Hirondelle News Agency
18 July 2008
Philippe Meire, Belgian Federal Prosecutor, remains determined to execute on Belgian soil, if necessary, the Spanish arrest warrants that target members of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) currently in power in Kigali.
“Let’s be clear, these arrest warrants will be executed except for people who benefit from a jurisdictional immunity”, he told Hirondelle Agency, by referring to the cancellation by Rwanda, in May, of the visit of the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs after the Belgian authorities had noted presence in the delegation of Joseph Nzabamwita, number two of exterior security and wanted by Spanish judiciary.
Nzabamwita is part of the 40 Rwandans targeted by arrest warrants issued on 6 February by Judge Fernando Abreu Merelles. Spanish justice indicted these top-ranking officials of the Rwandan Patriotic Army(RPA) regime on charges of commiting genocide, crimes against humanity, and acts of terrorism.
“Rwanda was shocked when we warned them that the Spanish arrest warrants would be executed against a Rwandan accompanying the delegation. But we are legally held with respect to the Spaniards to execute these warrants”, he clarified.
Simillarly, if an admissible complaint is filed against the RPF before Belgian courts, “it will be the subject of an investigation”, he assured, responding to the recurring criticisms of judicial bias, before which are on trial representatives of Hutu extremism or the authors of the genocide policy, whereas the RPF with its Tutsi majority, which seized power in 1994.
He pointed out that a complaint had been filed by the former Major Bernard Ntuyahaga against President Paul Kagame, and other people. “The duty to investigate was carried out, we wanted to do others, in particular in Tanzania, which blocked these steps. Then this case was dropped by the Final Court of Appeal in 2003”, reminded the prosecutor. “Two other complaints concerning acts committed by ‘the other camp’ were shelved without a follow up, because the criteria of jurisdiction was not met”, he pointed out.
19 July, 2008
Security Council Extends Terms of Judges at ICTR.
UN News Service
18 July 2008
The Security Council today extended the tenure of the judges serving on the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up to deal with the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, so as to ensure that all remaining cases can be completed by the deadline set for the court's work.
Under its Completion Strategy, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which is based in the Tanzanian town of Arusha, is supposed to finish all of its trials, excluding appeals, by December 2008. All work is scheduled to be completed by 2010.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council voiced its expectation that the extension of judges' terms of office "will enhance the effectiveness of trial proceedings and contribute towards ensuring the implementation of the Completion Strategy."
The terms of permanent judges Mehmet Güney (Turkey) and Andrésia Vaz (Senegal), who serve on the Appeals Chamber, were extended until 31 December 2010.
Meanwhile, the terms of Charles Michael Dennis Byron (Saint Kitts and Nevis), Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka), Sergei Aleckseevich Egorov (Russian Federation), Khalida Rachid Khan (Pakistan), Erik Møse (Norway); Arlete Ramaroson (Madagascar) and William Hussein Sekule (Tanzania) - permanent judges serving in the Trial Chambers - was extended 31 December 2009.
The Tribunal also has a pool of temporary, or ad litem, judges created to help expedite the court's work, whose terms the Council extended today. The terms of Florence Rita Arrey (Cameroon), Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), Taghrid Hikmet (Jordan), Vagn Joensen (Denmark), Gberdao Gustave Kam (Burkina Faso), Lee Gacuiga Muthoga (Kenya), Seon Ki Park (Republic of Korea) and Emile Francis Short (Ghana) - all of whom currently serve at the Tribunal - were extended until 31 December 2009.
In addition, the Council extended until 31 December 2009, the terms of office of several ad litem judges who have not yet been appointed to serve at the Tribunal.
They are Aydin Sefa Akay (Turkey), Karin Hökborg (Sweden), Flavia Lattanzi (Italy), Kenneth Machin (United Kingdom), Joseph Edward Chiondo Masanche (Tanzania), Tan Sri Dato' Hj. Mohd. Azmi Dato' Hj. Kamaruddin (Malaysia), Mparany Mamy Richard Rajohnson (Madagascar), Albertus Henricus Johannes Swart (Netherlands) and Aura E. Guerra de Villalaz (Panama).
18 July 2008
The Security Council today extended the tenure of the judges serving on the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up to deal with the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, so as to ensure that all remaining cases can be completed by the deadline set for the court's work.
Under its Completion Strategy, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which is based in the Tanzanian town of Arusha, is supposed to finish all of its trials, excluding appeals, by December 2008. All work is scheduled to be completed by 2010.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council voiced its expectation that the extension of judges' terms of office "will enhance the effectiveness of trial proceedings and contribute towards ensuring the implementation of the Completion Strategy."
The terms of permanent judges Mehmet Güney (Turkey) and Andrésia Vaz (Senegal), who serve on the Appeals Chamber, were extended until 31 December 2010.
Meanwhile, the terms of Charles Michael Dennis Byron (Saint Kitts and Nevis), Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka), Sergei Aleckseevich Egorov (Russian Federation), Khalida Rachid Khan (Pakistan), Erik Møse (Norway); Arlete Ramaroson (Madagascar) and William Hussein Sekule (Tanzania) - permanent judges serving in the Trial Chambers - was extended 31 December 2009.
The Tribunal also has a pool of temporary, or ad litem, judges created to help expedite the court's work, whose terms the Council extended today. The terms of Florence Rita Arrey (Cameroon), Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), Taghrid Hikmet (Jordan), Vagn Joensen (Denmark), Gberdao Gustave Kam (Burkina Faso), Lee Gacuiga Muthoga (Kenya), Seon Ki Park (Republic of Korea) and Emile Francis Short (Ghana) - all of whom currently serve at the Tribunal - were extended until 31 December 2009.
In addition, the Council extended until 31 December 2009, the terms of office of several ad litem judges who have not yet been appointed to serve at the Tribunal.
They are Aydin Sefa Akay (Turkey), Karin Hökborg (Sweden), Flavia Lattanzi (Italy), Kenneth Machin (United Kingdom), Joseph Edward Chiondo Masanche (Tanzania), Tan Sri Dato' Hj. Mohd. Azmi Dato' Hj. Kamaruddin (Malaysia), Mparany Mamy Richard Rajohnson (Madagascar), Albertus Henricus Johannes Swart (Netherlands) and Aura E. Guerra de Villalaz (Panama).
18 July, 2008
German Wintershall has oil chance in Iraq-minister.
Reuters
17 July 2008
German oil and gas company Wintershall, part of chemicals group BASF (BASF.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), has a "big chance" of winning oil exploration rights in Iraq, German Economy Minister Michael Glos was quoted on Thursday as saying.
"The German crude oil firm Wintershall has, for example, a big chance of getting exploration rights for crude oil in Iraq," Glos told daily Die Welt. "I hope that it and other firms get more involved in extracting crude oil in Iraq." "But the German construction and construction materials industry also have a big chance," added Glos, who at the weekend became the first German cabinet minister to visit Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion of the country in 2003.
BASF said at the start of the month that Wintershall had acquired the right to apply for an oil licence in Iraq.
Glos noted that investing in oil production in Iraq was likely to bring relief to global oil markets.
Germany is due to welcome Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki next week, and Glos said he believed Iraq was now "ripe" for investment.
"It seems to me that (al-Maliki) has to a large extent managed to push back the terrorists with his own security forces, across all ethnic groups," Glos said. "My impression is that the security situation is improving."
(Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Erica Billingham)
17 July 2008
German oil and gas company Wintershall, part of chemicals group BASF (BASF.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), has a "big chance" of winning oil exploration rights in Iraq, German Economy Minister Michael Glos was quoted on Thursday as saying.
"The German crude oil firm Wintershall has, for example, a big chance of getting exploration rights for crude oil in Iraq," Glos told daily Die Welt. "I hope that it and other firms get more involved in extracting crude oil in Iraq." "But the German construction and construction materials industry also have a big chance," added Glos, who at the weekend became the first German cabinet minister to visit Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion of the country in 2003.
BASF said at the start of the month that Wintershall had acquired the right to apply for an oil licence in Iraq.
Glos noted that investing in oil production in Iraq was likely to bring relief to global oil markets.
Germany is due to welcome Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki next week, and Glos said he believed Iraq was now "ripe" for investment.
"It seems to me that (al-Maliki) has to a large extent managed to push back the terrorists with his own security forces, across all ethnic groups," Glos said. "My impression is that the security situation is improving."
(Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Erica Billingham)
U.N.'s Ban pushing ahead with Kosovo handoff to EU.
Reuters
By Patrick Worsnip
Thu Jul 17, 3:32 PM ET
Despite Russian objections, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a report made public on Thursday he was pushing ahead with a plan to hand over policing functions in Kosovo to the European Union.
The United Nations has run the former Serbian province since 1999, when NATO bombing drove out Serb forces engaged in a ruthless counterinsurgency against Albanian guerrillas.
But a declaration of independence in February by Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority left the U.N. mission in limbo. The Security Council has been split on how to proceed because Western states have recognized Kosovo while veto-holding Russia follows its ally Serbia in opposing independence.
Ban said last month he intended to "reconfigure" the mission and in his latest report to the Security Council said because the council was "unable to provide guidance" he had told his Kosovo envoy, Lamberto Zannier of Italy, to go ahead.
"I have instructed UNMIK (the U.N. mission) to cooperate with the European Union, in order for it to assume an enhanced operational role in Kosovo in the area of rule of law under the overall authority of the United Nations," he said.
A 2,200-member EU police mission is waiting to deploy in Kosovo.
Russia strongly opposes an EU takeover. President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview published this month that Ban had overstepped his authority by scaling back the U.N. mission. Moscow says the issue can be resolved through talks with Belgrade.
