By Tamara Alfred

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says fighting between the Malian armed forces and the Azawad National Liberation Movement (MNLA) has displaced 60,000 people within Mali, not including those who have fled to neighboring countries.

Meanwhile, the UN says that more than 44,000 Malian refugees have crossed into Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso.  The majority of the refugees are fleeing the fighting in the north of the country, but others are seeking shelter from ethnic tension and violent demonstrations in cities in the south.

“This is the worst human rights crisis in northern Mali for 20 years,” said Gaetan Mootoo, Amnesty International’s researcher on West Africa.  “The rule of law has been markedly absent in this part of the country for years, and the region could be plunged into chaos if the fighting continues.”

Starting on January 18, dozens of soldiers and fighters were killed in clashes between the Malian armed forces and the MNLA, a Tuareg armed opposition group who says it is fighting for the independence of northern regions in Mali.  The Tuareg rebels began by attacking various army garrisons in the north of Mali.  Violent demonstrations then spread to several southern cities.  Those marches were organized in reaction to what protesters viewed as a “timid” reaction by the authorities against the rebellion, but many degenerated into rioting.

The resurgence in fighting follows two years of relative peace between the government and the Tuareg.

Following the initial attacks, photographs circulated showing the corpses of Malian soldiers with their hands tied behind their backs, prompting the authorities to accuse the MNLA of carrying out extrajudicial executions.  The MNLA denied the allegations, saying the photos were fabricated.

Amnesty International has called for MNLA to reveal the names of any captives they are holding and to allow the Red Cross access to them.  The human rights organization has also asked Malian authorities to charge or release four people, including two women, who were arrested in the northern town of Kidal for their alleged support of the MNLA.

During various demonstrations, the Malian security forces have failed to prevent mobs from attacking homes and properties owned by Tuaregs and other ethnic groups, including Arabs and Mauritanians, living in the capital.  As a result, thousands of Tuaregs and others, targeted because of their lighter skin color, have begun fleeing the country.

Sinegodar, a village located approximately 12 miles from the Mali border, has seen the largest influx of refugees – around 9,000.  Many of the refugees in Sinegodar come from Menaka, a town in northeastern Mali which was first attacked by the rebels on January 17.  Many of the refugees travelled on foot or on donkeys and had not eaten for several days.

“Many of the new arrivals are sleeping in the open and have little access to shelter, clean water, health service and food,” said UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards.

“As the influx continues, our teams are stepping up assistance for refugees who have taken refuge in makeshift shelters in villages bordering Mali,” UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming said in a news release.  “Humanitarian assistance is all the more critical because the Sahel region is facing a severe food crisis due to several years of drought.”

Mali’s political parties have jointly called on the government to hold a forum for peace and reconciliation as a way to end the rebellion, while President Amadou Toumani Toure has sought to keep the country from further eruptions.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Mali: UN warning over refugees fleeing Tuareg rebellion – 18 February 2012

Amnesty International – Mali: Violence in North Causing a Human Rights Crisis – 16 February 2012

BBC News – In pictures: Malians flee Tuareg rebels – 16 February 2012

AllAfrica.com – Mali: Fifty Thousand Flee As Political Parties Call for Dialogue – 10 February 2012

By Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

DAKAR, Senegal – Protests against the eligibility of President Abdoulaye Wade have been a near constant presence in Senegal since Wade was deemed eligible to stand for re-election in late January.  On Sunday, activists seized control of a three-block area in downtown Dakar, the capital, and threw rocks at police summoned to control the activity.  It was the fifth consecutive day of violence related to the upcoming election, in which six people have died.  The election is scheduled for February 26.

Senegal’s constitution has a two-term limit for its president.  Wade, if elected, would be serving his third consecutive term, violating that clause.  Despite this, the Constitutional Council of the West African country ruled that he could run for a third term because he served his first term, which began after his election in 2000, before the rule was enacted.  The Constitutional Council also controversially rejected the candidacy of Youssou N’Dour, who had collected 13,000 signatures of support, more than the required 10,000, stoking further public outcry.

