Sudan Tribune
2 May 2009
The US has tapped a new diplomat to head its mission in the East African state of Sudan, according to a news report.
US embassy in Khartoum The London based Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper quoting sources at the State department said that Robert Whitehead will become the new charge d’ affaires effective May 1st to replace Alberto Fernandez who headed this post since 2007.
The US mission in Khartoum has been headed by a lower level official since 2002. The last time an ambassador was in Khartoum was in 1996 before the US closed the embassy.
US imposed comprehensive sanctions in Sudan since 1997 and stiffened them during Bush administration. It also designated Sudan as a state that sponsors terrorism.
However recently under the new Obama administration there have been signs that relations between the two countries are moving towards normalization. US officials have hinted their readiness to partially lift sanctions and remove Sudan from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
Sudan has been pushing Washington towards a full upgrade of diplomatic relations and appointing an official at an ambassador level.
The US State Department website shows that Whitehead served before at the US embassy in Sudan as well as in Zimbabwe.
02 May, 2009
Madagascar Set to Hold Elections Before the End of the Year.
Mail & Guardian
2 May 2009
Madagascar's transition government is ready to hold elections by the end of the year, African Union officials said in Addis Ababa late on Thursday.
The authority set up by army-backed opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, who had Marc Ravalomanana relinquish power on March 17, "has let it be known to us that it is ready to bring forward the transition calendar", the AU's special envoy in Madagascar, Ablasse Ouedraogo, told a press conference.
Elections were promised for 2010, but "they have said they are ready to organise elections before the end of December 2009". Ouedraogo added: "It remains to be seen if, in precipitating events, we will discover a durable stability on Madagascar.
"That will [only] be possible if all the protagonists in Madagascar's political crisis understand the need to make concessions."
The announcement came at the end of a meeting of a consultative group on Madagascar which began talks earlier on Thursday over the Indian Ocean island's worsening political crisis.
The talks by the AU-appointed team opened at the bloc's headquarters in Addis Ababa a day after Madagascar's months-old crisis took a dive with the arrest of a prime minister appointed by the country's ousted president.
"The current situation in Madagascar is dangerous. We need to work for the return of social order and lasting stability in Madagascar," Jean Ping, the AU commission chairperson, said earlier.
"Our task is to support the return of constitutional order as soon as possible," he added.
Sworn in by the Constitutional Court as Madagascar's transitional leader, Rajoelina's power takeover has been condemned internationally as a coup and saw the country suspended from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The AU's peace and security commissioner, Ramtane Lamamra, said that inclusive dialogue in the run-up to fresh polls would "pre-suppose the participation of M. Ravalomanana." After initially allowing protests by supporters of the former president, forces loyal to Rajoelina have recently clamped down on demonstrators and his regime has banned protests.
On Wednesday, a group of around 20 soldiers arrested Ravalomanana-appointed premier Manandafy Rakotonirina in a hotel in Antananarivo where he had set up a base to challenge Rajoelina's regime.
"The situation has never ceased to deteriorate since the unconstitutional change of government," said Ping.
In addition to the SADC, the consultative group also includes the Common Market for East and Southern Africa, the Indian Ocean Commission, the International Organisation of the Francophonie and the European Union.
2 May 2009
Madagascar's transition government is ready to hold elections by the end of the year, African Union officials said in Addis Ababa late on Thursday.
The authority set up by army-backed opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, who had Marc Ravalomanana relinquish power on March 17, "has let it be known to us that it is ready to bring forward the transition calendar", the AU's special envoy in Madagascar, Ablasse Ouedraogo, told a press conference.
Elections were promised for 2010, but "they have said they are ready to organise elections before the end of December 2009". Ouedraogo added: "It remains to be seen if, in precipitating events, we will discover a durable stability on Madagascar.
"That will [only] be possible if all the protagonists in Madagascar's political crisis understand the need to make concessions."
The announcement came at the end of a meeting of a consultative group on Madagascar which began talks earlier on Thursday over the Indian Ocean island's worsening political crisis.
The talks by the AU-appointed team opened at the bloc's headquarters in Addis Ababa a day after Madagascar's months-old crisis took a dive with the arrest of a prime minister appointed by the country's ousted president.
"The current situation in Madagascar is dangerous. We need to work for the return of social order and lasting stability in Madagascar," Jean Ping, the AU commission chairperson, said earlier.
"Our task is to support the return of constitutional order as soon as possible," he added.
Sworn in by the Constitutional Court as Madagascar's transitional leader, Rajoelina's power takeover has been condemned internationally as a coup and saw the country suspended from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The AU's peace and security commissioner, Ramtane Lamamra, said that inclusive dialogue in the run-up to fresh polls would "pre-suppose the participation of M. Ravalomanana." After initially allowing protests by supporters of the former president, forces loyal to Rajoelina have recently clamped down on demonstrators and his regime has banned protests.
On Wednesday, a group of around 20 soldiers arrested Ravalomanana-appointed premier Manandafy Rakotonirina in a hotel in Antananarivo where he had set up a base to challenge Rajoelina's regime.
"The situation has never ceased to deteriorate since the unconstitutional change of government," said Ping.
In addition to the SADC, the consultative group also includes the Common Market for East and Southern Africa, the Indian Ocean Commission, the International Organisation of the Francophonie and the European Union.
Libya takes over Tamoil's Ugandan oil reserves.
The New Vision
11 March 2009
The Ugandan Government has given the Jinja national oil reserve to Tamoil, a Libyan oil company. The Cabinet directed the energy ministry to hand over the country's only reserves in a letter of January 7, 2009.
The decision comes at a time when the Government has unveiled plans to construct a 150 mm-litre capacity fuel depot in Kampala to deal with emergencies.
Tamoil is constructing the Kampala Oil Products Terminal as well as the $ 250 mm (Sh 425 bn) Eldoret-Kampala oil pipeline extension project. According to documents, the 30 mm-litre oil facility will be integrated into the pipeline project.
Energy state minister Simon D'Ujanga said the tanks would be part of the pipeline and as such, would automatically be managed by Tamoil.
"In the past it was a strategic fuel reserve, but we are now turning it into an operational fuel reserve," D'Ujanga said. "Initially we wanted a pipeline, but later we said it will be better if it has an operational capacity along the way."
However, the contract was not advertised as required by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) Act and as such it can be challenged. The Act prohibits sole sourcing of a public asset, service or goods except in an emergency where the waiver is granted by the procurement authority. Consequently, the energy ministry wrote to the PPDA on January 30, 2009, seeking permission to go ahead with the deal.
Acting permanent secretary Eng. Paul Mubiru said in a letter since the Cabinet had already decided to hand over the tanks to Tamoil, it had to implement the directive. He said Tamoil had the skills and experience in fuel supply and depot operation and had already produced the design for up-grading the facility.
"The cost of repair and restocking will be met by Tamoil," he said. "This will save the Government from having to use its own funds."
Documents show that PPDA wrote back to the ministry in February, saying the issue was outside its mandate. The PPDA said the matter was being handled by a Joint Coordinating Commission (JCC) formed by Kenya and Uganda to manage the pipeline project.
"Any contracting arrangements in respect of the Jinja Storage Tanks and Tamoil are the responsibility of the JCC," acting PPDA boss Cornelia Sabiiti said in the letter. He instead referred the ministry to the Solicitor General for legal advice.
Earlier, the Solicitor General had said that the JCC was acting on behalf of Kenya and Uganda and so its decisions overrode the PPDA Act. Under the current arrangement, Tamoil will build the pipeline, own 51 % of it, and form a joint venture company with the Ugandan and Kenyan governments to operate it for 20 years before surrendering ownership to them.
Uganda started building the oil reserves in Jinja, Nakasongola, Gulu and Kasese in the 1970s. However, only the Jinja one was built with a capacity of 30 mm litres. The facility needed Sh 31.23 bn to refurbish and restock. The Government said it did not have the money and so gave the deal to Tamoil.
The energy ministry has been struggling to raise the Sh 50 bn needed to restock the reserves with at least 20 mm litres of diesel and 10 mm litres of petrol. At least Sh 79 mm was needed to repair the hose pipes, Sh 74.7 mm for the depot repair and Sh 82 mm to transport 3 mm litres of kerosene from Jinja depot to Kampala.
The Government sold 11.5 mm litres in 2002 and realised over $ 37 mm (Sh 64.7 bn) which it used to buy fire fighting equipment for the reserves. The first attempt to restock the oil reserves was cancelled by the PPDA because the energy ministry contravened procurement rules in awarding the contract to Kenlyod Logistics. The project was re-tendered and awarded to GAPCO and MOGAS oil companies. The companies, however, did not sign contracts because the ministry lacked money.
Shortly afterwards, the ministry closed down the empty depot, exposing the country to greater risk of fuel shortage. The Mombasa oil refinery is due to close for renovation in June.
Uganda suffers acute oil shortages whenever there is a disruption in the supply line from Kenya. Over the last five years, the country has suffered shortages in December, January, March, April and in June. Uganda relies on oil companies whose limited facilities can hardly store fuel to last the country 10 days. Uganda consumes 2.2 mm litres daily and demand grows by 7 % annually.
The new management is expected to renovate and increase the capacity of the existing oil reserves, buy new equipment, build three new tanks and install a computerised monitoring system. Tamoil won the right to build a $ 60 mm liquid petroleum gas storage facility in Mombasa in 2007 under a deal which caused a public outcry as the Kenya government carried out sole sourcing.
The Libyan firm is also investing $ 300 mm in upgrading the Mombasa refinery, which serves the entire East Africa market with refined products.
The relinquishing of the country's only oil reserves by the Government also follows several failed attempts by energy ministry last year to restock the tanks. Political interference coupled with the refusal of Parliament to approve the Sh 45 bn requested by the energy ministry to restock the reserves bogged down the project.
The Auditor General too declined to issue an Audit Warrant for the Sh 45 bn, arguing that the expenditure would have risen beyond the 3 % government's supplementary ceiling.
11 March 2009
The Ugandan Government has given the Jinja national oil reserve to Tamoil, a Libyan oil company. The Cabinet directed the energy ministry to hand over the country's only reserves in a letter of January 7, 2009.
The decision comes at a time when the Government has unveiled plans to construct a 150 mm-litre capacity fuel depot in Kampala to deal with emergencies.
Tamoil is constructing the Kampala Oil Products Terminal as well as the $ 250 mm (Sh 425 bn) Eldoret-Kampala oil pipeline extension project. According to documents, the 30 mm-litre oil facility will be integrated into the pipeline project.
Energy state minister Simon D'Ujanga said the tanks would be part of the pipeline and as such, would automatically be managed by Tamoil.
"In the past it was a strategic fuel reserve, but we are now turning it into an operational fuel reserve," D'Ujanga said. "Initially we wanted a pipeline, but later we said it will be better if it has an operational capacity along the way."
However, the contract was not advertised as required by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) Act and as such it can be challenged. The Act prohibits sole sourcing of a public asset, service or goods except in an emergency where the waiver is granted by the procurement authority. Consequently, the energy ministry wrote to the PPDA on January 30, 2009, seeking permission to go ahead with the deal.
Acting permanent secretary Eng. Paul Mubiru said in a letter since the Cabinet had already decided to hand over the tanks to Tamoil, it had to implement the directive. He said Tamoil had the skills and experience in fuel supply and depot operation and had already produced the design for up-grading the facility.
"The cost of repair and restocking will be met by Tamoil," he said. "This will save the Government from having to use its own funds."
Documents show that PPDA wrote back to the ministry in February, saying the issue was outside its mandate. The PPDA said the matter was being handled by a Joint Coordinating Commission (JCC) formed by Kenya and Uganda to manage the pipeline project.
"Any contracting arrangements in respect of the Jinja Storage Tanks and Tamoil are the responsibility of the JCC," acting PPDA boss Cornelia Sabiiti said in the letter. He instead referred the ministry to the Solicitor General for legal advice.
Earlier, the Solicitor General had said that the JCC was acting on behalf of Kenya and Uganda and so its decisions overrode the PPDA Act. Under the current arrangement, Tamoil will build the pipeline, own 51 % of it, and form a joint venture company with the Ugandan and Kenyan governments to operate it for 20 years before surrendering ownership to them.
Uganda started building the oil reserves in Jinja, Nakasongola, Gulu and Kasese in the 1970s. However, only the Jinja one was built with a capacity of 30 mm litres. The facility needed Sh 31.23 bn to refurbish and restock. The Government said it did not have the money and so gave the deal to Tamoil.
The energy ministry has been struggling to raise the Sh 50 bn needed to restock the reserves with at least 20 mm litres of diesel and 10 mm litres of petrol. At least Sh 79 mm was needed to repair the hose pipes, Sh 74.7 mm for the depot repair and Sh 82 mm to transport 3 mm litres of kerosene from Jinja depot to Kampala.