Ban's report said new realities in Kosovo -- including the entry into force of a constitution on June 15 -- had "fundamentally challenged" the U.N. mission, which could no longer perform most of its tasks as effectively as before.
He cited cases where Kosovo authorities had openly challenged the mission over applying property and traffic law.
Another problem has been a growing boycott of Kosovo's institutions by the Belgrade-backed Serb minority.
Serbian President Boris Tadic told the Security Council last month Belgrade could not endorse Ban's plan.
The European Union, however, has been encouraged by this month's installation of a new pro-Western Serbian government and will call on Belgrade next week to play a constructive role in the bloc's efforts to stabilize Kosovo.
(Editing by Patricia Zengerle)
By Patrick Worsnip
Thu Jul 17, 3:32 PM ET
Despite Russian objections, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a report made public on Thursday he was pushing ahead with a plan to hand over policing functions in Kosovo to the European Union.
The United Nations has run the former Serbian province since 1999, when NATO bombing drove out Serb forces engaged in a ruthless counterinsurgency against Albanian guerrillas.
But a declaration of independence in February by Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority left the U.N. mission in limbo. The Security Council has been split on how to proceed because Western states have recognized Kosovo while veto-holding Russia follows its ally Serbia in opposing independence.
Ban said last month he intended to "reconfigure" the mission and in his latest report to the Security Council said because the council was "unable to provide guidance" he had told his Kosovo envoy, Lamberto Zannier of Italy, to go ahead.
"I have instructed UNMIK (the U.N. mission) to cooperate with the European Union, in order for it to assume an enhanced operational role in Kosovo in the area of rule of law under the overall authority of the United Nations," he said.
A 2,200-member EU police mission is waiting to deploy in Kosovo.
Russia strongly opposes an EU takeover. President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview published this month that Ban had overstepped his authority by scaling back the U.N. mission. Moscow says the issue can be resolved through talks with Belgrade.
Ban's report said new realities in Kosovo -- including the entry into force of a constitution on June 15 -- had "fundamentally challenged" the U.N. mission, which could no longer perform most of its tasks as effectively as before.
He cited cases where Kosovo authorities had openly challenged the mission over applying property and traffic law.
Another problem has been a growing boycott of Kosovo's institutions by the Belgrade-backed Serb minority.
Serbian President Boris Tadic told the Security Council last month Belgrade could not endorse Ban's plan.
The European Union, however, has been encouraged by this month's installation of a new pro-Western Serbian government and will call on Belgrade next week to play a constructive role in the bloc's efforts to stabilize Kosovo.
(Editing by Patricia Zengerle)
Belgium's king turns down PM Lenterme's resignation.
Xinhua News Agency
18 July 2008
Belgium's King Albert II turned down the government's resignation on Friday, the royal palace said in a statement.
Flemish Christian Democrat Yves Leterme will stay on as prime minister for the time being.
Meanwhile, three senior politicians have been asked to find a way out of the current crisis. They have to find out how politicians from linguistically divided regions can begin a "credible" dialogue about more regional autonomy.
After three days of consultation with political parties, regional governments and other role players, the king asked the three to submit a report by July 31, the palace statement said.
The three include two ministers of state, Raymond Langendries from the Francophone Christian Democrats and Francois-Xavier de Donnea from the Francophone Liberals. The third is the prime minister of the German-speaking region in eastern Belgium, Karl-Heinz Lambertz.
The king asked Leterme "to encourage as best as is possible" chances of reviving the debate on state reforms, the statement said.
Leterme handed in his resignation on Monday night after failing to broker a deal on state reforms between the Dutch- and French- speaking camps.
He came into office in March leading a five-party coalition after nine months of political wrangling over the formation of a government.
Parties from the Dutch-speaking north of Belgium, or Flanders, are demanding greater autonomy for regions, while their counterparts from the French-speaking Wallonia in the south fear more autonomy for the Flanders may lead to reduced budget to the poorer Walloon region and the bilingual capital, Brussels.
The two sides also disagree on the splitting of the constituency in Brussels.
The challenge now is to find a formula acceptable to all parties involved. The Flemish have demanded that they should have guarantees on state reforms before adopting the new scenario of a direct dialogue between different regions.
18 July 2008
Belgium's King Albert II turned down the government's resignation on Friday, the royal palace said in a statement.
Flemish Christian Democrat Yves Leterme will stay on as prime minister for the time being.
Meanwhile, three senior politicians have been asked to find a way out of the current crisis. They have to find out how politicians from linguistically divided regions can begin a "credible" dialogue about more regional autonomy.
After three days of consultation with political parties, regional governments and other role players, the king asked the three to submit a report by July 31, the palace statement said.
The three include two ministers of state, Raymond Langendries from the Francophone Christian Democrats and Francois-Xavier de Donnea from the Francophone Liberals. The third is the prime minister of the German-speaking region in eastern Belgium, Karl-Heinz Lambertz.
The king asked Leterme "to encourage as best as is possible" chances of reviving the debate on state reforms, the statement said.
Leterme handed in his resignation on Monday night after failing to broker a deal on state reforms between the Dutch- and French- speaking camps.
He came into office in March leading a five-party coalition after nine months of political wrangling over the formation of a government.
Parties from the Dutch-speaking north of Belgium, or Flanders, are demanding greater autonomy for regions, while their counterparts from the French-speaking Wallonia in the south fear more autonomy for the Flanders may lead to reduced budget to the poorer Walloon region and the bilingual capital, Brussels.
The two sides also disagree on the splitting of the constituency in Brussels.
The challenge now is to find a formula acceptable to all parties involved. The Flemish have demanded that they should have guarantees on state reforms before adopting the new scenario of a direct dialogue between different regions.
17 July, 2008
Burundi police nab former MP.
IOL News
17 July 2008
Burundian police arrested and detained a former lawmaker for allegedly threatening state security, the second ex-MP to be detained on this accusation in three weeks, officials said on Thursday.
Police spokesperson Pierre-Chanel Ntarabaganyi said Gerard Nkurunziza was arrested on Tuesday and locked up in Bujumbura's central prison.
The ex-MP is a close ally to a former top official in President Pierre Nkurinziza's party who was sentenced to 13 years in prison in April for plotting against the state.
"The former MP was arrested for threatening state security," a judiciary official said.
A diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "The government is apparently stopping at nothing (to silence) its opponents."
In June Burundi's constitutional court authorised the sacking of 22 former members of Nkurunziza's party whose defection lost him his parliamentary majority.
Editor's Note: If indeed this is a heavy-handed tactic without real merit in the accusations, Burundi could slide further into political crisis as oppression of politicial opponents will not yield a democracy and, as a result, will undermine the facilitation of an environment conductive to peace talks with the FNL and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission
17 July 2008
Burundian police arrested and detained a former lawmaker for allegedly threatening state security, the second ex-MP to be detained on this accusation in three weeks, officials said on Thursday.
Police spokesperson Pierre-Chanel Ntarabaganyi said Gerard Nkurunziza was arrested on Tuesday and locked up in Bujumbura's central prison.
The ex-MP is a close ally to a former top official in President Pierre Nkurinziza's party who was sentenced to 13 years in prison in April for plotting against the state.
"The former MP was arrested for threatening state security," a judiciary official said.
A diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "The government is apparently stopping at nothing (to silence) its opponents."
In June Burundi's constitutional court authorised the sacking of 22 former members of Nkurunziza's party whose defection lost him his parliamentary majority.
Editor's Note: If indeed this is a heavy-handed tactic without real merit in the accusations, Burundi could slide further into political crisis as oppression of politicial opponents will not yield a democracy and, as a result, will undermine the facilitation of an environment conductive to peace talks with the FNL and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Rwanda / Government deports independent weekly’s deputy managing editor.
Reporters Without Borders
Press Release
17 July 2008
Reporters Without Borders strongly condemns this week’s deportation of Fuhara Mugisha, the deputy managing editor of Rwanda’s leading independent weekly, Umuseso. Despite having a Rwandan mother, Mugisha is a citizen of neighbouring Tanzania.
“This is an unacceptable act of intimidation that yet again highlights the Rwandan government’s inability to tolerate the few independent publications,” Reporters Without Borders said. “In the run-up to legislative elections, we remind the government that media diversity is an essential condition for the holding of democratic elections.”
Plain-clothes police came to Mugisha’s home in the north Kigali district of Kacyru at 4 a.m. on 12 July and said they wanted to take him to their office to assist in an investigation. But instead they drove him to the immigration department and from there he was taken to the Rumoso border crossing into Tanzania and expelled.
“This is all part of a desire to gag the press and uproot the independent media,” Umuseso publisher Charles Kabonero said. Employed by Umuseso since 2003, Mugisha was the victim of a knife attack in 2004 by assailants who were never identified.
With a Rwandan mother and a Tanzanian father, Mugisha used to have a Rwandan passport and ID card, but the authorities refused to renew them in 2005.
Press Release
17 July 2008
Reporters Without Borders strongly condemns this week’s deportation of Fuhara Mugisha, the deputy managing editor of Rwanda’s leading independent weekly, Umuseso. Despite having a Rwandan mother, Mugisha is a citizen of neighbouring Tanzania.
“This is an unacceptable act of intimidation that yet again highlights the Rwandan government’s inability to tolerate the few independent publications,” Reporters Without Borders said. “In the run-up to legislative elections, we remind the government that media diversity is an essential condition for the holding of democratic elections.”
Plain-clothes police came to Mugisha’s home in the north Kigali district of Kacyru at 4 a.m. on 12 July and said they wanted to take him to their office to assist in an investigation. But instead they drove him to the immigration department and from there he was taken to the Rumoso border crossing into Tanzania and expelled.
