BBC News
18 April 2009
The head of the last major rebel group in Burundi has handed over his weapons at a ceremony marking the end of an armed struggle against the government.
Agathon Rwasa, of the Forces for National Liberation (FNL), gave his arms to African Union troops overseeing the peace process.
Up to 20,000 FNL rebels are due to be disarmed next week and some will be integrated into the security forces.
The FNL is expected to be registered as a political party next week.
Ethnic conflict in Burundi has led to the deaths of about 300,000 people in the past decade.
End of turmoil?
Agathon Rwasa handed over his arms at a ceremony in Rubira, about 20km (12 miles) west of the capital Bujumbura, where more than 3,000 of the rebels were gathered.
Government officials and South African mediators were also present.
Mr Rwasa described the day as a landmark in the history of his movement and for Burundi.
Other members of the FNL are due to be disarmed next Tuesday before being taken to demobilisation centres.
Mediators have said that 3,500 former rebels will be integrated in Burundi's security forces - 2,100 into the army and 1,400 into the police force.
Lt-Gen Derrick Mgwebi, special envoy for South African chief mediator Charles Nqakula, said on Friday that integration would happen when the government has been told by mediators that "the FNL combatants are officially disarmed".
"There is a light at the end of turmoil," he added.
The Burundi state and the FNL signed a peace agreement in 2006 that ended two decades of ethnic war, but tensions have remained high.
The BBC's Prime Ndikumagenge spoke to villagers near the assembly area and most said they were happy that the ceremony had taken place.
However, some are worried that so few of the rebels are being integrated into the security forces.
One villager, who was not named, said: "We wonder what will become of the rest. They all know how to shoot and have fought for the movement but we hear they are being sent away without receiving anything. We don't know how all of this will end."
18 April, 2009
Bolivia mercenary gang that plotted against Morales 'fought in Balkans'
BBC News
18 April 2009
Two members of a mercenary gang said to have plotted to kill Bolivian President Evo Morales were veterans of the Balkan wars of the 1990s, reports say.
Three died and two were arrested in the eastern city of Santa Cruz after police fought a gunbattle with the group.
Bolivian police officials said two of the five fought for Croatian independence. The three others are said to be Irish, Romanian and Hungarian.
They were said to be planning attacks on government and opposition figures.
Chief among the suspected targets was Bolivian President Evo Morales, but Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera and Santa Cruz Governor Ruben Costas, a bitter opponent of Mr Morales, were also targeted, police said.
There has been no immediate explanation of why the alleged plotters would target government and opposition targets alike.
Mr Costas has questioned the government's information, accusing it of "mounting a show" aimed at discrediting the opposition.
'Paramilitary links'
Revealing details of the alleged mercenary gang, police chief Victor Hugo Escobar said prosecutors were now seeking "clear and concrete information".
The group, suspected by authorities of being behind a dynamite attack on the home of a Catholic cardinal earlier in the week, was tracked down on Thursday to a hotel in Santa Cruz, some 900km (620 miles) east of the capital, La Paz.
The resulting shootout killed Magyarosi Arpak, a Romanian, and Irishman Michael Martin Dwyer, officials say.
The police chief named Eduardo Rosa Flores, 49, a Bolivian-Hungarian man also killed in the gunbattle, as the ringleader of the group.
He fought in the war for Croatian independence in the 1990s where he commanded a paramilitary organisation, reports said.
The two men arrested were named as Mario Francisco Tasik Astorga, 58, another veteran of the Croatian war, and Elot Toazo, a Hungarian computer expert.
Multiple targets
Mr Morales revealed the existence of the alleged plot as he travelled to Venezuela and Trinidad for regional summits.
He said intelligence reports had warned of an assassination plot by a group comprising foreign attackers intending to "riddle us with bullets".
Early reports from Bolivia's leftist government suggested the plotters were linked in some way to opposition movements in the country's lowlands supported by Mr Costas.
But news that Mr Costas was himself thought to be a target brought a clarification from government officials.
"The terrorist group has a strategy... not only against the president or vice-president, but other authorities as well," Deputy Interior Minister Marcos Farfan told Bolivian radio.
18 April 2009
Two members of a mercenary gang said to have plotted to kill Bolivian President Evo Morales were veterans of the Balkan wars of the 1990s, reports say.
Three died and two were arrested in the eastern city of Santa Cruz after police fought a gunbattle with the group.
Bolivian police officials said two of the five fought for Croatian independence. The three others are said to be Irish, Romanian and Hungarian.
They were said to be planning attacks on government and opposition figures.
Chief among the suspected targets was Bolivian President Evo Morales, but Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera and Santa Cruz Governor Ruben Costas, a bitter opponent of Mr Morales, were also targeted, police said.
There has been no immediate explanation of why the alleged plotters would target government and opposition targets alike.
Mr Costas has questioned the government's information, accusing it of "mounting a show" aimed at discrediting the opposition.
'Paramilitary links'
Revealing details of the alleged mercenary gang, police chief Victor Hugo Escobar said prosecutors were now seeking "clear and concrete information".
The group, suspected by authorities of being behind a dynamite attack on the home of a Catholic cardinal earlier in the week, was tracked down on Thursday to a hotel in Santa Cruz, some 900km (620 miles) east of the capital, La Paz.
The resulting shootout killed Magyarosi Arpak, a Romanian, and Irishman Michael Martin Dwyer, officials say.
The police chief named Eduardo Rosa Flores, 49, a Bolivian-Hungarian man also killed in the gunbattle, as the ringleader of the group.
He fought in the war for Croatian independence in the 1990s where he commanded a paramilitary organisation, reports said.
The two men arrested were named as Mario Francisco Tasik Astorga, 58, another veteran of the Croatian war, and Elot Toazo, a Hungarian computer expert.
Multiple targets
Mr Morales revealed the existence of the alleged plot as he travelled to Venezuela and Trinidad for regional summits.
He said intelligence reports had warned of an assassination plot by a group comprising foreign attackers intending to "riddle us with bullets".
Early reports from Bolivia's leftist government suggested the plotters were linked in some way to opposition movements in the country's lowlands supported by Mr Costas.
But news that Mr Costas was himself thought to be a target brought a clarification from government officials.
"The terrorist group has a strategy... not only against the president or vice-president, but other authorities as well," Deputy Interior Minister Marcos Farfan told Bolivian radio.
Somalia approves Islamic law.
AFP
18 April 2009
Somalia's Parliament unanimously approved on Saturday a government proposal to introduce Islamic sharia law in the country, Parliamentary deputy speaker Osman Elmi Bogore told AFP.
"There were 340 members at the session and they voted unanimously for the implementation of Islamic sharia in Somalia," said Bogore, who presided over the debates in the absence of speaker Aden Mohamed Nur.
"The bill... is approved by the Parliament.... We have an Islamic government," he added.
18 April 2009
Somalia's Parliament unanimously approved on Saturday a government proposal to introduce Islamic sharia law in the country, Parliamentary deputy speaker Osman Elmi Bogore told AFP.
"There were 340 members at the session and they voted unanimously for the implementation of Islamic sharia in Somalia," said Bogore, who presided over the debates in the absence of speaker Aden Mohamed Nur.
"The bill... is approved by the Parliament.... We have an Islamic government," he added.
Turkey pledges to help train Somali armed forces.
Reuters
18 April 2009
Turkey will help train and establish a domestic armed forces for the fledgling government of violence-plagued Somalia, President Abdullah Gul said.
NATO member Turkey has sent a ship to the Gulf of Aden to help international efforts off the Somali coast counter pirates who have been increasingly striking at vessels in busy shipping lanes.
Pirates last week attacked a U.S.-flagged container ship and captured its captain. He was subsequently freed in a rescue operation by the U.S. navy and three pirates were shot dead.
"Turkey will give support for the establishment of Somali security forces, their training and other needs," said Gul at a news conference with visiting Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed.
The United States has pledged to help pay for Somalia's domestic security force and bolster the government, established in January under a U.N.-brokered reconciliation process.
It is Somalia's 15th attempt to set up a central government since 1991.
Gul said Turkey would also give support to education in the country and help build infrastructure.
Ahmed repeated calls for international aid for Somalian stability. A Somali donors conference will be held on April 23 in Brussels, where piracy and other security threats will be discussed.
The Gulf of Aden links Europe to Asia via the Suez Canal, and is a key route for oil tankers and cargo ships.
(Editing by Richard Balmforth)
18 April 2009
Turkey will help train and establish a domestic armed forces for the fledgling government of violence-plagued Somalia, President Abdullah Gul said.
NATO member Turkey has sent a ship to the Gulf of Aden to help international efforts off the Somali coast counter pirates who have been increasingly striking at vessels in busy shipping lanes.
Pirates last week attacked a U.S.-flagged container ship and captured its captain. He was subsequently freed in a rescue operation by the U.S. navy and three pirates were shot dead.
"Turkey will give support for the establishment of Somali security forces, their training and other needs," said Gul at a news conference with visiting Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed.
The United States has pledged to help pay for Somalia's domestic security force and bolster the government, established in January under a U.N.-brokered reconciliation process.
It is Somalia's 15th attempt to set up a central government since 1991.
Gul said Turkey would also give support to education in the country and help build infrastructure.
Ahmed repeated calls for international aid for Somalian stability. A Somali donors conference will be held on April 23 in Brussels, where piracy and other security threats will be discussed.
The Gulf of Aden links Europe to Asia via the Suez Canal, and is a key route for oil tankers and cargo ships.
(Editing by Richard Balmforth)
Ethiopia’s opposition demonstrates demanding release of political leader.
Sudan Tribune
18 April 2009
Some 250 supporters of imprisoned opposition leader on Thursday marched in the main streets of Addis Ababa demanding the release of Birtukan Mideksa, leader of Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) party.
Mideksa is serving her life sentence after Ethiopian officials revoked a pardon that freed her last year.
Supporters peacefully marched to the offices of Ethiopian President and to the Prime Minister to present petition for her immediate release.
The Prime minister’s office has rejected their request saying Birtukan was arrested with an intention of ensuring the supremacy of law. However, the office appreciated supporters for holding the rally in a peaceful manner.
This is the first time for opposition parties to stage demonstration since the violent post-2005 election protests that nearly left 200 protesters killed in clashes with government forces.
In her visit abroad the opposition leader told her supporters that she never asked for a pardon grant. She said opposition leaders were freed because the government was in fear of the possible internal and external pressure that could arise.
Birtukan, 36 was re-arrested last December after she denied requesting her pardon. Ethiopian government gave her 3-day period to acknowledge or deny her pardon-request, to which she failed.
According to coordinators of the protest, the aim of Thursday’s demonstration is to publicize the "illegal re-arrest" of the political leader, and for an immediate release and restoration of her pardon.
The head of the Unity for Democracy Justice (UDJ) party had been detained with dozens of opposition figures and supporters following the 2005 elections.
Ethiopia’s next general elections are to be held in June 2010.
18 April 2009
Some 250 supporters of imprisoned opposition leader on Thursday marched in the main streets of Addis Ababa demanding the release of Birtukan Mideksa, leader of Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) party.
Mideksa is serving her life sentence after Ethiopian officials revoked a pardon that freed her last year.
Supporters peacefully marched to the offices of Ethiopian President and to the Prime Minister to present petition for her immediate release.
The Prime minister’s office has rejected their request saying Birtukan was arrested with an intention of ensuring the supremacy of law. However, the office appreciated supporters for holding the rally in a peaceful manner.
This is the first time for opposition parties to stage demonstration since the violent post-2005 election protests that nearly left 200 protesters killed in clashes with government forces.
In her visit abroad the opposition leader told her supporters that she never asked for a pardon grant. She said opposition leaders were freed because the government was in fear of the possible internal and external pressure that could arise.
Birtukan, 36 was re-arrested last December after she denied requesting her pardon. Ethiopian government gave her 3-day period to acknowledge or deny her pardon-request, to which she failed.
According to coordinators of the protest, the aim of Thursday’s demonstration is to publicize the "illegal re-arrest" of the political leader, and for an immediate release and restoration of her pardon.
The head of the Unity for Democracy Justice (UDJ) party had been detained with dozens of opposition figures and supporters following the 2005 elections.
Ethiopia’s next general elections are to be held in June 2010.
Congo lures SA farmers with free land.
Cape Times
17 April 2009
In the biggest land deal in recent African history, the Republic of Congo has sent a delegation of five farmers to South Africa for talks with the South African farm union AgriSA, about the offer of 10-million hectares of farmland to South African farmers.
AgriSA said the government of the country, also known as Congo Brazzaville, wanted to improve food security.
Until now, Congo - which like the bigger Democratic Republic of Congo has been beset by political and ethnic tension in recent years - has had to import 99 percent of its food, mainly from France, Theo de Jager, deputy president of AgriSA, said.
The South African farmers would be able to lease the land for free for 99 years, De Jager said. Other enticements include a five-year "holiday" on corporate tax and the dismantling of taxes on the import of agricultural inputs, such as seeds, fertiliser and machines, De Jager said.
The farmers will be allowed to take all their profits out of the country and, although the project is being billed a food security initiative, are under no obligation to sell their output on the domestic market.
De Jager said that food prices in the Congo are high, making it attractive for farmers to sell their products there. Some 1 300 farmers have shown interest in transplanting themselves; the first of these are expected to settle in the country after June. Among other things, they will grow maize, soya, cotton and coffee. Poultry and cattle farms are also planned.
17 April 2009
In the biggest land deal in recent African history, the Republic of Congo has sent a delegation of five farmers to South Africa for talks with the South African farm union AgriSA, about the offer of 10-million hectares of farmland to South African farmers.
AgriSA said the government of the country, also known as Congo Brazzaville, wanted to improve food security.
Until now, Congo - which like the bigger Democratic Republic of Congo has been beset by political and ethnic tension in recent years - has had to import 99 percent of its food, mainly from France, Theo de Jager, deputy president of AgriSA, said.
The South African farmers would be able to lease the land for free for 99 years, De Jager said. Other enticements include a five-year "holiday" on corporate tax and the dismantling of taxes on the import of agricultural inputs, such as seeds, fertiliser and machines, De Jager said.
The farmers will be allowed to take all their profits out of the country and, although the project is being billed a food security initiative, are under no obligation to sell their output on the domestic market.
De Jager said that food prices in the Congo are high, making it attractive for farmers to sell their products there. Some 1 300 farmers have shown interest in transplanting themselves; the first of these are expected to settle in the country after June. Among other things, they will grow maize, soya, cotton and coffee. Poultry and cattle farms are also planned.
Free Land Expected to Lure South African Farmers.
TradeInvest Africa
18 April 2009
The Republic of Congo offered 10 million hectares of farm land to South African farmers to grow maize, soya beans and also establish poultry and dairy farms.
In the deal being touted as the biggest in recent African history, farmers would be able to lease the land for free for 99 years. Other deal sweeteners include a five-year holiday on corporate tax and tax exemption on all the agricultural inputs.
Farmers will be allowed to take all their profits out of the country and are under no obligation to sell their output on the domestic market.
An estimated 1300 farmers have shown interest in farming in the country and are expected to relocate by June.
Speaking to SAPA, South African farm Union AgriSA deputy president Theo de Jager however said food prices in the Congo are high, making the domestic market attractive.
Congo has had to import 99% of its food in recent years due to a volatile political situation. The population of about four million people is concentrated in the south-west of the country, leaving the vast areas of tropical jungle in the north virtually uninhabited.
South Africa has one of the most developed agriculture sectors on the continent and is Africa's top maize producer and third largest wheat grower.
18 April 2009
The Republic of Congo offered 10 million hectares of farm land to South African farmers to grow maize, soya beans and also establish poultry and dairy farms.
In the deal being touted as the biggest in recent African history, farmers would be able to lease the land for free for 99 years. Other deal sweeteners include a five-year holiday on corporate tax and tax exemption on all the agricultural inputs.
Farmers will be allowed to take all their profits out of the country and are under no obligation to sell their output on the domestic market.
An estimated 1300 farmers have shown interest in farming in the country and are expected to relocate by June.
Speaking to SAPA, South African farm Union AgriSA deputy president Theo de Jager however said food prices in the Congo are high, making the domestic market attractive.
Congo has had to import 99% of its food in recent years due to a volatile political situation. The population of about four million people is concentrated in the south-west of the country, leaving the vast areas of tropical jungle in the north virtually uninhabited.
South Africa has one of the most developed agriculture sectors on the continent and is Africa's top maize producer and third largest wheat grower.
17 April, 2009
Togo coup plan unveiled.
Afrol News
17 April 2009
Authorities in Togo are strengthening the case against the President's brother Kpatcha Gnassingbé, who is formally charged with planning a coup against his brother, Faure Gnassingbé. A major arms arsenal has been found at his house.
Kpatcha Gnassingbé - a former Defence Minister, brother of the current President, son of Togo's long-time Dictator Gnassingbé Eyadema and an influential member of Togo's ruling party - on Wednesday was arrested as he tried to seek refuge at the US Embassy in Lomé. His arrest followed a shootout at his Lomé house between government troops and his private armed guards on Sunday.
On Wednesday afternoon, Togolese state prosecutors charged the President's brother for "plotting to overthrow the government," according to government sources.
"Investigations have revealed serious and corroborating evidence" that the President's brother was the kingpin of a coup plot, state prosecutor Robert Bawoubadi Bakaï said. "An investigation has been opened for a bid to undermine state security, gathering criminals, rebellion, premeditated violence using firearms and complicity in premeditated violence," the state prosecutor added.
Today, authorities put on display an arms arsenal said to be found at the private residence of Kpatcha Gnassingbé. This included military vehicles, assault rifles, AK-47s, tear-gas grenades, satellite telephones, and bullet-proof vests. According to the state prosecutor, these arms were stored to prepare for a coup d'état.
State prosecutor Bakaï indicated that parts of the Togolese army could be involved in the alleged coup plot headed by the President's brother. Authorities are now investigating named persons for their possible engagement, and so far, "five senior army officers and several civilians" have been detained in connection with the case, according to government sources.
The President's brother today denied all knowledge of a coup plot. He claims his guards only answered the sudden fire of a group of armed men that stormed his house on Sunday, thus seeking security at the US Embassy.
State prosecutor Bakaï answered the allegations by Kpatcha Gnassingbé, saying the operation against his Lomé house had been "well prepared". He defended the use of violence by referring to a threat to state security, adding that the presumed existence of heavy arms necessitated a surprise action.
Despite the coup claims, the situation in Lomé is generally calm. Authorities however say they have "tightened security" in the capital. President Gnassingbé also cancelled a planned state visit to China as the plot was unveiled.