The Government sold 11.5 mm litres in 2002 and realised over $ 37 mm (Sh 64.7 bn) which it used to buy fire fighting equipment for the reserves. The first attempt to restock the oil reserves was cancelled by the PPDA because the energy ministry contravened procurement rules in awarding the contract to Kenlyod Logistics. The project was re-tendered and awarded to GAPCO and MOGAS oil companies. The companies, however, did not sign contracts because the ministry lacked money.
Shortly afterwards, the ministry closed down the empty depot, exposing the country to greater risk of fuel shortage. The Mombasa oil refinery is due to close for renovation in June.
Uganda suffers acute oil shortages whenever there is a disruption in the supply line from Kenya. Over the last five years, the country has suffered shortages in December, January, March, April and in June. Uganda relies on oil companies whose limited facilities can hardly store fuel to last the country 10 days. Uganda consumes 2.2 mm litres daily and demand grows by 7 % annually.
The new management is expected to renovate and increase the capacity of the existing oil reserves, buy new equipment, build three new tanks and install a computerised monitoring system. Tamoil won the right to build a $ 60 mm liquid petroleum gas storage facility in Mombasa in 2007 under a deal which caused a public outcry as the Kenya government carried out sole sourcing.
The Libyan firm is also investing $ 300 mm in upgrading the Mombasa refinery, which serves the entire East Africa market with refined products.
The relinquishing of the country's only oil reserves by the Government also follows several failed attempts by energy ministry last year to restock the tanks. Political interference coupled with the refusal of Parliament to approve the Sh 45 bn requested by the energy ministry to restock the reserves bogged down the project.
The Auditor General too declined to issue an Audit Warrant for the Sh 45 bn, arguing that the expenditure would have risen beyond the 3 % government's supplementary ceiling.
Turkey signs deals with foreign firms for joint exploration in Iraq.
Neftgaz
20 March 2009
Other foreign firms, including Gazprom (Russia), ONGC (India), BP (UK) and Royal Dutch Shell (the Netherlands/UK), are negotiating with TPAO with a view to joint exploration in Iraq, TPAO's CEO Mehmet Uysal reported. The key deal at this stage is a memorandum of understanding signed with EOG. Together with TPAO, EOG will seek oil and gas in two areas of Anatolia and the Thrace Basin.
While no estimates of the size of the fields have been made, TPAO's consultant geophysicist Atilla Aydemir said he hopes "in the future this is going to be very important."
The Exxon deal is only in its initial stages, although it follows an agreement signed last year for Exxon's subsidiary, ExxonMobil Exploration, to explore two large deepwater blocks off the Turkish coastline. The area in question covers some 7 mm acres (29,500 sq km) of the Black Sea.
ExxonMobil is looking forward "to bringing our global deepwater experience to this prospective unexplored area," said Tim Cejka, president of ExxonMobil Exploration.
TPAO is looking to move quickly, or to embark on "an aggressive exploration program," as Uysal put it.
The company believes there could be reserves of some 10 bn barrels of oil and 1.5 tcm of natural gas offshore.
20 March 2009
Other foreign firms, including Gazprom (Russia), ONGC (India), BP (UK) and Royal Dutch Shell (the Netherlands/UK), are negotiating with TPAO with a view to joint exploration in Iraq, TPAO's CEO Mehmet Uysal reported. The key deal at this stage is a memorandum of understanding signed with EOG. Together with TPAO, EOG will seek oil and gas in two areas of Anatolia and the Thrace Basin.
While no estimates of the size of the fields have been made, TPAO's consultant geophysicist Atilla Aydemir said he hopes "in the future this is going to be very important."
The Exxon deal is only in its initial stages, although it follows an agreement signed last year for Exxon's subsidiary, ExxonMobil Exploration, to explore two large deepwater blocks off the Turkish coastline. The area in question covers some 7 mm acres (29,500 sq km) of the Black Sea.
ExxonMobil is looking forward "to bringing our global deepwater experience to this prospective unexplored area," said Tim Cejka, president of ExxonMobil Exploration.
TPAO is looking to move quickly, or to embark on "an aggressive exploration program," as Uysal put it.
The company believes there could be reserves of some 10 bn barrels of oil and 1.5 tcm of natural gas offshore.
Gul, Erdogan discuss Iraq security with Sadr.
Aswat al-Iraq
1 May 2009
Turkish President Abdullah Gul and his Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed on Friday with Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr security developments in Iraq, according to the Turkish Anatolian news agency.
“Sayyed Muqtada al-Sadr had a session of talks during his visit to Turkey with Prime Minister Erdogan and later met with President Gul at his residence,” the Turkish agency said.
This is the first time Sadr makes public appearance as he kept a low profile since June 2007.
His visit to Turkey comes a couple of months ahead of the scheduled U.S. withdrawal from Iraqi cities on June 30 and coincided with an upsurge in suicide attacks in several areas in Baghdad, including Sadr City, the key stronghold of Sadr’s followers.
1 May 2009
Turkish President Abdullah Gul and his Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed on Friday with Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr security developments in Iraq, according to the Turkish Anatolian news agency.
“Sayyed Muqtada al-Sadr had a session of talks during his visit to Turkey with Prime Minister Erdogan and later met with President Gul at his residence,” the Turkish agency said.
This is the first time Sadr makes public appearance as he kept a low profile since June 2007.
His visit to Turkey comes a couple of months ahead of the scheduled U.S. withdrawal from Iraqi cities on June 30 and coincided with an upsurge in suicide attacks in several areas in Baghdad, including Sadr City, the key stronghold of Sadr’s followers.
Iraqi anti-US cleric Sadr resurfaces in Turkey.
AFP
1 May 2009
Iraq's Shiite radical leader Moqtada al-Sadr -- not seen in public for nearly two years -- held face-to-face talks Friday with Turkey's top two leaders, Anatolia news agency reported.
The anti-US cleric met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan first for talks on "security in Iraq and the promotion of links between the parties," according to a Turkish diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity.
He was then entertained by President Abdullah Gul at the president's residence, the agency added, with the Turkish foreign ministry's special Iraq envoy, Murat Ozcelik, also in attendance, but no statements were made.
Turkey's leaders regularly host the leaders of diverse political groupings from its close neighbour state.
"He is going from Iran to Turkey to meet a delegation from (the Iraqi shrine city of) Najaf and to hold discussions with the Turkish side about the situation in Iraq and its future," senior Sadr aide Haidar al-Turfi earlier told AFP.
Turfi is the first senior official from Sadr's movement to say directly that Sadr has been in Iran.
His followers have always said he was in hiding in Iraq, while the US military has long said he was living in Iran.
Sadr was to travel with several senior figures from his movement, after an earlier delegation went to Ankara six months ago to lay the groundwork for the trip, Turfi added.
On Thursday, Anatolia cited unnamed diplomatic sources as saying that Sadr's visit was aimed at "holding consultations on the political process in Iraq."
Sadr, said to be aged in his 30s, gained wide popularity among Shiites in Iraq in the months after the US-led invasion of 2003 and in 2004 his Mahdi Army militia battled US troops in two bloody revolts.
But he disappeared after a public appearance at an Iraqi mosque in June 2007 and has since issued statements through senior aides and spokesmen.
In August 2008, he suspended the activities of his Mahdi Army, which once numbered in the tens of thousands, following major US and Iraqi assaults on its strongholds in Baghdad and southern Iraq in the spring of that year.
1 May 2009
Iraq's Shiite radical leader Moqtada al-Sadr -- not seen in public for nearly two years -- held face-to-face talks Friday with Turkey's top two leaders, Anatolia news agency reported.
The anti-US cleric met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan first for talks on "security in Iraq and the promotion of links between the parties," according to a Turkish diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity.
He was then entertained by President Abdullah Gul at the president's residence, the agency added, with the Turkish foreign ministry's special Iraq envoy, Murat Ozcelik, also in attendance, but no statements were made.
Turkey's leaders regularly host the leaders of diverse political groupings from its close neighbour state.
"He is going from Iran to Turkey to meet a delegation from (the Iraqi shrine city of) Najaf and to hold discussions with the Turkish side about the situation in Iraq and its future," senior Sadr aide Haidar al-Turfi earlier told AFP.
Turfi is the first senior official from Sadr's movement to say directly that Sadr has been in Iran.
His followers have always said he was in hiding in Iraq, while the US military has long said he was living in Iran.
Sadr was to travel with several senior figures from his movement, after an earlier delegation went to Ankara six months ago to lay the groundwork for the trip, Turfi added.
On Thursday, Anatolia cited unnamed diplomatic sources as saying that Sadr's visit was aimed at "holding consultations on the political process in Iraq."
Sadr, said to be aged in his 30s, gained wide popularity among Shiites in Iraq in the months after the US-led invasion of 2003 and in 2004 his Mahdi Army militia battled US troops in two bloody revolts.
But he disappeared after a public appearance at an Iraqi mosque in June 2007 and has since issued statements through senior aides and spokesmen.
In August 2008, he suspended the activities of his Mahdi Army, which once numbered in the tens of thousands, following major US and Iraqi assaults on its strongholds in Baghdad and southern Iraq in the spring of that year.
UN extends mandate of force in southern Sudan.
AFP
1 May 2009
The Security Council has extended the UN mandate for southern Sudan by a year, and called for strict implementation of an agreement between Khartoum and southern rebels the UN force is in charge of overseeing.
In a resolution adopted by unanimity, the Council stressed "its firm commitment to the cause of peace and stability throughout Sudan and the region, noting the importance of the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)."
The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), which has some 10,000 troops, was deployed to help oversee the implementation of the CPA, signed in January 2005 between Khartoum and the Sudan's People Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).
The agreement ended a 21-year civil war in southern Sudan that killed some 1.5 million people, but remains fragile as key elements have not yet entered into effect.
1 May 2009
The Security Council has extended the UN mandate for southern Sudan by a year, and called for strict implementation of an agreement between Khartoum and southern rebels the UN force is in charge of overseeing.
In a resolution adopted by unanimity, the Council stressed "its firm commitment to the cause of peace and stability throughout Sudan and the region, noting the importance of the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)."
The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), which has some 10,000 troops, was deployed to help oversee the implementation of the CPA, signed in January 2005 between Khartoum and the Sudan's People Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).
The agreement ended a 21-year civil war in southern Sudan that killed some 1.5 million people, but remains fragile as key elements have not yet entered into effect.
Bolivia takes over BP subsidiary.
BBC News
1 May 2009
Bolivian President Evo Morales has announced the takeover of a subsidiary of British oil company BP, as part of his nationalisation campaign.
Mr Morales told May Day crowds that he had ordered troops and the state oil company to take over Air BP, which supplies jet fuel across the country.
He has already nationalised oil and gas reserves to redistribute wealth to Bolivia's indigenous majority.
A BP spokesman said the company "had agreed a handover of our operations".
"We were surprised by today's takeover process. But we will continue to support the handover," the spokesman said in London.
Bolivian Energy Minister Oscar Coca said Air BP would be compensated for the nationalisation. A valuation would be carried out within 120 days, he said.
Air BP owns 12 jet fuel stations at airstrips and airports in Bolivia. Its 90 local employees would keep their jobs, the energy minister said.
Since he took office in 2006, Mr Morales has taken control of several foreign-owned energy, mining and telecommunications companies.
1 May 2009
Bolivian President Evo Morales has announced the takeover of a subsidiary of British oil company BP, as part of his nationalisation campaign.
Mr Morales told May Day crowds that he had ordered troops and the state oil company to take over Air BP, which supplies jet fuel across the country.
He has already nationalised oil and gas reserves to redistribute wealth to Bolivia's indigenous majority.
A BP spokesman said the company "had agreed a handover of our operations".
"We were surprised by today's takeover process. But we will continue to support the handover," the spokesman said in London.
Bolivian Energy Minister Oscar Coca said Air BP would be compensated for the nationalisation. A valuation would be carried out within 120 days, he said.
Air BP owns 12 jet fuel stations at airstrips and airports in Bolivia. Its 90 local employees would keep their jobs, the energy minister said.
Since he took office in 2006, Mr Morales has taken control of several foreign-owned energy, mining and telecommunications companies.
Senegalese leader’s son features in new cabinet.
APA
1 May 2009
Karim Wade, son of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, on Friday was appointed senior minister in the new cabinet, as International Cooperation, Land, Planning, Air Transport, and Infrastructure minister.
The government team formed by the new Premier, Souleymane Ndene Ndiaye, comprises a 30 member cabinet with 9 senior ministers and three junior ministers.
Before his appointment, Karim Wade, 40, was the president of the National Agency for the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (ANOCI). In addition, he had been adviser to the President since 2001.
He was elected municipal councillor for the city of Dakar for a maiden mandate, following the 22 March local polls.
Karim Wade featured on the list of the Coalition Sopi 2009 (presidential spectrum) which was defeated in the Senegalese capital by the 34-opposition party Benno Siggil Senegal Coalition.
Several observers allege that he is being groomed to take over from his father whose constitutional tenure ends in 2012.
1 May 2009
Karim Wade, son of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, on Friday was appointed senior minister in the new cabinet, as International Cooperation, Land, Planning, Air Transport, and Infrastructure minister.