“This is all part of a desire to gag the press and uproot the independent media,” Umuseso publisher Charles Kabonero said. Employed by Umuseso since 2003, Mugisha was the victim of a knife attack in 2004 by assailants who were never identified.
With a Rwandan mother and a Tanzanian father, Mugisha used to have a Rwandan passport and ID card, but the authorities refused to renew them in 2005.
15 July, 2008
Coast Guard Cutter Dallas Conducts At-Sea Exercise with Equatorial Guinea Navy.
US Naval Forces Europe-6th Fleet
15 July 2008
Press Release
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas (WHEC 716) concluded a three-day visit to the West African nation of Equatorial Guinea July 11 with an at-sea exercise involving five Equatorial Guinean naval vessels.
Dallas, a 378-foot cutter home ported in Charleston, S.C., is currently deployed off the coast of West and Central Africa in support of U.S. Naval Forces Europe’s Africa Partnership Station (APS) initiative.
During Dallas’ visit, several crewmembers teamed up with Equatorial Guinean naval officers to train in Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) tactics as well as Search and Rescue (SAR) procedures. The at-sea exercises, which included both counter-terrorism and search-and-rescue drills, were intended to reinforce the shore side training. A security vessel from a local commercial oil facility also participated. The visit marked the first collaborative at-sea tactical exercise between naval assets of the United States and Equatorial Guinea in decades.
“I was very impressed with the level of detail and professionalism demonstrated by the Equatorial Guinea Navy in planning and executing these exercises,” said Capt. Robert Wagner, commanding officer of Dallas.
The counter-terrorism drill involved the simulation of a report of a suspicious vessel in the vicinity of the Alba Field Gas Production Platforms off the coast of Malabo. In response, the Equatorial Guinea Navy launched a helicopter from Malabo and directed two patrol boats. The suspicious vessel was stopped by authorities of Equatorial Guinea in accordance with standard procedures and then boarded. The crew was then taken into custody for further legal proceedings.
Later, a SAR drill focused on responding to a distress call received on channel 16 VHF-FM, the international maritime distress frequency. The location, nature of distress, and number of people aboard the simulated distressed vessel was obtained by a nearby Equatorial Guinean patrol boat. The patrol boat then responded to the scene and rendered assistance to the simulated stricken vessel.
“While it was a privilege to play a minor part in these exercises, the true benefit was the extensive coordination and cooperation between industry and the Equatorial Guinea Navy to provide for the maritime security of infrastructure so critical to the regional economy and global stability,” said Wagner.
Dallas began the day’s operations by leading a formation of five Equatorial Guinea Navy vessels while passing in review in front of downtown Malabo. Donald C. Johnson, U.S. Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, joined several host-nation military and civilian dignitaries to observe the review from a shore-side vantage point.
APS is a U.S. Naval Forces Europe-led long-term initiative with a goal of enabling maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa. The program operates with the cooperative support of a variety of military, governmental and non-governmental organizations from the U.S., Africa and Europe.
KEY POINTS:
First collaborative at-sea tactical exercise between the U.S. and Equatorial Guinea in decades
Dallas deployment continues the Africa Partnership Station initiative and U.S. Navy commitment to the region
Exercise conducted in collaborative fashion with U.S. personnel acting as advisors to help build upon Equatorial Guinean skills
15 July 2008
Press Release
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas (WHEC 716) concluded a three-day visit to the West African nation of Equatorial Guinea July 11 with an at-sea exercise involving five Equatorial Guinean naval vessels.
Dallas, a 378-foot cutter home ported in Charleston, S.C., is currently deployed off the coast of West and Central Africa in support of U.S. Naval Forces Europe’s Africa Partnership Station (APS) initiative.
During Dallas’ visit, several crewmembers teamed up with Equatorial Guinean naval officers to train in Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) tactics as well as Search and Rescue (SAR) procedures. The at-sea exercises, which included both counter-terrorism and search-and-rescue drills, were intended to reinforce the shore side training. A security vessel from a local commercial oil facility also participated. The visit marked the first collaborative at-sea tactical exercise between naval assets of the United States and Equatorial Guinea in decades.
“I was very impressed with the level of detail and professionalism demonstrated by the Equatorial Guinea Navy in planning and executing these exercises,” said Capt. Robert Wagner, commanding officer of Dallas.
The counter-terrorism drill involved the simulation of a report of a suspicious vessel in the vicinity of the Alba Field Gas Production Platforms off the coast of Malabo. In response, the Equatorial Guinea Navy launched a helicopter from Malabo and directed two patrol boats. The suspicious vessel was stopped by authorities of Equatorial Guinea in accordance with standard procedures and then boarded. The crew was then taken into custody for further legal proceedings.
Later, a SAR drill focused on responding to a distress call received on channel 16 VHF-FM, the international maritime distress frequency. The location, nature of distress, and number of people aboard the simulated distressed vessel was obtained by a nearby Equatorial Guinean patrol boat. The patrol boat then responded to the scene and rendered assistance to the simulated stricken vessel.
“While it was a privilege to play a minor part in these exercises, the true benefit was the extensive coordination and cooperation between industry and the Equatorial Guinea Navy to provide for the maritime security of infrastructure so critical to the regional economy and global stability,” said Wagner.
Dallas began the day’s operations by leading a formation of five Equatorial Guinea Navy vessels while passing in review in front of downtown Malabo. Donald C. Johnson, U.S. Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, joined several host-nation military and civilian dignitaries to observe the review from a shore-side vantage point.
APS is a U.S. Naval Forces Europe-led long-term initiative with a goal of enabling maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa. The program operates with the cooperative support of a variety of military, governmental and non-governmental organizations from the U.S., Africa and Europe.
KEY POINTS:
First collaborative at-sea tactical exercise between the U.S. and Equatorial Guinea in decades
Dallas deployment continues the Africa Partnership Station initiative and U.S. Navy commitment to the region
Exercise conducted in collaborative fashion with U.S. personnel acting as advisors to help build upon Equatorial Guinean skills
World Bank aggravates poverty among DR Congo soldiers.
Xinhua News Agency
15 July 2008
The budget restrictions that have been imposed on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) by the World Bank have adversely affected socio-economic conditions of the country's armed forces, according to official sources.
The remarks were made on Monday by DR Congo's Interior Minister Denis Kalume Numbi during an interview with the "Top News" magazine on current issues especially on the basic causes of insecurity.
During the interview, the interior minister was quoted as saying that scarcity of resources was hampering efforts to establish a strong military force capable of protecting the people and discouraging insecurity.
At the same time, the minister called on everyone to assume the "responsibility that had been dictated by the circumstances with regard to the recruitment within the ranks of the DR Congo Armed Forces (FARDC), especially during the post-conflict period".
According to official figures, the lowest ranking military officer in the DR Congo has a salary that translates into less than one U.S. dollar per day. This situation, according to observers, has made many military officers to be prone to corruption.
Many years since the end of the last civil war, the DR Congo is still grappling with high levels of insecurity, more so in the eastern part of the country, where various militia groups and external rebel movements have refused to lay down their weapons.
15 July 2008
The budget restrictions that have been imposed on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) by the World Bank have adversely affected socio-economic conditions of the country's armed forces, according to official sources.
The remarks were made on Monday by DR Congo's Interior Minister Denis Kalume Numbi during an interview with the "Top News" magazine on current issues especially on the basic causes of insecurity.
During the interview, the interior minister was quoted as saying that scarcity of resources was hampering efforts to establish a strong military force capable of protecting the people and discouraging insecurity.
At the same time, the minister called on everyone to assume the "responsibility that had been dictated by the circumstances with regard to the recruitment within the ranks of the DR Congo Armed Forces (FARDC), especially during the post-conflict period".
According to official figures, the lowest ranking military officer in the DR Congo has a salary that translates into less than one U.S. dollar per day. This situation, according to observers, has made many military officers to be prone to corruption.
Many years since the end of the last civil war, the DR Congo is still grappling with high levels of insecurity, more so in the eastern part of the country, where various militia groups and external rebel movements have refused to lay down their weapons.
Thai troops 'cross into Cambodia.'
BBC News
15 July 2008
About 40 Thai troops have crossed into Cambodian territory in the latest flare-up of a dispute over an ancient temple, Cambodian officials have said.
The head of the national authority for the Preah Vihear temple said there was a stand-off, but had been no shooting.
Thai military officials said soldiers had been deployed on Thai territory nearby "to protect our sovereignty".
Earlier, three Thai protesters were arrested for illegally crossing the border in an attempt to enter the site.
The 11th-Century Hindu temple and the land around it have been the subject of a border dispute for decades.
'Misunderstanding'
The head of the agency in charge of the temple site, Hang Soth, said the Thai soldiers had positioned themselves at a Buddhist pagoda located on a mountain slope below and were now negotiating with the Cambodian authorities.
"At first about 20 troops entered a pagoda in Cambodian territory. Later they increased their numbers to about 40," he told the AFP news agency. "We don't understand yet why they came."
Hang Soth said that Cambodian troops in the area had been placed on alert but ordered not to open fire first, and that there had not been any shooting.
Thai officials later denied their troops had entered Cambodian soil.
The regional Thai army commander, Maj-Gen Kanok Netakawesana, said they were on Thai territory close to the disputed area.
"We have every right to deploy troops here to protect our sovereignty," he told the Associated Press.
The governor of the neighbouring Thai province of Si Sa Ket, Seni Chittakasem, insisted there had been a misunderstanding.
"There is no trespassing by our soldiers," he said.
The Preah Vihear temple was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, forcing Thai troops who had occupied the area to withdraw.
It then became caught up in Cambodia's civil conflict, falling to the Khmer Rouge in 1975 and only being opened to the public in 1998.