The Gnassingbé family has held power in Togo since 1967, with the father of the current President turning the country into one of the fiercest dictatorships in Africa. Faure Gnassingbé took power in a coup after his father's death in 2005, later legitimising his power through a flawed election.
17 April 2009
Authorities in Togo are strengthening the case against the President's brother Kpatcha Gnassingbé, who is formally charged with planning a coup against his brother, Faure Gnassingbé. A major arms arsenal has been found at his house.
Kpatcha Gnassingbé - a former Defence Minister, brother of the current President, son of Togo's long-time Dictator Gnassingbé Eyadema and an influential member of Togo's ruling party - on Wednesday was arrested as he tried to seek refuge at the US Embassy in Lomé. His arrest followed a shootout at his Lomé house between government troops and his private armed guards on Sunday.
On Wednesday afternoon, Togolese state prosecutors charged the President's brother for "plotting to overthrow the government," according to government sources.
"Investigations have revealed serious and corroborating evidence" that the President's brother was the kingpin of a coup plot, state prosecutor Robert Bawoubadi Bakaï said. "An investigation has been opened for a bid to undermine state security, gathering criminals, rebellion, premeditated violence using firearms and complicity in premeditated violence," the state prosecutor added.
Today, authorities put on display an arms arsenal said to be found at the private residence of Kpatcha Gnassingbé. This included military vehicles, assault rifles, AK-47s, tear-gas grenades, satellite telephones, and bullet-proof vests. According to the state prosecutor, these arms were stored to prepare for a coup d'état.
State prosecutor Bakaï indicated that parts of the Togolese army could be involved in the alleged coup plot headed by the President's brother. Authorities are now investigating named persons for their possible engagement, and so far, "five senior army officers and several civilians" have been detained in connection with the case, according to government sources.
The President's brother today denied all knowledge of a coup plot. He claims his guards only answered the sudden fire of a group of armed men that stormed his house on Sunday, thus seeking security at the US Embassy.
State prosecutor Bakaï answered the allegations by Kpatcha Gnassingbé, saying the operation against his Lomé house had been "well prepared". He defended the use of violence by referring to a threat to state security, adding that the presumed existence of heavy arms necessitated a surprise action.
Despite the coup claims, the situation in Lomé is generally calm. Authorities however say they have "tightened security" in the capital. President Gnassingbé also cancelled a planned state visit to China as the plot was unveiled.
The Gnassingbé family has held power in Togo since 1967, with the father of the current President turning the country into one of the fiercest dictatorships in Africa. Faure Gnassingbé took power in a coup after his father's death in 2005, later legitimising his power through a flawed election.
Ex- Hutu rebel voted Burundi's army chief.
AFP
17 April 2009
General Godefroid Niyombare, a former Hutu rebel, on Thursday became the first member of his ethnic group to be appointed head of Burundi's armed forces in this African nation torn by civil strife.
The Senate voted in closed session to confirm Niyombare as military chief as part of the country's efforts to divide government posts equally between majority Hutus and minority Tutsis under a peace agreement.
"The Senate has just approved with 34 out of 47 votes President Pierre Nkurunziza's nomination of General Godefroid Niyombare to the post of head of army chiefs of staff," Senator William Munyembabazi said.
"It is the first time that a Hutu becomes head of the army chiefs of staff of Burundi and it is a sign that society has evolved," said Nkurunziza, who is also a former Hutu rebel.
Niyombare, 40, who was the deputy military chief, was a member of the ex-rebel Democracy Defence Forces (FDD) that are now in power. He replaces General Samuel Gahiro, a Tutsi.
"This change was expected for a while because it had been agreed in 2004 that, after some time, the head of the armed forces from the former army would give up his place to a soldier for the former rebellion," a diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
Burundi is struggling to emerge from 13 years of civil war that have pitted the army, once dominated by Tutsis, against Hutu rebel movements.
Hutus and Tutsis now equally share posts in the army and police.
17 April 2009
General Godefroid Niyombare, a former Hutu rebel, on Thursday became the first member of his ethnic group to be appointed head of Burundi's armed forces in this African nation torn by civil strife.
The Senate voted in closed session to confirm Niyombare as military chief as part of the country's efforts to divide government posts equally between majority Hutus and minority Tutsis under a peace agreement.
"The Senate has just approved with 34 out of 47 votes President Pierre Nkurunziza's nomination of General Godefroid Niyombare to the post of head of army chiefs of staff," Senator William Munyembabazi said.
"It is the first time that a Hutu becomes head of the army chiefs of staff of Burundi and it is a sign that society has evolved," said Nkurunziza, who is also a former Hutu rebel.
Niyombare, 40, who was the deputy military chief, was a member of the ex-rebel Democracy Defence Forces (FDD) that are now in power. He replaces General Samuel Gahiro, a Tutsi.
"This change was expected for a while because it had been agreed in 2004 that, after some time, the head of the armed forces from the former army would give up his place to a soldier for the former rebellion," a diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
Burundi is struggling to emerge from 13 years of civil war that have pitted the army, once dominated by Tutsis, against Hutu rebel movements.
Hutus and Tutsis now equally share posts in the army and police.
New power struggle in Comoros.
Afrol News
16 April 2009
Comoros Union President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi has announced a 17 May constitutional referendum, hoping to strengthen his central office at the cost of the autonomous island presidencies and to make Comoros an Islamic republic.
President Sambi in a televised speech announced he had "set the date of 17 May 2009 to hold a referendum to revise our constitution, with the electoral campaign to be held from 26 April to 15 May." An earlier attempt to decree a constitutional referendum in March was rejected by the Moroni constitutional court.
He made few concrete references to which constitutional changes that would be presented to Comoran voters, mostly vaguely referring to a "harmonisation" of power sharing on the decentralised archipelago.
At the earlier, rejected, attempt to vote over a constitutional change, President Sambi had proposed to extend his mandate from four to five years, lessen the powers of the three autonomous island presidents by naming them governors, strengthen central powers, giving him powers to dissolve parliament and define Comoros as an Islamic state.
President Sambi on 3 March signed the decree to hold that referendum on 22 March, but protesting island authorities achieved a constitutional court order to stop the referendum. The court ruled the presidential decree to be "illegal on procedural grounds."
Powers on Comoros are strongly decentralised due to decades of political instability and secession attempts by the archipelago's two minor islands, Anjouan and Moheli. A South African-brokered peace deal provided for the current constitution, which outlines a loose union between the two minor islands and Grande Comore.
Currently, the central (union) presidency passes from one island to another, with Mr Sambi representing the Grande Comore four-year term. He cannot be re-elected and is supposed to hand over the presidency to a person elected on Moheli island in 2010. Each of the three islands also has is own popularly elected president and parliament, which control everything except foreign and defence policies.
President Sambi's continued attempts to centralise powers and to change the constitution have raised strong opposition among other elected bodies on the archipelago. Island presidents this week jointly called on President Sambi to "respect constitution" and to "renounce" what they called his "obsession to prolonge his term."
The presidents of Moheli and Grande Comore islands said they would be willing to participate in a larger process to seek to revise and "harmonise" the Comoran constitution, but insisted this process must include all island leaders. While agreeing that the many and frequent elections held on a national and island level were costly for the small nation, they insisted President Sambi must leave powers to a Moheli-elected leader on 26 May 2010.
Despite a constant power struggle between union and island governments, Comoros has seen an unprecedented period of peace and stability since the 2001 constitution provided for a decentralised union. Analysts fear President Sambi's insistence of a constitutional reform may again create a climate of instability and political violence on the archipelago.
16 April 2009
Comoros Union President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi has announced a 17 May constitutional referendum, hoping to strengthen his central office at the cost of the autonomous island presidencies and to make Comoros an Islamic republic.
President Sambi in a televised speech announced he had "set the date of 17 May 2009 to hold a referendum to revise our constitution, with the electoral campaign to be held from 26 April to 15 May." An earlier attempt to decree a constitutional referendum in March was rejected by the Moroni constitutional court.
He made few concrete references to which constitutional changes that would be presented to Comoran voters, mostly vaguely referring to a "harmonisation" of power sharing on the decentralised archipelago.
At the earlier, rejected, attempt to vote over a constitutional change, President Sambi had proposed to extend his mandate from four to five years, lessen the powers of the three autonomous island presidents by naming them governors, strengthen central powers, giving him powers to dissolve parliament and define Comoros as an Islamic state.
President Sambi on 3 March signed the decree to hold that referendum on 22 March, but protesting island authorities achieved a constitutional court order to stop the referendum. The court ruled the presidential decree to be "illegal on procedural grounds."
Powers on Comoros are strongly decentralised due to decades of political instability and secession attempts by the archipelago's two minor islands, Anjouan and Moheli. A South African-brokered peace deal provided for the current constitution, which outlines a loose union between the two minor islands and Grande Comore.
Currently, the central (union) presidency passes from one island to another, with Mr Sambi representing the Grande Comore four-year term. He cannot be re-elected and is supposed to hand over the presidency to a person elected on Moheli island in 2010. Each of the three islands also has is own popularly elected president and parliament, which control everything except foreign and defence policies.
President Sambi's continued attempts to centralise powers and to change the constitution have raised strong opposition among other elected bodies on the archipelago. Island presidents this week jointly called on President Sambi to "respect constitution" and to "renounce" what they called his "obsession to prolonge his term."
The presidents of Moheli and Grande Comore islands said they would be willing to participate in a larger process to seek to revise and "harmonise" the Comoran constitution, but insisted this process must include all island leaders. While agreeing that the many and frequent elections held on a national and island level were costly for the small nation, they insisted President Sambi must leave powers to a Moheli-elected leader on 26 May 2010.
Despite a constant power struggle between union and island governments, Comoros has seen an unprecedented period of peace and stability since the 2001 constitution provided for a decentralised union. Analysts fear President Sambi's insistence of a constitutional reform may again create a climate of instability and political violence on the archipelago.
New power struggle in Comoros.
Afrol News
16 April 2009
Comoros Union President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi has announced a 17 May constitutional referendum, hoping to strengthen his central office at the cost of the autonomous island presidencies and to make Comoros an Islamic republic.
President Sambi in a televised speech announced he had "set the date of 17 May 2009 to hold a referendum to revise our constitution, with the electoral campaign to be held from 26 April to 15 May." An earlier attempt to decree a constitutional referendum in March was rejected by the Moroni constitutional court.
He made few concrete references to which constitutional changes that would be presented to Comoran voters, mostly vaguely referring to a "harmonisation" of power sharing on the decentralised archipelago.
At the earlier, rejected, attempt to vote over a constitutional change, President Sambi had proposed to extend his mandate from four to five years, lessen the powers of the three autonomous island presidents by naming them governors, strengthen central powers, giving him powers to dissolve parliament and define Comoros as an Islamic state.
President Sambi on 3 March signed the decree to hold that referendum on 22 March, but protesting island authorities achieved a constitutional court order to stop the referendum. The court ruled the presidential decree to be "illegal on procedural grounds."
Powers on Comoros are strongly decentralised due to decades of political instability and secession attempts by the archipelago's two minor islands, Anjouan and Moheli. A South African-brokered peace deal provided for the current constitution, which outlines a loose union between the two minor islands and Grande Comore.
Currently, the central (union) presidency passes from one island to another, with Mr Sambi representing the Grande Comore four-year term. He cannot be re-elected and is supposed to hand over the presidency to a person elected on Moheli island in 2010. Each of the three islands also has is own popularly elected president and parliament, which control everything except foreign and defence policies.
President Sambi's continued attempts to centralise powers and to change the constitution have raised strong opposition among other elected bodies on the archipelago. Island presidents this week jointly called on President Sambi to "respect constitution" and to "renounce" what they called his "obsession to prolonge his term."
The presidents of Moheli and Grande Comore islands said they would be willing to participate in a larger process to seek to revise and "harmonise" the Comoran constitution, but insisted this process must include all island leaders. While agreeing that the many and frequent elections held on a national and island level were costly for the small nation, they insisted President Sambi must leave powers to a Moheli-elected leader on 26 May 2010.
Despite a constant power struggle between union and island governments, Comoros has seen an unprecedented period of peace and stability since the 2001 constitution provided for a decentralised union. Analysts fear President Sambi's insistence of a constitutional reform may again create a climate of instability and political violence on the archipelago.
16 April 2009
Comoros Union President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi has announced a 17 May constitutional referendum, hoping to strengthen his central office at the cost of the autonomous island presidencies and to make Comoros an Islamic republic.
President Sambi in a televised speech announced he had "set the date of 17 May 2009 to hold a referendum to revise our constitution, with the electoral campaign to be held from 26 April to 15 May." An earlier attempt to decree a constitutional referendum in March was rejected by the Moroni constitutional court.
He made few concrete references to which constitutional changes that would be presented to Comoran voters, mostly vaguely referring to a "harmonisation" of power sharing on the decentralised archipelago.
At the earlier, rejected, attempt to vote over a constitutional change, President Sambi had proposed to extend his mandate from four to five years, lessen the powers of the three autonomous island presidents by naming them governors, strengthen central powers, giving him powers to dissolve parliament and define Comoros as an Islamic state.
President Sambi on 3 March signed the decree to hold that referendum on 22 March, but protesting island authorities achieved a constitutional court order to stop the referendum. The court ruled the presidential decree to be "illegal on procedural grounds."
Powers on Comoros are strongly decentralised due to decades of political instability and secession attempts by the archipelago's two minor islands, Anjouan and Moheli. A South African-brokered peace deal provided for the current constitution, which outlines a loose union between the two minor islands and Grande Comore.
Currently, the central (union) presidency passes from one island to another, with Mr Sambi representing the Grande Comore four-year term. He cannot be re-elected and is supposed to hand over the presidency to a person elected on Moheli island in 2010. Each of the three islands also has is own popularly elected president and parliament, which control everything except foreign and defence policies.
President Sambi's continued attempts to centralise powers and to change the constitution have raised strong opposition among other elected bodies on the archipelago. Island presidents this week jointly called on President Sambi to "respect constitution" and to "renounce" what they called his "obsession to prolonge his term."
The presidents of Moheli and Grande Comore islands said they would be willing to participate in a larger process to seek to revise and "harmonise" the Comoran constitution, but insisted this process must include all island leaders. While agreeing that the many and frequent elections held on a national and island level were costly for the small nation, they insisted President Sambi must leave powers to a Moheli-elected leader on 26 May 2010.
Despite a constant power struggle between union and island governments, Comoros has seen an unprecedented period of peace and stability since the 2001 constitution provided for a decentralised union. Analysts fear President Sambi's insistence of a constitutional reform may again create a climate of instability and political violence on the archipelago.
16 April, 2009
New York investment firm mulling more land leases in S. Sudan.
Sudan Tribune
16 April 2009
Jarch Management Group, Ltd., a US investment firm, disclosed that it is considering additional opportunities to lease large tracts of farmland in Southern Sudan.
This report follows the announcement in January of a massive lease agreement that prompted some tension within governing circles in Southern Sudan.
In an apparent change of course from oil investing to agriculture, Jarch Management took a 70% interest in the Sudanese company Leac for Agriculture and Investment and leased approximately 400,000 hectares of land claimed by General Paulino Matip, a figure now straddling a deep fissure within the Sudan People’s Liberation Army.
In a statement emailed to Sudan Tribune today the company disclosed that it aims to lease another 400,000 hectares of land by the end of the year.
“Since its January 2009 announcement that it had leased about 400,000 hectares, the Company has had a multitude of offers to buy and lease farmland from around the world,” said a statement from the management of the company.
“However, the Company is focused on frontier African countries and continues to look for opportunities in farmland and other natural resources in these countries. As such, the Company hopes to conclude more deals for more leased farmland. The Company is hopeful that it can lease at least another 400,000 hectares of land by the end of the year.”
South Sudanese law requires that large leases of land be approved by two local government bodies. Accordingly, a January statement from Leac Company noted that the acquisition would include dealings with local land authorities and stressed that “the state and local governments shall have budgets for development because of the cash flows from the agricultural schemes the two companies will operate.”
While U.S. companies are banned from doing business in Sudan, agriculture in Southern Sudan is exempted from sanctions provided that the national government does not have any stake in the business and provided that no imports or exports pass through non-exempt areas.
Jarch Management Group, Ltd, which is registered in the Virgin Islands, is managed by New York investor Philippe Heilberg, commodities traders and former State Department and Central Intelligence Agency officials, among others.
16 April 2009
Jarch Management Group, Ltd., a US investment firm, disclosed that it is considering additional opportunities to lease large tracts of farmland in Southern Sudan.
This report follows the announcement in January of a massive lease agreement that prompted some tension within governing circles in Southern Sudan.
In an apparent change of course from oil investing to agriculture, Jarch Management took a 70% interest in the Sudanese company Leac for Agriculture and Investment and leased approximately 400,000 hectares of land claimed by General Paulino Matip, a figure now straddling a deep fissure within the Sudan People’s Liberation Army.
In a statement emailed to Sudan Tribune today the company disclosed that it aims to lease another 400,000 hectares of land by the end of the year.
“Since its January 2009 announcement that it had leased about 400,000 hectares, the Company has had a multitude of offers to buy and lease farmland from around the world,” said a statement from the management of the company.
“However, the Company is focused on frontier African countries and continues to look for opportunities in farmland and other natural resources in these countries. As such, the Company hopes to conclude more deals for more leased farmland. The Company is hopeful that it can lease at least another 400,000 hectares of land by the end of the year.”
South Sudanese law requires that large leases of land be approved by two local government bodies. Accordingly, a January statement from Leac Company noted that the acquisition would include dealings with local land authorities and stressed that “the state and local governments shall have budgets for development because of the cash flows from the agricultural schemes the two companies will operate.”
While U.S. companies are banned from doing business in Sudan, agriculture in Southern Sudan is exempted from sanctions provided that the national government does not have any stake in the business and provided that no imports or exports pass through non-exempt areas.
Jarch Management Group, Ltd, which is registered in the Virgin Islands, is managed by New York investor Philippe Heilberg, commodities traders and former State Department and Central Intelligence Agency officials, among others.
Uganda, Sudan discuss regional security.
Sudan Tribune
16 April 2009
Sudanese and Ugandan officials today discussed efforts among states in the Great Lakes region to facilitate herding inter-border movements and prevent clashes.
Uganda’s foreign affairs state minister Isaac Musumba met in Khartoum with his Sudanese counterpart Ali Karti. Musumba also came in his capacity as the coordinator of the Great lakes organization.
