TPD, asbl.
L’ONG « Tous pour la Paix et le Développement » ou « TPD, asbl » a été créé à Goma le 10/10/1998 par 74 personnes, dont 31 n’ont pas signé le document fondateur. La plupart des fondateurs avaient auparavant ou concomitamment fait partie des organismes socio-politiques suivants :
« Mutuelle UMOJA » alias « Mutuelle UBUMWE » (fondé en 1981 ; Sekimonyo wa Magango, Hutu ; D. Munyamakuba, Tutsi ; M. Bisukiro, Hutu ; Ryamukuru Senzeyi, Tutsi ; Dr. M. Mizerero, Hutu),
« Communautés Hutu et Tutsi du Nord-Kivu » (fondé en 1992 ; W.N. Kasuku, italo-Tutsi ; Mgr. F. Ngabu, Hema ; Cyprien Rwakabuba Shinga, Tutsi ; W.M. Sekimonyo, Hutu ; L. Nyarubwa, Hutu ; Nzabara Masetsa, Hutu ; Chiri Kahatwa, Hutu),
« Ligue Inter-Communautaire pour la Reconstruction du Nord-Kivu » ou LICOR (fondé en août 1997 ; Emmanuel Kimeme, Nande ; Emmanuel Kamanzi, Tutsi ; Dr. Gashinde, Tutsi ; Dr. Gasana, Tutsi ; Jean-Marie Kambanda, Tutsi ; Léon Muheto, Tutsi, Elysée Munembwe, Rega ; Balthazar Ndeze, Hutu ; Jean-Bosco Barihima, Hutu ; Oswald Mukingi, Hutu ; Otto Bahizi, Hutu ; Kisangani Endanda, Nande ; Mbusa Nyamwisi, Nande ; Baitsura, Nande),
RCD (fondé en août 1998 ; Lunda Bululu, Bembe ; Karaha Bizimana, Tutsi ; Wamba Dia Wamba, Manianga ; Moïse Nyarugabo, Tutsi).
Selon Stanislas Bucyalimwe Mararo, les personnalités principales du TPD sont Eugène Serufuri Ngayabaseka (Hutu), Alexis Makabuza Rusenga (Tutsi), Léonard Kanyamuhanga Gafundi (Tutsi), sans oublier Dunia Bakaranyi, Théophile Mpambuka, Bertin Kirivita et Albert Semana. Alexis Makabuza Rusenga est membre fondateur à la fois de la LICOR, du RCD, et du TPD. Il est devenu président du TPD lorsque l’infirmier anesthésiste Hutu et homme de paille indigène au service de l’expansionnisme rwandais, Eugène Serufuri Ngayabaseka, a été nommé gouverneur RCD du Nord-Kivu en juillet 2000. Les slogans de « TPD, asbl » sont « Ubumwe » (unité) et « Bene mugab’umwe » (Fils d’un père unique). Comme les autres partis précités, le TPD coopère avec les « Local Defense Forces » ou « LDF » mises en place par Kigali pour éliminer Interahamwe, ex-FAR et tout partisan d’une expulsion des agents de Kigali dans les deux Kivu. En réalité, le TPD fait partie du « Rwanda-Linked Network » ou « RLN », selon la terminologie en cours chez les Casques Bleutés de la M.O.N.U.C. Depuis l’an 2000, deux chevaux de bataille de Paul Kagame dans les régions du Kivu semblent être les Tutsi Cyprien Rwakabuba Shinga et Alexis Makabuza Rusenga.
Makabuza & Co.
Fils de Makabuza alias Kinera, un Tutsi rwandais qui a émigré à Bukavu avant de déménager à Goma et au Masisi, Alexis Makabuza Rusenga est le petit frère de Modeste Makabuza, lequel est un riche homme d’affaire, PDG de facto de la compagnie minière SOMIKIVU depuis avril 2004, et propriétaire de la « Société Saphir » et de « Jambo Safari », qui importent produits pétroliers et alimentaires depuis l’Afrique de l’Est vers le Nord-Kivu, et offrent des produits touristiques, notamment pour la visite des gorilles du Parc National des Virunga. Selon le Groupe d’experts de l’ONU (S/2001/357, 12/04/2001, p.17), Modeste Makabuza est, avec le demi-frère du président ougandais Kaguta Yoweri Museveni, le général Saleh, et Jean-Pierre Bemba, un co-propriétaire de la compagnie « Air Navette » qui exporte illégalement le minerai du Kivu, notamment vers Kigali. Alexis Makabuza Rusenga est à la tête de « Mining and Business Commodities » ou « MBC ». Il est un des principaux acheteurs d’étain de la mine de Bisie, le plus grand dépôt de cassitérite du Congo/Zaïre, situé à une journée de marche de Walikale. Il est aussi actionnaire-fondateur de la société COMIMPA, installée dans la mine de Bisie. Selon les journalistes Nicolas Garrett et Harrison Mitchell, du Financial Times, Alexis Makabuza Rusenga vend la cassitérite à la « Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad » ou « MSCB », via un intermédiaire commercial canadien. Selon James Stairs, de la Deutsche Presse Agentur, qui l’a interrogé en janvier 2009, Alexis Makabuza Rusenga est directeur de la « Global Mining Company » ou « GMC », basée à Goma, et est impliqué dans ce que Carina Terkasian, de l’ONG britannique Global Witness, qualifie de « Blood Minerals ». Au cours de l’interview, Makabuza s’est mis en rage en déclarant : « Voyez-vous du sang s’écouler de ces minerais ? Nous travaillons avec des acheteurs mondiaux et ils sont mis sous pression. Quand des gens disent que nous faisons du business avec des ‘blood minerals’, et que nous finançons la guerre, cela a un sens. Je ne puis connaître toutes les personnes qui font du business avec moi ». Il s’est plaint que ses bénéfices avaient diminué de 50% au cours du second semestre 2008 et que son business était menacé : « Si nous n’exportons pas les minerais, l’économie provinciale fera faillite ». Makabuza est aussi responsable de la société de microfinance « MANDELEO », dont le siège social est situé avenue Walikale 379-380 à Karisimbi/Goma (Agrément de la BCC – Banque Centrale du Congo Gouv/D143/n°00296 du 3 mars 2005).