The dispute has escalated since Cambodia applied for World Heritage status for the temple, which was granted by Unesco this month.
The application was endorsed by Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama, but this caused controversy in Thailand and he resigned last week after a court ruled he had breached the constitution.
15 July 2008
About 40 Thai troops have crossed into Cambodian territory in the latest flare-up of a dispute over an ancient temple, Cambodian officials have said.
The head of the national authority for the Preah Vihear temple said there was a stand-off, but had been no shooting.
Thai military officials said soldiers had been deployed on Thai territory nearby "to protect our sovereignty".
Earlier, three Thai protesters were arrested for illegally crossing the border in an attempt to enter the site.
The 11th-Century Hindu temple and the land around it have been the subject of a border dispute for decades.
'Misunderstanding'
The head of the agency in charge of the temple site, Hang Soth, said the Thai soldiers had positioned themselves at a Buddhist pagoda located on a mountain slope below and were now negotiating with the Cambodian authorities.
"At first about 20 troops entered a pagoda in Cambodian territory. Later they increased their numbers to about 40," he told the AFP news agency. "We don't understand yet why they came."
Hang Soth said that Cambodian troops in the area had been placed on alert but ordered not to open fire first, and that there had not been any shooting.
Thai officials later denied their troops had entered Cambodian soil.
The regional Thai army commander, Maj-Gen Kanok Netakawesana, said they were on Thai territory close to the disputed area.
"We have every right to deploy troops here to protect our sovereignty," he told the Associated Press.
The governor of the neighbouring Thai province of Si Sa Ket, Seni Chittakasem, insisted there had been a misunderstanding.
"There is no trespassing by our soldiers," he said.
The Preah Vihear temple was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, forcing Thai troops who had occupied the area to withdraw.
It then became caught up in Cambodia's civil conflict, falling to the Khmer Rouge in 1975 and only being opened to the public in 1998.
The dispute has escalated since Cambodia applied for World Heritage status for the temple, which was granted by Unesco this month.
The application was endorsed by Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama, but this caused controversy in Thailand and he resigned last week after a court ruled he had breached the constitution.
US troops to hold exercises in Georgia, Ukraine.
AFP
15 July 2008
US troops on Monday began military exercises near the Russian border in ex-Soviet Ukraine and were poised to launch them in Georgia, amid tense relations between Moscow and Washington, officials said.
A ceremony inaugurating the Sea Breeze-2008 NATO exercise was held off Ukraine's Black Sea coast, a Ukrainian defence ministry spokeswoman said, against anti-NATO protests and a hostile reaction from officials in Russia.
The NATO exercises "will increase political and military tensions in Europe as a whole," Sergei Mironov, speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament, was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency in Moscow.
Sea Breeze-2008, which lasts until July 26, will also include forces from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Macedonia and Turkey, officials said.
Separate military exercises dubbed Immediate Response-2008 are due to start in Georgia on Tuesday with Armenian, Azerbaijani, Ukrainian and US troops taking part, a Georgian defence ministry spokeswoman said.
"The US-Georgia joint exercises will be held at the Vaziani military base" less than 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the Russian border with a total of 1,650 servicemen taking part, said the spokeswoman, Nana Intskirveli.
15 July 2008
US troops on Monday began military exercises near the Russian border in ex-Soviet Ukraine and were poised to launch them in Georgia, amid tense relations between Moscow and Washington, officials said.
A ceremony inaugurating the Sea Breeze-2008 NATO exercise was held off Ukraine's Black Sea coast, a Ukrainian defence ministry spokeswoman said, against anti-NATO protests and a hostile reaction from officials in Russia.
The NATO exercises "will increase political and military tensions in Europe as a whole," Sergei Mironov, speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament, was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency in Moscow.
Sea Breeze-2008, which lasts until July 26, will also include forces from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Macedonia and Turkey, officials said.
Separate military exercises dubbed Immediate Response-2008 are due to start in Georgia on Tuesday with Armenian, Azerbaijani, Ukrainian and US troops taking part, a Georgian defence ministry spokeswoman said.
"The US-Georgia joint exercises will be held at the Vaziani military base" less than 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the Russian border with a total of 1,650 servicemen taking part, said the spokeswoman, Nana Intskirveli.
Fact-Finding Delegation Pledges to Hold Current Ambassador Glazer to Non-Interventionist Commitment for 2009.
CISPES
Press Release
July 10, 2008
Contact: Burke Stansbury – 202 521 2510 ext. 205 or burke@cispes.org
During a recent heated meeting at the US Embassy in El Salvador, Ambassador Charles Glazer admitted to U.S. intervention in the 2004 Salvadoran Presidential Elections. The meeting on June 27 was requested by a group of 12 U.S. citizens, including professors, students, journalists and community activists who were taking part in a 10-day delegation organized by the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES).
U.S. Embassy Admits to Intervention in 2004 Salvadoran Presidential Elections
Fact-Finding Delegation Pledges to Hold Current Ambassador Glazer to Non-Interventionist Commitment for 2009
July 10, 2008
Contact: Burke Stansbury – 202 521 2510 ext. 205 or burke@cispes.org
During a recent heated meeting at the US Embassy in El Salvador, Ambassador Charles Glazer admitted to U.S. intervention in the 2004 Salvadoran Presidential Elections. The meeting on June 27 was requested by a group of 12 U.S. citizens, including professors, students, journalists and community activists who were taking part in a 10-day delegation organized by the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES).
In their meeting with the Ambassador, the group focused specifically on the history of U.S. political and military intervention in El Salvador. They cited statements made by US State Department officials denouncing. the leftist Farabundo Marti Liberation Front (FMLN) party during the 2004 presidential campaign. The delegates also referenced legislation put forward in Congress by Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) that threatened to cut off remittances sent by Salvadorans in the U.S. to their families in El Salvador should the FMLN win. “The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador never countered this absurd threat or clarified the impossibility of such legislation being passed,” said Rosa Lozano, a delegate from Washington D.C. “Ultimately, such intervention helped turn a close race for the presidency into a decisive victory for the right-wing National Republican Alliance (ARENA) party.”
When asked directly if the U.S. government had intervened in the 2004 presidential elections on behalf of the ARENA party, Glazer replied in the affirmative. When asked if such intervention would occur again, he said “no”. “We believe that this is the first time that a representative of the Bush Administration has taken responsibility for the manipulative interference that took place during the 2004 presidential campaign,” said Burke Stansbury, Executive Director of CISPES and a participant in the meeting with the ambassador. “It’s really quite remarkable; CISPES and others have been crying foul since State Department intervention began in mid-2003 but the Embassy has always denied it played a role in President Saca’s victory,” continued Stansbury. “But admitting fault last time is not enough. We will continue to demand that no such intervention occurs, not in 2009 nor ever again.”
During the meeting, the Embassy labor attaché claimed that the possibility of fraud in the 2009 would be diminished because of the active monitoring of various international organizations and emphasized the role to be played by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), both subsections of the National Endowment of Democracy (NED). When challenged about the partisan nature of these quasi-non governmental organizations, as well as accusations that the IRI and NDI have played an interventionist role in other Latin American elections, the Embassy representative admitted that there was controversy and doubts surrounding the NED.
“In 2007, the IRI – headed by Republican presidential candidate John McCain – presented President Saca with its ‘Freedom Award’, showing its clear ideological preference in the polarized Salvadoran political process,” said Laura Embree-Lowry, a member of the Boston chapter of CISPES and a participant in the Embassy meeting. “We believe that the presence of partisan groups like the IRI and NDI will in fact be counterproductive to the goal of the Salvadoran people, which is to hold free and fair elections in 2009.”
The CISPES delegation also expressed concern about the aggressive conduct of Ambassador Glazer during their brief meeting. “Mr. Glazer arrived with the idea of attacking our delegation and rudely countering everything we put forward, to the point of being verbally abusive to at least two of the delegates,” said Andrew Kafel, a member of the delegation from New York. “Whether or not the Ambassador agrees with the concerns we laid out about potential U.S. intervention, he has a duty as a public official to hear us out in a respectful manner,” continued Kafel. “If this is how we as U.S. citizens are treated, we can only imagine how the Ambassador interacts with Salvadorans. We hope that in the future the State Department will better orient their representatives about how to respectfully dialogue with those holding a differing opinion.”
The group plans to issue an extensive report of the information gathered during the June CISPES fact-finding delegation, including an analysis of the current human rights situation, information about the potential of fraud and irregularities in the 2009 elections, and concerns about U.S. involvement in the process. The report will be release at the end of July. For more information go to www.cispes.org
Press Release
July 10, 2008
Contact: Burke Stansbury – 202 521 2510 ext. 205 or burke@cispes.org
During a recent heated meeting at the US Embassy in El Salvador, Ambassador Charles Glazer admitted to U.S. intervention in the 2004 Salvadoran Presidential Elections. The meeting on June 27 was requested by a group of 12 U.S. citizens, including professors, students, journalists and community activists who were taking part in a 10-day delegation organized by the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES).
U.S. Embassy Admits to Intervention in 2004 Salvadoran Presidential Elections
Fact-Finding Delegation Pledges to Hold Current Ambassador Glazer to Non-Interventionist Commitment for 2009
July 10, 2008
Contact: Burke Stansbury – 202 521 2510 ext. 205 or burke@cispes.org
During a recent heated meeting at the US Embassy in El Salvador, Ambassador Charles Glazer admitted to U.S. intervention in the 2004 Salvadoran Presidential Elections. The meeting on June 27 was requested by a group of 12 U.S. citizens, including professors, students, journalists and community activists who were taking part in a 10-day delegation organized by the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES).