Sudan official news agency (SUNA) quoted Karti as saying that said that achieving peace and security is crucial to development in the region.
The Sudanese foreign ministry spokesperson Ali Al-Sadiq told reporters that both sides also discussed political support and trade between Uganda and Sudan.
Al-Sadiq said that the Ugandan official stressed his country’s support to Sudan in its conformation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) which last month issued an arrest warrant for president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.
The Ugandan president Yoweri Musievini said in the past that Bashir should be investigated by the African Union (AU) and took a cautious position on the issue contrary to other African states that have rallied behind the Sudanese head of state.
Musumba said that his visit to Sudan comes in the framework of disarmament in the border areas of Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.
16 April 2009
Sudanese and Ugandan officials today discussed efforts among states in the Great Lakes region to facilitate herding inter-border movements and prevent clashes.
Uganda’s foreign affairs state minister Isaac Musumba met in Khartoum with his Sudanese counterpart Ali Karti. Musumba also came in his capacity as the coordinator of the Great lakes organization.
Sudan official news agency (SUNA) quoted Karti as saying that said that achieving peace and security is crucial to development in the region.
The Sudanese foreign ministry spokesperson Ali Al-Sadiq told reporters that both sides also discussed political support and trade between Uganda and Sudan.
Al-Sadiq said that the Ugandan official stressed his country’s support to Sudan in its conformation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) which last month issued an arrest warrant for president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.
The Ugandan president Yoweri Musievini said in the past that Bashir should be investigated by the African Union (AU) and took a cautious position on the issue contrary to other African states that have rallied behind the Sudanese head of state.
Musumba said that his visit to Sudan comes in the framework of disarmament in the border areas of Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.
NATO Exercise Planned in Georgia.
Civil Georgia
16 April 2009
NATO plans military exercises in Georgia in frames of Partnership for Peace programme from May 6 to June 1 to improve “interoperability between NATO and partner countries,” NATO said in a statement on April 15.
Cooperative Longbow-2009 will be command post exercise in crisis response operations at the multinational brigade level. A field training exercise, Cooperative Lancer-2009, will then follow to provide basic training on peace support operations at the battalion level, according to the NATO statement.
Exercises will be held in Vaziani military base, twenty kilometers east of Tbilisi, with participation of about 1,300 personnel from nineteen NATO and partner countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.
The statement also says that the planning for these exercises began in spring 2008.
16 April 2009
NATO plans military exercises in Georgia in frames of Partnership for Peace programme from May 6 to June 1 to improve “interoperability between NATO and partner countries,” NATO said in a statement on April 15.
Cooperative Longbow-2009 will be command post exercise in crisis response operations at the multinational brigade level. A field training exercise, Cooperative Lancer-2009, will then follow to provide basic training on peace support operations at the battalion level, according to the NATO statement.
Exercises will be held in Vaziani military base, twenty kilometers east of Tbilisi, with participation of about 1,300 personnel from nineteen NATO and partner countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.
The statement also says that the planning for these exercises began in spring 2008.
Switzerland Ready to Return U.S. $130 Million Loot.
This Day
Chinwe Ochu
16 April 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abuja — The Government of Switzerland yesterday said it would be willing to release the $150 million Halliburton bribe money trapped in Swiss bank accounts if Nigeria formally requests for assistance.
Switzerland's Foreign Minister, Michele Telary-rey, who disclosed this in Abuja while meeting with Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Ojo Maduekwe, said her country regards Nigeria as an economically and politically strategic country in Africa and would do everything to ensure a good relationship.
She said Switzerland was committed to the release of the trapped funds to help in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
Nigeria's Ambassador to Switzerland, Dr. Martin Egomoivi, who was part of the delegation, also expressed optimism that the negotiation with the Swiss Government would reap positive result as the European country was committed to repatriating the funds.
The Nigerian envoy said Switzerland has 60 companies operating in Nigeria with about $200 million investment.
Responding, Maduekwe expressed the appreciation of the Nigerian government for the understanding in the Halliburton affair and asked for assistance and professional expertise in agriculture and gas flaring.
The Federal Government had two weeks ago disclosed that investigators had traced $150 million out of the $180 million Halliburton bribe money to Zurich, Switzerland - saying it was yet to ascertain the name of the account holder.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Mike Aondoakaa, who described the discovery as "shocking", said the money had been trapped in Zurich because it had been difficult to establish the operator of the account but warned that no government official found culpable would be speared.
He however did not state categorically who found it difficult to ascertain the account's owner - whether the Nigerian government or officials of the unnamed bank.
About $180 million was said to have been paid out to some Nigeria top government officials as bribe through a subsidiary of Halliburton, Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR), to facilitate the award of $6 billion LNG contracts.
"We have discovered that $150 million of the bribe money is in Zurich. That is the first shocking discovery. The entire money is $180 million. $150 million is already trapped in Zurich," he said.
Chinwe Ochu
16 April 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abuja — The Government of Switzerland yesterday said it would be willing to release the $150 million Halliburton bribe money trapped in Swiss bank accounts if Nigeria formally requests for assistance.
Switzerland's Foreign Minister, Michele Telary-rey, who disclosed this in Abuja while meeting with Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Ojo Maduekwe, said her country regards Nigeria as an economically and politically strategic country in Africa and would do everything to ensure a good relationship.
She said Switzerland was committed to the release of the trapped funds to help in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
Nigeria's Ambassador to Switzerland, Dr. Martin Egomoivi, who was part of the delegation, also expressed optimism that the negotiation with the Swiss Government would reap positive result as the European country was committed to repatriating the funds.
The Nigerian envoy said Switzerland has 60 companies operating in Nigeria with about $200 million investment.
Responding, Maduekwe expressed the appreciation of the Nigerian government for the understanding in the Halliburton affair and asked for assistance and professional expertise in agriculture and gas flaring.
The Federal Government had two weeks ago disclosed that investigators had traced $150 million out of the $180 million Halliburton bribe money to Zurich, Switzerland - saying it was yet to ascertain the name of the account holder.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Mike Aondoakaa, who described the discovery as "shocking", said the money had been trapped in Zurich because it had been difficult to establish the operator of the account but warned that no government official found culpable would be speared.
He however did not state categorically who found it difficult to ascertain the account's owner - whether the Nigerian government or officials of the unnamed bank.
About $180 million was said to have been paid out to some Nigeria top government officials as bribe through a subsidiary of Halliburton, Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR), to facilitate the award of $6 billion LNG contracts.
"We have discovered that $150 million of the bribe money is in Zurich. That is the first shocking discovery. The entire money is $180 million. $150 million is already trapped in Zurich," he said.
UN Staff Seeks Answers in 2007 Algiers Bombing.
IPS
Haider Rizvi
15 April 2009
Why is the U.N. keeping its report on the 2007 terrorist attack in Algeria secret? The world body's staff union says it wants to know.
"We want to know about those people who were responsible for that incident," said Stephen Kisambira, president of the staff union, which comprises over 26,000 members.
On Dec. 11, 2007, more than 17 staffers were killed and dozens more wounded as a result of the deadly attack at the U.N. offices in the capital, Algiers. The al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb later claimed responsibility for the suicide car bombing that caused the second highest staff casualties in the history of the United Nations.
Another attack minutes earlier near the country's Supreme Constitutional Court killed about 60 others.
Kisambira told IPS there is a growing sense of insecurity among U.N. employees because the organisation has failed to take strong action on the Algerian incident.
The attack led to the formation of an independent panel, which after completing its investigation, urged the U.N. to improve its security apparatus. In its report last June, the panel indicated that certain employees had failed to respond adequately to the Algeria attack, both before and after the tragedy.
"There were significant lapses in judgment and performance on the part of those involved," said the panel in its report submitted to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon.
Led by Algeria's former foreign minister Lakhdar Brahimi, the panel said the U.N. must take action to "review the responsibilities of the key individuals and offices concerned."
In response to the Brahimi report, Ban appointed a follow-up group on the question of accountability, headed by Ralph Zacklin, a former assistant secretary-general for legal affairs. About six months ago, Zacklin reported back to Ban with an 88-page report on what led to compromising the security and safety of the U.N. staff in Algeria.
Kisambira complained that Ban has not only failed to take any steps to tighten security, but has withheld the Zacklin report's findings from staff.
"The U.N. is once again failing to address the accountability and security issues in a straightforward and transparent manner," he said. "All staff members owe it to our dead colleagues that such security failures do not happen again."
Kisambira said he and other union officials have tried several times to ask the top U.N. leadership why the report was not made public, but so far they have had no adequate response.
The Brahimi report called for a "system-wide" review of security strategy, performance and resources on a regular basis and increase in funding by donor nations.
The panel found that most of the staff members are "not adequately informed about their rights and obligations," including on the issue of security and safety.
Long-time observers at the U.N. relate the secrecy surrounding the Algeria report to the tendency among top officials to be distracted by U.S. foreign policy imperatives.
In its report, the Brahimi Panel observed that at the time of attack in Algeria, senior U.N. managers were "preoccupied with Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia and Sudan," a veiled reference to U.N. involvement in the so-called U.S.-led war on terror.
"Algeria was not on their radar screen," said the report, noting that during the early and middle part of 2007 when the situation in Algeria "clearly required sustained attention, key parts of the Department of Security and Safety were undergoing personnel changes."
Over the past several decades, the political and military leadership in Algeria has been consistently backed by the United States, despite its oppressive and undemocratic ways of governance.
Like many parts of the Muslim world, many Algerians see the U.N. as an institution that has compromised on its principles of neutrality and impartiality and, in most cases, aligns itself with the interests of the United States and other former colonial powers.
The Brahimi panel urged the U.N. to take measures to demonstrate its impartial character. It said member states "need to be aware of the impact of decisions taken in intergovernmental bodies on the image of impartiality and neutrality of the U.N. and on the security of U.N. staff and properly around the world."
In response to a question, Kisambira said Ban's "failure to meet his responsibilities in a timely manner smacks of indifference, incompetence, or chicanery." In his opinion, Ban predecessor, former secretary-general Kofi Annan, did a much better job in addressing the issue of security.
Asked why the U.N. is not releasing its report on Algeria in full detail, a spokesperson for Ban told IPS: "It's due to security reasons." He declined, however, to elaborate what those security reasons are.
Kisambira said he and his colleagues understand the "need for confidentiality," but added that they believe "it would be in the interest of the U.N. to make the findings and conclusions of the Zacklin report, to the greatest extent possible, public."
Haider Rizvi
15 April 2009
Why is the U.N. keeping its report on the 2007 terrorist attack in Algeria secret? The world body's staff union says it wants to know.
"We want to know about those people who were responsible for that incident," said Stephen Kisambira, president of the staff union, which comprises over 26,000 members.
On Dec. 11, 2007, more than 17 staffers were killed and dozens more wounded as a result of the deadly attack at the U.N. offices in the capital, Algiers. The al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb later claimed responsibility for the suicide car bombing that caused the second highest staff casualties in the history of the United Nations.
Another attack minutes earlier near the country's Supreme Constitutional Court killed about 60 others.
Kisambira told IPS there is a growing sense of insecurity among U.N. employees because the organisation has failed to take strong action on the Algerian incident.
The attack led to the formation of an independent panel, which after completing its investigation, urged the U.N. to improve its security apparatus. In its report last June, the panel indicated that certain employees had failed to respond adequately to the Algeria attack, both before and after the tragedy.
"There were significant lapses in judgment and performance on the part of those involved," said the panel in its report submitted to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon.
Led by Algeria's former foreign minister Lakhdar Brahimi, the panel said the U.N. must take action to "review the responsibilities of the key individuals and offices concerned."
In response to the Brahimi report, Ban appointed a follow-up group on the question of accountability, headed by Ralph Zacklin, a former assistant secretary-general for legal affairs. About six months ago, Zacklin reported back to Ban with an 88-page report on what led to compromising the security and safety of the U.N. staff in Algeria.
Kisambira complained that Ban has not only failed to take any steps to tighten security, but has withheld the Zacklin report's findings from staff.
"The U.N. is once again failing to address the accountability and security issues in a straightforward and transparent manner," he said. "All staff members owe it to our dead colleagues that such security failures do not happen again."
Kisambira said he and other union officials have tried several times to ask the top U.N. leadership why the report was not made public, but so far they have had no adequate response.
The Brahimi report called for a "system-wide" review of security strategy, performance and resources on a regular basis and increase in funding by donor nations.
The panel found that most of the staff members are "not adequately informed about their rights and obligations," including on the issue of security and safety.
Long-time observers at the U.N. relate the secrecy surrounding the Algeria report to the tendency among top officials to be distracted by U.S. foreign policy imperatives.
In its report, the Brahimi Panel observed that at the time of attack in Algeria, senior U.N. managers were "preoccupied with Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia and Sudan," a veiled reference to U.N. involvement in the so-called U.S.-led war on terror.
"Algeria was not on their radar screen," said the report, noting that during the early and middle part of 2007 when the situation in Algeria "clearly required sustained attention, key parts of the Department of Security and Safety were undergoing personnel changes."
Over the past several decades, the political and military leadership in Algeria has been consistently backed by the United States, despite its oppressive and undemocratic ways of governance.
Like many parts of the Muslim world, many Algerians see the U.N. as an institution that has compromised on its principles of neutrality and impartiality and, in most cases, aligns itself with the interests of the United States and other former colonial powers.
The Brahimi panel urged the U.N. to take measures to demonstrate its impartial character. It said member states "need to be aware of the impact of decisions taken in intergovernmental bodies on the image of impartiality and neutrality of the U.N. and on the security of U.N. staff and properly around the world."
In response to a question, Kisambira said Ban's "failure to meet his responsibilities in a timely manner smacks of indifference, incompetence, or chicanery." In his opinion, Ban predecessor, former secretary-general Kofi Annan, did a much better job in addressing the issue of security.
Asked why the U.N. is not releasing its report on Algeria in full detail, a spokesperson for Ban told IPS: "It's due to security reasons." He declined, however, to elaborate what those security reasons are.
Kisambira said he and his colleagues understand the "need for confidentiality," but added that they believe "it would be in the interest of the U.N. to make the findings and conclusions of the Zacklin report, to the greatest extent possible, public."
Huge Congo land deal for South Africa's farmers.
Reuters
15 April 2009
South African farmers have been offered 10 million hectares of farm land on which to grow maize and soya beans and on which to set up poultry and dairy farms in the Republic of Congo, South Africa’s main farmers union said yesterday.
The deal, which covers an area more than twice the size of Switzerland, could be one of the biggest such land agreements on the continent agreed by Congo’s government in an effort to improve food security, Theo de Jager, deputy president of Agriculture South Africa (AgriSA), told Reuters.
South Africa has one of the most developed agriculture sectors on the continent and is Africa’s top maize producer and third largest wheat grower.
“They’ve given us 10 million hectares, and that’s quite big when you consider that in South Africa we have about six million hectares of land that is arable,” De Jager told Reuters on the sidelines of an agriculture conference in Durban.
De Jager said the agreement to be finalised in South Africa next month would operate as a 99-year lease at no cost, with additional tax benefits.
“The offer that we got and we’ve agreed on paper, is a 99-year lease, of which the value would be zero and it’s not allowed to escalate over the 99 years. So it is free use for 99 years,” he said.
The Republic of Congo’s population of around four million people is concentrated in the south-west of the country, leaving the vast areas of tropical jungle in the north virtually uninhabited.
De Jager said some 1 300 South African farmers are keen to farm in the Congo Republic.
“We have two groups of farmers who are interested, one of farmers who want to leave South Africa and relocate entirely to farm over there and another of farmers who want to diversify their farming operations to the Congo,” he said.
“We’ve got guys wanting to get into poultry and dairy farming and maize and soya bean production.”
“It is a tax holiday for the first five years and … exemption from import tax on all your agricultural inputs and equipment,” he said.
15 April 2009
South African farmers have been offered 10 million hectares of farm land on which to grow maize and soya beans and on which to set up poultry and dairy farms in the Republic of Congo, South Africa’s main farmers union said yesterday.
The deal, which covers an area more than twice the size of Switzerland, could be one of the biggest such land agreements on the continent agreed by Congo’s government in an effort to improve food security, Theo de Jager, deputy president of Agriculture South Africa (AgriSA), told Reuters.
South Africa has one of the most developed agriculture sectors on the continent and is Africa’s top maize producer and third largest wheat grower.
“They’ve given us 10 million hectares, and that’s quite big when you consider that in South Africa we have about six million hectares of land that is arable,” De Jager told Reuters on the sidelines of an agriculture conference in Durban.
De Jager said the agreement to be finalised in South Africa next month would operate as a 99-year lease at no cost, with additional tax benefits.
“The offer that we got and we’ve agreed on paper, is a 99-year lease, of which the value would be zero and it’s not allowed to escalate over the 99 years. So it is free use for 99 years,” he said.
The Republic of Congo’s population of around four million people is concentrated in the south-west of the country, leaving the vast areas of tropical jungle in the north virtually uninhabited.
De Jager said some 1 300 South African farmers are keen to farm in the Congo Republic.
“We have two groups of farmers who are interested, one of farmers who want to leave South Africa and relocate entirely to farm over there and another of farmers who want to diversify their farming operations to the Congo,” he said.
“We’ve got guys wanting to get into poultry and dairy farming and maize and soya bean production.”
“It is a tax holiday for the first five years and … exemption from import tax on all your agricultural inputs and equipment,” he said.
Somaliland 'bans' opposition demonstrations.
Garowe Online
15 April 2009
Authorities in Somalia's separatist republic of Somaliland have declared that they have banned public demonstrations until election time, Radio Garowe reports.
Mr. Abdullahi Ismail "Irro," the Somaliland minister for internal affairs, told local press that opposition parties Kulmiye and UCID have violated the constitution and other applicable laws.
He specifically accused Kulmiye, the leading opposition party, of holding public demonstrations that are a "threat to security." He warned the opposition to wait until election time to hold public demonstrations.
Somaliland's interior minister said the government "will no longer accept" Kulmiye to hold demonstrations outside party headquarters.
Kulmiye party officials have accused the Somaliland government of "sending agents" to raise trouble at the opposition's public rallies to reject Somaliland President Dahir Riyale's six-month term extension.
At the most recent rally, held on Monday in Hargeisa, an unknown man fired a bullet but no one was hurt. Kulmiye party officials claim he sent by the Riyale administration to incite insecurity.
Meanwhile, a clan elder arrested by Somaliland police yesterday is still in jail.
15 April 2009
Authorities in Somalia's separatist republic of Somaliland have declared that they have banned public demonstrations until election time, Radio Garowe reports.