Alexis Makabuza Rusenga est aussi propriétaire de l’entreprise SEPEKA qui emploie 72 sujets rwandais dans le Masisi. Au début de mars 2006, un de ces employés rwandais, Kanyamasuli Nirendekwe Eliabu, a été arrêté à la « Petite Barrière » entre Goma et Gisenyi par la police de la RDC, car il était détenteur à la fois d’une carte d'identité rwandaise et d’une carte d'électeur congolaise. Etonnamment, il déclara aux autorités sécuritaires : « Moi et mes compagnons avons été recrutés au Rwanda pour travailler dans une usine dans le territoire de Masisi par un certain Alexis. C’est ce dernier qui nous a forcés de nous faire enrôler comme des citoyens congolais… J’ai participé au référendum constitutionnel et puis je suis allé au Rwanda pour participer au vote qui vient de se dérouler ». A l’époque, les autorités congolaises arrêtaient en moyenne trois ressortissants rwandais par jour dans des circonstances similaires.
Alexis Makabuza Rusenga et son frère Modeste Makabuza, sont ainsi devenus deux membres influents du « Congo Desk » au Kivu, un organisme mafieux aux mains du président rwandais Paul Kagame et du haut commandement de l’armée rwandaise actuellement RDF et de son service de renseignements militaires, le DMI. Ce n'est pas pour rien qu'Alexis Makabuza Rusenga, alias Kinera, possède une magnifique villa dans le quartier chic de Nyarutarama, à Kigali, un quartier que l'on appelle "COLTAN CITY" et où le micro-magnat pourrait se retirer si le plan de colonisation du Kivu par Son Ex-Silence Paul Kagame se termine en... eau de boudin! Est-ce pour cela qu’Alexis Makabuza a choisi pour email « seisme2006@... »?
10 October, 2009
09 October, 2009
South African Farmers Offered Land in Angola, Uganda (Update1).
Bloomberg
9 October 2009
By Ron Derby
Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) -- South African farmers have been offered land for agriculture in Angola and Uganda and the government is also in talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Southern Sudan.
South Africa “encourages this type of expansion,” Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said at a conference in Muldersdrift, outside Johannesburg, today. The country needs “to ensure that we broaden the base for commercial agriculture.”
Before any agriculture “there must be bilateral agreements between governments,” Johannes Moller, president of Agri SA, the country’s largest farmers association, said at the conference. Farmers want to move into Africa “as a result of scarcity of natural resources and land redistribution,” he said.
AgriSA on Sept. 30 said it had been offered as much as 10 million hectares (24.7 million acres) of land to farm in the Republic of Congo and 35,000 hectares in Libya.
South Africa’s government will complete a review of its “willing-seller, willing-buyer” model of land redistribution by early next year, Thozi Gwanya, director-general of the land ministry, said yesterday. South Africa wants to transfer 30 percent of farming land to black farmers to help compensate for discrimination under apartheid.
9 October 2009
By Ron Derby
Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) -- South African farmers have been offered land for agriculture in Angola and Uganda and the government is also in talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Southern Sudan.
South Africa “encourages this type of expansion,” Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said at a conference in Muldersdrift, outside Johannesburg, today. The country needs “to ensure that we broaden the base for commercial agriculture.”
Before any agriculture “there must be bilateral agreements between governments,” Johannes Moller, president of Agri SA, the country’s largest farmers association, said at the conference. Farmers want to move into Africa “as a result of scarcity of natural resources and land redistribution,” he said.
AgriSA on Sept. 30 said it had been offered as much as 10 million hectares (24.7 million acres) of land to farm in the Republic of Congo and 35,000 hectares in Libya.
South Africa’s government will complete a review of its “willing-seller, willing-buyer” model of land redistribution by early next year, Thozi Gwanya, director-general of the land ministry, said yesterday. South Africa wants to transfer 30 percent of farming land to black farmers to help compensate for discrimination under apartheid.
End Libreville military exercises "Africa Endeavor 2009."
APA
9 October 2009
The 3rd edition of the international military exercises, called "Africa Endeavor 2009" (African effort) were completed Thursday in Libreville, APA noted.
27 pays, dont deux pour le soutien technique, ont participé à cet exercice d'interopérabilité militaire qui se situe dans la perspective de la constitution d'une « Force africaine en attente », dont l'architecture finale doit être opérationnelle à l'horizon 2010.
27 countries, including two for technical support, participated in the exercise of military interoperability lies in the prospect of setting up an "African Standby Force, whose final design should be operational by the year 2010.
La Communauté économique des Etats de l'Afrique centrale (CEEAC) et la Communauté économique de l'Afrique de l'ouest (CEDEAO) étaient les deux organisations sous-régionales concernées par cette opération pilotée par les Etats-Unis par le biais du commandement américain pour l'Afrique (AFRICOM).
The Economic Community of African States (ECCAS) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were the two sub-regional organizations involved in this operation led by the United States through the command America for Africa (AFRICOM).
198 participants, 111 personnels gabonais de soutien, 20 véhicules militaires de toutes catégories, ont été utilisés dans le cadre des opérations, qui se sont déroulées du 28 septembre au 8 octobre, au cours desquels deux types de tests (radio/informatique et Lan/wan) ont été réalisés du Gabon vers d'autres pays (Namibie, Lesotho, Botswana, Zambie).
198 participants, 111 Gabonese personal support, 20 military vehicles of all categories have been used in operations, which took place from September 28 to October 8, in which two types of tests (radio / computer and LAN / wan) were made from Gabon to other countries (Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Zambia).
« la grande nouveauté a été de pouvoir réaliser des tests de transmissions de données à travers le réseau radio qui, habituellement servait uniquement à la transmission de la voix », a expliqué le contre-amiral gabonais Hervé Nambo, président du comité d'organisation des manoeuvres.
"The big news was able to perform tests of data transmission through the radio network, usually used only for transmission of voice," explained the cons-Admiral Hervé Nambo Gabon, President of the Organizing Committee laborers.
Les crises récurentes sur le continent africain et les difficultés, voire l'incapacité de certains États à assurer leur sécurité, ont amené les dirigeants africains à mettre sur pied le Conseil de paix et sécurité (CPS), « un système de sécurité collective et d'alerte rapide, visant à permettre une réaction rapide et efficace aux situations de conflit et de crise ».