In their meeting with the Ambassador, the group focused specifically on the history of U.S. political and military intervention in El Salvador. They cited statements made by US State Department officials denouncing. the leftist Farabundo Marti Liberation Front (FMLN) party during the 2004 presidential campaign. The delegates also referenced legislation put forward in Congress by Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) that threatened to cut off remittances sent by Salvadorans in the U.S. to their families in El Salvador should the FMLN win. “The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador never countered this absurd threat or clarified the impossibility of such legislation being passed,” said Rosa Lozano, a delegate from Washington D.C. “Ultimately, such intervention helped turn a close race for the presidency into a decisive victory for the right-wing National Republican Alliance (ARENA) party.”
When asked directly if the U.S. government had intervened in the 2004 presidential elections on behalf of the ARENA party, Glazer replied in the affirmative. When asked if such intervention would occur again, he said “no”. “We believe that this is the first time that a representative of the Bush Administration has taken responsibility for the manipulative interference that took place during the 2004 presidential campaign,” said Burke Stansbury, Executive Director of CISPES and a participant in the meeting with the ambassador. “It’s really quite remarkable; CISPES and others have been crying foul since State Department intervention began in mid-2003 but the Embassy has always denied it played a role in President Saca’s victory,” continued Stansbury. “But admitting fault last time is not enough. We will continue to demand that no such intervention occurs, not in 2009 nor ever again.”
During the meeting, the Embassy labor attaché claimed that the possibility of fraud in the 2009 would be diminished because of the active monitoring of various international organizations and emphasized the role to be played by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), both subsections of the National Endowment of Democracy (NED). When challenged about the partisan nature of these quasi-non governmental organizations, as well as accusations that the IRI and NDI have played an interventionist role in other Latin American elections, the Embassy representative admitted that there was controversy and doubts surrounding the NED.
“In 2007, the IRI – headed by Republican presidential candidate John McCain – presented President Saca with its ‘Freedom Award’, showing its clear ideological preference in the polarized Salvadoran political process,” said Laura Embree-Lowry, a member of the Boston chapter of CISPES and a participant in the Embassy meeting. “We believe that the presence of partisan groups like the IRI and NDI will in fact be counterproductive to the goal of the Salvadoran people, which is to hold free and fair elections in 2009.”
The CISPES delegation also expressed concern about the aggressive conduct of Ambassador Glazer during their brief meeting. “Mr. Glazer arrived with the idea of attacking our delegation and rudely countering everything we put forward, to the point of being verbally abusive to at least two of the delegates,” said Andrew Kafel, a member of the delegation from New York. “Whether or not the Ambassador agrees with the concerns we laid out about potential U.S. intervention, he has a duty as a public official to hear us out in a respectful manner,” continued Kafel. “If this is how we as U.S. citizens are treated, we can only imagine how the Ambassador interacts with Salvadorans. We hope that in the future the State Department will better orient their representatives about how to respectfully dialogue with those holding a differing opinion.”
The group plans to issue an extensive report of the information gathered during the June CISPES fact-finding delegation, including an analysis of the current human rights situation, information about the potential of fraud and irregularities in the 2009 elections, and concerns about U.S. involvement in the process. The report will be release at the end of July. For more information go to www.cispes.org
Political instability mounts in Seychelles.
Afrol News
14 July 2008
Editor's Note: Given the US military bases there, the US will be paying attention to this.
Seychelles main opposition party, Seychelles National Party (SNP), has announced that national assembly member, Jean-Francois Ferrari, has resigned as member for Mont Fleuri, after he was denied right to address national assembly on public officers’ ethics Bill.
Mr Ferrari had referred to national assembly standing Order 37 (7), which states "a member shall be entitled to speak to any question in the Assembly for not more than 30 minutes."
Opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan said, "resignation of Mr Ferrari will necessitate a by-election in which people of Mont Fleuri will be asked to decide between right of their national assembly member to speak for them and Speaker Patrick Herminie's control of assembly. This election will be a referendum on right to free expression in assembly. We will be calling on people of district to decide for people of Seychelles."
Mr Ramkalawan is said to have also submitted a motion for removal of Herminie, as speaker on these grounds.
Mr Herminie is ruling party’s (People's Progressive Front) - PPF - central committee member for Port Glaud, a role seen by opposition as a contradiction to his position as speaker.
By-election called to fill vacancy in Seychelles national assembly comes at worst possible time for ruling party because of economic situation facing the island, with high cost of living made worse because of devaluation of country's currency.
The by-election is also going to be seen as a referendum on government's ability to manage economy, control cost of living and to curb corruption and a referendum on suitability of national Speaker.
PPF, which has been in power since 1977 military coup d'état, fearing worst, has abruptly withdrew from Mont Fleuri by-election.
Party leader Albert Rene personally announced PPF's position on national television and went as far as telling people not to vote on election day.
By-elections, set for July 19, will now see two opposition parties contest for a seat, incumbent Jean Francois Ferrari from SNP and lawyer Frank Elizabeth from Democratic Party.
Ruling party, fearing a repeat of by-elections as a way to test people's feeling, has moved to make it impossible for a sitting member to resign and then re-contest by-election brought about because of resignation.
A motion brought about by proportionally elected ruling party member, Marie Antoinette Rose, has asked government to consider bringing legislation to bar members who resign to re-stand as candidates.
The motion seen against constitution and is unlikely to be taken up by government because every Seychellois national is entitled to contest any election unless he or she is a convict or has lost his or her citizenship.
14 July 2008
Editor's Note: Given the US military bases there, the US will be paying attention to this.
Seychelles main opposition party, Seychelles National Party (SNP), has announced that national assembly member, Jean-Francois Ferrari, has resigned as member for Mont Fleuri, after he was denied right to address national assembly on public officers’ ethics Bill.
Mr Ferrari had referred to national assembly standing Order 37 (7), which states "a member shall be entitled to speak to any question in the Assembly for not more than 30 minutes."
Opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan said, "resignation of Mr Ferrari will necessitate a by-election in which people of Mont Fleuri will be asked to decide between right of their national assembly member to speak for them and Speaker Patrick Herminie's control of assembly. This election will be a referendum on right to free expression in assembly. We will be calling on people of district to decide for people of Seychelles."
Mr Ramkalawan is said to have also submitted a motion for removal of Herminie, as speaker on these grounds.
Mr Herminie is ruling party’s (People's Progressive Front) - PPF - central committee member for Port Glaud, a role seen by opposition as a contradiction to his position as speaker.
By-election called to fill vacancy in Seychelles national assembly comes at worst possible time for ruling party because of economic situation facing the island, with high cost of living made worse because of devaluation of country's currency.
The by-election is also going to be seen as a referendum on government's ability to manage economy, control cost of living and to curb corruption and a referendum on suitability of national Speaker.
PPF, which has been in power since 1977 military coup d'état, fearing worst, has abruptly withdrew from Mont Fleuri by-election.
Party leader Albert Rene personally announced PPF's position on national television and went as far as telling people not to vote on election day.
By-elections, set for July 19, will now see two opposition parties contest for a seat, incumbent Jean Francois Ferrari from SNP and lawyer Frank Elizabeth from Democratic Party.
Ruling party, fearing a repeat of by-elections as a way to test people's feeling, has moved to make it impossible for a sitting member to resign and then re-contest by-election brought about because of resignation.
A motion brought about by proportionally elected ruling party member, Marie Antoinette Rose, has asked government to consider bringing legislation to bar members who resign to re-stand as candidates.
The motion seen against constitution and is unlikely to be taken up by government because every Seychellois national is entitled to contest any election unless he or she is a convict or has lost his or her citizenship.
One dead gorilla is news – a guerrilla war claiming millions of lives is not.
The Independent
12 May 2008
It was one of the most arresting images of last year. A majestic male mountain gorilla, his body flecked with blood, splayed out lifeless on a stretcher that 15 park rangers were struggling to bear through the jungle of eastern Congo.
The massacre of the silverback Senkekwe, along with five other rare apes, made the cover of US magazine Newsweek under the headline "Gorilla Warfare". In Britain, the "Murders In The Mist" prompted The Sun to launch its own campaign, and around the globe people wrote in to media outlets, telling of the sleepless nights and trauma the images had caused.
For Anneke van Woudenberg, the Congo specialist for Human Rights Watch, it was a case of gritting one's teeth. "Kill a mountain gorilla in Congo and it gets much more coverage than five million dead," she says. "It irks me every time."
Trawling through the archives of British newspapers for the first four months of 2008, the point is hammered home. The slaughter of elephants in Congo to make ivory chopsticks appears to be the most widely reported story. Another popular item is the arrest of sorcerers suspected of stealing or shrinking human penises.
Breaking the trend of wildlife stories and wild tales are Financial Times articles about Congo's vast mineral resources, a Guardian feature on plans to build the world's biggest dam across the Congo river and a report about Kinshasa's vibrant music scene in this newspaper.
Conspicuously absent are dispatches about the humanitarian crisis, the legacy of the worst conflict since 1945, and a crisis that is still killing an estimated 1,200 people every day. Although Congo's war officially ended in 2002, malaria, cholera and malnutrition mean that the equivalent of the population of Manchester will be wiped out this year.
The humanitarian statistics alone are mind-boggling. Then consider the violence still raging in the troublesome east of the country, and the use of rape as a vicious weapon of war from which even toddlers are not immune, not to mention how Congo will rebuild itself after what is commonly dubbed Africa's First World War. So why aren't we reading more about it?
"Death and destruction in Congo is not something people want to think about over Sunday breakfast. The bean-counters at media outlets know this," sighs Marcus Bleasdale, a photojournalist who has documented the Congo for eight years. "But, as journalists, we have a responsibility to let the world know what is going on, whether or not it sells newspapers or magazines."