Mr. Abdullahi Ismail "Irro," the Somaliland minister for internal affairs, told local press that opposition parties Kulmiye and UCID have violated the constitution and other applicable laws.
He specifically accused Kulmiye, the leading opposition party, of holding public demonstrations that are a "threat to security." He warned the opposition to wait until election time to hold public demonstrations.
Somaliland's interior minister said the government "will no longer accept" Kulmiye to hold demonstrations outside party headquarters.
Kulmiye party officials have accused the Somaliland government of "sending agents" to raise trouble at the opposition's public rallies to reject Somaliland President Dahir Riyale's six-month term extension.
At the most recent rally, held on Monday in Hargeisa, an unknown man fired a bullet but no one was hurt. Kulmiye party officials claim he sent by the Riyale administration to incite insecurity.
Meanwhile, a clan elder arrested by Somaliland police yesterday is still in jail.
Puntland leader reaches Kenya.
Garowe Online
15 April 2009
The president of Somalia's Puntland regional autonomy arrived in the Kenyan capital Nairobi Wednesday ahead of talks the United Nations, Western embassies and the African Union, Radio Garowe reports.
Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed "Farole," the president of Puntland, led a government delegation that included Planning and International Relations Minister Farah Adan Dhala and State Minister for Democratization and Dr. Abdi Hassan Jim'ale.
Dr. Abdirahman Farole, Puntland President
The Puntland delegation was welcomed in Nairobi by Somali Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Mohamed Ali "America," and former Puntland Local Government Minister, Mr. Ali Abdi Aware.
The delegation is expected to hold talks with Western ambassadors, including the U.S. ambassador in Nairobi, to discuss many issues including the surge in piracy off the Somali coast.
President Farole will spend five days in Nairobi, after which point he is expected to return to Puntland where the parliament is waiting to debate over the 2009 budget and formally ratify the Council of Ministers.
The administration of Dr. Abdirahman Farole came to power in Puntland following a peaceful election on Jan. 8, 2009. The new Puntland leader, who has vowed to improve security, has pledged to fight against Somali pirates who use the Puntland coast to launch attacks on vessels.
15 April 2009
The president of Somalia's Puntland regional autonomy arrived in the Kenyan capital Nairobi Wednesday ahead of talks the United Nations, Western embassies and the African Union, Radio Garowe reports.
Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed "Farole," the president of Puntland, led a government delegation that included Planning and International Relations Minister Farah Adan Dhala and State Minister for Democratization and Dr. Abdi Hassan Jim'ale.
Dr. Abdirahman Farole, Puntland President
The Puntland delegation was welcomed in Nairobi by Somali Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Mohamed Ali "America," and former Puntland Local Government Minister, Mr. Ali Abdi Aware.
The delegation is expected to hold talks with Western ambassadors, including the U.S. ambassador in Nairobi, to discuss many issues including the surge in piracy off the Somali coast.
President Farole will spend five days in Nairobi, after which point he is expected to return to Puntland where the parliament is waiting to debate over the 2009 budget and formally ratify the Council of Ministers.
The administration of Dr. Abdirahman Farole came to power in Puntland following a peaceful election on Jan. 8, 2009. The new Puntland leader, who has vowed to improve security, has pledged to fight against Somali pirates who use the Puntland coast to launch attacks on vessels.
Gen Kazini blocks Court Martial ruling.
New Vision
15 April 2009
By Anne Mugisa
The army court has been stopped from trying the former Army Commander, Maj. Gen. James Kazini, until the Constitutional Court decides otherwise.
The General Court Martial was due to give its judgment in a case in which Kazini was accused of disobeying President Yoweri Museveni, as the Commander-in-Chief, over troops deployment between 2002 and 2003.
The army court is also trying Kazini and other officers for allegedly causing financial loss and creating ghost soldiers on the UPDF payroll. Last year, the court convicted him of causing a sh60m loss to the army.
However, the General appealed to the army’s appeals court against the conviction. After this, he then asked the Constitutional Court to decide if the General Court Martial had the power to try him.
Kazini’s lawyer Kenneth Kakuru said the army court proceedings should stop otherwise Kazini could suffer injustice.
The Constitutional Court is yet to hear Kazini’s petition. The court was yesterday expected to prepare for the hearing to start but could not because of the prolonged arguments between the state attorney and Kazini’s lawyer.
The State Attorney P. Nshemereirwe argued in vain that the application to halt the court martial proceeding could not be heard by one judge. Only Justice Steven Kavuma was handling the process. The attorney insisted that three judges were needed to decide the application.
However, Kavuma rejected the argument, saying the issue was of a human rights nature and was urgent.
Last week, the Attorney General asked the Constitutional Court to throw out Kazini’s petition, saying it did not require interpretation. The Constitutional Court, however, said several questions raised in the petition needed to be cleared.
15 April 2009
By Anne Mugisa
The army court has been stopped from trying the former Army Commander, Maj. Gen. James Kazini, until the Constitutional Court decides otherwise.
The General Court Martial was due to give its judgment in a case in which Kazini was accused of disobeying President Yoweri Museveni, as the Commander-in-Chief, over troops deployment between 2002 and 2003.
The army court is also trying Kazini and other officers for allegedly causing financial loss and creating ghost soldiers on the UPDF payroll. Last year, the court convicted him of causing a sh60m loss to the army.
However, the General appealed to the army’s appeals court against the conviction. After this, he then asked the Constitutional Court to decide if the General Court Martial had the power to try him.
Kazini’s lawyer Kenneth Kakuru said the army court proceedings should stop otherwise Kazini could suffer injustice.
The Constitutional Court is yet to hear Kazini’s petition. The court was yesterday expected to prepare for the hearing to start but could not because of the prolonged arguments between the state attorney and Kazini’s lawyer.
The State Attorney P. Nshemereirwe argued in vain that the application to halt the court martial proceeding could not be heard by one judge. Only Justice Steven Kavuma was handling the process. The attorney insisted that three judges were needed to decide the application.
However, Kavuma rejected the argument, saying the issue was of a human rights nature and was urgent.
Last week, the Attorney General asked the Constitutional Court to throw out Kazini’s petition, saying it did not require interpretation. The Constitutional Court, however, said several questions raised in the petition needed to be cleared.
Judge saves Kazini from Court Martial.
Daily Monitor
15 April 2009
By Lominda Afedraru
The Constitutional Court last night granted an application blocking a judgment by the General Court Martial in which former the Army Commander, Maj. Gen. James Kazini, could be jailed for life.
Gen. Kazini was today expected to appear before the military court headed by Lt. Gen. Ivan Koreta to have judgment passed on whether he disobeyed lawful orders from President Museveni not to move soldiers in large numbers while he commanded the UPDF.
However, in a ruling delivered at about 7.45pm, Justice Stephen Kavuma, who was dramatically interrupted by a power blackout, said Gen. Kazini’s judgment before the General Court Martial is halted until an application in which Gen. Kazini in challenging the constitutionality of his trial is disposed of; effectively blocking today’s judgment whose notice was issued by the Makindye-based military court last week.
Justice Kavuma said: “The applicant is entitled to protection whether his rights are being infringed. His action of running to the Constitutional Court is to ensure that he must not be denied justice. It has always been the practice of this court to grant interim orders where one’s rights have been violated.”
Last week, a Constitutional Court panel led by Justice Mpagi Bahigeine dismissed an attempt by the Attorney General to have Gen. Kazini’s petition dismissed, saying the petition sought to address matters of human rights.
It was not clear whether the Court Martial will go on with the ruling today.
Army spokesman Felix Kulayigye last night said: “We are a law abiding military institution; we respect the judicial system. If the Constitutional Court has given a ruling, we shall abide by it. However, our Constitution differentiates the civil and military judicial systems. I am sure our lawyers will give us the right interpretation.”
Mr James Akampumuza, one of the lawyers representing Gen. Kazini, said last night that the Constitutional Court had also suspended the trial by the General Court Martial of his client.
Mr Akampumuza said there were no legal implications for the judgment being read at night.
“The judgment was made during the day in the presence of all the parties. The court requested all the parties to wait because it had to determine that matter with finality because that was the time allocated for that matter,” Mr Akampumuza said.
Justice Kavuma twice overruled the Attorney General’s representative, Ms Peruth Nshemereirwe, who wanted the petition heard by a panel, prompting her to cry in court.
It was understood that the Court Martial had passed a life sentence for Gen. Kazini, a matter also discussed at yesterday’s UPDF High Command meeting at President Museveni’s country home in Rwakitura. Details of the UPDF meeting were scanty by press time.
Gen. Kazini’s trial before the General Court Martial stem from a September 2003 investigation report into the activities of his tenure as army commander, which accused him of creating a semi-autonomous military unit in West Nile and undermining the chain of command of the UPDF for purposes of personal gain.
Gen. Kazini was also accused of planning a coup, before he was fired as army commander in June 2003.
The former army commander is already convicted after a March 27, 2008 sentence by the same General Court Martial to three years in jail for causing loss of Shs61 million through creation of ghost soldiers on the military’s payroll. Gen. Kazini is currently out of Luzira Prison on bail pending his appeal before the Court Martial Appeals Court.
Security Minister Amama Mbabazi headed a three-man committee that investigated the existence of ghost soldiers on the UPDF payroll between June-September 2003.
Generals Salim Saleh and David Tinyefuza were the other members of the committee, on whose report that Gen. Kazini would later - in December 2003 - be sent to the General Court Martial for trial together with 25 other UPDF officers, including Brig. Stephen Kashaka, Brig. Henry Tumukunde, Lt. Col. Dura Mawa Muhindo, and Capt. Michael Baryaguma among others.
Lt. Col. Mawa and Capt. Baryaguma were jailed together with Gen. Kazini, while others have either their cases dropped or still being heard.
In April 2008, the military Court again ruled that Gen. Kazini had a case to answer on charges of “disobeying the Commander-in-Chief” in relation to deployment of troops.
Gen. Kazini was also investigated for alleged conspiracy to lead a coup before being fired as army commander in 2003.
In a document signed by Lt. Col. Mawa, presented before the General Court Martial on January 16, 2008, the former Alpine Brigade commander indicated that the investigation committee grilled him about allegations that Gen. Kazini planned a coup.
“This committee wanted to prove that I got involved in a coup to overthrow the government with Gen. Kazini,” he said.
“At one time, they had convinced me to co-operate so that I pin down Gen. Kazini but I refused so they said I had to suffer,” Lt. Col. Mawa said in a statement, used by his defence team during their camera trial, before the Court Martial.
In his November 29, 2003 message to all military units in which he suspended 28 UPDF officers and ordered that Gen. Kazini and 25 others be sent to the General Court Martial for trial, President Museveni also instructed that some elements of “possible subversion” be investigated.
Apparently, then Chief of Military Intelligence, the late Brig. Noble Mayombo, had alluded to allegations that Gen. Kazini could have been planning a coup.
When he appeared before the investigating committee, Brig. Mayombo said he had “in many cases” confirmed that Gen. Kazini created the 409 Brigade based in West Nile and it directly reported to him. Gen. Mayombo died on May 1, 2007.
Gen. Kazini also stood accused of allegedly hiding 20 tanks and 3,000 rifles while he was ‘safe haven” operations commander in eastern DR Congo.
The accusation reportedly rattled President Museveni, making him lose confidence in his former trusted commander.
15 April 2009
By Lominda Afedraru
The Constitutional Court last night granted an application blocking a judgment by the General Court Martial in which former the Army Commander, Maj. Gen. James Kazini, could be jailed for life.
Gen. Kazini was today expected to appear before the military court headed by Lt. Gen. Ivan Koreta to have judgment passed on whether he disobeyed lawful orders from President Museveni not to move soldiers in large numbers while he commanded the UPDF.
However, in a ruling delivered at about 7.45pm, Justice Stephen Kavuma, who was dramatically interrupted by a power blackout, said Gen. Kazini’s judgment before the General Court Martial is halted until an application in which Gen. Kazini in challenging the constitutionality of his trial is disposed of; effectively blocking today’s judgment whose notice was issued by the Makindye-based military court last week.
Justice Kavuma said: “The applicant is entitled to protection whether his rights are being infringed. His action of running to the Constitutional Court is to ensure that he must not be denied justice. It has always been the practice of this court to grant interim orders where one’s rights have been violated.”
Last week, a Constitutional Court panel led by Justice Mpagi Bahigeine dismissed an attempt by the Attorney General to have Gen. Kazini’s petition dismissed, saying the petition sought to address matters of human rights.
It was not clear whether the Court Martial will go on with the ruling today.
Army spokesman Felix Kulayigye last night said: “We are a law abiding military institution; we respect the judicial system. If the Constitutional Court has given a ruling, we shall abide by it. However, our Constitution differentiates the civil and military judicial systems. I am sure our lawyers will give us the right interpretation.”
Mr James Akampumuza, one of the lawyers representing Gen. Kazini, said last night that the Constitutional Court had also suspended the trial by the General Court Martial of his client.
Mr Akampumuza said there were no legal implications for the judgment being read at night.
“The judgment was made during the day in the presence of all the parties. The court requested all the parties to wait because it had to determine that matter with finality because that was the time allocated for that matter,” Mr Akampumuza said.
Justice Kavuma twice overruled the Attorney General’s representative, Ms Peruth Nshemereirwe, who wanted the petition heard by a panel, prompting her to cry in court.
It was understood that the Court Martial had passed a life sentence for Gen. Kazini, a matter also discussed at yesterday’s UPDF High Command meeting at President Museveni’s country home in Rwakitura. Details of the UPDF meeting were scanty by press time.
Gen. Kazini’s trial before the General Court Martial stem from a September 2003 investigation report into the activities of his tenure as army commander, which accused him of creating a semi-autonomous military unit in West Nile and undermining the chain of command of the UPDF for purposes of personal gain.
Gen. Kazini was also accused of planning a coup, before he was fired as army commander in June 2003.
The former army commander is already convicted after a March 27, 2008 sentence by the same General Court Martial to three years in jail for causing loss of Shs61 million through creation of ghost soldiers on the military’s payroll. Gen. Kazini is currently out of Luzira Prison on bail pending his appeal before the Court Martial Appeals Court.
Security Minister Amama Mbabazi headed a three-man committee that investigated the existence of ghost soldiers on the UPDF payroll between June-September 2003.
Generals Salim Saleh and David Tinyefuza were the other members of the committee, on whose report that Gen. Kazini would later - in December 2003 - be sent to the General Court Martial for trial together with 25 other UPDF officers, including Brig. Stephen Kashaka, Brig. Henry Tumukunde, Lt. Col. Dura Mawa Muhindo, and Capt. Michael Baryaguma among others.
Lt. Col. Mawa and Capt. Baryaguma were jailed together with Gen. Kazini, while others have either their cases dropped or still being heard.
In April 2008, the military Court again ruled that Gen. Kazini had a case to answer on charges of “disobeying the Commander-in-Chief” in relation to deployment of troops.
Gen. Kazini was also investigated for alleged conspiracy to lead a coup before being fired as army commander in 2003.
In a document signed by Lt. Col. Mawa, presented before the General Court Martial on January 16, 2008, the former Alpine Brigade commander indicated that the investigation committee grilled him about allegations that Gen. Kazini planned a coup.
“This committee wanted to prove that I got involved in a coup to overthrow the government with Gen. Kazini,” he said.
“At one time, they had convinced me to co-operate so that I pin down Gen. Kazini but I refused so they said I had to suffer,” Lt. Col. Mawa said in a statement, used by his defence team during their camera trial, before the Court Martial.
In his November 29, 2003 message to all military units in which he suspended 28 UPDF officers and ordered that Gen. Kazini and 25 others be sent to the General Court Martial for trial, President Museveni also instructed that some elements of “possible subversion” be investigated.
Apparently, then Chief of Military Intelligence, the late Brig. Noble Mayombo, had alluded to allegations that Gen. Kazini could have been planning a coup.
When he appeared before the investigating committee, Brig. Mayombo said he had “in many cases” confirmed that Gen. Kazini created the 409 Brigade based in West Nile and it directly reported to him. Gen. Mayombo died on May 1, 2007.
Gen. Kazini also stood accused of allegedly hiding 20 tanks and 3,000 rifles while he was ‘safe haven” operations commander in eastern DR Congo.
The accusation reportedly rattled President Museveni, making him lose confidence in his former trusted commander.
Republic of Congo opposition boycotts talks.
AFP
15 April 2009
Congo's opposition parties on Wednesday boycotted a national dialogue arranged to bring political and civic forces into the process of organising a presidential election in July.
"We don't agree with the government about the agenda nor the body formed to oversee the work," spokesperson Pascal Tsaty Mabiala of the United Front of Opposition Parties (Fupo) told AFP.
The forum in the oil-rich former French colony in central Africa started on Tuesday, but the opposition failed to show up for the official opening ceremony in parliament buildings and none of its members were present when work began on Wednesday morning, an AFP journalist saw.
The government announced that it would hold a pre-electoral forum in March, when French President Nicolas Sarkozy was in Brazzaville, the capital. During the parliamentary elections of 2007 and local government polls last year, observers from the African Union denounced fraud.
The opposition itself had called for a debate, like leaders of civil society, so the complete boycott came as a surprise, and the forum started two hours late on Tuesday with a curtailed opening ceremony.
Compromise
Tsaty Mabiala said that unless a compromise could be reached on a revised agenda and the panel in charge of the forum, "we won't take part in the work until the end."
The spokesperson made no further comment, but in the past the opposition has objected to the national electoral commission. It regards the panel as biased in favour of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and his supporters, and there have been allegations that a government sponsored "Republican Dialogue" would only legitimise the controversial commission.
On Monday Kiala Matouba, deputy chief of the main opposition Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (Upads) party, called for a census to draw up a new voters' register, a new independent electoral commission and a general amnesty for those accused of civil unrest.
"If the dialogue doesn't take these demands into account, it is doomed to failure," Matouba said.
Prime Minister Isidore Mvouba said on Tuesday that the forum with its current agenda was "the ideal place to set up conditions for a fair, transparent and regular presidential election".
Government spokesperson Alain Akouala Atipault stressed that the authorities hoped that the opposition would change their minds about the boycott.
No precise date had been set for the presidential election, which must be held in July under the constitution, but about 10 candidates have come forward.
15 April 2009
Congo's opposition parties on Wednesday boycotted a national dialogue arranged to bring political and civic forces into the process of organising a presidential election in July.
"We don't agree with the government about the agenda nor the body formed to oversee the work," spokesperson Pascal Tsaty Mabiala of the United Front of Opposition Parties (Fupo) told AFP.
