A Voice for the Voiceless

BOSASSO, Somalia – According to Awale Jama Salad, a local journalist and clan member of the kidnappers, Gwen Le Gouil is urging international media watchdogs to press for his release. Le Gouil was kidnapped by armed men on Sunday, December 15 and is currently being held for $80,000 ransom in the mountainous village of Mareero, east of Putland’s Bosasso port.

According to Salad, Le Gouil is “fine.” Puntland’s Trade and Industries Minister Abdisamad Yusuf Abwan said French embassy delegations were in the country to negotiate Le Gouil’s release.

Based on a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists, a U.S. media watchdog, at least 64 journalists have been killed in 2007. This is the highest death rate since 66 deaths in 1994’s. After Iraq, Somalia ranked as the second deadliest country with seven journalist killed this year.

Fortunately, Somali kidnappers are known to treat their captives as assets and therefore are not likely to seriously harm Le Gouil.

For more information please see:

Reuters: Africa – French Journalist Held in Somalia Asks for Help – 20 December 2007

Reuters: Africa – 2007 Deadliest Year for Journalist since 1994 – 19 December 2007

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter for Western and Central Africa

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo – In the east part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Congolese army has killed thirteen of Colonel Laurent Nkundas’s men today. The killing came as retaliation for an attack on government positions in Ntamugenga. The clash occurred 60 kilometers north of the provincial capital, Goma.

A few days ago, a UN field officer confirmed that 17 rebels and two FARDC soldiers had died in the skirmish. “There are people wounded on both sides,” said the source.

Colonel Antoine Mushimbu, leader of the army’s Sixth Brigae, reported that the troops pushed the rebels into the Bukima. After the latest conflict, the country has experienced a slight period of calm.

Presently, the Democratic Republic of Congo has deployed almost 25,000 troops in North Kivu to fight 4,000 rebels loyal to Nkunda. Most of the men claim to be protecting fellow ethnic Tutsis in eastern DRC.

Villagers suffer from the extreme violence in the region. Presently, 800,000 civilian victims are displaced by the conflict. According to Anneke Van Woudenberg, of Human Rights Watch, the government and rebel groups are responsible for the most inhumane excesses against civilians.  “Every time these belligerents fight each other, they have killed, raped and looted civilians,” said Wouedenberg.

A report by Doctors without borders details that victims of the conflict are suffering from outbreaks of Cholera in the makeshift towns. Moreover, victims’ clean water supplies are dwindling down.

For more information, please see:

News 24 South Africa –  DR Congo- 13 Rebels Killed  –    20 December 2007

The Guardian – Mission Impossible – 20 December 2007

AFP-  DR Congo troops push back insurgents; 19 dead  – 19 December 2007

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

LUSAKA, Zambia – Human Rights Watch issued a report yesterday accusing Zambia’s government of failing to stop the escalating violence against women and prevention of access to antiretrovial treatment for AIDS patients.  The report was based on 83 interviews conducted earlier this year of women, police, health counselors, and governmental and non-governmental organizations.   

The Zambian government was commended for its action in dealing with HIV/AIDS treatment, however the report was clear to establish that for many women an HIV positive diagnosis is the equivalent of a death sentence.  While the government has made AIDS treatment drugs free and put more than 93,000 patients on them with the help of international donors, women are still discriminated against and do not receive equal access to treatment. 

The stigma attached to HIV-positive people is still common and significantly affects women’s access to testing and treatment.  Fear of violence from their husbands lead some women to hide their medications and may even prevent them from being tested.  Many women are also left without money for transportation or food after divorce or their husband’s death due to property laws that favor men and “property grabbing” in which the deceased husband’s family seizes all his property, often leaving the widow destitute.  The result is that many women are unable to go to health clinics or afford the proper diet necessary while on medication.

Human Rights Watch called on Zambia to enact and enforce legislation on gender-based crimes and to ensure the the new constitution fully protects women’s equality.  “The Zambian government should also establish systems to enable healthcare providers, including HIV treatment providers, to respond to gender-based abuses. At a minimum, the government should ensure that healthcare providers in the HIV sector receive adequate training, clear guidelines, and support to detect and respond to gender-based abuses.”

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch News – Zambia: Abuses Against Women Obstruct HIV Treatment – 18 December 2007

AFP – Human Rights Watch slams Zambia over violence against women – 18 December 2007

International Herald Tribune – Human Rights Watch says domestic violence, poverty keeps AIDS drugs from Zambian women – 18 December 2007