David Lewis, a Reuters correspondent in Kinshasa for three years, remembers one of the biggest media flurries during his posting. Children believed to be witches were being tortured to exorcise demons and, if that failed, either cast out on to the streets or killed. "Even British tabloids, which wouldn't report on Congo ordinarily, sent people out here. The whole concept of children being chopped up is something that sells much more than the concept of a huge nation embroiled in a complicated, bloody conflict," Lewis says. Undoubtedly it was a horrific and compelling story, but also one that affected the tiniest percentage of Congolese.
As most staffers and freelancers will testify, getting stories about run-of-the-mill life in Congo into print is a tough challenge, particularly when there is not a historic event like the 2006 elections (the country's first in almost half a century) to peg them to. "Yet if I were to tell them that Ben Affleck is going there next week then suddenly I'd have eight pages," says Bleasdale. "What the hell does Ben Affleck, who's probably only going to spend 24 hours there, have to do with the story?"
The financial equation for Congo in these belt-tightening media times is a lose-lose one. The stories won't sell newspapers and cost a lot to report. Only international news agencies and the odd international broadcaster have correspondents permanently based there, and flying to Kinshasa even from Nairobi and Johannesburg, where many Western foreign correspondents are based, is extremely expensive.
Once in country, the distances are vast. Travelling from the top to bottom of Congo is the equivalent of a trip from Scotland to Sicily; from west to east we are talking Ireland to Russia, only without any decent roads. A decent reporting trip comes in at about the $10,000 mark. In a year when newspapers have to budget for the US presidential election and Beijing Olympics, it is an easy expense for the bean-counters to axe.
When reporters do fight their way in, they are under pressure to get dramatic stories quickly. Anybody Here Been Raped And Speaks English?, the title of the best-selling memoirs of foreign correspondent stalwart Edward Behr, might have been inspired by a TV crew's request overheard during the fighting in the Congo in the 1960s, but variations on the theme are still uttered today.
Parachuting in without the luxury of the daily familiarity of the story that the in situ reporters enjoy, the trap for visiting journalists to avoid is what might be termed "Heart of Darkness syndrome". Joseph Conrad's novella was short in length, but long-lasting in influence, as evidenced by the fact that "I survived the Heart of Darkness" T-shirts are on sale in Kinshasa today.
"There are very few articles written about Congo that don't make reference to the Heart of Darkness, so the myth is perpetuated," says van Woudenberg. And that leads to Congo fatigue. "It's like it has always been a basket-case, horrible things have always happened there, horrible things will always happen there."
Another problem for visiting reporters, according to Richard Dowden of the Royal African Society, is that there are few people to contextualise events. "What strikes the visitor may be important or unimportant to people who live there – or have a completely different meaning," he explains. "And it is so very difficult to find Congolese who can explain Congo to outsiders."
In Africa, Congo is also competing for attention. Dubious elections in Zimbabwe and Kenya in the past six months have generated extensive coverage in Britain, resonating firstly because they are both former colonies and, secondly, because Kenya is a popular holiday destination. Meanwhile, crises raging in northern Uganda, Somalia and Darfur vie for space. Even the UN has been forced to try to come up with unique branding for each humanitarian crisis – one is the "most forgotten", another the "worst in the world".
However, what makes Congo particularly deserving of continued attention is the potential it has to destabilise an entire region. "It is literally as well as metaphorically at the heart of Africa, and so what happens here has a much wider significance in terms of the future of the continent," says Alan Doss, the head of the UN mission there, which is the biggest peacekeeping force in the world. And for reporters like Bleasdale, Congo is a story that is not going away. "If journalists aren't writing about it or editors won't run the stories," he says, "then they are just as guilty as the warlords."
12 May 2008
It was one of the most arresting images of last year. A majestic male mountain gorilla, his body flecked with blood, splayed out lifeless on a stretcher that 15 park rangers were struggling to bear through the jungle of eastern Congo.
The massacre of the silverback Senkekwe, along with five other rare apes, made the cover of US magazine Newsweek under the headline "Gorilla Warfare". In Britain, the "Murders In The Mist" prompted The Sun to launch its own campaign, and around the globe people wrote in to media outlets, telling of the sleepless nights and trauma the images had caused.
For Anneke van Woudenberg, the Congo specialist for Human Rights Watch, it was a case of gritting one's teeth. "Kill a mountain gorilla in Congo and it gets much more coverage than five million dead," she says. "It irks me every time."
Trawling through the archives of British newspapers for the first four months of 2008, the point is hammered home. The slaughter of elephants in Congo to make ivory chopsticks appears to be the most widely reported story. Another popular item is the arrest of sorcerers suspected of stealing or shrinking human penises.
Breaking the trend of wildlife stories and wild tales are Financial Times articles about Congo's vast mineral resources, a Guardian feature on plans to build the world's biggest dam across the Congo river and a report about Kinshasa's vibrant music scene in this newspaper.
Conspicuously absent are dispatches about the humanitarian crisis, the legacy of the worst conflict since 1945, and a crisis that is still killing an estimated 1,200 people every day. Although Congo's war officially ended in 2002, malaria, cholera and malnutrition mean that the equivalent of the population of Manchester will be wiped out this year.
The humanitarian statistics alone are mind-boggling. Then consider the violence still raging in the troublesome east of the country, and the use of rape as a vicious weapon of war from which even toddlers are not immune, not to mention how Congo will rebuild itself after what is commonly dubbed Africa's First World War. So why aren't we reading more about it?
"Death and destruction in Congo is not something people want to think about over Sunday breakfast. The bean-counters at media outlets know this," sighs Marcus Bleasdale, a photojournalist who has documented the Congo for eight years. "But, as journalists, we have a responsibility to let the world know what is going on, whether or not it sells newspapers or magazines."
David Lewis, a Reuters correspondent in Kinshasa for three years, remembers one of the biggest media flurries during his posting. Children believed to be witches were being tortured to exorcise demons and, if that failed, either cast out on to the streets or killed. "Even British tabloids, which wouldn't report on Congo ordinarily, sent people out here. The whole concept of children being chopped up is something that sells much more than the concept of a huge nation embroiled in a complicated, bloody conflict," Lewis says. Undoubtedly it was a horrific and compelling story, but also one that affected the tiniest percentage of Congolese.
As most staffers and freelancers will testify, getting stories about run-of-the-mill life in Congo into print is a tough challenge, particularly when there is not a historic event like the 2006 elections (the country's first in almost half a century) to peg them to. "Yet if I were to tell them that Ben Affleck is going there next week then suddenly I'd have eight pages," says Bleasdale. "What the hell does Ben Affleck, who's probably only going to spend 24 hours there, have to do with the story?"
The financial equation for Congo in these belt-tightening media times is a lose-lose one. The stories won't sell newspapers and cost a lot to report. Only international news agencies and the odd international broadcaster have correspondents permanently based there, and flying to Kinshasa even from Nairobi and Johannesburg, where many Western foreign correspondents are based, is extremely expensive.
Once in country, the distances are vast. Travelling from the top to bottom of Congo is the equivalent of a trip from Scotland to Sicily; from west to east we are talking Ireland to Russia, only without any decent roads. A decent reporting trip comes in at about the $10,000 mark. In a year when newspapers have to budget for the US presidential election and Beijing Olympics, it is an easy expense for the bean-counters to axe.
When reporters do fight their way in, they are under pressure to get dramatic stories quickly. Anybody Here Been Raped And Speaks English?, the title of the best-selling memoirs of foreign correspondent stalwart Edward Behr, might have been inspired by a TV crew's request overheard during the fighting in the Congo in the 1960s, but variations on the theme are still uttered today.
Parachuting in without the luxury of the daily familiarity of the story that the in situ reporters enjoy, the trap for visiting journalists to avoid is what might be termed "Heart of Darkness syndrome". Joseph Conrad's novella was short in length, but long-lasting in influence, as evidenced by the fact that "I survived the Heart of Darkness" T-shirts are on sale in Kinshasa today.
"There are very few articles written about Congo that don't make reference to the Heart of Darkness, so the myth is perpetuated," says van Woudenberg. And that leads to Congo fatigue. "It's like it has always been a basket-case, horrible things have always happened there, horrible things will always happen there."
Another problem for visiting reporters, according to Richard Dowden of the Royal African Society, is that there are few people to contextualise events. "What strikes the visitor may be important or unimportant to people who live there – or have a completely different meaning," he explains. "And it is so very difficult to find Congolese who can explain Congo to outsiders."
In Africa, Congo is also competing for attention. Dubious elections in Zimbabwe and Kenya in the past six months have generated extensive coverage in Britain, resonating firstly because they are both former colonies and, secondly, because Kenya is a popular holiday destination. Meanwhile, crises raging in northern Uganda, Somalia and Darfur vie for space. Even the UN has been forced to try to come up with unique branding for each humanitarian crisis – one is the "most forgotten", another the "worst in the world".
However, what makes Congo particularly deserving of continued attention is the potential it has to destabilise an entire region. "It is literally as well as metaphorically at the heart of Africa, and so what happens here has a much wider significance in terms of the future of the continent," says Alan Doss, the head of the UN mission there, which is the biggest peacekeeping force in the world. And for reporters like Bleasdale, Congo is a story that is not going away. "If journalists aren't writing about it or editors won't run the stories," he says, "then they are just as guilty as the warlords."
Belgian PM 'to offer resignation.'
BBC News
14 July 2008
Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme is tendering his government's resignation to the king after failing to carry out political reforms, his spokesman says.
King Albert II will have to decide whether to accept his resignation.