Recurrent crises on the African continent and the difficulty or inability of some States to ensure their safety, have led African leaders to establish the Council for Peace and Security (CPS), "a collective security system and d 'warning, to allow rapid and effective response to situations of conflict and crisis. "
La Force africaine en attente (FAA) doit permettre d'atteindre ces objectifs pour permettre aux Africains de ne plus dépendre de la communauté internationale pour la résolution des crises survenant sur leur continent.
The African Standby Force (ASF) is to achieve these objectives to enable Africans to no longer depend on the international community to resolve crises occurring on their continent.
L'essentiel des forces sera géré au niveau des organisations régionales que sont la CEDEAO, la CEEAC, la Communauté de développement de l'Afrique australe (SADC), l'Autorité intergouvernementale pour le développement (IGAD) et l'Afrique du nord.
Most forces will be managed at regional organizations such as ECOWAS, ECCAS, the Community Development Community (SADC), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and North Africa.
Chaque région abritera une brigade de la FAA, sauf la CEDEAO et de la SADC.
Each area will house a brigade of the FAA, except ECOWAS and SADC.
L'Union africaine (UA) est le seul organe habilité à donner mandat pour une intervention de la force.
The African Union (AU) is the only body empowered to mandate for intervention force.
Les deux précédentes manœuvres Africa Endeavour se sont déroulées en Afrique du Sud en 2007 et au Nigeria en 2008.
The two previous Africa Endeavor maneuvers were held in South Africa in 2007 and Nigeria in 2008.
9 October 2009
The 3rd edition of the international military exercises, called "Africa Endeavor 2009" (African effort) were completed Thursday in Libreville, APA noted.
27 pays, dont deux pour le soutien technique, ont participé à cet exercice d'interopérabilité militaire qui se situe dans la perspective de la constitution d'une « Force africaine en attente », dont l'architecture finale doit être opérationnelle à l'horizon 2010.
27 countries, including two for technical support, participated in the exercise of military interoperability lies in the prospect of setting up an "African Standby Force, whose final design should be operational by the year 2010.
La Communauté économique des Etats de l'Afrique centrale (CEEAC) et la Communauté économique de l'Afrique de l'ouest (CEDEAO) étaient les deux organisations sous-régionales concernées par cette opération pilotée par les Etats-Unis par le biais du commandement américain pour l'Afrique (AFRICOM).
The Economic Community of African States (ECCAS) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were the two sub-regional organizations involved in this operation led by the United States through the command America for Africa (AFRICOM).
198 participants, 111 personnels gabonais de soutien, 20 véhicules militaires de toutes catégories, ont été utilisés dans le cadre des opérations, qui se sont déroulées du 28 septembre au 8 octobre, au cours desquels deux types de tests (radio/informatique et Lan/wan) ont été réalisés du Gabon vers d'autres pays (Namibie, Lesotho, Botswana, Zambie).
198 participants, 111 Gabonese personal support, 20 military vehicles of all categories have been used in operations, which took place from September 28 to October 8, in which two types of tests (radio / computer and LAN / wan) were made from Gabon to other countries (Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Zambia).
« la grande nouveauté a été de pouvoir réaliser des tests de transmissions de données à travers le réseau radio qui, habituellement servait uniquement à la transmission de la voix », a expliqué le contre-amiral gabonais Hervé Nambo, président du comité d'organisation des manoeuvres.
"The big news was able to perform tests of data transmission through the radio network, usually used only for transmission of voice," explained the cons-Admiral Hervé Nambo Gabon, President of the Organizing Committee laborers.
Les crises récurentes sur le continent africain et les difficultés, voire l'incapacité de certains États à assurer leur sécurité, ont amené les dirigeants africains à mettre sur pied le Conseil de paix et sécurité (CPS), « un système de sécurité collective et d'alerte rapide, visant à permettre une réaction rapide et efficace aux situations de conflit et de crise ».
Recurrent crises on the African continent and the difficulty or inability of some States to ensure their safety, have led African leaders to establish the Council for Peace and Security (CPS), "a collective security system and d 'warning, to allow rapid and effective response to situations of conflict and crisis. "
La Force africaine en attente (FAA) doit permettre d'atteindre ces objectifs pour permettre aux Africains de ne plus dépendre de la communauté internationale pour la résolution des crises survenant sur leur continent.
The African Standby Force (ASF) is to achieve these objectives to enable Africans to no longer depend on the international community to resolve crises occurring on their continent.
L'essentiel des forces sera géré au niveau des organisations régionales que sont la CEDEAO, la CEEAC, la Communauté de développement de l'Afrique australe (SADC), l'Autorité intergouvernementale pour le développement (IGAD) et l'Afrique du nord.
Most forces will be managed at regional organizations such as ECOWAS, ECCAS, the Community Development Community (SADC), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and North Africa.
Chaque région abritera une brigade de la FAA, sauf la CEDEAO et de la SADC.
Each area will house a brigade of the FAA, except ECOWAS and SADC.
L'Union africaine (UA) est le seul organe habilité à donner mandat pour une intervention de la force.
The African Union (AU) is the only body empowered to mandate for intervention force.
Les deux précédentes manœuvres Africa Endeavour se sont déroulées en Afrique du Sud en 2007 et au Nigeria en 2008.
The two previous Africa Endeavor maneuvers were held in South Africa in 2007 and Nigeria in 2008.
Nigeria: Report Forecasts Oil Depletion in 10 Years.
This Day
Alike Ejiofor With Agency Report
9 October 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lagos — A new report authored by the United Kingdom Energy Research Centre (UKERC) has painted a gloomy picture on the future availability of conventional oil, which could have severe economic impact across the world.
Also, Nigeria's gas utilisation project at the Ovade-Ogharafe oil field in Delta State has been successfully registered under the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol, boosting Federal Government's efforts to reduce gas flaring and improve utilisation.
The report entitled "Global Oil Depletion: An Assessment of the Evidence for a near-term Peak in Global Oil Produc-tion", found that conventional oil may peak before 2030.
But it also argues that there's a "significant risk" that the much sought after natural resource might peak before 2020.