The government team formed by the new Premier, Souleymane Ndene Ndiaye, comprises a 30 member cabinet with 9 senior ministers and three junior ministers.
Before his appointment, Karim Wade, 40, was the president of the National Agency for the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (ANOCI). In addition, he had been adviser to the President since 2001.
He was elected municipal councillor for the city of Dakar for a maiden mandate, following the 22 March local polls.
Karim Wade featured on the list of the Coalition Sopi 2009 (presidential spectrum) which was defeated in the Senegalese capital by the 34-opposition party Benno Siggil Senegal Coalition.
Several observers allege that he is being groomed to take over from his father whose constitutional tenure ends in 2012.
01 May, 2009
RWB Urges Rwandan Government to Lift Ban On BBC's Local Broadcasts
Reporters Without Borders
30 April 2009
Press Release
Reporters Without Borders has written to Rwandan information minister Louise Mushikiwabo expressing deep concern about the "temporary suspension" of BBC broadcasts in the local language Kinyarwanda because of comments about the 1994 genocide, which Rwandan citizens made in one of these broadcasts.
"We are aware that the genocide continues to be a highly sensitive subject in your country and that Rwanda is engaged in a delicate process of national reconciliation, but we nonetheless think that this suspension is arbitrary and constitutes a serious press freedom violation," Reporters Without Borders said in its 28 April letter.
"We therefore ask you to restore the BBC broadcasts without delay and to guarantee respect for diversity of views," the letter said. "In a country where there is no press freedom, this incident seems to be an additional way of reducing Rwandans' access to news and information."
The ban on the BBC's programmes in Kinyarwanda was announced on 26 April, a day after the programme "Imvo n'Imvano" (Heart of the Problem) included an interview in which former Prime Minister Faustin Twagiramungu said that as a Hutu, he could "never give in to Tutsi demands to apologize for the 1994 genocide." Another interviewee said the bodies of Rwandans that washed up on the banks of Lake Victoria were those of Hutus killed by the soldiers of the Rwandan Patriotic Front.
The government said these comments were liable to undermine efforts at national unity and reconciliation and were clearly made with the sole aim of "inciting hatred among Rwandans."
Relations between the government and foreign media are very tense. Sonia Rolley, the correspondent of the French public radio station Radio France Internationale (RFI), was expelled without explanation in June 2006. Five months later, the government ordered the closure of RFI's local FM relay station after breaking off diplomatic relations with France.
Reporters Without Borders ranked Rwanda 145th out of 173 countries in the 2008 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index while President Paul Kagame has for several years been on the Reporters Without Borders list of "Predators of Press Freedom."
30 April 2009
Press Release
Reporters Without Borders has written to Rwandan information minister Louise Mushikiwabo expressing deep concern about the "temporary suspension" of BBC broadcasts in the local language Kinyarwanda because of comments about the 1994 genocide, which Rwandan citizens made in one of these broadcasts.
"We are aware that the genocide continues to be a highly sensitive subject in your country and that Rwanda is engaged in a delicate process of national reconciliation, but we nonetheless think that this suspension is arbitrary and constitutes a serious press freedom violation," Reporters Without Borders said in its 28 April letter.
"We therefore ask you to restore the BBC broadcasts without delay and to guarantee respect for diversity of views," the letter said. "In a country where there is no press freedom, this incident seems to be an additional way of reducing Rwandans' access to news and information."
The ban on the BBC's programmes in Kinyarwanda was announced on 26 April, a day after the programme "Imvo n'Imvano" (Heart of the Problem) included an interview in which former Prime Minister Faustin Twagiramungu said that as a Hutu, he could "never give in to Tutsi demands to apologize for the 1994 genocide." Another interviewee said the bodies of Rwandans that washed up on the banks of Lake Victoria were those of Hutus killed by the soldiers of the Rwandan Patriotic Front.
The government said these comments were liable to undermine efforts at national unity and reconciliation and were clearly made with the sole aim of "inciting hatred among Rwandans."
Relations between the government and foreign media are very tense. Sonia Rolley, the correspondent of the French public radio station Radio France Internationale (RFI), was expelled without explanation in June 2006. Five months later, the government ordered the closure of RFI's local FM relay station after breaking off diplomatic relations with France.
Reporters Without Borders ranked Rwanda 145th out of 173 countries in the 2008 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index while President Paul Kagame has for several years been on the Reporters Without Borders list of "Predators of Press Freedom."
Senegal's PM steps down.
AFP
30 April 2009
Senegal's Prime Minister Cheikh Hadjibou Soumare resigned on Thursday, in a move that is likely to trigger a cabinet reshuffle, a source in the president's office told AFP.
"The prime minister handed in his resignation which was accepted by the president," the source, who did not want to be named, said.
Information Minister Abdoul Aziz Sow, who is also the government spokesperson, told the APS national news agency that Soumare stepped down "for personal reasons" and that President Abdoulaye Wade accepted his resignation.
Wade is set to name, later on Thursday, a new prime minister who will start forming a new cabinet as of Saturday, APS said. In Senegal the prime minister names his own cabinet.
Wade suffered a defeat in Senegal's March 22 local elections when voters - fed up with rising food prices, cooking gas shortages and power cuts - overwhelmingly voted for the opposition coalition Bennoo Siggil Senegal - in key locations including the capital Dakar.
30 April 2009
Senegal's Prime Minister Cheikh Hadjibou Soumare resigned on Thursday, in a move that is likely to trigger a cabinet reshuffle, a source in the president's office told AFP.
"The prime minister handed in his resignation which was accepted by the president," the source, who did not want to be named, said.
Information Minister Abdoul Aziz Sow, who is also the government spokesperson, told the APS national news agency that Soumare stepped down "for personal reasons" and that President Abdoulaye Wade accepted his resignation.
Wade is set to name, later on Thursday, a new prime minister who will start forming a new cabinet as of Saturday, APS said. In Senegal the prime minister names his own cabinet.
Wade suffered a defeat in Senegal's March 22 local elections when voters - fed up with rising food prices, cooking gas shortages and power cuts - overwhelmingly voted for the opposition coalition Bennoo Siggil Senegal - in key locations including the capital Dakar.
30 April, 2009
Bunagana : trois officiers militaires arrêtés dont un jeune frère de Laurent Nkunda.
Radio Okapi
30 April 2009
Trois officiers militaires, dont un jeune frère de Laurent Nkunda, sont aux arrêts depuis mercredi à Bunagana, dans la province du Nord-Kivu. Selon le colonel Yav, chargé des opérations dans le grand Nord, ces officiers détenaient illégalement une importante cache d’armes dans cette cité frontalière avec l’Ouganda, rapporte radiookapi.net
C’est au cours d’une opération effectuée dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi que les FARDC ont mis la main sur ces officiers. Selon la source, les troupes loyalistes étaient sur les traces d’un groupe des ex officiers du CNDP et leurs hommes. Une dizaine de personnes de ce groupe étaient ciblées. Mais seulement trois sont tombées dans les filets des FARDC, dont un certain major Seko, qui serait un jeune frère de l’ex chef rebelle du CNDP, Laurent Nkunda, d’après le colonel Yav. L’opération a permis aux FARDC de récupérer aussi armes et munitions détenues par le groupe. Il s’agit, notamment, de 15 pistolets, de lances roquettes, de PKM et de AK 47 dont le nombre n’a pas été révélé. Des matériels de communication ont également été saisis, notamment 15 radios de marque Motorola. Selon la même source, d’autres personnes visées ont réussi à fuir vers l’Ouganda voisin. Les trois officiers arrêtés sont présentement gardés dans les cachots de la coordination des opérations militaires à Goma.
30 April 2009
Trois officiers militaires, dont un jeune frère de Laurent Nkunda, sont aux arrêts depuis mercredi à Bunagana, dans la province du Nord-Kivu. Selon le colonel Yav, chargé des opérations dans le grand Nord, ces officiers détenaient illégalement une importante cache d’armes dans cette cité frontalière avec l’Ouganda, rapporte radiookapi.net
C’est au cours d’une opération effectuée dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi que les FARDC ont mis la main sur ces officiers. Selon la source, les troupes loyalistes étaient sur les traces d’un groupe des ex officiers du CNDP et leurs hommes. Une dizaine de personnes de ce groupe étaient ciblées. Mais seulement trois sont tombées dans les filets des FARDC, dont un certain major Seko, qui serait un jeune frère de l’ex chef rebelle du CNDP, Laurent Nkunda, d’après le colonel Yav. L’opération a permis aux FARDC de récupérer aussi armes et munitions détenues par le groupe. Il s’agit, notamment, de 15 pistolets, de lances roquettes, de PKM et de AK 47 dont le nombre n’a pas été révélé. Des matériels de communication ont également été saisis, notamment 15 radios de marque Motorola. Selon la même source, d’autres personnes visées ont réussi à fuir vers l’Ouganda voisin. Les trois officiers arrêtés sont présentement gardés dans les cachots de la coordination des opérations militaires à Goma.
Masisi : des enfants démobilisés de nouveau recrutés à Ngungu.
Radio Okapi
30 April 2009
La plupart de ces enfants étaient issus du CNDP et du Pareco. Ils avaient été séparés de ces groupes au mois de février dernier lors des opérations d’intégration intégrée. Deux mois plus tard, certains d’entre eux ont à nouveau été recrutés par leurs anciens commandants, selon des témoins qui l’ont déclaré à une délégation de la Monuc, rapporte radiookapi.net
« Nos enfants qui étaient démobilisés et à qui des documents attestant leur démobilisation ont même été remis ont encore été pris de force dans l’armée. Ils exhibaient leurs documents, mais leurs anciens commandants les déchiraient avant de les amener de force », a témoigné un parent.
Ceux qui ne le sont pas encore, d’après les mêmes sources, vivent au quotidien dans une situation de panique et d’inquiétude. C’est le cas de trois de ces enfants qui sont toujours séparés de leurs familles depuis leur démobilisation en février. D’après leur propre témoignage, ces enfants seraient indésirables même pour leurs parents respectifs qui redoutent des représailles de leurs anciens commandants. D’autres encore ont du mal à s’intégrer dans la vie civile du fait qu’ils n’ont pas de documents attestant leur démobilisation.
Mais le commandant FARDC opérant sur l’axe Ufamandu affirme de son côté n’avoir pas encore reçu un rapport sur une menace qui pèserait sur les enfants démobilisés. Il promet néanmoins des investigations à ce sujet.
30 April 2009
La plupart de ces enfants étaient issus du CNDP et du Pareco. Ils avaient été séparés de ces groupes au mois de février dernier lors des opérations d’intégration intégrée. Deux mois plus tard, certains d’entre eux ont à nouveau été recrutés par leurs anciens commandants, selon des témoins qui l’ont déclaré à une délégation de la Monuc, rapporte radiookapi.net
« Nos enfants qui étaient démobilisés et à qui des documents attestant leur démobilisation ont même été remis ont encore été pris de force dans l’armée. Ils exhibaient leurs documents, mais leurs anciens commandants les déchiraient avant de les amener de force », a témoigné un parent.
Ceux qui ne le sont pas encore, d’après les mêmes sources, vivent au quotidien dans une situation de panique et d’inquiétude. C’est le cas de trois de ces enfants qui sont toujours séparés de leurs familles depuis leur démobilisation en février. D’après leur propre témoignage, ces enfants seraient indésirables même pour leurs parents respectifs qui redoutent des représailles de leurs anciens commandants. D’autres encore ont du mal à s’intégrer dans la vie civile du fait qu’ils n’ont pas de documents attestant leur démobilisation.
Mais le commandant FARDC opérant sur l’axe Ufamandu affirme de son côté n’avoir pas encore reçu un rapport sur une menace qui pèserait sur les enfants démobilisés. Il promet néanmoins des investigations à ce sujet.
Libya to Complete Purchase of Verenex in Weeks, Ghanem Says.
Bloomberg
By Maher Chmaytelli
April 29, 2009
Libya aims to complete the acquisition of Verenex Energy Inc. “within weeks,” trumping a proposed C$499 million ($414 million) takeover of the Canadian explorer by China National Petroleum Corp, the North African nation’s top oil official said.
“The decision to buy Verenex is taken, we told the company, we told the Chinese, we told everybody, and now it’s a matter of procedure,” Shokri Ghanem, chairman of Libya’s state- run National Oil Corp., said in an interview today in Nicosia, Cyprus. “We hope the acquisition procedure will take weeks, not months.”
Ghanem claimed in a March 16 interview that Libya wanted the Calgary-based oil explorer for “commercial reasons,” and not to limit the access of China National to oil reserves. Verenex has assets in Libya that are worth “hundreds of millions” of dollars, he said.
Under a preemption clause, Libya has to match the offer from China’s largest oil company.
In a statement on March 18, Verenex reiterated that the proposed sale of the company to China National is subject to “certain consents” from Libya’s National Oil.
By Maher Chmaytelli
April 29, 2009
Libya aims to complete the acquisition of Verenex Energy Inc. “within weeks,” trumping a proposed C$499 million ($414 million) takeover of the Canadian explorer by China National Petroleum Corp, the North African nation’s top oil official said.