Mr Leterme had set a 15 July deadline to push through measures to devolve more power to the regions.
He took office in March - after nine months of political deadlock - as the head of a coalition of Dutch and French-speaking parties.
The coalition includes Mr Leterme's Flemish Christian Democrats from the north as well as Socialists from the French-speaking region of Wallonia in the south.
The prime minister was due to present a state reform deal in a speech to parliament on Tuesday.
Before last June's general election, Mr. Leterme had promised his supporters even more devolved powers for regional governments in a country that is already Europe's most decentralised state.
In French-speaking Wallonia - where unemployment is higher and the economy sluggish -there were fears this might leave their region worse off.
No single political party completely bridges the linguistic and cultural differences between Belgium's two regions.
Traditionally, the Belgian prime minister comes from one of the majority Flemish parties.
14 July 2008
Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme is tendering his government's resignation to the king after failing to carry out political reforms, his spokesman says.
King Albert II will have to decide whether to accept his resignation.
Mr Leterme had set a 15 July deadline to push through measures to devolve more power to the regions.
He took office in March - after nine months of political deadlock - as the head of a coalition of Dutch and French-speaking parties.
The coalition includes Mr Leterme's Flemish Christian Democrats from the north as well as Socialists from the French-speaking region of Wallonia in the south.
The prime minister was due to present a state reform deal in a speech to parliament on Tuesday.
Before last June's general election, Mr. Leterme had promised his supporters even more devolved powers for regional governments in a country that is already Europe's most decentralised state.
In French-speaking Wallonia - where unemployment is higher and the economy sluggish -there were fears this might leave their region worse off.
No single political party completely bridges the linguistic and cultural differences between Belgium's two regions.
Traditionally, the Belgian prime minister comes from one of the majority Flemish parties.
14 July, 2008
“NATIONAL UNITY” GOVERNMENT NAMED.
MISNA
11 July 2008
The national unity government led by prime minister Fouad Siniora, who was re-confirmed in his role last May 28, has been announced in Beirut. As expected, the executive is made up by 30 members, 16 of which belong to the parliamentary majority led by Saad Hariri and 11 from the opposition, represented by the Hezbollah, Amal and the ‘Free Patriotic Movement’ led by Michel Aoun (a Maronite); the other three ministers were designated by the president of the Republic, Michel Sleimane. The significant opposition representation confers upon it a strong power over decision making, which will have to be approved with a majority of at least 20 votes. “This government has two main tasks – said Siniora – restore confidence in the political system and ensure transparent parliamentary elections”, expected in 2009.The new government should end a political crisis marked by a six month vacuum in the presidency. Last May, tensions degenerated in armed clashes, which resumed this morning in Tripoli, leaving five dead. Siniora has been prime minister since 2005, when Hezbollah became part of the executive for the first time with one minister (and two others considered to be pro-Hezbollah); and the deputy prime minister, the Greek-Orthodox, Abou Jamra.
11 July 2008
The national unity government led by prime minister Fouad Siniora, who was re-confirmed in his role last May 28, has been announced in Beirut. As expected, the executive is made up by 30 members, 16 of which belong to the parliamentary majority led by Saad Hariri and 11 from the opposition, represented by the Hezbollah, Amal and the ‘Free Patriotic Movement’ led by Michel Aoun (a Maronite); the other three ministers were designated by the president of the Republic, Michel Sleimane. The significant opposition representation confers upon it a strong power over decision making, which will have to be approved with a majority of at least 20 votes. “This government has two main tasks – said Siniora – restore confidence in the political system and ensure transparent parliamentary elections”, expected in 2009.The new government should end a political crisis marked by a six month vacuum in the presidency. Last May, tensions degenerated in armed clashes, which resumed this morning in Tripoli, leaving five dead. Siniora has been prime minister since 2005, when Hezbollah became part of the executive for the first time with one minister (and two others considered to be pro-Hezbollah); and the deputy prime minister, the Greek-Orthodox, Abou Jamra.
GUNMEN SEIZE TWO TOWNS IN SOUTH.
MISNA
13 July 2008
Armed fighters linked to the Somali opposition seized control of another two towns in southern Somalia. According to the Somali press, heavily-armed gunmen entered yesterday in Bardhere, in the south-western Gedo region, and Burhakaba, around 60km from the seat of the transitional parliament in Baidoa. In both cases, the towns were seized without armed confrontations. In Bardhere, the gunmen disbanded the police force accused of having links to the Somali interim government in Mogadishu, backed by Ethiopian troops deployed in the nation since the end of 2006. The opposition fighters have been seizing an increasing number of towns over the past months, only remaining a few hours. The local press today also reports, based on numerous testimonies, the return of hundreds of Somali soldiers in Gedo across the border with Ethiopia; Somali Defence minister Muhiyadin Haji Mohamed recently revealed a military plan that foresees the training of 2,000 Somali soldiers and police in Ethiopian bases.
13 July 2008
Armed fighters linked to the Somali opposition seized control of another two towns in southern Somalia. According to the Somali press, heavily-armed gunmen entered yesterday in Bardhere, in the south-western Gedo region, and Burhakaba, around 60km from the seat of the transitional parliament in Baidoa. In both cases, the towns were seized without armed confrontations. In Bardhere, the gunmen disbanded the police force accused of having links to the Somali interim government in Mogadishu, backed by Ethiopian troops deployed in the nation since the end of 2006. The opposition fighters have been seizing an increasing number of towns over the past months, only remaining a few hours. The local press today also reports, based on numerous testimonies, the return of hundreds of Somali soldiers in Gedo across the border with Ethiopia; Somali Defence minister Muhiyadin Haji Mohamed recently revealed a military plan that foresees the training of 2,000 Somali soldiers and police in Ethiopian bases.
AMNESTY APPROVED FOR “REBELS” IN EAST: SOME REACTIONS.
MISNA
13 July 2008
An important step toward “peace” or, in the contrary, a move that could hamper “national reconciliation”: different reactions are emerging from the Democratic Republic of Congo on the amnesty law passed by the Parliament “for acts of war and rebellion” committed in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. The amnesty applies to all such acts committed since June 2003 and does not apply to “acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity”. According to the local press, rebel groups such as the Mayi Mayi Mongol emphasise that amnesty was among the conditions of the peace process launched in January in a Conference in Goma, capital of North Kivu.
A positive reaction arrived also from some legislators close to the opposition Congo Liberation Movement (MLC): “If we want peace we must support amnesty to allow all the political-military parties on the field, that feel threatened, to end the violence in the east”, said Roger Lumbala. The amnesty law also meets a condition posed for participation in negotiations by the movement of the renegade general Laurent Nkunda, who faces an international arrest warrant. Many however expressed doubt in regard to the law: the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), among the rebel groups active in the Ituri province, also theatre to violence over the past five years, defined the exclusion of the region from the amnesty as “discriminatory”; according to the Justice and Liberation Group Non-Governmental Organisation, laws that only regard some areas of the nation distance the possibility of “a national reconciliation”.
13 July 2008
An important step toward “peace” or, in the contrary, a move that could hamper “national reconciliation”: different reactions are emerging from the Democratic Republic of Congo on the amnesty law passed by the Parliament “for acts of war and rebellion” committed in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. The amnesty applies to all such acts committed since June 2003 and does not apply to “acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity”. According to the local press, rebel groups such as the Mayi Mayi Mongol emphasise that amnesty was among the conditions of the peace process launched in January in a Conference in Goma, capital of North Kivu.
A positive reaction arrived also from some legislators close to the opposition Congo Liberation Movement (MLC): “If we want peace we must support amnesty to allow all the political-military parties on the field, that feel threatened, to end the violence in the east”, said Roger Lumbala. The amnesty law also meets a condition posed for participation in negotiations by the movement of the renegade general Laurent Nkunda, who faces an international arrest warrant. Many however expressed doubt in regard to the law: the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), among the rebel groups active in the Ituri province, also theatre to violence over the past five years, defined the exclusion of the region from the amnesty as “discriminatory”; according to the Justice and Liberation Group Non-Governmental Organisation, laws that only regard some areas of the nation distance the possibility of “a national reconciliation”.
TOUAREG REBELS CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR AGADEZ RAID.
MISNA
14 July 2008
The Touareg rebels of the MNJ have claimed responsibility for an attack against the army in Agadez, an important city in the north where the governorate is based. The raid of July 10 was noted by the population, but there were no apparent victims. In a note, the majority Touareg movement clearly indicated that the move was meant to intimidate and more raids are expected. “We ask the civilians to move far from military barracks and areas that represent the institutions in the interior of the country” writes the MNJ, which began its armed revolt in February 2007. The rebels accuse the government of “bringing the country to ruins with the theft of its resources”.
President Mamadou Tandja has not recognized the MNJ as a rebel movement, preferring to describe its members, some of whom are former army elements, as ‘bandits’ and ‘mercenaries’. During the clashes at the end of June, after the executive’s rejection of dialogue, the army said it had killed 17 MNJ fighters; the movement said that its first vice-president, captain Asharif Mohamed-Almoctar and three of his colleagues were captured alive, threatening “heavy consequences” should they be executed. The new Touareg revolt, after the one that took place in the 1990’s, claims to denounce the bad administration of president Mamadou Tandja, especially as far as the extraction of uranium is concerned, the profits of which have not been used to develop the northern areas.
14 July 2008
The Touareg rebels of the MNJ have claimed responsibility for an attack against the army in Agadez, an important city in the north where the governorate is based. The raid of July 10 was noted by the population, but there were no apparent victims. In a note, the majority Touareg movement clearly indicated that the move was meant to intimidate and more raids are expected. “We ask the civilians to move far from military barracks and areas that represent the institutions in the interior of the country” writes the MNJ, which began its armed revolt in February 2007. The rebels accuse the government of “bringing the country to ruins with the theft of its resources”.