"A peak in conventional oil production before 2030 appears likely and there is a significant risk of a peak before 2020. Given the lead times required to both develop substitute fuels and improve energy efficiency, this risk needs to be given serious consideration," UKERC said.
It was discovered that the world may be entering a difficult phase characterised by slow and expensive oil. In other words, even the discovery of new oil fields is fraught with the problem of slow and high cost of extraction.
The situation might be compounded by difficulty in making such discoveries in the first place, the report said.
"The rate of decline of production is accelerating. More than two thirds of existing capacity may need to be replaced by 2030 solely to prevent production from falling.
"While large resources of conventional oil may be available, these are unlikely to be accessed quickly and may make little difference to the timing of the global peak," the report argued.
But experts have debated the accuracy of reports that are precise about oil depletion. While some argue global oil producing is falling drastically, others insist there is enough to meet 21st century global demand.
Mr. Steve Sorell was quoted by Science Daily as saying that "tt makes no sense to provide precise forecasts of when a peak in oil production will occur. The data is unreliable, there are multiple factors to consider and a 'bumpy plateau' seems more likely than a sharp peak. But we can say that the window is narrowing rapidly. The effects of global oil depletion will depend greatly on the response from governments and on the scale of investment in new energy technologies."
Meanwhile, the CDM of the Kyoto Protocol, where Nigeria's gas project was registered is working towards green house gas emission reduction from projects in developing countries. These projects are registered and monitored under the UN so that these reductions can be sold to developed countries that have emission limits.
The Ovade-Ogharafe project, which is an initiative of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Pan Ocean Oil, is designed to reduce green house gas emission by more than two million tonnes of carbon dioxide yearly.
Chairman of Pan Ocean Oil Corporation, operators of the project, Chief Festus Fadeyi, said in a statement yesterday that the project was the largest CDM project in Africa and would provide 135 million standard cubic feet per day for electricity at full capacity.
He said that the gas which otherwise would have been flared will be sold to developed countries to generate revenue for the country.
"The CDM registration has taken more than four years of efforts that were led by Carbon Limits of Norway. The credits will be sold to NUON, the Dutch state utility, so that the carbon emissions reductions that occur in Nigeria will help the Netherlands meet its obligation under the Kyoto Protocol," he said.
Fadeyi explained that the project had important local environmental benefits such as reduced emission of dangerous gases like Nitrogen Oxides, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
He noted that this would improve the working conditions of the employees and the living standards of the nearby community.
Nigeria is among the top 20 countries in the world that flare gas. Others are Russia, Iran, Iraq, Angola, Qatar, Algeria, Venezuela, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Libya, Brazil, Mexico, the United States, Canada and the UK.
Nigeria flares more gas than any other country except Russia, as the country burns 2.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day, losing $2.5 billion yearly due to lack of infrastructure to harness it.
The country was among over 160 nations that met in Kyoto, Japan, from December 1 to 11 1997, to negotiate binding limitations on emission of gases for the developed nations, pursuant to the objectives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change of 1992.
The outcome of the meeting was the Kyoto Protocol, which came into force in February 2005. The developed nations agreed to limit their greenhouse gas emissions, relative to the levels emitted in 1990. The countries agreed to reduce emissions from 1990 levels by 6 per cent during the period 2008 to 2012.
Alike Ejiofor With Agency Report
9 October 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lagos — A new report authored by the United Kingdom Energy Research Centre (UKERC) has painted a gloomy picture on the future availability of conventional oil, which could have severe economic impact across the world.
Also, Nigeria's gas utilisation project at the Ovade-Ogharafe oil field in Delta State has been successfully registered under the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol, boosting Federal Government's efforts to reduce gas flaring and improve utilisation.
The report entitled "Global Oil Depletion: An Assessment of the Evidence for a near-term Peak in Global Oil Produc-tion", found that conventional oil may peak before 2030.
But it also argues that there's a "significant risk" that the much sought after natural resource might peak before 2020.
"A peak in conventional oil production before 2030 appears likely and there is a significant risk of a peak before 2020. Given the lead times required to both develop substitute fuels and improve energy efficiency, this risk needs to be given serious consideration," UKERC said.
It was discovered that the world may be entering a difficult phase characterised by slow and expensive oil. In other words, even the discovery of new oil fields is fraught with the problem of slow and high cost of extraction.
The situation might be compounded by difficulty in making such discoveries in the first place, the report said.
"The rate of decline of production is accelerating. More than two thirds of existing capacity may need to be replaced by 2030 solely to prevent production from falling.
"While large resources of conventional oil may be available, these are unlikely to be accessed quickly and may make little difference to the timing of the global peak," the report argued.
But experts have debated the accuracy of reports that are precise about oil depletion. While some argue global oil producing is falling drastically, others insist there is enough to meet 21st century global demand.
Mr. Steve Sorell was quoted by Science Daily as saying that "tt makes no sense to provide precise forecasts of when a peak in oil production will occur. The data is unreliable, there are multiple factors to consider and a 'bumpy plateau' seems more likely than a sharp peak. But we can say that the window is narrowing rapidly. The effects of global oil depletion will depend greatly on the response from governments and on the scale of investment in new energy technologies."
Meanwhile, the CDM of the Kyoto Protocol, where Nigeria's gas project was registered is working towards green house gas emission reduction from projects in developing countries. These projects are registered and monitored under the UN so that these reductions can be sold to developed countries that have emission limits.
The Ovade-Ogharafe project, which is an initiative of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Pan Ocean Oil, is designed to reduce green house gas emission by more than two million tonnes of carbon dioxide yearly.
Chairman of Pan Ocean Oil Corporation, operators of the project, Chief Festus Fadeyi, said in a statement yesterday that the project was the largest CDM project in Africa and would provide 135 million standard cubic feet per day for electricity at full capacity.
He said that the gas which otherwise would have been flared will be sold to developed countries to generate revenue for the country.
"The CDM registration has taken more than four years of efforts that were led by Carbon Limits of Norway. The credits will be sold to NUON, the Dutch state utility, so that the carbon emissions reductions that occur in Nigeria will help the Netherlands meet its obligation under the Kyoto Protocol," he said.
Fadeyi explained that the project had important local environmental benefits such as reduced emission of dangerous gases like Nitrogen Oxides, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
He noted that this would improve the working conditions of the employees and the living standards of the nearby community.