The forum in the oil-rich former French colony in central Africa started on Tuesday, but the opposition failed to show up for the official opening ceremony in parliament buildings and none of its members were present when work began on Wednesday morning, an AFP journalist saw.
The government announced that it would hold a pre-electoral forum in March, when French President Nicolas Sarkozy was in Brazzaville, the capital. During the parliamentary elections of 2007 and local government polls last year, observers from the African Union denounced fraud.
The opposition itself had called for a debate, like leaders of civil society, so the complete boycott came as a surprise, and the forum started two hours late on Tuesday with a curtailed opening ceremony.
Compromise
Tsaty Mabiala said that unless a compromise could be reached on a revised agenda and the panel in charge of the forum, "we won't take part in the work until the end."
The spokesperson made no further comment, but in the past the opposition has objected to the national electoral commission. It regards the panel as biased in favour of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and his supporters, and there have been allegations that a government sponsored "Republican Dialogue" would only legitimise the controversial commission.
On Monday Kiala Matouba, deputy chief of the main opposition Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (Upads) party, called for a census to draw up a new voters' register, a new independent electoral commission and a general amnesty for those accused of civil unrest.
"If the dialogue doesn't take these demands into account, it is doomed to failure," Matouba said.
Prime Minister Isidore Mvouba said on Tuesday that the forum with its current agenda was "the ideal place to set up conditions for a fair, transparent and regular presidential election".
Government spokesperson Alain Akouala Atipault stressed that the authorities hoped that the opposition would change their minds about the boycott.
No precise date had been set for the presidential election, which must be held in July under the constitution, but about 10 candidates have come forward.
15 April, 2009
Of blood and gold in Congo.
April 14 2009
Al-Jazeera English
By Mohammed Adow in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo
In the mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo's northeast situated close to the Uganda border, thousands of miners are working in muddy pits, extracting sand, mud and rocks in the search for gold.
But they are not getting rich and their work is risky.
As international gold traders begin to cash in on the high demand for gold and precious metals caused by the global financial crisis, little of the high returns ever reach the mining communities.
For miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) decades of gold mining should have provided a ticket to prosperity but in reality it has trapped them in a cycle of violence and poverty.
Human rights groups have long voiced concern that armed groups fighting for the control of gold mines and trading routes in the northeastern region of the DRC have used profits to buy weapons, fund their military activities, and may have committed war crimes against local populations.
They say the gold trade may have served as a catalyst prolonging conflict in the DRC.
It is no coincidence, then, that some of the most intense fighting in the DRC conflict and some of the worst treatment of civilians have taken place in the Congo's Ituri District, the site of one of Africa's richest gold fields.
Gold there is found in two forms – either embedded in rock or as loose pieces of varying sizes hidden in the earth or sand, often found deep under river beds.
Most of the mines are operated by artisanal miners.
Every morning 19-year-old Jean Faustin Mandro dutifully shows up for work and toils his way through tonnes of earth. It is the only way he can feed his daughter and wife.
"Work is very hard here but there is no other work for us to do," he told Al Jazeera.
And there is no guarantee he will be payed for his efforts. At the end of the day each labourer is given a bucket of earth from the pit as payment.
It may not contain gold.
Innocent Musubi, another miner, searched through his day's wage-bucket at the end of a long day, but he found nothing. It means he will have to return to his family empty-handed and try his luck the next day.
"Working in a gold mine means you depend on luck to get money," he says. "Some months you can make nothing and other months you can make a lot of money and forget all about the hard work you do," he added.
All that glitters is not gold in DR Congo
To increase their chances of finding gold in the wage-bucket, families have resorted to sending their children to the mines too.
Using a plank of wood and a towel, children as young as eight sieve for gold.
They don't make much as the owner of the mine usually takes whatever they find.
If they are lucky they just get enough to buy food and other essentials.
Most of the children's parents don't have the money to send them to school, so they are either at home or mining.
Mining in the DRC is also rife with dangers. The disused, often flooded industrial mines are the most hazardous. Deaths due to suffocation are common there.
Closed mine
The Makala Mine in Ituri is in a tunnel leading to a hillside. It has been officially closed but workers risk their lives wading through water for four kilometres to break out rocks from a gold-rich seam.
Hours later they emerge from the mine carrying the rocks, but their efforts could yet prove futile.
Luc Likambo, the Head of the Makala Miners Association, laments the poor conditions miners must face.
"People should see how hard our work is; look at the water we have no machine to bring it out. We have no organisation. We need help to improve our conditions. We also need advice and technical help," he says.
The miners take the rocks from the mines to a makeshift workshop in Ituri where it is manually crushed and then sifted through to find what little gold they might contain.
Mining for cold in the Congo is a thankless, nearly profitless job.
But with nothing else to do many in the DRC's northeast continue to toil in their blighted treasure-trove.
For the time being, their country's resources remain of little help to them.
Al-Jazeera English
By Mohammed Adow in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo
In the mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo's northeast situated close to the Uganda border, thousands of miners are working in muddy pits, extracting sand, mud and rocks in the search for gold.
But they are not getting rich and their work is risky.
As international gold traders begin to cash in on the high demand for gold and precious metals caused by the global financial crisis, little of the high returns ever reach the mining communities.
For miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) decades of gold mining should have provided a ticket to prosperity but in reality it has trapped them in a cycle of violence and poverty.
Human rights groups have long voiced concern that armed groups fighting for the control of gold mines and trading routes in the northeastern region of the DRC have used profits to buy weapons, fund their military activities, and may have committed war crimes against local populations.
They say the gold trade may have served as a catalyst prolonging conflict in the DRC.
It is no coincidence, then, that some of the most intense fighting in the DRC conflict and some of the worst treatment of civilians have taken place in the Congo's Ituri District, the site of one of Africa's richest gold fields.
Gold there is found in two forms – either embedded in rock or as loose pieces of varying sizes hidden in the earth or sand, often found deep under river beds.
Most of the mines are operated by artisanal miners.
Every morning 19-year-old Jean Faustin Mandro dutifully shows up for work and toils his way through tonnes of earth. It is the only way he can feed his daughter and wife.
"Work is very hard here but there is no other work for us to do," he told Al Jazeera.
And there is no guarantee he will be payed for his efforts. At the end of the day each labourer is given a bucket of earth from the pit as payment.
It may not contain gold.
Innocent Musubi, another miner, searched through his day's wage-bucket at the end of a long day, but he found nothing. It means he will have to return to his family empty-handed and try his luck the next day.
"Working in a gold mine means you depend on luck to get money," he says. "Some months you can make nothing and other months you can make a lot of money and forget all about the hard work you do," he added.
All that glitters is not gold in DR Congo
To increase their chances of finding gold in the wage-bucket, families have resorted to sending their children to the mines too.
Using a plank of wood and a towel, children as young as eight sieve for gold.
They don't make much as the owner of the mine usually takes whatever they find.
If they are lucky they just get enough to buy food and other essentials.
Most of the children's parents don't have the money to send them to school, so they are either at home or mining.
Mining in the DRC is also rife with dangers. The disused, often flooded industrial mines are the most hazardous. Deaths due to suffocation are common there.
Closed mine
The Makala Mine in Ituri is in a tunnel leading to a hillside. It has been officially closed but workers risk their lives wading through water for four kilometres to break out rocks from a gold-rich seam.
Hours later they emerge from the mine carrying the rocks, but their efforts could yet prove futile.
Luc Likambo, the Head of the Makala Miners Association, laments the poor conditions miners must face.
"People should see how hard our work is; look at the water we have no machine to bring it out. We have no organisation. We need help to improve our conditions. We also need advice and technical help," he says.
The miners take the rocks from the mines to a makeshift workshop in Ituri where it is manually crushed and then sifted through to find what little gold they might contain.
Mining for cold in the Congo is a thankless, nearly profitless job.
But with nothing else to do many in the DRC's northeast continue to toil in their blighted treasure-trove.
For the time being, their country's resources remain of little help to them.
Brothers fight over Togo presidency.
Afrol News
15 April 2009
The brother of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, Kpatcha Gnassingbé, today was arrested in Lomé on suspicion of planning to stage a coup following a shootout in his house killing two on Sunday.
According to Togolese government sources, Kpatcha Gnassingbé was detained today "as he sought refuge at the US embassy after a military raid on his house that fuelled political speculation."
The brother of the President earlier served as Minister of Defence of Togo, but fell out with his brother and was removed from the post. Both are sons of Togo's former Dictator Gnassingbé Eyadema, who died in 2005, leading Faure Gnassingbé to take power in a coup, later legitimising his power through a flawed election.
Brother Kpatcha remains an influential member of Togo's ruling party, the Rally of the Togolese People (RTP). After leaving his post as Defence Minister, he has maintained private armed forces to look after his security as relations with his presidential brother cooled.
On Sunday, government security forces raided one of Kpatcha's Lomé houses, finding him and members of his private security agents there. The raid developed into a shootout. At least two persons were killed and three others wounded in the attack.
The raid against the President's brother's house followed a suspicion of coup plotting. Togolese state prosecutors said the meeting at Kpatcha's house had been suspicious and the raid was a bid to arrest soldiers and civilians "suspected of trying to undermine state security."
President Gnassingbé took the alleged coup plotting seriously. He immediately cancelled a state visit to China as reports of the shootout reached him on Sunday. Togolese state prosecutors suspect Kpatcha Gnassingbé of planning to take advantage of the President's absence to stage a coup.
Brother Kpatcha was put under house arrest following the incident, but managed to escape. Authorities immediately issued an arrest warrant against him.
According to official Togolese sources, he made an unsuccessful attempt to seek refuge in the American Embassy in Lomé. Government troops loyal to President Gnassingbé however expected him in front of the Embassy, where he was peacefully detained.
15 April 2009
The brother of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, Kpatcha Gnassingbé, today was arrested in Lomé on suspicion of planning to stage a coup following a shootout in his house killing two on Sunday.
According to Togolese government sources, Kpatcha Gnassingbé was detained today "as he sought refuge at the US embassy after a military raid on his house that fuelled political speculation."
The brother of the President earlier served as Minister of Defence of Togo, but fell out with his brother and was removed from the post. Both are sons of Togo's former Dictator Gnassingbé Eyadema, who died in 2005, leading Faure Gnassingbé to take power in a coup, later legitimising his power through a flawed election.
Brother Kpatcha remains an influential member of Togo's ruling party, the Rally of the Togolese People (RTP). After leaving his post as Defence Minister, he has maintained private armed forces to look after his security as relations with his presidential brother cooled.
On Sunday, government security forces raided one of Kpatcha's Lomé houses, finding him and members of his private security agents there. The raid developed into a shootout. At least two persons were killed and three others wounded in the attack.
The raid against the President's brother's house followed a suspicion of coup plotting. Togolese state prosecutors said the meeting at Kpatcha's house had been suspicious and the raid was a bid to arrest soldiers and civilians "suspected of trying to undermine state security."
President Gnassingbé took the alleged coup plotting seriously. He immediately cancelled a state visit to China as reports of the shootout reached him on Sunday. Togolese state prosecutors suspect Kpatcha Gnassingbé of planning to take advantage of the President's absence to stage a coup.
Brother Kpatcha was put under house arrest following the incident, but managed to escape. Authorities immediately issued an arrest warrant against him.
According to official Togolese sources, he made an unsuccessful attempt to seek refuge in the American Embassy in Lomé. Government troops loyal to President Gnassingbé however expected him in front of the Embassy, where he was peacefully detained.
Armed Intruders Threaten Journalist in Nord-Kivu Home.
Reporters Without Borders
15 April 2009
Press Release
Reporters Without Borders wrote yesterday to the governor of the eastern province of Nord-Kivu, Julien Paluku Kahongya, voicing deep concern about an armed attack on Radio-télévision Nationale Congolaise journalist Tuver Wundi Muhindo on 12 April in Goma, the provincial capital.
"We urge you to ensure that Wundi and his family are protected and that this attack is properly investigated so that both the perpetrators and instigators are indentified," Reporters Without Borders said in its letter. "By demonstrating that press freedom is one of your priorities, you will discourage others who might be tempted to act in a similar fashion and you will show that no crime goes unpunished in your province."
The attack was carried out by four Swahili-speaking gunmen, who burst into Wundi's home at around 8 p.m., tied up his family and then went to the room where Wundi was and held him at gunpoint, threatening to rape his wife in front of him and threatening to kill him because he had become "Goma's richest journalist."
They finally left after about 30 minutes, taking money, objects of value and some of his journalistic equipment, said Wundi, who is also the correspondent of Journalist in Danger (JED), the Reporters Without Borders partner organisation in the DRC.
The still-traumatised Wundi told JED and Reporters Without Borders: "It was a miracle I survived." He reported the intrusion to Goma's judicial and military authorities the next morning. The police arrested two suspects but it is not yet known if they participated in the attack.
15 April 2009
Press Release
Reporters Without Borders wrote yesterday to the governor of the eastern province of Nord-Kivu, Julien Paluku Kahongya, voicing deep concern about an armed attack on Radio-télévision Nationale Congolaise journalist Tuver Wundi Muhindo on 12 April in Goma, the provincial capital.
"We urge you to ensure that Wundi and his family are protected and that this attack is properly investigated so that both the perpetrators and instigators are indentified," Reporters Without Borders said in its letter. "By demonstrating that press freedom is one of your priorities, you will discourage others who might be tempted to act in a similar fashion and you will show that no crime goes unpunished in your province."
The attack was carried out by four Swahili-speaking gunmen, who burst into Wundi's home at around 8 p.m., tied up his family and then went to the room where Wundi was and held him at gunpoint, threatening to rape his wife in front of him and threatening to kill him because he had become "Goma's richest journalist."
They finally left after about 30 minutes, taking money, objects of value and some of his journalistic equipment, said Wundi, who is also the correspondent of Journalist in Danger (JED), the Reporters Without Borders partner organisation in the DRC.
The still-traumatised Wundi told JED and Reporters Without Borders: "It was a miracle I survived." He reported the intrusion to Goma's judicial and military authorities the next morning. The police arrested two suspects but it is not yet known if they participated in the attack.
Former Halliburton chief ready to spill the beans on Nigeria.
Afrol News
14 April 2009
The Halliburton’s ex chief Albert Jack Stanley has offered to assist Nigerian government investigators and vowed to testify against top Nigerian officials linked to the $180 million bribery scam.
Halliburton and its engineering subsidiary Kellogg Brown Root reportedly negotiated bribes with three successive holders of a top-level office in the executive branch of the government of Nigeria to get US$6 billion worth of contracts.
His lawyer, Larry Veselka, said Mr Stanley was ready to testify against the Nigerian officials in the corruption scheme, following the announcement by Nigerian Federal government to investigate alleged corrupt practices by its officials.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kaase Michael Aondoakaa had last week said that the government was still struggling to get the identities of the Nigerians involved.
Mr Aondoakaa, however said the government could not prosecute anybody on the basis of media reports.
The Nigerian government confirmed last week that the US government has helped trace a $150 million in a secret bank account in Switzerland where millions from the Halliburton bribe belonging to Nigerian officials are lodged.
“It is one thing to claim that a bribe was given and another to establish the actual amount involved and whether the money actually reached the suspected recipient,” Mr Aondoakaa said.
In February, Halliburton admitted to paying the bribes to top officials between 1994 and 2004 to win construction contracts in the West African state.
Halliburton subsidiary company KBR also admitted to guilt for conspiring with its joint-venture partners and others to pay off officials in order to secure billions in engineering, procurement and construction contracts to build liquefied natural gas facilities on Bonny Island, Nigeria.
Mr Stanley, who pleaded guilty to making the bribes in order to secure the contracts, is to be sentenced on 6 May. KBR has agreed to pay more than $402 million in fines, of which Halliburton, as the former parent company, agreed to pay $302 million.
14 April 2009
The Halliburton’s ex chief Albert Jack Stanley has offered to assist Nigerian government investigators and vowed to testify against top Nigerian officials linked to the $180 million bribery scam.
Halliburton and its engineering subsidiary Kellogg Brown Root reportedly negotiated bribes with three successive holders of a top-level office in the executive branch of the government of Nigeria to get US$6 billion worth of contracts.
His lawyer, Larry Veselka, said Mr Stanley was ready to testify against the Nigerian officials in the corruption scheme, following the announcement by Nigerian Federal government to investigate alleged corrupt practices by its officials.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kaase Michael Aondoakaa had last week said that the government was still struggling to get the identities of the Nigerians involved.
Mr Aondoakaa, however said the government could not prosecute anybody on the basis of media reports.
The Nigerian government confirmed last week that the US government has helped trace a $150 million in a secret bank account in Switzerland where millions from the Halliburton bribe belonging to Nigerian officials are lodged.
“It is one thing to claim that a bribe was given and another to establish the actual amount involved and whether the money actually reached the suspected recipient,” Mr Aondoakaa said.
In February, Halliburton admitted to paying the bribes to top officials between 1994 and 2004 to win construction contracts in the West African state.
Halliburton subsidiary company KBR also admitted to guilt for conspiring with its joint-venture partners and others to pay off officials in order to secure billions in engineering, procurement and construction contracts to build liquefied natural gas facilities on Bonny Island, Nigeria.
Mr Stanley, who pleaded guilty to making the bribes in order to secure the contracts, is to be sentenced on 6 May. KBR has agreed to pay more than $402 million in fines, of which Halliburton, as the former parent company, agreed to pay $302 million.
Ethiopia boosts arms production.
AFP
14 April 2009
Ethiopia will boost arms production to cut weapons imports and save its dwindling foreign exchange, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has said.
"Our main objective is to reduce our defence expenditure and its pressure on availability of foreign exchange," Meles told reporters late on Monday, without giving details.
"In order to do that, we have to reduce our imports and improve our exports. The objective is to take care of our defence requirements, primarily in terms of ammunition and partly in terms of armaments."
Ethiopia currently produces assault rifles, rocket propelled grenades, small arms and hosts an assembly plant to manufacture tanks.
The country's foreign reserves this month stood at $800m, down from $2m last year.
The Horn of Africa country has one of the largest armies in Africa and last year increased its defence budget by $50m to $400m, allegedly for "stability reasons".
Ethiopia's army is estimated to comprise around 200 000 soldiers.
14 April 2009
Ethiopia will boost arms production to cut weapons imports and save its dwindling foreign exchange, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has said.
"Our main objective is to reduce our defence expenditure and its pressure on availability of foreign exchange," Meles told reporters late on Monday, without giving details.
