross roads now as we mark another sad milestone in Syria’s war. If the world fails to work together due to short-term interests, lack of courage and knee jerk reactions to shift the burden elsewhere, we will look back carefully on this lost opportunity to act with solidarity and shared humanity”, Grandi stated.

Numerous war crimes as well as crimes against humanity have been committed since the start of the conflict. These crimes include the use of toxic chemical weapons, including nerve agents and chlorine, indiscriminate weapons such as barrel bombs, executions, torture, sexual violence, sex slavery, and siege. Experts are calling for the international community to begin planning for revisions for Syrian civilians.

David Crane, Founding Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and Project Leader for the Syrian Accountability Project states in the Huffington Post article that “there are four possible transitional justice mechanisms for Syria that could be organized by the U.N. outside the Security Council: a fully domestic Syrian court; an internationalized domestic court; a regional special court; or an international hybrid Special Court, similar to the Special Court for Sierra Leone.”

Crane notes that under international law, war crimes and crimes against humanity are covered under the 1998 Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court but Syria is not a signatory, thus the ICC has non direct jurisdiction. The U.N Security Council has attempted to adopt a resolution that would refer the situation in Syria to the ICC but this has been opposed by both Russia and China, permanent members with veto powers.

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated, “I repeat my call to the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Crime Court.” He continued, ” In Syria as elsewhere, peace without justice is not sustainable.”

A student run project at Syracuse University College of Law, the Syrian Accountability Project, has been documenting atrocities that have occurred in Syria in preparation for whatever traditional justice mechanism is chosen by the Syrian people. On March 24,2016 SAP published a white paper titled “Looking Through the Window Darkly: A Snapshot Analysis of Rape in Syria, 2011-2015.”

For more information, please see:

The Los Angeles Times –  Chronicling a Disaster: A Timeline of the Syrian Civil War –  15 March 2016

UNHCR – Syria Conflict at Five Years – 15 March 2016

United Nations News Centre – With Syrian Peace Talks Underway, UN Urges Support for Negotiations and Impacted Syrians – 15 March 2016

The Huffington Post –  Five Years on, We Must Focus on the Victims of Syria’s Atrocities – 14 March 2016

Unusual El Niño Brings Sever Drought Across Africa

Record high temperatures in February and a dry El Nino season have combined to leave 49 million hungry across southern and eastern Africa. The UN’s World Food Program has declared that Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi and Swaziland will all be in need of food assistance within the year. The El Nino driven drought will have far reaching effects past food and water shortages and will make these populations venerable to other natural disasters like fires and infectious disease.

(Dry river bed outside Utrecht, a small town in South Africa.)

This season’s El Nino pattern has been unusual in two respects. First, it has been much more severe than any in recent memory. South Africa is having the driest season it has seen in 35 years, while South America is dealing with heavy rains. Second, it is predicted to last longer than normal. This El Nino pattern started in mid-2015 and many meteorologists are predicting it to last throughout much of 2016.

El Nino is a natural weather pattern that is brought on by the warming of the Pacific Ocean. Although it is a natural occurrence many meteorologist believe the increased severity is a result of global climate change.

Drought conditions and high temperatures are severely affecting crop yields in South African countries. Zimbabwe has seen output drop by half compared to 2015. Other countries have seen similar drops in production which has sent prices for staples crops, like maze, 50-70% higher in some regions. Should drought conditions and crop failure continue, these high prices and poor economic conditions could be felt well into 2017.

The UN and other aid agencies have been slow to react to these increasingly serious conditions. Global aid is already spread thin from other emergencies like the Syrian and Ebola crisis. Ocha, the UN’s coordination agency began to put need estimates out in mid-February of what response may be needed. These numbers show just how large and wide spread a problem this sever El Nino season is creating. Ten million are projected to need food aid in Ethiopia and 2.8 million more will see some kind of need in Guatemala and Honduras.

A detailed response plan has not yet been laid out by these organizations but one will likely be needed because of the scale of the problem. Even if the rains started today regions would still be faced with some food shortages. Britain’s Department for International Development said in a statement, “the planting window for cereals has already closed in the southern part of the region [Africa] and is fast closing elsewhere.”

For more information please see:

The Guardian – Drought and rising temperatures ‘leaves 36m people across Africa facing hunger’ – 16 March 2016

The Guardian – El Niño is causing global food crisis, UN warns – 16 Feb. 2016

Reuters – Drought may affect 49 million in southern Africa: WFP – 15 Feb. 2016

Reuters – South Africa drought likely to persist -weather service – 18 Dec. 2015

Iran Tests Missiles in Message to Israel

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – Last Wednesday Iran conducted its second day of missile tests, firing two rockets. The rockets hit their targets over 1,400 kilometers (850 miles) away, making them capable of reach Israel, which is 1,000 kilometers away from the nearest point in Iran.

Ballistic missile was launched in the northern part of Iran on March 9th. (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times)

Iran was barred from conducting any work on ballistic missiles that are capable of carrying nuclear warheads under United Nations Security Resolution 1929. This was revoked by the nuclear deal with the United States and was replaced with United Nations Security Resolution 2231 which urges that Iran abstain from such activity.

The second round of tests occurred on the same day that United States Vice President Biden was in Jerusalem meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It is alleged that the missile tests were intended to provoke an Israeli reaction.

Mr. Biden told reporters after his meeting with Mr. Netanyahu that, “We’re united in the belief that a nuclear armed Iran is an absolutely unacceptable threat to Israel, to the United States.” He continued, “And I want to reiterate which I know people still doubt here: If in fact they break the deal, we will act. And all their conventional activity outside of the deal is still beyond the deal, and we will and are attempting to act wherever we can find it.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hossein Jabier Ansari, told the state-controlled news agency, IRNA, that the missiles were for the legitimate defense of Iran and were not designed for carrying warheads. Analyst Nader Karimi Juni stated, “The ruling establishment is sending a message to the outside world that even though Iran has rejected nuclear weaponry, we are developing our missiles and making them increasingly sophisticated.”

Commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Major General Ali Jafari, stated, “Our enemies have realized that broader sanctions and scrutiny pressures have had little impact on our capabilities.” He continued, “That’s why they now seek to confine us in the missile field through economic sanctions.” Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh was quoted stating, “The reason why we designed our missiles with a range of 2,000 km is to be able to hit our enemy the Zionist regime from a safe distance.”

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon commented that Iran was still hostile despite its nuclear deal with the United States in January. He stated, “To my regret there are some in the West who are misled by the honeyed words of part of he Iranian leadership while the other part continues to procure equipment and weaponry, to arm terrorist groups.”

Iran supplies weapons and technology to Hezbollah, its Lebanese proxy, which already has thousands of rockets capable of targeting Israel.

For more information, please see:

USA Today – Iran: Missile Tests Don’t Violate Nuclear Agreement, U.N. Resolution – 10 March 2016

CNN – Iran Launches Ballistic Missiles a Day After Missile Test – 9 March 2016

Los Angeles Times – Iran’s Latest Missile Test Launches Do Not Violate Nuclear Deal, U.S. Says – 9 March 2016

Reuters – Clinton Calls for Sanction on Iran After More Missile Tests – 9 March 2016

The New York Times – Iran Tests More Missiles in Message to Israel and Biden – 9 March 2016