Nigeria is among the top 20 countries in the world that flare gas. Others are Russia, Iran, Iraq, Angola, Qatar, Algeria, Venezuela, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Libya, Brazil, Mexico, the United States, Canada and the UK.
Nigeria flares more gas than any other country except Russia, as the country burns 2.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day, losing $2.5 billion yearly due to lack of infrastructure to harness it.
The country was among over 160 nations that met in Kyoto, Japan, from December 1 to 11 1997, to negotiate binding limitations on emission of gases for the developed nations, pursuant to the objectives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change of 1992.
The outcome of the meeting was the Kyoto Protocol, which came into force in February 2005. The developed nations agreed to limit their greenhouse gas emissions, relative to the levels emitted in 1990. The countries agreed to reduce emissions from 1990 levels by 6 per cent during the period 2008 to 2012.
Somali govt accused of recruiting Kenyans for war.
Reuters
9 October 2009
Somalia's United Nations-backed government has recruited more than 170 young Kenyans and former servicemen to help it fight rebels in the failed Horn of Africa state, local leaders in eastern Kenya said.
Mohamed Gabow, the mayor of Garissa, told Reuters the enrolment of ethnic Somali Kenyans was being conducted at a home in Bulla Iftin village, on the outskirts of his town.
"The recruitment is not a secret. Those involved are not worried. They are going around all the villages to announce the exercise," Gabow said in an interview late on Thursday.
Gabow called for there to be an investigation.
"We are raising an alarm. Our community must not be used to kill its kin or risk the lives of its people."
Local police commander Paul Mukoma dismissed the report as a rumour and said no official complaint had been lodged.
"No local leader or any parent has come forward to inform us about any such reports," he told Reuters.
Western donors agreed at a meeting in Brussels in April to give Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed's administration nearly $214-million to help build up a police force of about 10 000 personnel and a 5 000-strong security force.
But less than a third of the aid pledged to help end 18 years of lawlessness in the country and in waters off its coast has been received, UN officials say.
Mohamed Khalif, a human rights activist in Garissa, said more than 300 Kenyans had enrolled to fight for Ahmed's government, which is battling a stubborn Islamist insurgency.
But he said only about half of that number had so far left to fight, with the rest apparently succumbing to pressure from family and friends not to cross the border and take up arms.
Washington accuses one of Somalia's two main rebel groups -- al-Shabaab -- of being al-Qaeda's proxy in the country.
Somali government officials in Mogadishu could not immediately be reached for comment.
Locals say finding more willing gunmen will not be hard for Somali authorities in a region where marginalisation and drought for a fifth year running is forcing many into severe hunger.
One security source in the area said recruits were being offered 30 000 shillings ($400) a month, while experienced former Kenyan servicemen were being offered 40 000 shillings.
"Youths in this province are desperate. They can get more who are ready to take any risk just to earn a living," Khalif told Reuters. "Some have joined al-Shabaab. Many have been killed. They are travelling to their graveyards in Somalia."
9 October 2009
Somalia's United Nations-backed government has recruited more than 170 young Kenyans and former servicemen to help it fight rebels in the failed Horn of Africa state, local leaders in eastern Kenya said.
Mohamed Gabow, the mayor of Garissa, told Reuters the enrolment of ethnic Somali Kenyans was being conducted at a home in Bulla Iftin village, on the outskirts of his town.
"The recruitment is not a secret. Those involved are not worried. They are going around all the villages to announce the exercise," Gabow said in an interview late on Thursday.
Gabow called for there to be an investigation.
"We are raising an alarm. Our community must not be used to kill its kin or risk the lives of its people."
Local police commander Paul Mukoma dismissed the report as a rumour and said no official complaint had been lodged.
"No local leader or any parent has come forward to inform us about any such reports," he told Reuters.
Western donors agreed at a meeting in Brussels in April to give Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed's administration nearly $214-million to help build up a police force of about 10 000 personnel and a 5 000-strong security force.
But less than a third of the aid pledged to help end 18 years of lawlessness in the country and in waters off its coast has been received, UN officials say.
Mohamed Khalif, a human rights activist in Garissa, said more than 300 Kenyans had enrolled to fight for Ahmed's government, which is battling a stubborn Islamist insurgency.
But he said only about half of that number had so far left to fight, with the rest apparently succumbing to pressure from family and friends not to cross the border and take up arms.
Washington accuses one of Somalia's two main rebel groups -- al-Shabaab -- of being al-Qaeda's proxy in the country.
Somali government officials in Mogadishu could not immediately be reached for comment.
Locals say finding more willing gunmen will not be hard for Somali authorities in a region where marginalisation and drought for a fifth year running is forcing many into severe hunger.
One security source in the area said recruits were being offered 30 000 shillings ($400) a month, while experienced former Kenyan servicemen were being offered 40 000 shillings.
"Youths in this province are desperate. They can get more who are ready to take any risk just to earn a living," Khalif told Reuters. "Some have joined al-Shabaab. Many have been killed. They are travelling to their graveyards in Somalia."
Joint EAC-AFRICOM military field training exercise in Uganda.
Afrol News
8 October 2009
The East African Community defence forces together with the United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) will hold a joint Field Training Exercise codenamed Exercise 'Natural Fire 10' in Kampala, Entebbe and Kitgum in Uganda, from 16 to 25 October.
The nine-day event, which will bring together more than 600 personnel from the five EAC Partner States and US AFRICOM, is the latest Joint Training Exercise aimed at promoting cooperation in defence within the Community.
It is also a Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief Exercise designed to practise troops from the United States and the five EAC Partner States in disaster management and will offer humanitarian assistance to the population within the Exercise areas.
Planned by the US AFRICOM, it was first held in 1998 as a bilateral exercise between the US and Kenya and reconfigured in 1999 as a multilateral exercise between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania with the aim of improving cooperation between the EAC and the US, improving regional security and offering support for East African Community (EAC) defence cooperation.
The exercise 'Natural Fire 10' follows closely on the heels of 'Ex-Mlima Kilimanjaro' Field Training Exercise, conducted in September this year in Tanzania on the themes of Counterterrorism, Peace Support Operations and Disaster Management.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General (Political Federation), Beatrice Kiraso, described Exercise 'Natural Fire 10' as "another milestone for EAC cooperation in defence" adding, "The future of cooperation in defence is bright. This process will deepen the levels and widen the areas of cooperation in defence".