"In order to do that, we have to reduce our imports and improve our exports. The objective is to take care of our defence requirements, primarily in terms of ammunition and partly in terms of armaments."
Ethiopia currently produces assault rifles, rocket propelled grenades, small arms and hosts an assembly plant to manufacture tanks.
The country's foreign reserves this month stood at $800m, down from $2m last year.
The Horn of Africa country has one of the largest armies in Africa and last year increased its defence budget by $50m to $400m, allegedly for "stability reasons".
Ethiopia's army is estimated to comprise around 200 000 soldiers.
14 April, 2009
Somaliland clan elder arrested after attending opposition rally.
Garowe Online
14 April 2009
A clan elder was arrested Tuesday in Somalia’s breakaway republic of Somaliland after he attended an opposition rally the day earlier, Radio Garowe reports.
Saleban Boqor Saleban Hassan was detained by Somaliland police in Hargeisa, with witnesses saying he demanded the police to show him a warrant.
He was standing in front of Hotel Imperial in Hargeisa when police units arrested him without a warrant, witnesses said.
Crowds gathered around as the traditional elder was ushered into a police vehicle and transported to police headquarters in Hargeisa.
On Monday, Mr. Saleban addressed hundreds of people who came out in support of Kulmiye opposition party leader Ahmed Silanyo’s refusal to recognize the term extension of Somaliland President Dahir Riyale.
He loudly criticized two government officials – Finance Minister Awil Ali Du’ale and Public Works Minister Said Sulub – whom he accused of “inciting old clan hostilities.”
Mr. Silanyo, Somaliland’s opposition leader, has demanded that President Riyale leave office after failing to hold presidential elections on time.
Somaliland’s upper house of parliament, the House of Guurti, voted to give Mr. Riyale’s administration a six-month extension in addition to a one-year extension Riyale received in 2008, angering opposition parties Kulmiye and UCID.
“I thank you for coming out to express your opposition to Riyale’s term extension,” Mr. Silanyo told supporters, as police units blocked off roads near the Kulmiye party headquarters in Hargeisa.
He openly accused the Riyale government of “robbing the public” and “destroying the democracy” in Somaliland.
“We have the constitutional right to stage peaceful protests. We do not fire bullets, we do not throw stones, but they [police] fired bullets at us,” Silanyo said, while referring to Kulmiye’s first public demonstration in Hargeisa last week that ended abruptly after Somaliland security forces fired into the crowd.
14 April 2009
A clan elder was arrested Tuesday in Somalia’s breakaway republic of Somaliland after he attended an opposition rally the day earlier, Radio Garowe reports.
Saleban Boqor Saleban Hassan was detained by Somaliland police in Hargeisa, with witnesses saying he demanded the police to show him a warrant.
He was standing in front of Hotel Imperial in Hargeisa when police units arrested him without a warrant, witnesses said.
Crowds gathered around as the traditional elder was ushered into a police vehicle and transported to police headquarters in Hargeisa.
On Monday, Mr. Saleban addressed hundreds of people who came out in support of Kulmiye opposition party leader Ahmed Silanyo’s refusal to recognize the term extension of Somaliland President Dahir Riyale.
He loudly criticized two government officials – Finance Minister Awil Ali Du’ale and Public Works Minister Said Sulub – whom he accused of “inciting old clan hostilities.”
Mr. Silanyo, Somaliland’s opposition leader, has demanded that President Riyale leave office after failing to hold presidential elections on time.
Somaliland’s upper house of parliament, the House of Guurti, voted to give Mr. Riyale’s administration a six-month extension in addition to a one-year extension Riyale received in 2008, angering opposition parties Kulmiye and UCID.
“I thank you for coming out to express your opposition to Riyale’s term extension,” Mr. Silanyo told supporters, as police units blocked off roads near the Kulmiye party headquarters in Hargeisa.
He openly accused the Riyale government of “robbing the public” and “destroying the democracy” in Somaliland.
“We have the constitutional right to stage peaceful protests. We do not fire bullets, we do not throw stones, but they [police] fired bullets at us,” Silanyo said, while referring to Kulmiye’s first public demonstration in Hargeisa last week that ended abruptly after Somaliland security forces fired into the crowd.
Iraqi VP to Discuss Total Oil Field Deal in Paris.
Dow Jones Newswire
14 April 2009
Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi said Tuesday he will meet executives from the French energy giant Total SA (TOT) to discuss a multi-billion dollar oil deal during a working visit to France.
Briefing journalists in Paris on the first day of a three-day visit, Abdel Mahdi and senior Iraqi officials said they hoped to attract French investment in the key oil production sector, devastated by war and neglect.
"Total has shown a keen interest to work in Iraq, particularly in upstream development of oil and gas fields," said senior Iraqi government adviser and former oil minister Thamer al-Ghadhban, sitting alongside Abdel Mahdi.
Contacted by AFP, Total preferred not to comment on its plans.
Ghadhban confirmed that Total, France's largest and most profitable firm, had forged a partnership with U.S. giant Chevron Corp. (CVX), which has been asked to bid for a contract to exploit one of southern Iraq's most promising fields.
"Total, partnered with Chevron, has been asked to bid directly on the Nahr Bin Umar oil field on a different arrangement from the first stage round which has been staged last year by the ministry of oil," he said.
Although the Nahr Bin Umar field auction is to be held separately from the main auction process for Iraqi fields, the Franco-U.S. consortium will still face rival bids, including from Norway's StatoilHydro, he said.
The field was one of two fields that Total was already negotiating to take over under the former regime of ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, he said.
"So Total is in a really advantageous position," he said.
Abdel Mahdi, an opponent of the former regime who speaks fluent French and English after spending 25 years in exile in France, added: "I've talked to them many times, and they're definitely interested."
The officials said the amount of money that Total's consortium would need to invest to develop the fields wasn't yet decided, but that a figure in the region of $15 billion or EUR15 billion had been discussed.
Iraq's ambassador in Paris, Mowaffak Abboud, said the two fields in which Total was most interested had the potential to produce more than one million barrels of crude a day between them over a 14-year period.
14 April 2009
Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi said Tuesday he will meet executives from the French energy giant Total SA (TOT) to discuss a multi-billion dollar oil deal during a working visit to France.
Briefing journalists in Paris on the first day of a three-day visit, Abdel Mahdi and senior Iraqi officials said they hoped to attract French investment in the key oil production sector, devastated by war and neglect.
"Total has shown a keen interest to work in Iraq, particularly in upstream development of oil and gas fields," said senior Iraqi government adviser and former oil minister Thamer al-Ghadhban, sitting alongside Abdel Mahdi.
Contacted by AFP, Total preferred not to comment on its plans.
Ghadhban confirmed that Total, France's largest and most profitable firm, had forged a partnership with U.S. giant Chevron Corp. (CVX), which has been asked to bid for a contract to exploit one of southern Iraq's most promising fields.
"Total, partnered with Chevron, has been asked to bid directly on the Nahr Bin Umar oil field on a different arrangement from the first stage round which has been staged last year by the ministry of oil," he said.
Although the Nahr Bin Umar field auction is to be held separately from the main auction process for Iraqi fields, the Franco-U.S. consortium will still face rival bids, including from Norway's StatoilHydro, he said.
The field was one of two fields that Total was already negotiating to take over under the former regime of ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, he said.
"So Total is in a really advantageous position," he said.
Abdel Mahdi, an opponent of the former regime who speaks fluent French and English after spending 25 years in exile in France, added: "I've talked to them many times, and they're definitely interested."
The officials said the amount of money that Total's consortium would need to invest to develop the fields wasn't yet decided, but that a figure in the region of $15 billion or EUR15 billion had been discussed.
Iraq's ambassador in Paris, Mowaffak Abboud, said the two fields in which Total was most interested had the potential to produce more than one million barrels of crude a day between them over a 14-year period.
Algerian President's Election Confirmed.
AP
14 April 2009
Algeria's highest legal body has confirmed President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's landslide re-election victory and rejected 47 appeals by challengers who alleged mass fraud.
The chief of the Constitutional Council, Boualem Bessaih, said Bouteflika won 90.23% of the vote, according to Algerian newspaper reports on Tuesday. This was 0.01% less than what the Interior Ministry initially announced as Bouteflika's re-election score in the election on Thursday.
The council said turnout reached 74.56%, half a point more than what the ministry initially announced.
Bouteflika, 72, was first elected in 1999 and then in 2004. He had the constitution changed last year to eliminate term limits so he could run again.
The council said he was elected to a third term by about 108 000 more votes than initially announced, winning 13 019 787 votes out of the 14 430 253 cast.
According to the council, runner-up Louisa Hanoune, a far-left Trotskyist, won 4.5%, followed by nationalist Moussa Touati, at 2.04%. Then come the race's two moderate Islamists, Djahid Younsi, with 2.04% and Mohammed Said at 0.92%. Human Rights Activist Ali Fewzi Rebaine finished last, with 0.86% of the vote.
Four candidates filed appeals with the Constitutional Council, alleging mass fraud. Rebaine said he would file his complaints through the United Nations, as well, because he doubted the council's neutrality.
Bessaih, the council's president, said he'd rejected 47 appeals. He did not give details or say whether more appeals were being considered.
Algeria's constitution provides for the president to be sworn in within a week of the election.
14 April 2009
Algeria's highest legal body has confirmed President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's landslide re-election victory and rejected 47 appeals by challengers who alleged mass fraud.
The chief of the Constitutional Council, Boualem Bessaih, said Bouteflika won 90.23% of the vote, according to Algerian newspaper reports on Tuesday. This was 0.01% less than what the Interior Ministry initially announced as Bouteflika's re-election score in the election on Thursday.
The council said turnout reached 74.56%, half a point more than what the ministry initially announced.
Bouteflika, 72, was first elected in 1999 and then in 2004. He had the constitution changed last year to eliminate term limits so he could run again.
The council said he was elected to a third term by about 108 000 more votes than initially announced, winning 13 019 787 votes out of the 14 430 253 cast.
According to the council, runner-up Louisa Hanoune, a far-left Trotskyist, won 4.5%, followed by nationalist Moussa Touati, at 2.04%. Then come the race's two moderate Islamists, Djahid Younsi, with 2.04% and Mohammed Said at 0.92%. Human Rights Activist Ali Fewzi Rebaine finished last, with 0.86% of the vote.
Four candidates filed appeals with the Constitutional Council, alleging mass fraud. Rebaine said he would file his complaints through the United Nations, as well, because he doubted the council's neutrality.
Bessaih, the council's president, said he'd rejected 47 appeals. He did not give details or say whether more appeals were being considered.
Algeria's constitution provides for the president to be sworn in within a week of the election.
Mortar attacks in Congo capital.
AFP
14 April 2009
At least four mortar shells pounded a northern working-class district of the Congo capital Brazzaville overnight causing heavy damage but no casualties, locals said on Tuesday.
The attack came just hours ahead of key talks between the ruling party, the opposition and civil society groups in the run-up to the July presidential elections, which President Denis Sassou Nguesso is expected to contest.
"At least two mortar shells exploded. They destroyed the wall of a plot of land which was inhabited but without injuring or killing anyone," a pro-government source said.
"For the present we are not worrying about where the shells were fired from and who fired them," the source said. "Nevertheless they took advantage of lighting on a night of heavy rain to carry out their task."
A human rights activist said the attacks were intended to pressure the politicians to move ahead with the "republican dialogue" announced during a visit to Brazzaville in March by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The dialogue is due to review the institutional framework of the election, the electoral body and the financing of political parties. The holding of such a forum has long been demanded by the opposition, civil society and the clergy.
At the end of March the opposition expressed scepticism, saying the real aim of the dialogue was to legitimise the National Elections Organisation Committee (CONEL), whose independence is questioned, before the presidential vote.
A government source on Tuesday, however, claimed the attacks were in no way linked to the talks, and blaming the attacks on "isolated bandits".
Brazzaville was the scene of heavy fighting between June and October 1997 between government forces and troops loyal to Sassou Nguesso, who ultimately seized power.
Sassou Nguesso was elected in 2007 but the polls were widely viewed as being marred by fraud. About 10 contestants are in the fray for the upcoming July election whose date has not yet been announced.
Sassou Nguesso is likely to stand, although he has made no official announcement so far.
14 April 2009
At least four mortar shells pounded a northern working-class district of the Congo capital Brazzaville overnight causing heavy damage but no casualties, locals said on Tuesday.
The attack came just hours ahead of key talks between the ruling party, the opposition and civil society groups in the run-up to the July presidential elections, which President Denis Sassou Nguesso is expected to contest.
"At least two mortar shells exploded. They destroyed the wall of a plot of land which was inhabited but without injuring or killing anyone," a pro-government source said.
"For the present we are not worrying about where the shells were fired from and who fired them," the source said. "Nevertheless they took advantage of lighting on a night of heavy rain to carry out their task."
A human rights activist said the attacks were intended to pressure the politicians to move ahead with the "republican dialogue" announced during a visit to Brazzaville in March by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The dialogue is due to review the institutional framework of the election, the electoral body and the financing of political parties. The holding of such a forum has long been demanded by the opposition, civil society and the clergy.
At the end of March the opposition expressed scepticism, saying the real aim of the dialogue was to legitimise the National Elections Organisation Committee (CONEL), whose independence is questioned, before the presidential vote.
A government source on Tuesday, however, claimed the attacks were in no way linked to the talks, and blaming the attacks on "isolated bandits".
Brazzaville was the scene of heavy fighting between June and October 1997 between government forces and troops loyal to Sassou Nguesso, who ultimately seized power.
Sassou Nguesso was elected in 2007 but the polls were widely viewed as being marred by fraud. About 10 contestants are in the fray for the upcoming July election whose date has not yet been announced.
Sassou Nguesso is likely to stand, although he has made no official announcement so far.
Ethiopia launches $200mn Ethiopia-Kenyan road link project.
African Press Agency
13 April 2009
Ethiopia launched on Monday, one of Africa’s major trans-boundary highways, the Ethiopia-Kenya road link project worth over $200 million.
The Ethiopian Roads Authority announced here that the highway project will be carried out between Hageremariam and Moyale towns on the Ethiopian side, which will cover 300kilometres.
The road would be one of Africa’s major trans-boundary highways, according to the authority, which has finalized the environmental impact assessment and rehabilitation study of the project.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is expected to fund the project, which will commence this year.
The road project constitutes a major highway linking Ethiopia to Kenya traversing as far as the port of Mombasa on the Kenyan coast, the authority said.
The road would be vital in terms of commerce as it traverses major coffee-growing areas in the south Ethiopian states.
Recently, a delegation of the project’s financier, the AfDB toured the project areas.
The road runs 300 kilometers as part of the Addis Ababa - Moyale route. This route is part of the 10,000 kilometre Cairo - Gaborone - Cape Town trans-boundary highway, which is the longest of the four main highway links in Africa.
13 April 2009
Ethiopia launched on Monday, one of Africa’s major trans-boundary highways, the Ethiopia-Kenya road link project worth over $200 million.
The Ethiopian Roads Authority announced here that the highway project will be carried out between Hageremariam and Moyale towns on the Ethiopian side, which will cover 300kilometres.
The road would be one of Africa’s major trans-boundary highways, according to the authority, which has finalized the environmental impact assessment and rehabilitation study of the project.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is expected to fund the project, which will commence this year.
The road project constitutes a major highway linking Ethiopia to Kenya traversing as far as the port of Mombasa on the Kenyan coast, the authority said.
The road would be vital in terms of commerce as it traverses major coffee-growing areas in the south Ethiopian states.
Recently, a delegation of the project’s financier, the AfDB toured the project areas.
The road runs 300 kilometers as part of the Addis Ababa - Moyale route. This route is part of the 10,000 kilometre Cairo - Gaborone - Cape Town trans-boundary highway, which is the longest of the four main highway links in Africa.
Saudi Arabia invests $629m in Ethiopia.
Reuters
13 April 2009
Tsegaye Tadesse
Addis Ababa - A consortium of Saudi businessmen have invested $629m in 85 different projects from agriculture to mining in Ethiopia, the investment authority said on Monday.
The Horn of Africa nation attracted $10bn in local and foreign investment in 2007/08 in agriculture, flowers, textiles and tourism, according to the government.
"Of the total 85 projects, 65 have started production while the remaining 20 are in the implementation phase," said Aklilu Woldemariam, spokesperson for the Ethiopian Investment Authority.
Aklilu said that projects that have already begun in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, real estate, hotels, mining, health and education.
The projects are expected to employ 17 000 people, he said.
Government officials say Saudi Arabia buys Ethiopian agricultural commodities worth about $1bn annually. Addis Ababa imports oil and other petroleum products from the Gulf state worth about $1.5bn a year.
13 April 2009
Tsegaye Tadesse
Addis Ababa - A consortium of Saudi businessmen have invested $629m in 85 different projects from agriculture to mining in Ethiopia, the investment authority said on Monday.
The Horn of Africa nation attracted $10bn in local and foreign investment in 2007/08 in agriculture, flowers, textiles and tourism, according to the government.
"Of the total 85 projects, 65 have started production while the remaining 20 are in the implementation phase," said Aklilu Woldemariam, spokesperson for the Ethiopian Investment Authority.
Aklilu said that projects that have already begun in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, real estate, hotels, mining, health and education.
The projects are expected to employ 17 000 people, he said.
Government officials say Saudi Arabia buys Ethiopian agricultural commodities worth about $1bn annually. Addis Ababa imports oil and other petroleum products from the Gulf state worth about $1.5bn a year.
Pirates 'untrained teenagers' according to the DoD.
News 24
13 April 2009
The Somali pirates who kidnapped Captain Richard Phillips were heavily armed but inexperienced youths, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Monday, adding that the hijackers were aged 17-19.
The pirates, three of whom were killed by US Navy snipers on Sunday, were "untrained teenagers with heavy weapons", Gates told a group of 30 students and faculty members at the Marine Corps War College in Quantico, Virginia.
13 April 2009
The Somali pirates who kidnapped Captain Richard Phillips were heavily armed but inexperienced youths, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Monday, adding that the hijackers were aged 17-19.
The pirates, three of whom were killed by US Navy snipers on Sunday, were "untrained teenagers with heavy weapons", Gates told a group of 30 students and faculty members at the Marine Corps War College in Quantico, Virginia.
13 April, 2009
Rwanda Today: When Foreign Aid Hurts More Than It Helps.
by the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation in collaboration with Emmanuel Hakizimana, Ph.D., Université du Québec à Montréal and Brian Endless, Ph.D., Loyola University Chicago.