“The decision to buy Verenex is taken, we told the company, we told the Chinese, we told everybody, and now it’s a matter of procedure,” Shokri Ghanem, chairman of Libya’s state- run National Oil Corp., said in an interview today in Nicosia, Cyprus. “We hope the acquisition procedure will take weeks, not months.”
Ghanem claimed in a March 16 interview that Libya wanted the Calgary-based oil explorer for “commercial reasons,” and not to limit the access of China National to oil reserves. Verenex has assets in Libya that are worth “hundreds of millions” of dollars, he said.
Under a preemption clause, Libya has to match the offer from China’s largest oil company.
In a statement on March 18, Verenex reiterated that the proposed sale of the company to China National is subject to “certain consents” from Libya’s National Oil.
'Africom Headquarters Remains in Stuttgart.'
This Day
Juliana Taiwo
22 April 2009
Deputy Commander (Military-Civil relations) of the United African Command (AFRICOM), Ambassador Mary Carlin Yates, who is in the country for the five-day ECOWAS seminar on Security Sector Reform (SSR) has revealed that the headquarters of AFRICOM will remain in Stuttgart, Germany. She disclosed this when she paid a courtesy call on the Minister of State for Defence, Ademola Seriki.
Yates, who did not rule out the possibility of a change in future said, "the decision has been taken that the headquarters of the AFRICOM remains in Stuttgart, Germany for the foreseeable future. General Ward has made this decision and discussed it with the Secretary of Defence.
"It doesn't mean that at some point in the distant future another consideration might be made but right now we are concentrating on building the Command and improving our programmes with our African partners".
Yates who was impressed with the existing military-to-military relationships between the two countries added, "we appreciate the importance of the growth of the military-to-military relations with Nigeria and also the progress we have made in so far as all of your Services have contributed to that. "We are looking forward to more of such opportunities and now that we have new different formations in the Command, we need to find new opportunities on how we can work together."
On the presence of American warship in the Gulf of Guinea, the AFRICOM Deputy Commander said it was a policy decision that has nothing to do with AFRICOM. "The presence of US warships in the Gulf of Guinea was a policy decision with no input from the AFRICOM, but I can say that AFRICOM has worked closely with the nations in the Gulf of Guinea to develop a maritime domain and awareness programme, called the African Partnership Station and that is something Nigeria participated in this year" she stressed.The US Ambassador to Nigeria , Robin Renee-Sander who was part of the delegation, however explained that the presence of the warship was for capacity building programme for African Partnership Station that was attended by several officers from the uniformed services as well as civilian participants from several countries, including participants from West African sub-region in the Gulf and ran for over seven months."It was not a military response from the US but a response from series of request that we have been getting for training and capacity building particularly on maritime issues", she said.
Juliana Taiwo
22 April 2009
Deputy Commander (Military-Civil relations) of the United African Command (AFRICOM), Ambassador Mary Carlin Yates, who is in the country for the five-day ECOWAS seminar on Security Sector Reform (SSR) has revealed that the headquarters of AFRICOM will remain in Stuttgart, Germany. She disclosed this when she paid a courtesy call on the Minister of State for Defence, Ademola Seriki.
Yates, who did not rule out the possibility of a change in future said, "the decision has been taken that the headquarters of the AFRICOM remains in Stuttgart, Germany for the foreseeable future. General Ward has made this decision and discussed it with the Secretary of Defence.
"It doesn't mean that at some point in the distant future another consideration might be made but right now we are concentrating on building the Command and improving our programmes with our African partners".
Yates who was impressed with the existing military-to-military relationships between the two countries added, "we appreciate the importance of the growth of the military-to-military relations with Nigeria and also the progress we have made in so far as all of your Services have contributed to that. "We are looking forward to more of such opportunities and now that we have new different formations in the Command, we need to find new opportunities on how we can work together."
On the presence of American warship in the Gulf of Guinea, the AFRICOM Deputy Commander said it was a policy decision that has nothing to do with AFRICOM. "The presence of US warships in the Gulf of Guinea was a policy decision with no input from the AFRICOM, but I can say that AFRICOM has worked closely with the nations in the Gulf of Guinea to develop a maritime domain and awareness programme, called the African Partnership Station and that is something Nigeria participated in this year" she stressed.The US Ambassador to Nigeria , Robin Renee-Sander who was part of the delegation, however explained that the presence of the warship was for capacity building programme for African Partnership Station that was attended by several officers from the uniformed services as well as civilian participants from several countries, including participants from West African sub-region in the Gulf and ran for over seven months."It was not a military response from the US but a response from series of request that we have been getting for training and capacity building particularly on maritime issues", she said.
29 April, 2009
Kosovo ‘Close’ to Joining IMF, Finance Chief Says.
Bloomberg
By Timothy R. Homan
April 28, 2009
Kosovo Finance Minister Ahmet Shala said his country is “very close” to garnering enough votes to be admitted as a member of the International Monetary Fund.
While Kosovo is likely to get support from the 58 IMF members that have formally recognized its independence, it must still get enough nations to cast ballots to reach a required 92- ballot quorum covering at least 66 percent of the fund’s voting power, and then must emerge with a majority of votes cast.
Inclusion in the Washington-based IMF might boost the fledgling country’s efforts to gain international legitimacy, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The U.S., Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and some members of the European Union are among nations that have recognized Kosovo since it declared independence in February 2008.
“I am optimistic,” Shala said in an interview today in Washington. “We’re very close. We do have a critical mass of the voting power,” he said, without giving a firm estimate.
The deadline for voting is May 5. Acceptance into the IMF is required for inclusion in the World Bank.
“We do have inside information that many countries have voted yes” even though “they still are in the process of political recognition,” Shala said, adding he expects 100 countries will have recognized Kosovo by the end of the year.
Kosovo applied for IMF membership in July. The IMF has 185 members.
Hashim Rexhepi, Kosovo’s central bank governor, said while the country’s banks are “very well capitalized” even amid the global financial crisis, exports have been hit, particularly in the metal industry.
By Timothy R. Homan
April 28, 2009
Kosovo Finance Minister Ahmet Shala said his country is “very close” to garnering enough votes to be admitted as a member of the International Monetary Fund.
While Kosovo is likely to get support from the 58 IMF members that have formally recognized its independence, it must still get enough nations to cast ballots to reach a required 92- ballot quorum covering at least 66 percent of the fund’s voting power, and then must emerge with a majority of votes cast.
Inclusion in the Washington-based IMF might boost the fledgling country’s efforts to gain international legitimacy, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The U.S., Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and some members of the European Union are among nations that have recognized Kosovo since it declared independence in February 2008.
“I am optimistic,” Shala said in an interview today in Washington. “We’re very close. We do have a critical mass of the voting power,” he said, without giving a firm estimate.
The deadline for voting is May 5. Acceptance into the IMF is required for inclusion in the World Bank.
“We do have inside information that many countries have voted yes” even though “they still are in the process of political recognition,” Shala said, adding he expects 100 countries will have recognized Kosovo by the end of the year.
Kosovo applied for IMF membership in July. The IMF has 185 members.
Hashim Rexhepi, Kosovo’s central bank governor, said while the country’s banks are “very well capitalized” even amid the global financial crisis, exports have been hit, particularly in the metal industry.
Africa Oil Closes Acquisition of Major East African Oil Exploration Portfolio.
Africa Oil Corp.
TSX VENTURE: AOI
Apr 29, 2009 09:07 ET
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - April 29, 2009) - Africa Oil Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AOI) ("Africa Oil" or "the Company") is pleased to report that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of a large portfolio of East African oil exploration projects from Lundin Petroleum AB ("Lundin Petroleum"). The projects are located within a vastly underexplored region of the rich East African rift basin petroleum system. The projects acquired include an 85% working interest in Blocks 2, 6, 7 and 8 and a 50% working interest in the Adigala Block in Ethiopia plus a 100% interest in Block 10A and a 30% interest in Block 9 in Kenya. Africa Oil will assume operatorship of these projects, excluding Block 9 in Kenya.
The new acreage acquired is complementary to and consolidates Africa Oil's existing holdings in what is considered a truly world-class exploration play fairway. The Company's total land package in this prolific region is in excess of 200,000 square kilometers - an area roughly the size of Great Britain.
The East African Rift Basin system is one of the last of the great rift basins to be explored. New discoveries have been announced on all sides of Africa Oil's virtually unexplored land position including the major Heritage/Tullow Albert Graben oil discovery in neighbouring Uganda. Similar to the Albert Graben play model, Africa Oil's concessions have older wells, a legacy database, and host numerous oil seeps indicating a proven petroleum system. Good quality existing seismic show robust leads and prospects throughout Africa Oil's project areas.
Africa Oil has an aggressive exploration program planned over the next two years which will include seismic and drilling in both Ethiopia and Kenya, in addition to the previously announced drill program in Puntland, Somalia.
Rick Schmitt, President of Africa Oil, commented, "This transaction launches Africa Oil as a major participant in the East African play fairway. We look forward to commencing our exploration on this exciting acreage."
Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, Africa Oil has paid as consideration to Lundin Petroleum approximately US $23.7 million which is being funded through a convertible loan from Lundin Petroleum maturing December 31, 2011 and at an interest rate of USD six-month LIBOR plus 3%. The loan, including any accrued and unpaid interest, will be convertible, at the option of either Africa Oil or Lundin Petroleum AB, into shares of Africa Oil on the basis of CAD $0.90 per common share.
In addition, the Company's existing CAD $6 million loan (plus accrued interest) from a shareholder of the Company will be converted to Units of the Company on the basis of CAD $0.95 per Unit. Each Unit comprises one common share and one share purchase warrant. Each warrant is exercisable into one common share of Africa Oil at a price of $1.50 per share over a period of two years. In the event that Africa Oil trades at or above CAD $2.00 for a period of 20 consecutive days, a forced exercise provision will come into effect.
As previously announced, the Company has also completed the sale, on a non-brokered, private placement basis, of 35,734,228 Subscription Receipts of the Company at a price of CAD $0.95 per Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of CAD $33,947,516. A second tranche, comprising approximately 1.6 million Subscription Receipts for gross proceeds of approximately CAD $1,520,000 is expected to close on or before April 30, 2009. Each subscription receipt entitles the holder to receive one Unit of the Company without further payment. One unit comprises one common share plus one share purchase warrant exercisable at Cdn $1.50 per share for a period of three years. In the event that Africa Oil trades at or above Cdn $2.00 for a period of 20 consecutive days, a forced exercise provision will come into effect. A 5% finder's fee is payable on a portion of the private placement. The net proceeds of the private placement will be used to finance the operations of the portfolio of East African oil exploration projects acquired from Lundin Petroleum as well as for general working capital purposes. The underlying common shares of the Subscription Receipts are subject to a four month hold period from the date of closing.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Rick Schmitt, President
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
TSX VENTURE: AOI
Apr 29, 2009 09:07 ET
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - April 29, 2009) - Africa Oil Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AOI) ("Africa Oil" or "the Company") is pleased to report that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of a large portfolio of East African oil exploration projects from Lundin Petroleum AB ("Lundin Petroleum"). The projects are located within a vastly underexplored region of the rich East African rift basin petroleum system. The projects acquired include an 85% working interest in Blocks 2, 6, 7 and 8 and a 50% working interest in the Adigala Block in Ethiopia plus a 100% interest in Block 10A and a 30% interest in Block 9 in Kenya. Africa Oil will assume operatorship of these projects, excluding Block 9 in Kenya.
The new acreage acquired is complementary to and consolidates Africa Oil's existing holdings in what is considered a truly world-class exploration play fairway. The Company's total land package in this prolific region is in excess of 200,000 square kilometers - an area roughly the size of Great Britain.
The East African Rift Basin system is one of the last of the great rift basins to be explored. New discoveries have been announced on all sides of Africa Oil's virtually unexplored land position including the major Heritage/Tullow Albert Graben oil discovery in neighbouring Uganda. Similar to the Albert Graben play model, Africa Oil's concessions have older wells, a legacy database, and host numerous oil seeps indicating a proven petroleum system. Good quality existing seismic show robust leads and prospects throughout Africa Oil's project areas.
Africa Oil has an aggressive exploration program planned over the next two years which will include seismic and drilling in both Ethiopia and Kenya, in addition to the previously announced drill program in Puntland, Somalia.
Rick Schmitt, President of Africa Oil, commented, "This transaction launches Africa Oil as a major participant in the East African play fairway. We look forward to commencing our exploration on this exciting acreage."
Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, Africa Oil has paid as consideration to Lundin Petroleum approximately US $23.7 million which is being funded through a convertible loan from Lundin Petroleum maturing December 31, 2011 and at an interest rate of USD six-month LIBOR plus 3%. The loan, including any accrued and unpaid interest, will be convertible, at the option of either Africa Oil or Lundin Petroleum AB, into shares of Africa Oil on the basis of CAD $0.90 per common share.