She said efforts to transform the MoU on Cooperation in Defence into a protocol were underway and that this work is expected to be completed within the next six months.
8 October 2009
The East African Community defence forces together with the United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) will hold a joint Field Training Exercise codenamed Exercise 'Natural Fire 10' in Kampala, Entebbe and Kitgum in Uganda, from 16 to 25 October.
The nine-day event, which will bring together more than 600 personnel from the five EAC Partner States and US AFRICOM, is the latest Joint Training Exercise aimed at promoting cooperation in defence within the Community.
It is also a Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief Exercise designed to practise troops from the United States and the five EAC Partner States in disaster management and will offer humanitarian assistance to the population within the Exercise areas.
Planned by the US AFRICOM, it was first held in 1998 as a bilateral exercise between the US and Kenya and reconfigured in 1999 as a multilateral exercise between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania with the aim of improving cooperation between the EAC and the US, improving regional security and offering support for East African Community (EAC) defence cooperation.
The exercise 'Natural Fire 10' follows closely on the heels of 'Ex-Mlima Kilimanjaro' Field Training Exercise, conducted in September this year in Tanzania on the themes of Counterterrorism, Peace Support Operations and Disaster Management.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General (Political Federation), Beatrice Kiraso, described Exercise 'Natural Fire 10' as "another milestone for EAC cooperation in defence" adding, "The future of cooperation in defence is bright. This process will deepen the levels and widen the areas of cooperation in defence".
She said efforts to transform the MoU on Cooperation in Defence into a protocol were underway and that this work is expected to be completed within the next six months.
08 October, 2009
U.S. Army Sets Base in Kitgum District.
Daily Monitor
Paul Amoru
8 October 2009
Editor's Note: There are reports of a sizable miltary presence in Gulu and Nakasongola. Gulu is where USAID has set up its new HQ in Uganda.
Northern Uganda, the former epicentre of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) conflict, has become home for US Marines and army officers, at least for the next three weeks.
Over 600 military personnel from Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda are also expected to arrive in Kitgum District, where Uganda, along with these partners will hold a 10-day exercise, focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
For a region that has just returned to normalcy, three years ago, the high levelled military cooperation has triggered raw excitement among the formerly displaced community. The US-led exercise is dubbed Natural Fire 10.
Advanced US military personnel, who are settling in the war battered region, have already mounted several installations in Kitgum, including a water purification plant at Akwang Sub-county. The plant will produce up to 20,000 litres every day.
UPDF 4th Division spokesperson Ronald Kakurungu yesterday remained upbeat about the event. "This is an opportunity for us to associate more with civilians. We expect to cement our strategic relationship with the community," Capt. Kakurungu said.
Paul Amoru
8 October 2009
Editor's Note: There are reports of a sizable miltary presence in Gulu and Nakasongola. Gulu is where USAID has set up its new HQ in Uganda.
Northern Uganda, the former epicentre of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) conflict, has become home for US Marines and army officers, at least for the next three weeks.
Over 600 military personnel from Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda are also expected to arrive in Kitgum District, where Uganda, along with these partners will hold a 10-day exercise, focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
For a region that has just returned to normalcy, three years ago, the high levelled military cooperation has triggered raw excitement among the formerly displaced community. The US-led exercise is dubbed Natural Fire 10.
Advanced US military personnel, who are settling in the war battered region, have already mounted several installations in Kitgum, including a water purification plant at Akwang Sub-county. The plant will produce up to 20,000 litres every day.
UPDF 4th Division spokesperson Ronald Kakurungu yesterday remained upbeat about the event. "This is an opportunity for us to associate more with civilians. We expect to cement our strategic relationship with the community," Capt. Kakurungu said.
South African Mercenaries face coup charge.
SAPA
7 October 2009
Eighteen opposition members, including mercenaries from South Africa's Buffalo battalion, went on trial on Wednesday in Sao Tome over an alleged coup bid in the tiny west African island nation.
The accused are all members of the opposition Christian Democratic Front (FDC), including the party head Arlecio Costa.
Eight are former soldiers in the Buffalo battalion, a South African corps of Sao Tome ex-mercenaries. However, no South African national has been implicated in the plot.
The judge said Costa was additionally charged with the illegal possession of firearms.
The suspects face three charges including criminal association, illegal possession of weapons and plotting an attack against the security of the state. They have been detained since their arrest on February 11, the supposed date of the coup.
Members of the Buffalo battalion and army soldiers briefly toppled the government in Sao Tome and Principe in July 2003, denouncing widespread poverty and corruption in this former Portuguese colony of some 140 000 people.
7 October 2009
Eighteen opposition members, including mercenaries from South Africa's Buffalo battalion, went on trial on Wednesday in Sao Tome over an alleged coup bid in the tiny west African island nation.
The accused are all members of the opposition Christian Democratic Front (FDC), including the party head Arlecio Costa.
Eight are former soldiers in the Buffalo battalion, a South African corps of Sao Tome ex-mercenaries. However, no South African national has been implicated in the plot.
The judge said Costa was additionally charged with the illegal possession of firearms.
The suspects face three charges including criminal association, illegal possession of weapons and plotting an attack against the security of the state. They have been detained since their arrest on February 11, the supposed date of the coup.
Members of the Buffalo battalion and army soldiers briefly toppled the government in Sao Tome and Principe in July 2003, denouncing widespread poverty and corruption in this former Portuguese colony of some 140 000 people.
06 October, 2009
NWFP PA admits motion for debate on Blackwater.
Daily Times
6 October 2009
By Zakir Hassnain
PESHAWAR: The opposition in the NWFP Assembly on Monday said that Blackwater, a foreign security agency, was involved in unknown activities in Peshawar and other districts, adding that the matter be debated in the House to reveal the facts about its existence in the province.
Tabling an adjournment motion, Dr Iqbal Din Fana of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) said the infamous agency was operating with a new name, Xe, and renting offices in the posh areas of Peshawar and other districts.
“People have reservations about it and unrest is growing,” said Dr Iqbal.