English: http://www.hrrfoundation.org/files/file/RwandaTodayForeignAid.pdf
French: http://www.hrrfoundation.org/files/file/LeRwandaActuelLaideEtrangere.pdf
English: http://www.hrrfoundation.org/files/file/RwandaTodayForeignAid.pdf
French: http://www.hrrfoundation.org/files/file/LeRwandaActuelLaideEtrangere.pdf
Mortars miss US politician.
BBC News
13 April 2009
A US congressman has had a narrow escape on a visit to Mogadishu after Somali insurgents fired mortars towards his plane as it was about to take off.
Airport officials told the BBC one mortar had landed near the airport as Donald Payne's plane was due to fly and five others after his plane departed.
Mr Payne had just met leaders of Somalia's government in the capital.
He had discussed ways that the international community might be able to help war-torn Somalia.
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says Mr Payne had just left a half-hour news conference at the presidential palace in the capital when the attack happened, according to airport officials.
“ The plane of the congressman was leaving and the mortars started falling. There were no casualties, but the attack was aimed at the congressman ”
AU official
Abukar Hassan, a police officer at Mogadishu airport, told Reuters news agency: "One mortar landed at the airport when Payne's plane was due to fly and five others after he left and no-one was hurt."
Three people were wounded when one of the mortars hit a nearby neighbourhood, residents told Reuters.
Mr Payne earlier met President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, among other Somali officials.
The New Jersey Democrat said it was his first visit to Somalia since the early 1990s, when the country last had a stable government.
Fragile government
During his brief stop in one of the world's most dangerous cities, Mr Payne was escorted by African Union (AU) soldiers, who are deployed in Somalia on a peacekeeping mission.
An AU official told AFP on condition of anonymity: "The plane of the congressman was leaving and the mortars started falling. There were no casualties, but the attack was aimed at the congressman. He flew out safely."
Mr Payne discussed with his hosts Sunday's hostage drama in the Indian Ocean, when US forces shot dead three Somali pirates who had been holding an American ship captain for five days.
They also discussed peace and reconciliation in Somalia and possible co-operation between Washington and Mogadishu, our correspondent says.
The Somali prime minister said: "We discussed the current situation of Somalia, including the latest piracy incident, the progress the Somali government has made so far and the need for co-operation between the two countries. Our meeting ended in mutual understanding."
At the news conference earlier, Mr Payne said he was sure the Obama administration would look favourably on the Somali government, inaugurated earlier this year after a UN-backed peace process.
"We realise that the government cannot do things overnight," said Mr Payne, 74, who is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's subcommittee on Africa.
"It's going to take patience and time for the government to be able to start to provide services to its people.
"But the government will have a responsibility of proving that it's in the process of benefiting people," the former head of the Congressional Black Caucus added.
13 April 2009
A US congressman has had a narrow escape on a visit to Mogadishu after Somali insurgents fired mortars towards his plane as it was about to take off.
Airport officials told the BBC one mortar had landed near the airport as Donald Payne's plane was due to fly and five others after his plane departed.
Mr Payne had just met leaders of Somalia's government in the capital.
He had discussed ways that the international community might be able to help war-torn Somalia.
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says Mr Payne had just left a half-hour news conference at the presidential palace in the capital when the attack happened, according to airport officials.
“ The plane of the congressman was leaving and the mortars started falling. There were no casualties, but the attack was aimed at the congressman ”
AU official
Abukar Hassan, a police officer at Mogadishu airport, told Reuters news agency: "One mortar landed at the airport when Payne's plane was due to fly and five others after he left and no-one was hurt."
Three people were wounded when one of the mortars hit a nearby neighbourhood, residents told Reuters.
Mr Payne earlier met President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, among other Somali officials.
The New Jersey Democrat said it was his first visit to Somalia since the early 1990s, when the country last had a stable government.
Fragile government
During his brief stop in one of the world's most dangerous cities, Mr Payne was escorted by African Union (AU) soldiers, who are deployed in Somalia on a peacekeeping mission.
An AU official told AFP on condition of anonymity: "The plane of the congressman was leaving and the mortars started falling. There were no casualties, but the attack was aimed at the congressman. He flew out safely."
Mr Payne discussed with his hosts Sunday's hostage drama in the Indian Ocean, when US forces shot dead three Somali pirates who had been holding an American ship captain for five days.
They also discussed peace and reconciliation in Somalia and possible co-operation between Washington and Mogadishu, our correspondent says.
The Somali prime minister said: "We discussed the current situation of Somalia, including the latest piracy incident, the progress the Somali government has made so far and the need for co-operation between the two countries. Our meeting ended in mutual understanding."
At the news conference earlier, Mr Payne said he was sure the Obama administration would look favourably on the Somali government, inaugurated earlier this year after a UN-backed peace process.
"We realise that the government cannot do things overnight," said Mr Payne, 74, who is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's subcommittee on Africa.
"It's going to take patience and time for the government to be able to start to provide services to its people.
"But the government will have a responsibility of proving that it's in the process of benefiting people," the former head of the Congressional Black Caucus added.
Iraq Mulls Restoring Pre-War Russian Contracts.
Rigzone
10 april 2009
Iraq is to consider restoring lucrative contracts won by Russian companies before the 2003 war that ousted Saddam Hussein, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said on Friday.
"We agreed in principle to establish the task of restoring contracts concluded in the pre-war period between Russian and Iraqi companies," Shmatko said.
"I consider this to be very big progress," he added, following talks between Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki.
Shmatko said that a "special working group" would be set up between the two countries in this regard. He didn't say what contracts could be reactivated.
Russia's biggest private oil firm Lukoil Holdings (LKOH.RS) in 1997 signed a $3.4-billion contract to explore the West Qurna 2 oilfield, but was expelled even before the 2003 U.S.-led invasion because of disagreements with Saddam's regime.
10 april 2009
Iraq is to consider restoring lucrative contracts won by Russian companies before the 2003 war that ousted Saddam Hussein, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said on Friday.
"We agreed in principle to establish the task of restoring contracts concluded in the pre-war period between Russian and Iraqi companies," Shmatko said.
"I consider this to be very big progress," he added, following talks between Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki.
Shmatko said that a "special working group" would be set up between the two countries in this regard. He didn't say what contracts could be reactivated.
Russia's biggest private oil firm Lukoil Holdings (LKOH.RS) in 1997 signed a $3.4-billion contract to explore the West Qurna 2 oilfield, but was expelled even before the 2003 U.S.-led invasion because of disagreements with Saddam's regime.
Halliburton - UN Petitioned Over Suspects.
This Day
Abimbola Akosile
13 April 2009
Lagos — United Nations (UN) Conference of States Parties in Vienna, Austria, had been asked to prevail on the government of Nigeria to disclose names of suspects in the Halliburton $180 million bribe scandal to the public; and bring them to justice without further delay.
The UN Conference of States Parties is the body charged with overseeing implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption.
The call was made by a civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which had faulted a recent position by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Mike Aondoakaa, that government does not know the names of suspects involved in the Halliburton bribe case.
According to a petition dated April 9, signed by SERAP's Executive Director, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation insisted that the Federal Government knows the names of the Nigerian officials, but is "simply refusing to disclose them to Nigerians.
"Recently, the government said it has discovered $150 million of the corrupt money in a Swiss account. However, it also stated that it did not have the names of the suspects who are the account holders of the $150 million. This position is inconsistent with the position by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)," the petition read.
Mumuni said, "normal banking practices suggest that funds lodged in any bank are ascribed or owned by identifiable persons. In fact, Article 14 of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party requires states parties to deter and detect all forms of money-laundering, including by keeping records and information about beneficial owner; and to fully share information about money remitters, and originator. States are also required to maintain such information throughout the payment chain."
On this basis, SERAP expressed belief that details of the account holders are available, but it may be that the Nigerian government failed and/or neglected to obtain these details. Alternatively, it alleged that the government has not fully disclosed the information at its disposal concerning the names of the suspects.
Abimbola Akosile
13 April 2009
Lagos — United Nations (UN) Conference of States Parties in Vienna, Austria, had been asked to prevail on the government of Nigeria to disclose names of suspects in the Halliburton $180 million bribe scandal to the public; and bring them to justice without further delay.
The UN Conference of States Parties is the body charged with overseeing implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption.
The call was made by a civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which had faulted a recent position by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Mike Aondoakaa, that government does not know the names of suspects involved in the Halliburton bribe case.
According to a petition dated April 9, signed by SERAP's Executive Director, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation insisted that the Federal Government knows the names of the Nigerian officials, but is "simply refusing to disclose them to Nigerians.
"Recently, the government said it has discovered $150 million of the corrupt money in a Swiss account. However, it also stated that it did not have the names of the suspects who are the account holders of the $150 million. This position is inconsistent with the position by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)," the petition read.
Mumuni said, "normal banking practices suggest that funds lodged in any bank are ascribed or owned by identifiable persons. In fact, Article 14 of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party requires states parties to deter and detect all forms of money-laundering, including by keeping records and information about beneficial owner; and to fully share information about money remitters, and originator. States are also required to maintain such information throughout the payment chain."
On this basis, SERAP expressed belief that details of the account holders are available, but it may be that the Nigerian government failed and/or neglected to obtain these details. Alternatively, it alleged that the government has not fully disclosed the information at its disposal concerning the names of the suspects.
12 April, 2009
EAC to construct natural gas pipelines to Africa's Great Lakes
Sunday Observer
8 March 2009
The East Africa Community (EAC) has unveiled a plan that will see two major oil pipelines constructed to supply imported oil and natural gas to energy-hungry Great Lakes landlocked countries.
The construction of the pipelines to be carried out under the auspices of the EA trading block will start from Dar-es-Salaam and Mombasa ports in Tanzania and Kenya respectively.
The multi-million-dollar projects are expected to reduce the high road and rail transportation costs of oil from Kenya and Tanzania to landlocked Burundi, Eastern DR Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda.
EAC Heads of the states summit Chairman President Paul Kagame of Rwanda said recently: "I am pleased to note that the oil pipeline extension from Eldoret to Kampala is ongoing, and will be completed by the fourth quarter of 2009."
Kagame who was briefing the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) added that the terms of reference for feasibility study on the extension of a similar oil pipeline from Kampala-Uganda to Kigali-Rwanda and Bujumbura-Burundi had been finalised.
"Similarly, the terms of reference for feasibility study for the Dar-es-Salaam-Tanga-Mombasa natural gas pipeline have been completed and approved by the EAC Sectoral Council on Energy," he said.
As part of the deal, the EAC partner states have agreed to share Tanzania's Songo-Songo gas and the construction cost of a pipeline through Tanga to Mombasa, Kenya and later on to Kampala for distribution of the gas for power generation in the partner states.
Meanwhile, the Director for the EAC's Productive and Social Sector, Dr Nyamajeje Weggoro, said a similar arrangement would apply to supplying within the region the recently discovered oil in Western Uganda. A 320 km Eldoret-Kampala pipeline is under way to distribute the resource to the partner states, he pointed out.
During 12 months ending February 2008, Tanzania's oil bill amounted to $ 1.46 bn compared with the country's total import value of $ 5.53 bn, according to the Bank of Tanzania (BoT).
Construction of the 320 km-Eldoret-Kampala-oil pipeline takes off in April after land was acquired 15 miles west of Kampala along the Kampala-Mityana highway to serve as the pipeline's inland terminal. Trucks will pick oil products from there for delivery to Burundi, Eastern Congo, Rwanda and Southern Sudan.
Project details show that Tamoil East Africa, the company that won the tender in 2006 to build, own, operate and eventually transfer the project to the Kenyan and Ugandan governments after a period of 20 years, will build the terminal.
Tamoil is a subsidiary of a Libyan giant that has a wide range of expertise in the oil business, including oil products distribution, oil engineering and refining. Tamoil officials recently said the 24-tank terminal will hold up to 160 mm litres of fuel-enough to meet the needs of the Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, including possible supplies to Eastern Congo and Sudan for at least 21 days, in case of supply disruptions.
Ahmed El Gembri is the Project Manager who has said the venture will be completed in 15 months. The project coincides with Uganda starting to extract its own oil from the Lake Albert area, and experts say the country will need a pipeline to move its refined product to the export market.
The Eldoret-Kampala line is a "reverse engineering" design, which means it serves a duo-purpose of transporting oil products to and fro. The project cost notwithstanding, pipelines are the cheapest modes of transporting oil products, which at $ 20 per cm that the Tamoil quotes, is nearly half the current tariff of between $ 30 and $ 40 per 1000 litres that oil importers foot using other means.
For many, the construction of the topping plant, which would have a processing capacity of 4,000 bpd and the possible later development of a larger refinery will most likely result in Uganda, reducing its petroleum imports and thus dependence on Kenya's infrastructure. This translates into 156,000 tons of fuel oil and 32,000 tons of white products (like diesel) a year.
The heavy fuel oil will mostly be used in power production. Experts say Uganda's ability to generate cheap oil would translate into cheaper power, which would make it the most competitive destination for manufacturers within the East African trading block.
About 114,000 tons of fuel are transported through road and rail to Uganda, with the landlocked country paying an additional $ 20 per 1,000 litres to ferry the fuel from the coast compared to using the pipeline up to Eldoret and trucking it to Kampala.
Generally, Uganda's fortune will also translate into loss of revenue for the Rift Valley Railways (RVR) and myriad road transporters. Currently, nearly 85 % (714,000 tons) of Uganda's annual petroleum and diesel requirements are imported through Kenya.
Out of this, 600,000 tons are transported primarily via Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) infrastructures of Mombasa to Nakuru and Eldoret, and then via road transport across the Ugandan border.
This means that KPC will also be another big casualty once Uganda becomes self-sufficient in terms of oil production. Uganda pays the KPC $ 40 for every ton of oil that passes through its facilities. This translates into $ 24 mm in annual revenue to KPC. The money is later transferred to the Government.
Experts have been working to ascertain the amount of reserves Uganda actually has, as the first estimates of the discovery's size indicate it is exhaustible. Estimates of up to 300 mm barrels pale in comparison to the reserves of Nigeria (36 bn barrels) or Angola (more than five bn barrels).
The three fields in western Uganda, where the oil has been discovered, have reserves of between 100 mm and 300 mm barrels, with 30 mm barrels ready for extraction at just more than 12,000 bpd. Australian oil exploration company Hardman Resources, which had been commissioned by the Ugandan Government to prospect for oil in the country discovered the oil in June 2006 in three western fields called Weraga 1, Weraga 2 and Mputa. Before that, oil exploration companies had spent at least $ 70 mm on the search.
The oil find brought Uganda into the continent's oil producing club alongside countries like Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan and Chad, although with a lesser production potential. During the announcement, Ugandan media quoted President Yoweri Museveni saying that he expected production to begin this year, with an initial production of 6,000-10,000 bpd.
By comparison, Nigeria, which is Africa's biggest producer of crude, can produce around 2.5 mm bpd, but has seen a drop-off of around 20 % in the past few months because of militant attacks on pipelines and kidnappings of oil workers.
Although Ugandans are happy at the prospect of the country's new resource generating faster growth and creating more jobs, initial reactions from the locals of the region where the oil was discovered is pointing to a direction similar to problems that have been witnessed in oil producing areas in Nigeria. According to various reports from the Uganda media, tribesmen of the Banyoro, whose kingdom area covers where the oil was discovered, started to claim their share of the oil immediately after Museveni's announcement.
Rwanda is also exploring oil prospects. Analysts say when Uganda starts to drill its own oil; it will need an oil pipeline to transport it to the refinery in Mombasa.
8 March 2009
The East Africa Community (EAC) has unveiled a plan that will see two major oil pipelines constructed to supply imported oil and natural gas to energy-hungry Great Lakes landlocked countries.
The construction of the pipelines to be carried out under the auspices of the EA trading block will start from Dar-es-Salaam and Mombasa ports in Tanzania and Kenya respectively.
The multi-million-dollar projects are expected to reduce the high road and rail transportation costs of oil from Kenya and Tanzania to landlocked Burundi, Eastern DR Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda.
EAC Heads of the states summit Chairman President Paul Kagame of Rwanda said recently: "I am pleased to note that the oil pipeline extension from Eldoret to Kampala is ongoing, and will be completed by the fourth quarter of 2009."
Kagame who was briefing the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) added that the terms of reference for feasibility study on the extension of a similar oil pipeline from Kampala-Uganda to Kigali-Rwanda and Bujumbura-Burundi had been finalised.
"Similarly, the terms of reference for feasibility study for the Dar-es-Salaam-Tanga-Mombasa natural gas pipeline have been completed and approved by the EAC Sectoral Council on Energy," he said.
As part of the deal, the EAC partner states have agreed to share Tanzania's Songo-Songo gas and the construction cost of a pipeline through Tanga to Mombasa, Kenya and later on to Kampala for distribution of the gas for power generation in the partner states.
Meanwhile, the Director for the EAC's Productive and Social Sector, Dr Nyamajeje Weggoro, said a similar arrangement would apply to supplying within the region the recently discovered oil in Western Uganda. A 320 km Eldoret-Kampala pipeline is under way to distribute the resource to the partner states, he pointed out.
During 12 months ending February 2008, Tanzania's oil bill amounted to $ 1.46 bn compared with the country's total import value of $ 5.53 bn, according to the Bank of Tanzania (BoT).
Construction of the 320 km-Eldoret-Kampala-oil pipeline takes off in April after land was acquired 15 miles west of Kampala along the Kampala-Mityana highway to serve as the pipeline's inland terminal. Trucks will pick oil products from there for delivery to Burundi, Eastern Congo, Rwanda and Southern Sudan.
Project details show that Tamoil East Africa, the company that won the tender in 2006 to build, own, operate and eventually transfer the project to the Kenyan and Ugandan governments after a period of 20 years, will build the terminal.
Tamoil is a subsidiary of a Libyan giant that has a wide range of expertise in the oil business, including oil products distribution, oil engineering and refining. Tamoil officials recently said the 24-tank terminal will hold up to 160 mm litres of fuel-enough to meet the needs of the Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, including possible supplies to Eastern Congo and Sudan for at least 21 days, in case of supply disruptions.
Ahmed El Gembri is the Project Manager who has said the venture will be completed in 15 months. The project coincides with Uganda starting to extract its own oil from the Lake Albert area, and experts say the country will need a pipeline to move its refined product to the export market.