In addition, the Company's existing CAD $6 million loan (plus accrued interest) from a shareholder of the Company will be converted to Units of the Company on the basis of CAD $0.95 per Unit. Each Unit comprises one common share and one share purchase warrant. Each warrant is exercisable into one common share of Africa Oil at a price of $1.50 per share over a period of two years. In the event that Africa Oil trades at or above CAD $2.00 for a period of 20 consecutive days, a forced exercise provision will come into effect.
As previously announced, the Company has also completed the sale, on a non-brokered, private placement basis, of 35,734,228 Subscription Receipts of the Company at a price of CAD $0.95 per Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of CAD $33,947,516. A second tranche, comprising approximately 1.6 million Subscription Receipts for gross proceeds of approximately CAD $1,520,000 is expected to close on or before April 30, 2009. Each subscription receipt entitles the holder to receive one Unit of the Company without further payment. One unit comprises one common share plus one share purchase warrant exercisable at Cdn $1.50 per share for a period of three years. In the event that Africa Oil trades at or above Cdn $2.00 for a period of 20 consecutive days, a forced exercise provision will come into effect. A 5% finder's fee is payable on a portion of the private placement. The net proceeds of the private placement will be used to finance the operations of the portfolio of East African oil exploration projects acquired from Lundin Petroleum as well as for general working capital purposes. The underlying common shares of the Subscription Receipts are subject to a four month hold period from the date of closing.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Rick Schmitt, President
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
US audit: Costs soar for Iraqi military training.
CHELSEA J. CARTER
AP News
Apr 28, 2009 15:37 EST
Iraq is falling fall far behind schedule in creating a system to maintain its own military equipment, costing American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to fill in the gaps, according to a new U.S. audit.
The report highlights some of the fundamental worries among American commanders as they look past the U.S. military exit from Iraq at the end of 2011: Will Iraqi security forces be able to handle tasks as basic as keeping their vehicles on the road?
The U.S. has spent billions of dollars to develop Iraq's security forces with an emphasis in recent years on developing Iraq's maintenance and supply capabilities — seen as essential for the country to maintain a self-sufficient force after the lifeline from Washington is trimmed back.
It's part of the Pentagon's wide-ranging plans to train and upgrade Iraq security forces from street-level police units and rebuild Iraqi naval and air power.
But the audit — by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction — found a pattern of negligence and shortcomings by the Iraqi military in planning for the basic needs of the military: repairing and maintaining equipment and supplying troops.
The problems include not allocating enough funds for logistics operations and failing to provide enough soldiers for training, the audit said.
In one case, Iraqi soldiers abandoned a 90-day maintenance training class in March 2008 because they hadn't been paid in weeks by their units. The report said the Iraqi army has not yet assigned other soldiers to take a class.
But the study, released Sunday, also faulted the U.S. military for setting unrealistic training timetables — saying it added $420.5 million to the costs.
Initially, the contracts costs were put at about $208 million to train Iraqi soldiers in routine but critical roles that include repairing equipment, construction and running warehouse operations.
The audit says the contract has ballooned to more than $628 million in part because there was no clear blueprint for the programs, which led to frequent extensions and cost overruns.
"The U.S. objective is to achieve greater capacity within the Iraqi security forces as quickly as possible," said David Warren, assistant inspector general for Iraq reconstruction in Washington. "The fact that these things have occurred on this contract have delayed that. We would have like to see a greater return on the investment."
The clock is ticking for the Iraqis to take advantage of the U.S.-funded logistics training contracts, which expire at the end of December, ahead of President Barack Obama's plan to withdraw combat troops by Aug. 31, 2010. The remainder of U.S. troops must withdraw by the end of 2011.
The skyrocketing costs for Washington in Iraq go well beyond efforts at making the Iraqi military ready for the U.S. withdrawal.
Numerous U.S.-funded reconstruction contracts have had to be modified — adding millions of dollars in extra costs — because Iraq's public services were in such poor shape and needed attention first, Warren said.
But the military training has been a growing frustration to commanders and budget overseers.
Col. Mike Sage, the assistant chief of staff for logistics for Multi-National Security Transition Command, said developers of a Humvee maintenance training program believed Iraqi commanders would jump at the chance to have their soldiers learn how to care for the armored vehicles.
As part of the contracts, the U.S. gave Iraq more than 8,000 armored Humvees.
"We did not read the commanders as well as we thought," he said. "They would not commit soldiers to train on (Humvees)" because they didn't want to give up the troops for the 90-day classes.
The report recommended the U.S. military negotiate a firm agreement with the Iraqi government on a timetable to take over maintenance responsibilities. An earlier draft of the audit recommended withholding further U.S. funds until an accord was reached.
But the U.S. military said disrupting or stopping any training projects already in progress would be a strategic error.
"It relies on Iraqis, themselves, to put forth the effort to make themselves successful," Sage said.
AP News
Apr 28, 2009 15:37 EST
Iraq is falling fall far behind schedule in creating a system to maintain its own military equipment, costing American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to fill in the gaps, according to a new U.S. audit.
The report highlights some of the fundamental worries among American commanders as they look past the U.S. military exit from Iraq at the end of 2011: Will Iraqi security forces be able to handle tasks as basic as keeping their vehicles on the road?
The U.S. has spent billions of dollars to develop Iraq's security forces with an emphasis in recent years on developing Iraq's maintenance and supply capabilities — seen as essential for the country to maintain a self-sufficient force after the lifeline from Washington is trimmed back.
It's part of the Pentagon's wide-ranging plans to train and upgrade Iraq security forces from street-level police units and rebuild Iraqi naval and air power.
But the audit — by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction — found a pattern of negligence and shortcomings by the Iraqi military in planning for the basic needs of the military: repairing and maintaining equipment and supplying troops.
The problems include not allocating enough funds for logistics operations and failing to provide enough soldiers for training, the audit said.
In one case, Iraqi soldiers abandoned a 90-day maintenance training class in March 2008 because they hadn't been paid in weeks by their units. The report said the Iraqi army has not yet assigned other soldiers to take a class.
But the study, released Sunday, also faulted the U.S. military for setting unrealistic training timetables — saying it added $420.5 million to the costs.
Initially, the contracts costs were put at about $208 million to train Iraqi soldiers in routine but critical roles that include repairing equipment, construction and running warehouse operations.
The audit says the contract has ballooned to more than $628 million in part because there was no clear blueprint for the programs, which led to frequent extensions and cost overruns.
"The U.S. objective is to achieve greater capacity within the Iraqi security forces as quickly as possible," said David Warren, assistant inspector general for Iraq reconstruction in Washington. "The fact that these things have occurred on this contract have delayed that. We would have like to see a greater return on the investment."
The clock is ticking for the Iraqis to take advantage of the U.S.-funded logistics training contracts, which expire at the end of December, ahead of President Barack Obama's plan to withdraw combat troops by Aug. 31, 2010. The remainder of U.S. troops must withdraw by the end of 2011.
The skyrocketing costs for Washington in Iraq go well beyond efforts at making the Iraqi military ready for the U.S. withdrawal.
Numerous U.S.-funded reconstruction contracts have had to be modified — adding millions of dollars in extra costs — because Iraq's public services were in such poor shape and needed attention first, Warren said.
But the military training has been a growing frustration to commanders and budget overseers.
Col. Mike Sage, the assistant chief of staff for logistics for Multi-National Security Transition Command, said developers of a Humvee maintenance training program believed Iraqi commanders would jump at the chance to have their soldiers learn how to care for the armored vehicles.
As part of the contracts, the U.S. gave Iraq more than 8,000 armored Humvees.
"We did not read the commanders as well as we thought," he said. "They would not commit soldiers to train on (Humvees)" because they didn't want to give up the troops for the 90-day classes.
The report recommended the U.S. military negotiate a firm agreement with the Iraqi government on a timetable to take over maintenance responsibilities. An earlier draft of the audit recommended withholding further U.S. funds until an accord was reached.
But the U.S. military said disrupting or stopping any training projects already in progress would be a strategic error.
"It relies on Iraqis, themselves, to put forth the effort to make themselves successful," Sage said.
28 April, 2009
Iraq Launches Tenders for 60 Wells in Southern Oil Fields
Dow Jones Newswires
by Hassan Hafidh
URL: http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=75481
Apr. 27, 2009
Iraq Sunday issued two tenders for foreign companies to drill a total of 60 wells in the country's large oil fields in southern Missan governorate in a bid to increase crude oil output, according to tender document posted on the oil ministry Web site.
The first tender, issued through Missan Oil Co., or MOC, an affiliate of the oil ministry, calls for the drilling of 15 wells in the Halfaya and Amarah oil fields, and another 15 wells in the Abu Ghirab and Fauqi oil fields, the document shows.
MOC Sunday also relaunched a second tender, first offered in March, to drill another 30 wells, 10 each at the Halfaya, Noor and Abu Ghirab oil fields, all located in Missan governorate. MOC officials weren't available to comment on why the tender was relaunched.
The oil ministry has set May 15 as the closing date for receiving offers for both tenders.
The two tenders are part of a "crush plan" recently adopted by the Iraqi government to increase the country's production by 500,000 barrels a day within two years.
The super giant Halfaya field, one of Iraq's prized oil fields, has proven crude oil reserves of 5 billion barrels, while Amarah, Abu Ghirab, Noor and Fauqi are smaller, with each field containing around 1.5 billion barrels in reserves.
Last week, MOC relaunched a tender inviting foreign companies to build a 50,000 barrel a day production facility at the untapped Halfaya field.
Halfaya and Abu Ghirab are among the fields offered for development by the Iraqi oil ministry last year in its second bidding round.
Iraq, a founder member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is desperately seeking to boost production and renew an industry that has been shackled by years of war, sanctions, underinvestment and violence.
Iraq, with oil reserves exceeding 115 billion barrels, the world's third largest, presently pumps about 2.4 million barrels a day.
by Hassan Hafidh
URL: http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=75481
Apr. 27, 2009
Iraq Sunday issued two tenders for foreign companies to drill a total of 60 wells in the country's large oil fields in southern Missan governorate in a bid to increase crude oil output, according to tender document posted on the oil ministry Web site.
The first tender, issued through Missan Oil Co., or MOC, an affiliate of the oil ministry, calls for the drilling of 15 wells in the Halfaya and Amarah oil fields, and another 15 wells in the Abu Ghirab and Fauqi oil fields, the document shows.
MOC Sunday also relaunched a second tender, first offered in March, to drill another 30 wells, 10 each at the Halfaya, Noor and Abu Ghirab oil fields, all located in Missan governorate. MOC officials weren't available to comment on why the tender was relaunched.
The oil ministry has set May 15 as the closing date for receiving offers for both tenders.
The two tenders are part of a "crush plan" recently adopted by the Iraqi government to increase the country's production by 500,000 barrels a day within two years.
The super giant Halfaya field, one of Iraq's prized oil fields, has proven crude oil reserves of 5 billion barrels, while Amarah, Abu Ghirab, Noor and Fauqi are smaller, with each field containing around 1.5 billion barrels in reserves.
Last week, MOC relaunched a tender inviting foreign companies to build a 50,000 barrel a day production facility at the untapped Halfaya field.
Halfaya and Abu Ghirab are among the fields offered for development by the Iraqi oil ministry last year in its second bidding round.
Iraq, a founder member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is desperately seeking to boost production and renew an industry that has been shackled by years of war, sanctions, underinvestment and violence.
Iraq, with oil reserves exceeding 115 billion barrels, the world's third largest, presently pumps about 2.4 million barrels a day.
Bangladesh charges NGO chief with funding militants.
Reuters
28 April 2009
Bangladesh has charged a leader of a British-based Islamic non-governmental organisation with funding Islamist militancy, an official said on Tuesday.
Faisal Mustafa, a Briton of Bangladeshi origin who works for the Green Crescent organisation, was arrested earlier this month.
"Ten of his accomplices were also charged for involvement in militancy in Bangladesh," a police inspector told Reuters.
Security forces put out a warrant for Mustafa after a cache of arms and explosives were seized in March at a religious school, or madrasa, run by the charity in a village south of the capital, Dhaka.
Officials say Islamist militants, who have killed dozens of people in Bangladesh in bomb attacks in recent years, were trying to turn the Muslim-majority country of 140 million people into a sharia-based Islamic state.
(Reporting by Nizam Ahmed; Editing by David Fox)
28 April 2009
Bangladesh has charged a leader of a British-based Islamic non-governmental organisation with funding Islamist militancy, an official said on Tuesday.
Faisal Mustafa, a Briton of Bangladeshi origin who works for the Green Crescent organisation, was arrested earlier this month.
"Ten of his accomplices were also charged for involvement in militancy in Bangladesh," a police inspector told Reuters.
Security forces put out a warrant for Mustafa after a cache of arms and explosives were seized in March at a religious school, or madrasa, run by the charity in a village south of the capital, Dhaka.
Officials say Islamist militants, who have killed dozens of people in Bangladesh in bomb attacks in recent years, were trying to turn the Muslim-majority country of 140 million people into a sharia-based Islamic state.