Quoting an Urdu newspaper reports, the JUI leader said Xe had set up offices in Shabqadar tehsil and was purchasing land. He said the security agency’s official Craig Davis, who was expelled from Pakistan, was illegally living in the city.
Dr Iqbal said Blackwater was in the area with the government’s permission and therefore the government should tell the House what its (foreign agency’s) activities and objectives were. He demanded the government ban and monitor the activities of Blackwater in the province.
Leader of the Opposition and JUI-F parliamentary leader Muhammad Akram Khan Durani said it was an important issue and therefore it should be debated in the House.
6 October 2009
By Zakir Hassnain
PESHAWAR: The opposition in the NWFP Assembly on Monday said that Blackwater, a foreign security agency, was involved in unknown activities in Peshawar and other districts, adding that the matter be debated in the House to reveal the facts about its existence in the province.
Tabling an adjournment motion, Dr Iqbal Din Fana of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) said the infamous agency was operating with a new name, Xe, and renting offices in the posh areas of Peshawar and other districts.
“People have reservations about it and unrest is growing,” said Dr Iqbal.
Quoting an Urdu newspaper reports, the JUI leader said Xe had set up offices in Shabqadar tehsil and was purchasing land. He said the security agency’s official Craig Davis, who was expelled from Pakistan, was illegally living in the city.
Dr Iqbal said Blackwater was in the area with the government’s permission and therefore the government should tell the House what its (foreign agency’s) activities and objectives were. He demanded the government ban and monitor the activities of Blackwater in the province.
Leader of the Opposition and JUI-F parliamentary leader Muhammad Akram Khan Durani said it was an important issue and therefore it should be debated in the House.
05 October, 2009
Kenya Linked to Congo Norwegian Mercenaries.
Daily Nation
4 October 2009
By Dominic Wabala And Agencies
Nairobi — Two Norwegian security consultants sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo a month ago had secured a contract to train an elite Kenyan security squad.
But before they could take up the contract, they were arrested in the DRC and convicted by a Kisangani military court on various counts of murder, spying for a foreign country, conspiracy to murder, formation of a criminal association, armed robbery and possession of weapons of war.
According to Norwegian and Congolese press reports, Mr Tjostolv Moland, 28, and Mr Joshua French, 27, were arrested in Kisangani after killing a taxi driver, Mr Abeidi Kasongo.
The two were in the process of establishing a private "security operation" covering a large area in eastern Africa, and had been contacted by an unidentified Kenyan security official who claimed to be a staffer at the Kenya embassy in the Congo.
They signed with him an agreement to train a 120-man elite security squad which would be responsible for high-level VIP protection, among other duties.
Trust criminals
They were arrested in Okapi National Park. Moland was given five death sentences on charges of murder, attempted murder and espionage, while French got four death sentences on similar charges.
State House on Sunday denied reports that the Norwegians had won a contract to train an elite squad.
Presidential Press Service director Isaiah Kabira said on phone: "We do not know them and our security are professionally trained by people of good conduct. We cannot trust criminals with such a duty."
According to a Norwegian media outlet, TV2, the two, along with the head of the Special Intervention Group (SIG) Torgier Friksen were scheduled to start training the elite Kenyan police squad in an operation codenamed "Project Kilo".
The Kenya Police and Administration Police also denied working with any Norwegian security group to train a special force.
"We have no such arrangements with a Norwegian group. Most of our training is done with British and American partners," said AP spokesman Masood Mwinyi.
Contract documents seen by Norwegian TV2 show that SIG was to be issued with weapons by the Kenyan government.
The group, which has offices in Norway and Britain, was to train the special elite force "to neutralise enemy soldiers, destroy tactical and strategic goals, and monitor and rescue hostages".
Their lawyer Morten Furuholmen told TV2 that he was aware of the former soldiers' plan in Kenya but that it turned out that the contact person had not been authorised to sign the deal yet.
4 October 2009
By Dominic Wabala And Agencies
Nairobi — Two Norwegian security consultants sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo a month ago had secured a contract to train an elite Kenyan security squad.
But before they could take up the contract, they were arrested in the DRC and convicted by a Kisangani military court on various counts of murder, spying for a foreign country, conspiracy to murder, formation of a criminal association, armed robbery and possession of weapons of war.
According to Norwegian and Congolese press reports, Mr Tjostolv Moland, 28, and Mr Joshua French, 27, were arrested in Kisangani after killing a taxi driver, Mr Abeidi Kasongo.
The two were in the process of establishing a private "security operation" covering a large area in eastern Africa, and had been contacted by an unidentified Kenyan security official who claimed to be a staffer at the Kenya embassy in the Congo.
They signed with him an agreement to train a 120-man elite security squad which would be responsible for high-level VIP protection, among other duties.
Trust criminals
They were arrested in Okapi National Park. Moland was given five death sentences on charges of murder, attempted murder and espionage, while French got four death sentences on similar charges.
State House on Sunday denied reports that the Norwegians had won a contract to train an elite squad.
Presidential Press Service director Isaiah Kabira said on phone: "We do not know them and our security are professionally trained by people of good conduct. We cannot trust criminals with such a duty."
According to a Norwegian media outlet, TV2, the two, along with the head of the Special Intervention Group (SIG) Torgier Friksen were scheduled to start training the elite Kenyan police squad in an operation codenamed "Project Kilo".
The Kenya Police and Administration Police also denied working with any Norwegian security group to train a special force.
"We have no such arrangements with a Norwegian group. Most of our training is done with British and American partners," said AP spokesman Masood Mwinyi.
Contract documents seen by Norwegian TV2 show that SIG was to be issued with weapons by the Kenyan government.
The group, which has offices in Norway and Britain, was to train the special elite force "to neutralise enemy soldiers, destroy tactical and strategic goals, and monitor and rescue hostages".
Their lawyer Morten Furuholmen told TV2 that he was aware of the former soldiers' plan in Kenya but that it turned out that the contact person had not been authorised to sign the deal yet.
04 October, 2009
South Sudan to build its first oil refinery in Warrap state.
Sudan Tribune
4 October 2009
By James Gatdet Dak
The semi-autonomous region of Southern Sudan has embarked on building its first ever oil refinery in Warrap state for its huge oil reserves as the clock ticks towards referendum on secession in January 2011.