During a February 7 interview with Radio Netherlands Worldwide, Thijs Berman—head of the European Union’s Observer Mission in Senegal—explained that N’Dour’s candidacy was rejected because he had more than 4,000 false signatures that were removed from his total.  He still questioned the decision to remove the popular singer from the ballot due to uncertain procedures.

“We have requested transparency from the Constitutional Council in its decision to approve or reject candidatures,” Berman said.  “We have also requested that each candidate be given access to his/her application information, to the reason why it was approved or rejected. I think such transparency is lacking and one can therefore understand Youssou N’Dour’s anger.”

The mission has also requested that the country’s Electoral Affairs Ministry provide information regarding the distribution of voter cards.

Wade, who is officially stated to be 85 but could be as old as 90, is still in the race.  His continued presence is drawing concern from the international community because of his age and Senegal’s role in the region.  It is the only West African country whose government has never been toppled by a military coup.  Locally, the belief is that he is attempting to set up a “‘monarchical devolution’ of the presidency” to his son Karim.  Karim has an allocation of one quarter of the national budget for his use as a “Super Minister” of multiple jurisdictions.

This most recent round of protests has taken on a more violent tone.  On Wednesday, dissidents attempted to hold an illegal march in Dakar, which led police to fire tear gas and rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse them.  Several buildings were set on fire, and a policeman is said to have been killed during the ensuing unrest.  Friday drew more anger after an attempt to break up a protest outside a mosque disrupted prayers.  Police used grenade launchers to propel tear gas canisters down the street, only to have one of them hit a wall of the mosque.  Interior Minister Ousmane Ngom apologized for the incident, which he characterized as a “police blunder,” on Sunday.

“I would like to present, in my personal name and on behalf of the highest authorities of national police, our most sincere apologies to the caliph” of the Tidiane brotherhood (Senegal’s largest) and his followers, he told the Senegalese Press Agency (APS).  He also recommended against holding new rallies near mosques.

That urging did not stop youths from gathering outside the same mosque on Sunday and throwing stones and other projectiles at police, while screaming “Allah Akbar” and “There is no God but Allah.”  Neither phrase is heard much in the country, which is almost 90% Muslim.  Senegal has taken on a largely secular identity.

“I’m worried — yes. What I’m seeing here could really degenerate into another kind of situation, a religious one,” said Moustapha Faye, a young member of the Mouride Muslim brotherhood, the second largest in Senegal, as he observed the situation from a safe position. “We must absolutely avoid violence.”

One of the main opposition groups is the M23 coalition with whom N’Dour has campaigned after his candidacy was rejected.  The group’s main goal is to force Wade out of the race.  Once its members accomplish that mission, they would then begin their own separate campaigns.  The other main organization is Y’en a Marre (We are fed up!), a strong youth-based group that has done an outstanding job of mobilizing people.  More than 20 such groups exist and their leaders have been subjected to threats, attempts at corruption, and even arrests.

“It is good to see such social involvement and political activism from young people. I cannot comment on their participation, or on their agenda,” said an encouraged Berman.  “But I think it is good for Senegal that the youth is so involved.”

Whether Berman’s belief is accurate may depend on the results of the upcoming election.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica — Senegal: New Protest Planned as Election Looms — 20 February 2012

BBC — Senegal Apology amid Protests against Abdoulaye Wade — 20 February 2012

New York Times — Senegal Protests Grow before Presidential Vote — 19 February 2012

Daily Nation — Senegal: EU Urges Transparency in Voter Registration — 17 February 2012

Senegambia News — Senegalese 2012 Presidential Election, Where Are We Now? — 17 February 2012

AllAfrica — West Africa: Berman – “Lack of Transparency in Senegal” — 7 February 2012