(Reporting by Nizam Ahmed; Editing by David Fox)
Russia, Bulgaria to sign South Stream deal in 2 weeks - Putin.
RIA Novosti
28 April 2009
Russia and Bulgaria will endorse preliminary documents on the South Stream gas pipeline later on Tuesday and sign a final agreement in two weeks, the Russian prime minister said.
The project, designed to annually pump 31 billion cubic meters of Central Asian and Russian gas to the Balkans and on to other European countries, involves Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Italy and Greece.
"This document will be initialed today and signed in a couple of weeks. Russia and Bulgaria have no disagreements," Vladimir Putin said at a news conference with his Bulgarian counterpart.
He added that there had been some "technical" differences between Russian energy giant Gazprom and its Bulgarian partners related to the parties' contractual obligations, but said they were finally ironed out on Monday.
The pipeline is to go on stream in 2013.
28 April 2009
Russia and Bulgaria will endorse preliminary documents on the South Stream gas pipeline later on Tuesday and sign a final agreement in two weeks, the Russian prime minister said.
The project, designed to annually pump 31 billion cubic meters of Central Asian and Russian gas to the Balkans and on to other European countries, involves Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Italy and Greece.
"This document will be initialed today and signed in a couple of weeks. Russia and Bulgaria have no disagreements," Vladimir Putin said at a news conference with his Bulgarian counterpart.
He added that there had been some "technical" differences between Russian energy giant Gazprom and its Bulgarian partners related to the parties' contractual obligations, but said they were finally ironed out on Monday.
The pipeline is to go on stream in 2013.
TENSION IN ANTANANARIVO AND ANTSIRABE.
MISNA
27 April 2009
After last week’s clashes between respective backers of former and exiled president Marc Ravalomanana and the police, which left 6-7 dead, today in Antananarivo, the situation is tense because of the demonstrations and an intense deployment of police forces throughout the capital. “Today, as also on Saturday, Radio Mada (owned by the exiled Ravalomana) announced protests by Ravalomanana backers, failing to specify the location, reason for which the transition authority has decided deploy police in the most critical area of the capital to break any demonstration at the origin”, said a source from Radio Don Bosco, who advised that some demonstrators may be carrying guns. Last week, two people were shot and killed in the clashes. The protests have been convened despite a formal ban of public assembly in the capital imposed by the government. Yesterday, Molotov cocktails were launched against an army munitions center just outside Antananarivo, wounding a soldier. Meanwhile, there was also tension in Antsirabe (the third largest city in the country), one of the most active areas for the Tiko group, having five food products companies, owned by Ravalomanana. While political and social tensions persist – an arrest warrant has been issued against Ravalomanana, exiled in Swaziland – the transitional authority led by Andry Rajoelina has not been recognized by much of Africa and the rest of the world – a group of ambassadors and emissaries from a variety of international bodies is expected to arrive in Madagascar to evaluate support mechanisms for the people in the form of development aid for the population.
27 April 2009
After last week’s clashes between respective backers of former and exiled president Marc Ravalomanana and the police, which left 6-7 dead, today in Antananarivo, the situation is tense because of the demonstrations and an intense deployment of police forces throughout the capital. “Today, as also on Saturday, Radio Mada (owned by the exiled Ravalomana) announced protests by Ravalomanana backers, failing to specify the location, reason for which the transition authority has decided deploy police in the most critical area of the capital to break any demonstration at the origin”, said a source from Radio Don Bosco, who advised that some demonstrators may be carrying guns. Last week, two people were shot and killed in the clashes. The protests have been convened despite a formal ban of public assembly in the capital imposed by the government. Yesterday, Molotov cocktails were launched against an army munitions center just outside Antananarivo, wounding a soldier. Meanwhile, there was also tension in Antsirabe (the third largest city in the country), one of the most active areas for the Tiko group, having five food products companies, owned by Ravalomanana. While political and social tensions persist – an arrest warrant has been issued against Ravalomanana, exiled in Swaziland – the transitional authority led by Andry Rajoelina has not been recognized by much of Africa and the rest of the world – a group of ambassadors and emissaries from a variety of international bodies is expected to arrive in Madagascar to evaluate support mechanisms for the people in the form of development aid for the population.
POLITICAL CRISIS: ARMY STORMS CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
MISNA
28 Apr 2009
“The situation is increasingly confused and the armed forces yesterday arrested the security chief of the High Constitutional court and some of his men, accusing them last week of opening fire and killing some demonstrators”, said to MISNA a source of the local ‘Radio Don Bosco’, describing a dominant and growing atmosphere of insecurity. Madagascar is theatre to a serious political crisis that has divided the nation into followers of former president Marc Ravalomanana and supporters of the former mayor of Antananarivo and head of the so-called High Transition Authority, Andry Rajoelina. “A statement issued to the press, but without any official signature, announces the arrest of three people in a military operation conducted in the offices of the Constitutional Court”, said the source, adding that “in the building the troops seized pistols, grenades and assault rifles, apparently used to open fire on the demonstrators in an attempt to destabilise and discredit the new authorities in power”. At least five people were killed last week and several others were wounded during a demonstration in support of Ravalomanana, toppled last month when Rajoelina gained military backing and was handed power by the Constitutional Court. The recent episodes rose fears of further unrest that in February and March left some 135 people dead. The supporters of Ravalomanana in a news conference stated that “they don’t intend to stop the public demonstrations, despite a ban imposed by the Authority last week”, explained the source, “and will continue to gather on the Democracy square, renamed ‘square of the killings’”. After unrest yesterday also in Antsirabe (third most populous city, around 160km south of the capital), local authorities today decided to keep schools and offices closed to restore security in the city.
28 Apr 2009
“The situation is increasingly confused and the armed forces yesterday arrested the security chief of the High Constitutional court and some of his men, accusing them last week of opening fire and killing some demonstrators”, said to MISNA a source of the local ‘Radio Don Bosco’, describing a dominant and growing atmosphere of insecurity. Madagascar is theatre to a serious political crisis that has divided the nation into followers of former president Marc Ravalomanana and supporters of the former mayor of Antananarivo and head of the so-called High Transition Authority, Andry Rajoelina. “A statement issued to the press, but without any official signature, announces the arrest of three people in a military operation conducted in the offices of the Constitutional Court”, said the source, adding that “in the building the troops seized pistols, grenades and assault rifles, apparently used to open fire on the demonstrators in an attempt to destabilise and discredit the new authorities in power”. At least five people were killed last week and several others were wounded during a demonstration in support of Ravalomanana, toppled last month when Rajoelina gained military backing and was handed power by the Constitutional Court. The recent episodes rose fears of further unrest that in February and March left some 135 people dead. The supporters of Ravalomanana in a news conference stated that “they don’t intend to stop the public demonstrations, despite a ban imposed by the Authority last week”, explained the source, “and will continue to gather on the Democracy square, renamed ‘square of the killings’”. After unrest yesterday also in Antsirabe (third most populous city, around 160km south of the capital), local authorities today decided to keep schools and offices closed to restore security in the city.
Lesotho politician shot dead.
SAPA
28 April 2009
A Lesotho politician has been shot dead, allegedly by his colleague's husband in Maputsoe, north of the country, national police said on Tuesday.
"Leader of the National Independent Party, Dominic Motikoe, was shot dead on Monday after returning from Parliament," Inspector David Mphana said.
"Motikoe dropped off his female colleague at her home. Her husband then ran out of the house with a pistol and fired five shots at him. He died on the scene. The woman was not hurt."
Mphana said the husband handed himself to police after the shooting.
"The husband told police that he suspected that Motikoe and his wife were having an affair."
He was expected to appear in the Leribe Magistrate's Court soon, Mphana said.
28 April 2009
A Lesotho politician has been shot dead, allegedly by his colleague's husband in Maputsoe, north of the country, national police said on Tuesday.
"Leader of the National Independent Party, Dominic Motikoe, was shot dead on Monday after returning from Parliament," Inspector David Mphana said.
"Motikoe dropped off his female colleague at her home. Her husband then ran out of the house with a pistol and fired five shots at him. He died on the scene. The woman was not hurt."
Mphana said the husband handed himself to police after the shooting.
"The husband told police that he suspected that Motikoe and his wife were having an affair."
He was expected to appear in the Leribe Magistrate's Court soon, Mphana said.
Rwanda: Restore BBC to the Air.
Human Rights Watch
27 April 2009
Growing Media Restrictions Cast Doubt on Nation’s Commitment to Free Speech.
The Rwandan government should immediately reverse its suspension of the Kinyarwanda radio service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Human Rights Watch said today.
The Rwandan minister of information, Louise Mushikiwabo, justified the suspension on the grounds that the program amounted to a, "blatant denial of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi of Rwanda," and called it "unacceptable speech." Since the 1994genocide, the Kagame-led government has sought to portray an image of national unity in Rwanda and it allows no public references in any form to Hutu or Tutsi ethnicity.
"This suspension of the BBC reflects the Rwandan government's growing crackdown on free speech," said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "If Rwanda is truly committed to the fundamental right of free expression, it should allow differing viewpoints on genocide issues and related government policies."
The BBC's suspension is part of a broader pattern of increasing government interference in the Rwandan media, including threats to suspend major media outlets such as the BBC and Voice of America and the banning of independent Rwandan journalists from government news conferences.
The BBC suspension on April 25, 2009 occurred after the station broadcast a coming attraction for its weekly program Imvo n'imvano ("Analysis of the Source of a Problem") that was to include a debate on forgiveness among Rwandans after the genocide. The advance segment included comments by a former presidential candidate, Faustin Twagiramungu, opposing the government's attempt to have the country's entire Hutu population apologize for the genocide, since not all Hutu people had killed Tutsi or otherwise participated in the genocide.
It also included a man of mixed Hutu-Tutsi ethnicity questioning why the government had refused to allow relatives of those killed by the RPF forces to grieve for their loved ones. According to estimates from experts working for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the group's soldiers killed between 25,000 and 45,000 people between April and August 1994.
The suspension comes days before Rwanda is to host a regional conference celebrating "World Press Day," to be attended by high level delegates from the East African Community. The theme of this year's event is the role of media in reconciliatory dialogue.
"Meaningful and open discussion on the genocide and its aftermath could help foster reconciliation and stability in Rwanda," said Gagnon. "Repressive restrictions on such discussions by branding them as ‘unacceptable speech' may achieve the opposite."
Recent legislation, currently awaiting presidential approval, proposes to ban all national journalists without a university degree or certificate in journalism. Most independent Rwandan journalists have neither. The legislation would make defamation a criminal offense in addition to other civil and administrative sanctions, and would impose a wide range of restrictions on gathering and reporting information.
In March, the UN Human Rights Committee expressed concerns over reports that the Rwandan government had subjected journalists critical of government policies to intimidation and harassment and had charged other journalists with "divisionism," a crime vaguely defined under Rwandan law as spreading ideas that encourage ethnic animosity between the country's Tutsi and Hutu populations. "Divisionism" is often used interchangeably with the term "genocide ideology" - a crime that was first adopted into Rwanda's law in 2008 but that the government has used for at least five years to punish expression of any ideas that could lead to genocide. The government lodged complaints against the BBC radio station in 2004 after a parliamentary report accused it of propagating "genocide ideology." Rwanda's international donors and human rights organizations have criticized the terms as too sweeping and punishing speech that is intended neither to incite violence nor to deny the existence of the genocide.
The UN committee urged the Rwandan government to guarantee freedom of expression for the press and all citizens in accordance with the government's international obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
In August 2008, shortly before Rwanda's parliamentary elections, the country's information minister warned the BBC that it would be suspended it if failed to abandon its "non-factual reporting." BBC journalists from the Kinyarwanda service have been excluded from several government events since that time.
During World Press Day celebrations in Kigali in May 2008, the government removed three leading independent journalists - Charles Kabonero of Umuseso, Jean Bosco Gasasira of Umuvugizi, and Jean Grober Burasa of Rushyashya - from the celebrations and barred them from all official news conferences. The journalists were also prohibited from interviewing government officials, with both prohibitions continuing to this day. A diplomatic incident occurred in September 2008 when a scheduled news conference marking the signature of a new US Millennium Challenge Corporation partnership agreement with Rwanda had to be cancelled by the US embassy in Kigali because the Rwandan government refused to allow the three journalists to attend.
In late 2007, the government accused a BBC journalist, Yusuf Mugenzi, of exacerbating ethnic differences through the Imvo n'imvano program, which brings together leading - and at times controversial - figures from the Rwandan diaspora. Government officials accused the program of giving airtime to "genocide fugitives," referring to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Hutu rebel group based in eastern Congo, some of whose members took part in the 1994 genocide and continue to threaten stability in the region. The government also warned that BBC's license might not be renewed if the program did not assume a more positive tone.
"Rwanda's targeting of the media, including the suspension of the BBC, calls into question Rwanda's respect for press freedom," said Gagnon. "With presidential elections scheduled for 2010, it is critical that the government guarantee free and fair discussion of issues, failing which Rwanda cannot be viewed by it partners as a thriving democracy."
