By Meryl A. White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

NORTH KIVU, Democratic Republic of Congo – According to Human Rights Watch, the United Nations has been slow to react to murder, rape, and the indoctrination of child soldiers in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Presently, the situation in DRC is grim, as the crisis is turning into a war between Hutu and Tutsi tribes.

In the last five days of fighting, more than 100 rebels were killed by the Congolese army.  This prompted General Nkunda to call for a cease fire to avoid civilian casualties. Presently, more than 150 of Nkunda’s fighters have “fled the rebel ranks.”

More than 370,000 people who have been displaced by the fighting in the eastern region. Around 8,000 refugees have been forced into migration across the border into Uganda to seek safety. Refugees are currently entering Uganda through the Bunagana and Busanza border crossings.

UNHCR has reported that women and children are taking shelter on shop verandas in Bunagana, while other refugees are remaining close to the border crossings in hopes of returning home.

Critics of the United Nations believe that peacekeepers in the region have been “powerless to intervene in the battles between government forces and three separate militias.” Nevertheless, the 18,000-strong mission in Congo is the largest U.N. peacekeeping operation.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica.com – Congo-Kinshasa: 8,000 Flee to Uganda – 22 October 2007

AllAfrica.com – Congo-Kinshasa: Civilians in Peril – 23 October 2007

YahooNews – Congo Fighting Displaces More Civilians – 23 October 2007

Human Rights Watch – DR Congo: Civilians in Peril – 23 October 2007

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A Comoros-registered cargo ship marks the fourth ship hijacked and the fifth attacked by Somali pirates this week alone. This is just a series of attacks this year by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The Al Marjan was heading from Somalia to Kenya on Wednesday when gunmen attacked the vessel. It took several days for officials confirm the hijacking.

Two other ships were also attacked and held by pirates off Somalia’s coast on Saturday. On Sunday, pirates in two speed boats attempted to seize a UN World Food Programme (WFP) ship 60 miles from Mogadishu. The ship had just unloaded food at the nearby port. According to Peter Smerdon, a spokesman for the U.N, this makes the third attack on a WFP ship. Although, eighty percent of UN aid reach Somalia by sea, the agency has had to revert to air transport, which is more expensive.

The overthrow of the Islamic government in December by government and Ethiopian troops, has left the country insecure and unstable. The transitional government has been struggling to regain control of the country however incessant attacks by insurgents has made that feat impossible. The coast has been left virtually un-policed.

For more information please see:

Yahoo (AFP)- WFP  Renews Plea for Naval Vessels After Pirates Strike in Somalia – 22 October 2007

Reuters: Africa – Missing Ship Feared Seized by Pirates off Somalia – 22 October 2007

Yahoo (AP) – Somali Pirates Seize Ship off Africa – 22 October 2007

Impunity Watch – Piracy and Kidnapping Deepens Food Crisis -18 October 2007

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – On Friday, Bashir Nor Gedi, the manager of the independent radio station, Radio Shabelle, was killed in front of his home. According to witnesses, four unknown men shot him three times in the head and chest. Bashir was returning home after being holed up in the radio station for nearly a week because of threats.

Somali reporters routinely face harassment and threats of death or imprisonment from both the government and insurgents. Bashir’s death marks the eighth journalist killed this year in Somalia. Many journalists, some of whom are Bashir’s colleagues, have left the country as the situation rapidly gets more dangerous.

Radio Shabelle had previously criticized the transitional government and the Islamist insurgents. Also this same month, government troops fired shots at the station and detained 18 employees for questioning. The station recently returned on the air in October 3rd after being forced to shut down for fifteen days.

Radio Shabelle was one of three independent broadcasters; HornAfrik and IQK Koranic radio were shut down in January and June. On the same day Bashir was killed, government troops stormed the building of Radio Garowe in Puntland, northeastern Somalia. Three of its journalist were also arrested, Director Abdi Farah Jama Mire; Editor Isse Abdullahi Mohammed; and Producer Mohammed Dahir Yusuf. The three men were later released.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica.com- Somalia: Radio Garowe Closed, Three of its Journalist Arrested – 20 October 2007

Committee to Protect Journalist- Somalia: Radio Shabelle Manager Assassinated – 19 October 2007

Reuters: Africa- Somali Journalist gunned Down in Mogadishu – 19 October 2007

BBC- Critical Somali Radio Boss Killed – 21 October 2007