The Eldoret-Kampala line is a "reverse engineering" design, which means it serves a duo-purpose of transporting oil products to and fro. The project cost notwithstanding, pipelines are the cheapest modes of transporting oil products, which at $ 20 per cm that the Tamoil quotes, is nearly half the current tariff of between $ 30 and $ 40 per 1000 litres that oil importers foot using other means.
For many, the construction of the topping plant, which would have a processing capacity of 4,000 bpd and the possible later development of a larger refinery will most likely result in Uganda, reducing its petroleum imports and thus dependence on Kenya's infrastructure. This translates into 156,000 tons of fuel oil and 32,000 tons of white products (like diesel) a year.
The heavy fuel oil will mostly be used in power production. Experts say Uganda's ability to generate cheap oil would translate into cheaper power, which would make it the most competitive destination for manufacturers within the East African trading block.
About 114,000 tons of fuel are transported through road and rail to Uganda, with the landlocked country paying an additional $ 20 per 1,000 litres to ferry the fuel from the coast compared to using the pipeline up to Eldoret and trucking it to Kampala.
Generally, Uganda's fortune will also translate into loss of revenue for the Rift Valley Railways (RVR) and myriad road transporters. Currently, nearly 85 % (714,000 tons) of Uganda's annual petroleum and diesel requirements are imported through Kenya.
Out of this, 600,000 tons are transported primarily via Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) infrastructures of Mombasa to Nakuru and Eldoret, and then via road transport across the Ugandan border.
This means that KPC will also be another big casualty once Uganda becomes self-sufficient in terms of oil production. Uganda pays the KPC $ 40 for every ton of oil that passes through its facilities. This translates into $ 24 mm in annual revenue to KPC. The money is later transferred to the Government.
Experts have been working to ascertain the amount of reserves Uganda actually has, as the first estimates of the discovery's size indicate it is exhaustible. Estimates of up to 300 mm barrels pale in comparison to the reserves of Nigeria (36 bn barrels) or Angola (more than five bn barrels).
The three fields in western Uganda, where the oil has been discovered, have reserves of between 100 mm and 300 mm barrels, with 30 mm barrels ready for extraction at just more than 12,000 bpd. Australian oil exploration company Hardman Resources, which had been commissioned by the Ugandan Government to prospect for oil in the country discovered the oil in June 2006 in three western fields called Weraga 1, Weraga 2 and Mputa. Before that, oil exploration companies had spent at least $ 70 mm on the search.
The oil find brought Uganda into the continent's oil producing club alongside countries like Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan and Chad, although with a lesser production potential. During the announcement, Ugandan media quoted President Yoweri Museveni saying that he expected production to begin this year, with an initial production of 6,000-10,000 bpd.
By comparison, Nigeria, which is Africa's biggest producer of crude, can produce around 2.5 mm bpd, but has seen a drop-off of around 20 % in the past few months because of militant attacks on pipelines and kidnappings of oil workers.
Although Ugandans are happy at the prospect of the country's new resource generating faster growth and creating more jobs, initial reactions from the locals of the region where the oil was discovered is pointing to a direction similar to problems that have been witnessed in oil producing areas in Nigeria. According to various reports from the Uganda media, tribesmen of the Banyoro, whose kingdom area covers where the oil was discovered, started to claim their share of the oil immediately after Museveni's announcement.
Rwanda is also exploring oil prospects. Analysts say when Uganda starts to drill its own oil; it will need an oil pipeline to transport it to the refinery in Mombasa.
Total Nigeria and Gazprom interested in Trans-Sahara gas line.
Oil & Gas Journal
26 February 2009
Total and Gazprom are both interested in the ambitious 4,400-km Trans-Sahara gas pipeline (TSGP) that would deliver Nigerian gas to Europe by 2015.
Speaking at an industry conference in Abuja, Guy Maurice, managing director of Total Exploration & Production in Nigeria, said, "Total believes this is a long-term strategic diversification for Nigeria, which is quite interesting. I take this opportunity to mention publicly that Total is ready to become involved in this project."
Vladimir Ilyanin, managing director of Gazprom Nigeria, said, "We have the opportunity here to offer some solutions that we have come across. We have experience of running similar long, large-scale projects."
Ilyanin added that world gas prices needed to increase from current levels for the TSGP to be viable. Gazprom is keen to develop a presence in Nigeria with plans to invest about $ 2.5 bn in infrastructure for the development and production of Nigerian gas. It hopes to conclude a multibillion joint venture on Nigerian oil and gas exploration and production by the end of March, he added.
The pipeline is expected to cost $ 12 bn and has been incorporated into Nigeria's gas master plan, which is the government's initiative to monetize its gas reserves with an emphasis on the domestic market and power generation.
Nigeria National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC) is working with Sonatrach to implement the project and is finalizing a memorandum of understanding. Whether they can reach their target start date is doubtful considering the number of political and commercial obstacles that remain.
Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, group managing director of NNPC, said that signing the MoU would demonstrate "to the international community our resolve to strengthen our bilateral relations as well as our commitment to pursue the project," adding, "We will revisit the MoU and assign the commercial and technical issues to the joint venture agreement that will govern the project."
Niger, a transit country for the pipeline, will also be involved in the final MoU.
Feasibility studies have demonstrated that the 30 bn cmpy pipeline is commercially viable and would have a multiplier effect on the economies of participating nations, Barkindo added. He said the project remains a unique opportunity for both countries to diversify their energy supply to gas.
NNPC wants to be involved in the entire process up to the marketing in Europe. "We fully intend to maximize value in the entire gas chain," Barkindo said.
Mohammed Mezaine, president and chief executive officer of Sonatrach, said Algeria was interested in the Nigerian upstream element of the TSGP and would use its existing gas pipeline network and storage facilities for the project.
26 February 2009
Total and Gazprom are both interested in the ambitious 4,400-km Trans-Sahara gas pipeline (TSGP) that would deliver Nigerian gas to Europe by 2015.
Speaking at an industry conference in Abuja, Guy Maurice, managing director of Total Exploration & Production in Nigeria, said, "Total believes this is a long-term strategic diversification for Nigeria, which is quite interesting. I take this opportunity to mention publicly that Total is ready to become involved in this project."
Vladimir Ilyanin, managing director of Gazprom Nigeria, said, "We have the opportunity here to offer some solutions that we have come across. We have experience of running similar long, large-scale projects."
Ilyanin added that world gas prices needed to increase from current levels for the TSGP to be viable. Gazprom is keen to develop a presence in Nigeria with plans to invest about $ 2.5 bn in infrastructure for the development and production of Nigerian gas. It hopes to conclude a multibillion joint venture on Nigerian oil and gas exploration and production by the end of March, he added.
The pipeline is expected to cost $ 12 bn and has been incorporated into Nigeria's gas master plan, which is the government's initiative to monetize its gas reserves with an emphasis on the domestic market and power generation.
Nigeria National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC) is working with Sonatrach to implement the project and is finalizing a memorandum of understanding. Whether they can reach their target start date is doubtful considering the number of political and commercial obstacles that remain.
Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, group managing director of NNPC, said that signing the MoU would demonstrate "to the international community our resolve to strengthen our bilateral relations as well as our commitment to pursue the project," adding, "We will revisit the MoU and assign the commercial and technical issues to the joint venture agreement that will govern the project."
Niger, a transit country for the pipeline, will also be involved in the final MoU.
Feasibility studies have demonstrated that the 30 bn cmpy pipeline is commercially viable and would have a multiplier effect on the economies of participating nations, Barkindo added. He said the project remains a unique opportunity for both countries to diversify their energy supply to gas.
NNPC wants to be involved in the entire process up to the marketing in Europe. "We fully intend to maximize value in the entire gas chain," Barkindo said.
Mohammed Mezaine, president and chief executive officer of Sonatrach, said Algeria was interested in the Nigerian upstream element of the TSGP and would use its existing gas pipeline network and storage facilities for the project.
Iran to supply Kenya with crude.
Press TV (Iran)
6 March 2009
Iran will reportedly supply Kenya with 4 mm tons of oil annually as a part of range of deals signed in February between the two states.
The Kenyan government rejected the allegations that Iran offered its crude oil to Kenya at 10 % below the market price. It says Iran, the world's fourth largest oil exporter, has agreed to offer Kenya a 90-day credit period to pay its debt to Tehran.
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad visited east Africa's largest economy on February 25 and signed a range of economic agreements with his Kenyan counterpart Mwai Kibaki. The Iranian president said it was of great importance for Tehran to promote political and economic ties with Kenya.
Iran currently exports industrial oil, carpets and chemicals to Kenya and imports tea. Kenya plans to add beef and fish products to its list of exports to Iran.
Analysts believe the new agreements could increase the volume of Iran-Kenya trade to $ 500 mm by the end of next year.
Iran is helping Kenya on several major energy and infrastructure projects.
The two countries have also agreed to establish direct flights between Nairobi and Tehran, to set up a shipping line between the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas and the Kenyan port of Mombasa and to build an Iranian trade centre in Nairobi.
6 March 2009
Iran will reportedly supply Kenya with 4 mm tons of oil annually as a part of range of deals signed in February between the two states.
The Kenyan government rejected the allegations that Iran offered its crude oil to Kenya at 10 % below the market price. It says Iran, the world's fourth largest oil exporter, has agreed to offer Kenya a 90-day credit period to pay its debt to Tehran.
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad visited east Africa's largest economy on February 25 and signed a range of economic agreements with his Kenyan counterpart Mwai Kibaki. The Iranian president said it was of great importance for Tehran to promote political and economic ties with Kenya.
Iran currently exports industrial oil, carpets and chemicals to Kenya and imports tea. Kenya plans to add beef and fish products to its list of exports to Iran.
Analysts believe the new agreements could increase the volume of Iran-Kenya trade to $ 500 mm by the end of next year.
Iran is helping Kenya on several major energy and infrastructure projects.
The two countries have also agreed to establish direct flights between Nairobi and Tehran, to set up a shipping line between the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas and the Kenyan port of Mombasa and to build an Iranian trade centre in Nairobi.
'I was a doctor in Rwanda, not a mass killer.'
The Independent
By Andrew Johnson
12 April 2009
Dr Vincent Brown, who won a battle last week to stop his extradition on genocide charges, speaks exclusively about his two-year ordeal.
Vincent Bajinya had already left one nightmare behind. He had seen first hand the horrors of the civil war in Rwanda as a doctor in the capital, Kigali, and was forced to flee when the genocidal madness that overtook the country in 1994 looked like it would catch up with him.
Twelve years later, however, after rebuilding his life in Britain and changing his name to Vincent Brown, out of nowhere his second nightmare began. As he parked his car outside the refugee charity where he worked, Dr Brown was "ambushed" by a BBC camera team.
What, they asked, did he say to allegations that he helped organise some of the horrendous murders that took place when an estimated one million people were slaughtered in just 100 days?
"I was stunned," Dr Brown told The Independent on Sunday in his only newspaper interview. "I was aghast. I was accused on that BBC programme of being a killer. Even now I have not been able to get over it."
He was suspended from his job and then arrested, spending the next 27 months in Belmarsh prison while he fought the desperately slow extradition process. He was released only on Wednesday after the High Court ruled he would not face a fair trial in Rwanda and that there was "substantial doubt" over the allegations.
Although Dr Brown, a Hutu, was not a critic of the Rwandan government – now dominated by the minority Tutsis – he claims that simply successfully rebuilding his life was enough for the authorities to try to bring him back and lock him up – potentially for life.
The Rwandan government's allegations, made 12 years after the event, relied, for example, on witnesses who had never mentioned his involvement when the killings were originally investigated several years ago. He was accused of two killings in different parts of the country at the same time.
"It's a tendency for the Rwandan government to use genocide to destroy any perceived opponents outside Rwanda," he said. "If you're trying to get on with your life, you may get a good job – you flourish – [but] they find a way of destroying you and the best way is to use genocide."
Although Britain has no extradition agreement with Rwanda, the Home Office granted a special certificate to allow the extradition of Dr Brown and three other co-accused.
"When I was arrested in 2006 I was maybe thinking I go and come back the following day," Dr Brown continued. "I did not expect to be in there for 27 months.
"Because the charges against me are pure fabrication there was no prospect of a fair trial in Rwanda, so it was a double stress, not knowing if I can win the case, and knowing that if I go back, I'm facing ill treatment."
Dr Brown has consistently said he would be happy to face trial in this country, and so clear his name. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), however, says it has no jurisdiction to do this.
Dr Brown's QC, Alun Jones, disagrees. He argued in the extradition proceedings that more trials of suspected international criminals should take place here as opposed to protracted extradition cases which often fail, and that the provisions in the International Criminal Court Act allow for trials for genocide.
"I suspect that the reason for failing to try the Rwanda suspects in the United Kingdom is that the authorities accept there is not the faintest hope that a conviction could ever be obtained," he said.
"Of course we can try the men here. The problem is not a lack of jurisdiction. It is that neither UK nor international law provides any mechanism for deciding where a case should be tried which could be tried in more than one state, and we too readily opt for extradition not trial."
He pointed out that there are at least four other suspects in Belmarsh who have not been tried because the CPS is trying to extradite them. Abu Hamza has been locked up for four years, and another terror suspect, Khalid al-Fawwaz, has been waiting extradition to America for 10 years.
"I was not involved in any political movement," said Dr Brown. "I was just a medical doctor treating everybody who came to see me. During the civil war I continued to do my job.
"I fled after the assassination of the President [which sparked the genocide] because the Rwandan Patriotic Front was reportedly killing Hutus.
"I drove my car to Congo. I had my wife and one son. All I took was my certificates and my family. I left my parents behind. Even now for the past 14 years I was not able to see them. I've just talked to them over the phone.
"You don't know where you will end up. You don't choose. When I ended up in Britain I didn't think I could ever be accused of killing anybody. I just wanted to get on with my life."
Dr Brown arrived in this country in 2000. Unable to find work as a doctor because of the rules of the General Medical Council, he took a job working with a refugee charity.
"I'm married with two children," he added. "My son is now 17 and my daughter 12. I've missed two years of them growing up. I was always very anxious about what was happening with them. They could visit once a week. That was the only pleasure for the past 27 months."
Yet Dr Brown is surprisingly forgiving. "I'm angry against the people who falsely accused me," he said. "But I'm not trying to settle any scores. And I have no resentment against the British Government. They arrested somebody who was accused of terrible crimes and it was right to do so."
By Andrew Johnson
12 April 2009
Dr Vincent Brown, who won a battle last week to stop his extradition on genocide charges, speaks exclusively about his two-year ordeal.
Vincent Bajinya had already left one nightmare behind. He had seen first hand the horrors of the civil war in Rwanda as a doctor in the capital, Kigali, and was forced to flee when the genocidal madness that overtook the country in 1994 looked like it would catch up with him.
Twelve years later, however, after rebuilding his life in Britain and changing his name to Vincent Brown, out of nowhere his second nightmare began. As he parked his car outside the refugee charity where he worked, Dr Brown was "ambushed" by a BBC camera team.
What, they asked, did he say to allegations that he helped organise some of the horrendous murders that took place when an estimated one million people were slaughtered in just 100 days?
"I was stunned," Dr Brown told The Independent on Sunday in his only newspaper interview. "I was aghast. I was accused on that BBC programme of being a killer. Even now I have not been able to get over it."
He was suspended from his job and then arrested, spending the next 27 months in Belmarsh prison while he fought the desperately slow extradition process. He was released only on Wednesday after the High Court ruled he would not face a fair trial in Rwanda and that there was "substantial doubt" over the allegations.
Although Dr Brown, a Hutu, was not a critic of the Rwandan government – now dominated by the minority Tutsis – he claims that simply successfully rebuilding his life was enough for the authorities to try to bring him back and lock him up – potentially for life.
The Rwandan government's allegations, made 12 years after the event, relied, for example, on witnesses who had never mentioned his involvement when the killings were originally investigated several years ago. He was accused of two killings in different parts of the country at the same time.
"It's a tendency for the Rwandan government to use genocide to destroy any perceived opponents outside Rwanda," he said. "If you're trying to get on with your life, you may get a good job – you flourish – [but] they find a way of destroying you and the best way is to use genocide."
Although Britain has no extradition agreement with Rwanda, the Home Office granted a special certificate to allow the extradition of Dr Brown and three other co-accused.
"When I was arrested in 2006 I was maybe thinking I go and come back the following day," Dr Brown continued. "I did not expect to be in there for 27 months.
"Because the charges against me are pure fabrication there was no prospect of a fair trial in Rwanda, so it was a double stress, not knowing if I can win the case, and knowing that if I go back, I'm facing ill treatment."
Dr Brown has consistently said he would be happy to face trial in this country, and so clear his name. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), however, says it has no jurisdiction to do this.
Dr Brown's QC, Alun Jones, disagrees. He argued in the extradition proceedings that more trials of suspected international criminals should take place here as opposed to protracted extradition cases which often fail, and that the provisions in the International Criminal Court Act allow for trials for genocide.
"I suspect that the reason for failing to try the Rwanda suspects in the United Kingdom is that the authorities accept there is not the faintest hope that a conviction could ever be obtained," he said.
"Of course we can try the men here. The problem is not a lack of jurisdiction. It is that neither UK nor international law provides any mechanism for deciding where a case should be tried which could be tried in more than one state, and we too readily opt for extradition not trial."
He pointed out that there are at least four other suspects in Belmarsh who have not been tried because the CPS is trying to extradite them. Abu Hamza has been locked up for four years, and another terror suspect, Khalid al-Fawwaz, has been waiting extradition to America for 10 years.
"I was not involved in any political movement," said Dr Brown. "I was just a medical doctor treating everybody who came to see me. During the civil war I continued to do my job.
"I fled after the assassination of the President [which sparked the genocide] because the Rwandan Patriotic Front was reportedly killing Hutus.
"I drove my car to Congo. I had my wife and one son. All I took was my certificates and my family. I left my parents behind. Even now for the past 14 years I was not able to see them. I've just talked to them over the phone.
"You don't know where you will end up. You don't choose. When I ended up in Britain I didn't think I could ever be accused of killing anybody. I just wanted to get on with my life."
Dr Brown arrived in this country in 2000. Unable to find work as a doctor because of the rules of the General Medical Council, he took a job working with a refugee charity.
"I'm married with two children," he added. "My son is now 17 and my daughter 12. I've missed two years of them growing up. I was always very anxious about what was happening with them. They could visit once a week. That was the only pleasure for the past 27 months."
Yet Dr Brown is surprisingly forgiving. "I'm angry against the people who falsely accused me," he said. "But I'm not trying to settle any scores. And I have no resentment against the British Government. They arrested somebody who was accused of terrible crimes and it was right to do so."
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