27 April 2009
Growing Media Restrictions Cast Doubt on Nation’s Commitment to Free Speech.
The Rwandan government should immediately reverse its suspension of the Kinyarwanda radio service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Human Rights Watch said today.
The Rwandan minister of information, Louise Mushikiwabo, justified the suspension on the grounds that the program amounted to a, "blatant denial of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi of Rwanda," and called it "unacceptable speech." Since the 1994genocide, the Kagame-led government has sought to portray an image of national unity in Rwanda and it allows no public references in any form to Hutu or Tutsi ethnicity.
"This suspension of the BBC reflects the Rwandan government's growing crackdown on free speech," said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "If Rwanda is truly committed to the fundamental right of free expression, it should allow differing viewpoints on genocide issues and related government policies."
The BBC's suspension is part of a broader pattern of increasing government interference in the Rwandan media, including threats to suspend major media outlets such as the BBC and Voice of America and the banning of independent Rwandan journalists from government news conferences.
The BBC suspension on April 25, 2009 occurred after the station broadcast a coming attraction for its weekly program Imvo n'imvano ("Analysis of the Source of a Problem") that was to include a debate on forgiveness among Rwandans after the genocide. The advance segment included comments by a former presidential candidate, Faustin Twagiramungu, opposing the government's attempt to have the country's entire Hutu population apologize for the genocide, since not all Hutu people had killed Tutsi or otherwise participated in the genocide.
It also included a man of mixed Hutu-Tutsi ethnicity questioning why the government had refused to allow relatives of those killed by the RPF forces to grieve for their loved ones. According to estimates from experts working for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the group's soldiers killed between 25,000 and 45,000 people between April and August 1994.
The suspension comes days before Rwanda is to host a regional conference celebrating "World Press Day," to be attended by high level delegates from the East African Community. The theme of this year's event is the role of media in reconciliatory dialogue.
"Meaningful and open discussion on the genocide and its aftermath could help foster reconciliation and stability in Rwanda," said Gagnon. "Repressive restrictions on such discussions by branding them as ‘unacceptable speech' may achieve the opposite."
Recent legislation, currently awaiting presidential approval, proposes to ban all national journalists without a university degree or certificate in journalism. Most independent Rwandan journalists have neither. The legislation would make defamation a criminal offense in addition to other civil and administrative sanctions, and would impose a wide range of restrictions on gathering and reporting information.
In March, the UN Human Rights Committee expressed concerns over reports that the Rwandan government had subjected journalists critical of government policies to intimidation and harassment and had charged other journalists with "divisionism," a crime vaguely defined under Rwandan law as spreading ideas that encourage ethnic animosity between the country's Tutsi and Hutu populations. "Divisionism" is often used interchangeably with the term "genocide ideology" - a crime that was first adopted into Rwanda's law in 2008 but that the government has used for at least five years to punish expression of any ideas that could lead to genocide. The government lodged complaints against the BBC radio station in 2004 after a parliamentary report accused it of propagating "genocide ideology." Rwanda's international donors and human rights organizations have criticized the terms as too sweeping and punishing speech that is intended neither to incite violence nor to deny the existence of the genocide.
The UN committee urged the Rwandan government to guarantee freedom of expression for the press and all citizens in accordance with the government's international obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
In August 2008, shortly before Rwanda's parliamentary elections, the country's information minister warned the BBC that it would be suspended it if failed to abandon its "non-factual reporting." BBC journalists from the Kinyarwanda service have been excluded from several government events since that time.
During World Press Day celebrations in Kigali in May 2008, the government removed three leading independent journalists - Charles Kabonero of Umuseso, Jean Bosco Gasasira of Umuvugizi, and Jean Grober Burasa of Rushyashya - from the celebrations and barred them from all official news conferences. The journalists were also prohibited from interviewing government officials, with both prohibitions continuing to this day. A diplomatic incident occurred in September 2008 when a scheduled news conference marking the signature of a new US Millennium Challenge Corporation partnership agreement with Rwanda had to be cancelled by the US embassy in Kigali because the Rwandan government refused to allow the three journalists to attend.
In late 2007, the government accused a BBC journalist, Yusuf Mugenzi, of exacerbating ethnic differences through the Imvo n'imvano program, which brings together leading - and at times controversial - figures from the Rwandan diaspora. Government officials accused the program of giving airtime to "genocide fugitives," referring to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Hutu rebel group based in eastern Congo, some of whose members took part in the 1994 genocide and continue to threaten stability in the region. The government also warned that BBC's license might not be renewed if the program did not assume a more positive tone.
"Rwanda's targeting of the media, including the suspension of the BBC, calls into question Rwanda's respect for press freedom," said Gagnon. "With presidential elections scheduled for 2010, it is critical that the government guarantee free and fair discussion of issues, failing which Rwanda cannot be viewed by it partners as a thriving democracy."
Karenzi Leaves UNAMID.
African Press Organization
29 April 2009
On Darfur, the UNAMID Deputy Force Commander, Major-General Emmanuel Karake Karenzi, last week took the opportunity to bid farewell to UNAMID officials. Major-General Karenzi, a Rwandan national, has served in UNAMID since its inception in January 2008. He will be leaving the Mission soon and will be replaced by Major-General Duna Dumisani from South Africa.
Also, a team from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations arrived in Darfur yesterday to conduct an evaluation and assessment of the Mission over the next two weeks. The purpose of the evaluation is to review the operational objectives of UNAMID’s military, police and civilian components and look at challenges and constraints. The evaluation will also provide best practices and lessons learned in all areas of activity conducted by UNAMID that could be used by other missions.
29 April 2009
On Darfur, the UNAMID Deputy Force Commander, Major-General Emmanuel Karake Karenzi, last week took the opportunity to bid farewell to UNAMID officials. Major-General Karenzi, a Rwandan national, has served in UNAMID since its inception in January 2008. He will be leaving the Mission soon and will be replaced by Major-General Duna Dumisani from South Africa.
Also, a team from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations arrived in Darfur yesterday to conduct an evaluation and assessment of the Mission over the next two weeks. The purpose of the evaluation is to review the operational objectives of UNAMID’s military, police and civilian components and look at challenges and constraints. The evaluation will also provide best practices and lessons learned in all areas of activity conducted by UNAMID that could be used by other missions.
Torture victims fail to get justice in Uganda.
Daily Monitor
28 April 2009
By Tabu Butagira
Hundreds of torture victims are uncertain of getting justice from the government’s human rights watchdog in nearly half a year because President Museveni has delayed to appoint new commissioners to hear their cases, Daily Monitor has learnt.
By yesterday, Uganda Human Rights Commission reported 476 accumulated complaints. Many complaints mainly about torture by security organs have been filed since January to-date.
Ms Ruth Ssekindi, the registrar of UHRC, said the pending cases, including those that have been partially heard, accumulated due to the absence of commissioners. The law mandates only commissioners, who are appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament, to constitute a tribunal hearing and make judgments.
“We have had a major setback in our work due to the absence of commissioners; complainants come to us inquiring the progress of their cases but it is difficult to explain things to them,” Ms Ssekindi said.
“Without commissioners, we have challenges of complainants who get dissatisfied since justice delayed is justice denied. Even witnesses too are losing interest [to testify].”
Our investigations show that the six-year tenure of the previous commissioners headed by Ms Margaret Ssekagya expired on November 21, last year. Her other colleagues whose contracts ended simultaneously were Ms Mariam Wangadya, Mr Joel Aliro Omara, Mr Constantine Karusoke, and Mr Adrian Sibo.
It is understood this commission was already overwhelmed after the Commissioner Veronica Bichetero’s contract, which ran out earlier was never renewed while Commissioner John Mary Waliggo passed on in May.
But the government yesterday deflected criticism that President Museveni’s unexplained delay to appoint new commissioners could be aimed at discouraging the work of UHRC that in the past produced reports critical of state security machinery.
The deputy Attorney General, Fred Ruhindi, told Daily Monitor by phone from Arusha, Tanzania that the Ministry of Justice had through the Cabinet recommended a number of high profile citizens for appointment to the Commission.
“We have made the necessary follow ups and got assurances that action is going to be taken sooner than later,” he said.
Yet it emerged yesterday that the approval of the commission’s budget for 2009/10 Financial Year could be in jeopardy - just seven weeks to reading of the national budget - since only commissioners are required by law to present the revenue/expenditure estimates for Parliamentary consideration.
UHRC’s Ms Ssekindi said: “If there is no new vote approved for us, it means from July we shall not have money for office operations, paying staff salaries and meeting other recurrent expenditure. So, will the commission close?”
The Presidential Press Secretary Tamale Mirundi said Mr Museveni values human rights and he will appoint new commissioners at an appropriate time.
“There was a time Uganda did not have this Human Rights body and the country did not vanish. President Museveni is the one who put Uganda Human Rights Commission in place. He will address the matter and Ugandans should not panic,” he said. The US-based Human Rights Watch early this month indicted the country’s anti-terror operatives for alleged murder and torture of civilians in secret detention chambers in Kololo, an up market residential area.
Torture victims mainly prefer to seek justice from Uganda Human Rights Commission because the statutory body offers free quasi-judicial services unlike conventional courts that run costly and long running litigation.
Sources say the government is yet to clear some Shs1.4 billion out of the total Shs2.2 billion that UHRC commission has awarded victims since 2003.
28 April 2009
By Tabu Butagira
Hundreds of torture victims are uncertain of getting justice from the government’s human rights watchdog in nearly half a year because President Museveni has delayed to appoint new commissioners to hear their cases, Daily Monitor has learnt.
By yesterday, Uganda Human Rights Commission reported 476 accumulated complaints. Many complaints mainly about torture by security organs have been filed since January to-date.
Ms Ruth Ssekindi, the registrar of UHRC, said the pending cases, including those that have been partially heard, accumulated due to the absence of commissioners. The law mandates only commissioners, who are appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament, to constitute a tribunal hearing and make judgments.
“We have had a major setback in our work due to the absence of commissioners; complainants come to us inquiring the progress of their cases but it is difficult to explain things to them,” Ms Ssekindi said.
“Without commissioners, we have challenges of complainants who get dissatisfied since justice delayed is justice denied. Even witnesses too are losing interest [to testify].”
Our investigations show that the six-year tenure of the previous commissioners headed by Ms Margaret Ssekagya expired on November 21, last year. Her other colleagues whose contracts ended simultaneously were Ms Mariam Wangadya, Mr Joel Aliro Omara, Mr Constantine Karusoke, and Mr Adrian Sibo.
It is understood this commission was already overwhelmed after the Commissioner Veronica Bichetero’s contract, which ran out earlier was never renewed while Commissioner John Mary Waliggo passed on in May.
But the government yesterday deflected criticism that President Museveni’s unexplained delay to appoint new commissioners could be aimed at discouraging the work of UHRC that in the past produced reports critical of state security machinery.
The deputy Attorney General, Fred Ruhindi, told Daily Monitor by phone from Arusha, Tanzania that the Ministry of Justice had through the Cabinet recommended a number of high profile citizens for appointment to the Commission.
“We have made the necessary follow ups and got assurances that action is going to be taken sooner than later,” he said.
Yet it emerged yesterday that the approval of the commission’s budget for 2009/10 Financial Year could be in jeopardy - just seven weeks to reading of the national budget - since only commissioners are required by law to present the revenue/expenditure estimates for Parliamentary consideration.
UHRC’s Ms Ssekindi said: “If there is no new vote approved for us, it means from July we shall not have money for office operations, paying staff salaries and meeting other recurrent expenditure. So, will the commission close?”
The Presidential Press Secretary Tamale Mirundi said Mr Museveni values human rights and he will appoint new commissioners at an appropriate time.
“There was a time Uganda did not have this Human Rights body and the country did not vanish. President Museveni is the one who put Uganda Human Rights Commission in place. He will address the matter and Ugandans should not panic,” he said. The US-based Human Rights Watch early this month indicted the country’s anti-terror operatives for alleged murder and torture of civilians in secret detention chambers in Kololo, an up market residential area.
Torture victims mainly prefer to seek justice from Uganda Human Rights Commission because the statutory body offers free quasi-judicial services unlike conventional courts that run costly and long running litigation.
Sources say the government is yet to clear some Shs1.4 billion out of the total Shs2.2 billion that UHRC commission has awarded victims since 2003.
Odinga wants fresh election.
BBC News
27 April 2009
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said fresh elections may be needed if the rift in the power-sharing government cannot be solved.
He is demanding that he be put in charge of government business in parliament, to replace Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.
Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki agreed to share power last year to end months of post-election violence. But relations have soured and the two parties have held crisis talks.
Over the weekend, Kibaki’s Party of National Unity accused Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of “fomenting a coup”.
The president’s allies say he has the power to decide who should hold the crucial position of leading government business in the house.
The speaker of parliament is due to issue a ruling on Tuesday.
In response, the prime minister told a meeting of his constituents in Nairobi’s Kibera slum: “We have been pushed around enough. We have reached this point and we cannot retreat. We shall stand firm. If others do not want this then let us go back and hold elections.”