President Mamadou Tandja has not recognized the MNJ as a rebel movement, preferring to describe its members, some of whom are former army elements, as ‘bandits’ and ‘mercenaries’. During the clashes at the end of June, after the executive’s rejection of dialogue, the army said it had killed 17 MNJ fighters; the movement said that its first vice-president, captain Asharif Mohamed-Almoctar and three of his colleagues were captured alive, threatening “heavy consequences” should they be executed. The new Touareg revolt, after the one that took place in the 1990’s, claims to denounce the bad administration of president Mamadou Tandja, especially as far as the extraction of uranium is concerned, the profits of which have not been used to develop the northern areas.
13 July, 2008
Mediterranean Union is launched.
BBC News
13 July 2008
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has launched a new international body with 43 member nations aimed at ending conflict in the Middle East.
The Union for the Mediterranean will tackle issues such as regional unrest, immigration to pollution.
At the summit's opening in Paris, Mr Sarkozy said its aim was to ensure the region's people could love each other instead of making war.
Israeli and Palestinian leaders earlier expressed optimism about peace talks.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel and the Palestinians have never been as close to a peace deal as they are now.
He was speaking after talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who said both sides were serious and wanted to achieve peace.
Transform the region
Mr Sarkozy urged Middle Eastern countries involved in long-running conflicts to end the deadly spiral of war and violence, as European nations had done by making peace which each other during the 20th Century.
Comprising 27 EU members with states from north Africa, the Balkans, Israel and the Arab world, the union's membership will include 756m people from Western Europe to the Jordanian desert.
Welcoming the presence of Arab states alongside Israel, Greece alongside Turkey and Morocco alongside Algeria, Mr Sarkozy said the group would not be "north against south, not Europe against the rest... but united".
He outlined the group's determination to focus on concrete projects focusing on the environment, immigration, security cooperation, transport and education.
The French president was clearly buoyed by the presence in Paris of so many Mediterranean rim leaders and said the union would be based on concrete projects, says BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs.
But critics have dismissed the new union as lacking substance, and diplomats say there are continuing disagreements over key issues such as how to address the Middle East peace process and a possible role for the Arab League.
The only leader boycotting the Paris meeting was Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, who has described the union as a new form of colonialism.
13 July 2008
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has launched a new international body with 43 member nations aimed at ending conflict in the Middle East.
The Union for the Mediterranean will tackle issues such as regional unrest, immigration to pollution.
At the summit's opening in Paris, Mr Sarkozy said its aim was to ensure the region's people could love each other instead of making war.
Israeli and Palestinian leaders earlier expressed optimism about peace talks.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel and the Palestinians have never been as close to a peace deal as they are now.
He was speaking after talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who said both sides were serious and wanted to achieve peace.
Transform the region
Mr Sarkozy urged Middle Eastern countries involved in long-running conflicts to end the deadly spiral of war and violence, as European nations had done by making peace which each other during the 20th Century.
Comprising 27 EU members with states from north Africa, the Balkans, Israel and the Arab world, the union's membership will include 756m people from Western Europe to the Jordanian desert.
Welcoming the presence of Arab states alongside Israel, Greece alongside Turkey and Morocco alongside Algeria, Mr Sarkozy said the group would not be "north against south, not Europe against the rest... but united".
He outlined the group's determination to focus on concrete projects focusing on the environment, immigration, security cooperation, transport and education.
The French president was clearly buoyed by the presence in Paris of so many Mediterranean rim leaders and said the union would be based on concrete projects, says BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs.
But critics have dismissed the new union as lacking substance, and diplomats say there are continuing disagreements over key issues such as how to address the Middle East peace process and a possible role for the Arab League.
The only leader boycotting the Paris meeting was Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, who has described the union as a new form of colonialism.
DRC passes partial amnesty law.
AFP
13 July 2008
Editor's Note: The CNDP has backed down in Rutshuru Territory, but clashes with PARECO continue in Masisi Territory.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s parliament passed a law yesterday giving amnesty for acts of war and rebellion in the east of the country, which has been torn by years of armed conflict.
"The assembly adopted the law giving amnesty to all Congolese, at home or abroad, for acts of war and rebellion committed in the provinces of Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu," the president of the lower house of parliament, Vital Kamerhe, said following the vote, which was broadcast live on national television.
The amnesty applies to all such acts committed since June 2003.
However, it does not apply to, "acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity."
All Congolese armed groups in the two provinces signed a ceasefire agreement in Goma in January committing themselves to disarm their troops and dissolve their forces.
The amnesty law was one of the main conditions for his participation in the peace process.
13 July 2008
Editor's Note: The CNDP has backed down in Rutshuru Territory, but clashes with PARECO continue in Masisi Territory.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s parliament passed a law yesterday giving amnesty for acts of war and rebellion in the east of the country, which has been torn by years of armed conflict.
"The assembly adopted the law giving amnesty to all Congolese, at home or abroad, for acts of war and rebellion committed in the provinces of Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu," the president of the lower house of parliament, Vital Kamerhe, said following the vote, which was broadcast live on national television.
The amnesty applies to all such acts committed since June 2003.
However, it does not apply to, "acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity."
All Congolese armed groups in the two provinces signed a ceasefire agreement in Goma in January committing themselves to disarm their troops and dissolve their forces.
The amnesty law was one of the main conditions for his participation in the peace process.
Telecoms, Oil, Private Military Firms Sponsor Upcoming CCA Infrastructure Conference
Corporate Council on Africa
Press Release
10 July 2008
Washington, D.C.
3rd Annual Conference to Focus on Latest Investment Opportunities in ICT, Transportation, Energy, and Security in Africa
With a subscriber growth rate of 46.2 percent from 2001-2005, Africa's mobile communication numbers continue to rise, making the continent a leading emerging market destination for information communication technology investment. The continent continues to experience significant growth in air travel revenue (12.1 percent in 2005), and African airports had an average annual traffic growth of 5.4 percent between 1995 and 2005. A more stunning reality is that more than 80 percent of Africa's population is without electricity. The lack of electricity stunts the growth of a variety of commercial, social and public-service industries ready for development and investment.
The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) today announced that in conjunction with its corporate and government partners, it will host the 2008 U.S. – Africa Infrastructure Conference: Connecting the Continent. The conference will be held October 6-8 in Washington, D.C. The conference is expected to attract more than 300 leaders from the private and public sectors in the U.S. and Africa, with a specific interest in infrastructure-related industry investments.
"This conference will provide U.S. companies with the blueprint on how to get the highest return on infrastructure investment in Africa," said CCA President and CEO Stephen Hayes.
Conference participants will obtain information on infrastructure development throughout Africa; network with key African and U.S. private sector and government representatives, investors, capitol market experts, infrastructure providers, and investment bankers; explore new business opportunities by identifying specific growth areas and projects; learn about the latest financing options and available instruments; and meet potential business partners. Topics for discussion include cross-cutting issues such as public-private partnerships; financial, legal, and political risk mitigation; project financing; secure banking and data transmission; ICT infrastructure development; ports and airports; maritime security; energy; electric grids; oil and gas; and much more.
To date, event sponsors include The Boeing Company, DynCorp International, Inc.; ExxonMobil; Marathon Oil Corporation; Motorola; Raytheon Company; and Science Applications International Corporation. The following U.S. corporate and government leaders have committed their support to the conference: General Electric; Lockheed Martin; U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation; Millennium Challenge Corporation; Export-Import Bank of the United States; U.S. Agency for International Development; and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
Press Release
10 July 2008
Washington, D.C.
3rd Annual Conference to Focus on Latest Investment Opportunities in ICT, Transportation, Energy, and Security in Africa
With a subscriber growth rate of 46.2 percent from 2001-2005, Africa's mobile communication numbers continue to rise, making the continent a leading emerging market destination for information communication technology investment. The continent continues to experience significant growth in air travel revenue (12.1 percent in 2005), and African airports had an average annual traffic growth of 5.4 percent between 1995 and 2005. A more stunning reality is that more than 80 percent of Africa's population is without electricity. The lack of electricity stunts the growth of a variety of commercial, social and public-service industries ready for development and investment.
The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) today announced that in conjunction with its corporate and government partners, it will host the 2008 U.S. – Africa Infrastructure Conference: Connecting the Continent. The conference will be held October 6-8 in Washington, D.C. The conference is expected to attract more than 300 leaders from the private and public sectors in the U.S. and Africa, with a specific interest in infrastructure-related industry investments.
"This conference will provide U.S. companies with the blueprint on how to get the highest return on infrastructure investment in Africa," said CCA President and CEO Stephen Hayes.
Conference participants will obtain information on infrastructure development throughout Africa; network with key African and U.S. private sector and government representatives, investors, capitol market experts, infrastructure providers, and investment bankers; explore new business opportunities by identifying specific growth areas and projects; learn about the latest financing options and available instruments; and meet potential business partners. Topics for discussion include cross-cutting issues such as public-private partnerships; financial, legal, and political risk mitigation; project financing; secure banking and data transmission; ICT infrastructure development; ports and airports; maritime security; energy; electric grids; oil and gas; and much more.
To date, event sponsors include The Boeing Company, DynCorp International, Inc.; ExxonMobil; Marathon Oil Corporation; Motorola; Raytheon Company; and Science Applications International Corporation. The following U.S. corporate and government leaders have committed their support to the conference: General Electric; Lockheed Martin; U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation; Millennium Challenge Corporation; Export-Import Bank of the United States; U.S. Agency for International Development; and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
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