Odinga has previously said he was being sidelined in the government.
Earlier this month, his party said it would boycott cabinet meetings, leading to inconclusive crisis talks.
Odinga recently complained at a public rally that no red carpet or toilet were provided for him during an official visit. He has also said the vice-president should not be paid more than him. Musyoka used to be a senior ODM official but split to form his own party — ODM-Kenya — and is now seen as close to the president.
27 April 2009
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said fresh elections may be needed if the rift in the power-sharing government cannot be solved.
He is demanding that he be put in charge of government business in parliament, to replace Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.
Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki agreed to share power last year to end months of post-election violence. But relations have soured and the two parties have held crisis talks.
Over the weekend, Kibaki’s Party of National Unity accused Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of “fomenting a coup”.
The president’s allies say he has the power to decide who should hold the crucial position of leading government business in the house.
The speaker of parliament is due to issue a ruling on Tuesday.
In response, the prime minister told a meeting of his constituents in Nairobi’s Kibera slum: “We have been pushed around enough. We have reached this point and we cannot retreat. We shall stand firm. If others do not want this then let us go back and hold elections.”
Odinga has previously said he was being sidelined in the government.
Earlier this month, his party said it would boycott cabinet meetings, leading to inconclusive crisis talks.
Odinga recently complained at a public rally that no red carpet or toilet were provided for him during an official visit. He has also said the vice-president should not be paid more than him. Musyoka used to be a senior ODM official but split to form his own party — ODM-Kenya — and is now seen as close to the president.
Manafwa mine sold at sh2b.
The New Vision
28 April 2009
By Ibrahim Kasita
RIO TINTO International Holdings has sold the Namekhara vermiculite mine in Manafwa to an Australian firm at $1m (about sh2.1b).
The firm was reported to have a $39b debt at the end of last year by western media and was carrying out a wider disposal programme.
Gulf Resources acquired the mine located near Mbale and Tororo towns recently. Namekhara is considered one of the largest high-grade vermiculite mineral deposits in the world, capable of supporting a low-cost, long-life operation.
“The acquisition of the Namekhara project from Rio Tinto fits with our strategy to seek early cash-flow opportunities,” Scott Reid, the Gulf Resources chairman, said in a statement.
However, Joshua Tuhumwire, the commissioner of geological survey and mines, said the deal was subject to government approval. “Under the Mining Act, any transfer of a mineral right or share is subject to consent of the commissioner,” he said.
The announcement comes at a time when Rio Tinto is engaged in a controversial $19.5b deal with Chinalco, a Chinese mining group. The firm has sold marginal businesses at a clip this year, most notably the January sale of Brazilian iron ore and potash assets to Brazil-based competitor Vale. Next on the list may well be Rio’s talcs and borates businesses or Alcan Packaging.
Andrew Johnstone, the Gulf Resources chief operations officer, further commented: “The Namekhara operation is capable of producing export quality vermiculite products with substantial profit margins due to the low-cost nature of the operation and excellent existing infrastructure.”
The sale agreement includes processing and power plants, mine office and all associated infrastructure and equipment.
Gulf intends to inject $500,000 working capital into the operation over the next 12 months to bring the operation to a sustained production rate of 8,000 tonnes per annum of vermiculite products, according to in sale and purchase agreement.
The firm also plans to expand the operation to produce 25,000 tonnes per annum by 2012. While the specific terms of the agreement are confidential, the cash consideration component of $1m can be paid on a deferred basis until March 31, 2012.
The sale and purchase agreement is subject to conditions usual to a transaction of this nature, including regulatory approvals. The Namekhara mineralisation was first documented in the 1950s, but it wasn’t until 2002 that initial test production started with a small scale operation that produced 16,000 tonnes of ore between 2002 and 2006.
28 April 2009
By Ibrahim Kasita
RIO TINTO International Holdings has sold the Namekhara vermiculite mine in Manafwa to an Australian firm at $1m (about sh2.1b).
The firm was reported to have a $39b debt at the end of last year by western media and was carrying out a wider disposal programme.
Gulf Resources acquired the mine located near Mbale and Tororo towns recently. Namekhara is considered one of the largest high-grade vermiculite mineral deposits in the world, capable of supporting a low-cost, long-life operation.
“The acquisition of the Namekhara project from Rio Tinto fits with our strategy to seek early cash-flow opportunities,” Scott Reid, the Gulf Resources chairman, said in a statement.
However, Joshua Tuhumwire, the commissioner of geological survey and mines, said the deal was subject to government approval. “Under the Mining Act, any transfer of a mineral right or share is subject to consent of the commissioner,” he said.
The announcement comes at a time when Rio Tinto is engaged in a controversial $19.5b deal with Chinalco, a Chinese mining group. The firm has sold marginal businesses at a clip this year, most notably the January sale of Brazilian iron ore and potash assets to Brazil-based competitor Vale. Next on the list may well be Rio’s talcs and borates businesses or Alcan Packaging.
Andrew Johnstone, the Gulf Resources chief operations officer, further commented: “The Namekhara operation is capable of producing export quality vermiculite products with substantial profit margins due to the low-cost nature of the operation and excellent existing infrastructure.”
The sale agreement includes processing and power plants, mine office and all associated infrastructure and equipment.
Gulf intends to inject $500,000 working capital into the operation over the next 12 months to bring the operation to a sustained production rate of 8,000 tonnes per annum of vermiculite products, according to in sale and purchase agreement.
The firm also plans to expand the operation to produce 25,000 tonnes per annum by 2012. While the specific terms of the agreement are confidential, the cash consideration component of $1m can be paid on a deferred basis until March 31, 2012.
The sale and purchase agreement is subject to conditions usual to a transaction of this nature, including regulatory approvals. The Namekhara mineralisation was first documented in the 1950s, but it wasn’t until 2002 that initial test production started with a small scale operation that produced 16,000 tonnes of ore between 2002 and 2006.
Boycott of Swat’s ‘blood emeralds’ urged.
Daily Times
28 April 2009
A campaign is already afoot to refuse Swat’s famous emeralds. The rationale: the money could be paying for the Taliban mortars, roadside bombs and suicide belts. The “blood emeralds” have joined the Afghan opium as a source of Taliban lucre.
Swat is rich in orchards, timber – and gems. The Taliban have seized two of the emerald mines, declared them a trust, and are mining them round the clock. The profits are split between the Taliban and the miners, making these coveted jobs in an area where fighting has destroyed the tourist industry and much else. That, say Taliban leaders, is why they have opened up the mines – to provide the locals with employment and a better life. But only those with strong Taliban sympathies get work.
Estimates differ as to the quality of Swat emeralds. Some Pakistanis claim they are magnificent. Jean Claude Michelou, the emerald dealer who advises the World Bank on developing Pakistan’s gemstone sector, says that most are tiny and used mostly for what jewellers call “baguette accents” to ornament rings or watches. The smaller they are, the harder it is to trace their origin. But the bottom line is that Swat emeralds can net the Taliban about £2 million a year. There is a proposal now to extending to emeralds the international Kimberley Process of verification, which it is claimed curbed Africa’s diamonds-for-guns trade. The Responsible Jewellery Council formed by industry leaders in 2006 has also boycotted Burmese rubies and jade and has just finalised a code of practice for gem mining.
28 April 2009
A campaign is already afoot to refuse Swat’s famous emeralds. The rationale: the money could be paying for the Taliban mortars, roadside bombs and suicide belts. The “blood emeralds” have joined the Afghan opium as a source of Taliban lucre.
Swat is rich in orchards, timber – and gems. The Taliban have seized two of the emerald mines, declared them a trust, and are mining them round the clock. The profits are split between the Taliban and the miners, making these coveted jobs in an area where fighting has destroyed the tourist industry and much else. That, say Taliban leaders, is why they have opened up the mines – to provide the locals with employment and a better life. But only those with strong Taliban sympathies get work.
Estimates differ as to the quality of Swat emeralds. Some Pakistanis claim they are magnificent. Jean Claude Michelou, the emerald dealer who advises the World Bank on developing Pakistan’s gemstone sector, says that most are tiny and used mostly for what jewellers call “baguette accents” to ornament rings or watches. The smaller they are, the harder it is to trace their origin. But the bottom line is that Swat emeralds can net the Taliban about £2 million a year. There is a proposal now to extending to emeralds the international Kimberley Process of verification, which it is claimed curbed Africa’s diamonds-for-guns trade. The Responsible Jewellery Council formed by industry leaders in 2006 has also boycotted Burmese rubies and jade and has just finalised a code of practice for gem mining.
26 April, 2009
Bolivia to sue Hungarian for complicity in assassination plot.
Reuters
25 April 2009
By Diego Ore
Bolivia will sue a Hungarian journalist for allegedly covering up a plan to destabilize the country by a man killed in a police raid last week and accused of plotting to assassinate President Evo Morales.
In an interview last September, Bolivian Eduardo Rozsa told Hungarian reporter Andras Kepes that he would travel to Bolivia to support a separatist movement in Santa Cruz province, where opposition to leftist leader Morales is fiercest.
The interview was broadcast on Hungarian television only after Rozsa -- who also held Hungarian and Croatian passports -- died in the police raid on a Santa Cruz hotel, along with two alleged fellow conspirators, an Irishman and a Romanian.
Bolivia's deputy minister for social movements, Sacha Llorenti, accused Kepes Friday of keeping a "complicit silence" by sitting on the interview for seven months.
"Those who cover up situations related to acts of terrorism should be charged and sanctioned," he told a late-night news conference, citing international laws.
"The attitude of this Hungarian journalist has been to cover up a situation that undermines our country's security. As a result, Bolivia will take all the appropriate legal actions both domestically and internationally to ensure this does not go unpunished," Llorenti said.
Kepes told the BBC Wednesday that Rozsa had asked to keep the interview a secret, saying it would serve to explain his motivations if he were to die later.
Bolivian police also killed Irishman Michael Dwyer and Romanian-Hungarian citizen Arpad Magyarosi in the raid that has drawn criticism at home and abroad.
Two other men, whom local media identified as a Bolivian and a Hungarian-Croatian, were also arrested in the police operation. Authorities said sniper rifles, high-caliber guns and explosives were confiscated in a nearby building.
The Irish and Hungarian governments have questioned the Bolivian account that the men had plotted to kill Morales and other leading public figures to create a "spiral of violence" that would destabilize Bolivia.
Four of Bolivia's nine provinces voted last year for greater autonomy from the central government, underscoring a sometimes violent power struggle between the mostly indigenous Western highlands -- represented by Morales -- and wealthier eastern regions.
Opposition leaders in eastern, resource-rich Santa Cruz province have called the supposed plot an "international show," condemning the police action as an "execution" despite government assurances that the men were killed in a shootout.
(Writing by Hilary Burke, editing by Anthony Boadle)
25 April 2009
By Diego Ore
Bolivia will sue a Hungarian journalist for allegedly covering up a plan to destabilize the country by a man killed in a police raid last week and accused of plotting to assassinate President Evo Morales.
In an interview last September, Bolivian Eduardo Rozsa told Hungarian reporter Andras Kepes that he would travel to Bolivia to support a separatist movement in Santa Cruz province, where opposition to leftist leader Morales is fiercest.
The interview was broadcast on Hungarian television only after Rozsa -- who also held Hungarian and Croatian passports -- died in the police raid on a Santa Cruz hotel, along with two alleged fellow conspirators, an Irishman and a Romanian.
Bolivia's deputy minister for social movements, Sacha Llorenti, accused Kepes Friday of keeping a "complicit silence" by sitting on the interview for seven months.
"Those who cover up situations related to acts of terrorism should be charged and sanctioned," he told a late-night news conference, citing international laws.
"The attitude of this Hungarian journalist has been to cover up a situation that undermines our country's security. As a result, Bolivia will take all the appropriate legal actions both domestically and internationally to ensure this does not go unpunished," Llorenti said.
Kepes told the BBC Wednesday that Rozsa had asked to keep the interview a secret, saying it would serve to explain his motivations if he were to die later.
Bolivian police also killed Irishman Michael Dwyer and Romanian-Hungarian citizen Arpad Magyarosi in the raid that has drawn criticism at home and abroad.
Two other men, whom local media identified as a Bolivian and a Hungarian-Croatian, were also arrested in the police operation. Authorities said sniper rifles, high-caliber guns and explosives were confiscated in a nearby building.
The Irish and Hungarian governments have questioned the Bolivian account that the men had plotted to kill Morales and other leading public figures to create a "spiral of violence" that would destabilize Bolivia.
Four of Bolivia's nine provinces voted last year for greater autonomy from the central government, underscoring a sometimes violent power struggle between the mostly indigenous Western highlands -- represented by Morales -- and wealthier eastern regions.
Opposition leaders in eastern, resource-rich Santa Cruz province have called the supposed plot an "international show," condemning the police action as an "execution" despite government assurances that the men were killed in a shootout.
(Writing by Hilary Burke, editing by Anthony Boadle)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