Sudan currently produces more than 600,000 barrels of crude oil per day which bring tens of millions of US dollars on daily basis from the international market.
Most of the Sudan’s oil is produced from the oilfields located in Southern Sudan while the current country’s refineries are all located in Northern Sudan.
98% of Southern Sudan’s overall revenues that constitute the annual budgets for the region come from the 50% share of the oil produced in Upper Nile and Unity states in accordance with the 2005’s peace deal between North and South.
In its Friday meeting chaired by the Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, the Council of Ministers passed a resolution on the project for building the oil refinery in Southern Sudan that will be located in a place called Akon in North-western Gogrial area of Warrap state.
The project was initiated and presented to the cabinet meeting by the Minister of Energy and Mining, John Luk Jok.
The huge refinery project which is expected to take about three years to complete from the date it kicks off at the construction site will begin by establishing a Joint Venture Company (JVC) with any oil companies interested to partner with the government, finding financiers to fund the project and then JVC finally signing a contract with a national or international company that will implement the project on the ground.
According to a press statement by the official spokesperson and Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Paul Mayom Akech, the crude oil that is targeted for refinery will be extracted from Block 5A oilfield in Unity state.
To transport the crude oil to Akon refinery site, Minister Mayom explained that the Company will also construct a pipeline of some hundreds of kilometers long from the Unity state oilfield.
Mayom said the Government of Southern Sudan will have the biggest share in the $10 million worth JVC ownership body and the share will be represented by the Southern Sudan indigenous Nilepet oil company.
After formation of the JVC and securing of funds, the Company would then advertise the project to any interested national and international companies that would be subjected to competitive bidding process and out of which a winner will sign a contract with the JVC to technically implement the project on the ground.
Tens of thousands of indigenous people of Southern Sudan are expected to benefit from the project as they will be employed to do most of the labor work at the construction sites.
The cost for implementing such an expensive single project is not yet known, but may run into billions of dollars.
The Council of Ministers also directed the Minister of Energy and Mining to discuss the possibility of building refineries at the sites of the oilfields in Upper Nile and Unity states with any major oil companies that may be interested.
The semi-autonomous region earlier resolved to also embark on a separate project to build an alternative pipeline from Southern Sudan to Port Mombassa in Kenya for transporting the crude oil to the international markets.
Currently the crude oil from Southern Sudan is being transported to the international market via Port Sudan in the far North-eastern part of the country through the thousands of kilometers long Chinese-constructed pipeline.
Mayom said the Government stressed the importance of indigenizing the operations of the oil sector so that “Southern Sudan is not caught up” in case it chooses secession in 2011.
Editor's Note: As part of the regional integration plan, some oil industry insiders are pitching the idea of connecting Uganda and South Sudan's oil sectors if South Sudan becomes independent.
4 October 2009
By James Gatdet Dak
The semi-autonomous region of Southern Sudan has embarked on building its first ever oil refinery in Warrap state for its huge oil reserves as the clock ticks towards referendum on secession in January 2011.
Sudan currently produces more than 600,000 barrels of crude oil per day which bring tens of millions of US dollars on daily basis from the international market.
Most of the Sudan’s oil is produced from the oilfields located in Southern Sudan while the current country’s refineries are all located in Northern Sudan.
98% of Southern Sudan’s overall revenues that constitute the annual budgets for the region come from the 50% share of the oil produced in Upper Nile and Unity states in accordance with the 2005’s peace deal between North and South.
In its Friday meeting chaired by the Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, the Council of Ministers passed a resolution on the project for building the oil refinery in Southern Sudan that will be located in a place called Akon in North-western Gogrial area of Warrap state.
The project was initiated and presented to the cabinet meeting by the Minister of Energy and Mining, John Luk Jok.
The huge refinery project which is expected to take about three years to complete from the date it kicks off at the construction site will begin by establishing a Joint Venture Company (JVC) with any oil companies interested to partner with the government, finding financiers to fund the project and then JVC finally signing a contract with a national or international company that will implement the project on the ground.
According to a press statement by the official spokesperson and Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Paul Mayom Akech, the crude oil that is targeted for refinery will be extracted from Block 5A oilfield in Unity state.
To transport the crude oil to Akon refinery site, Minister Mayom explained that the Company will also construct a pipeline of some hundreds of kilometers long from the Unity state oilfield.
Mayom said the Government of Southern Sudan will have the biggest share in the $10 million worth JVC ownership body and the share will be represented by the Southern Sudan indigenous Nilepet oil company.
After formation of the JVC and securing of funds, the Company would then advertise the project to any interested national and international companies that would be subjected to competitive bidding process and out of which a winner will sign a contract with the JVC to technically implement the project on the ground.
Tens of thousands of indigenous people of Southern Sudan are expected to benefit from the project as they will be employed to do most of the labor work at the construction sites.
The cost for implementing such an expensive single project is not yet known, but may run into billions of dollars.
The Council of Ministers also directed the Minister of Energy and Mining to discuss the possibility of building refineries at the sites of the oilfields in Upper Nile and Unity states with any major oil companies that may be interested.
The semi-autonomous region earlier resolved to also embark on a separate project to build an alternative pipeline from Southern Sudan to Port Mombassa in Kenya for transporting the crude oil to the international markets.
Currently the crude oil from Southern Sudan is being transported to the international market via Port Sudan in the far North-eastern part of the country through the thousands of kilometers long Chinese-constructed pipeline.
Mayom said the Government stressed the importance of indigenizing the operations of the oil sector so that “Southern Sudan is not caught up” in case it chooses secession in 2011.
Editor's Note: As part of the regional integration plan, some oil industry insiders are pitching the idea of connecting Uganda and South Sudan's oil sectors if South Sudan becomes independent.
Norwegian mercenaries set up base in Kampala, sought to train Nkunda.
-According to the source that supplied it, this document was reportedly found in the computer of Mr. Moeland.
Sunday Monitor
4 October 2009
Two Norwegian mercenaries sentenced to death in DR Congo for murder and espionage had set up base in Kampala City for four months without the knowledge of security agencies, Sunday Monitor can reveal.
The mercenaries had been conducting military training activities at Sissa on Entebbe Road, according to media reports in Norway. They also tried to open up a private security firm in Kampala. Sunday Monitor has also learnt that Tjostolv Moland and Joshua French while in Kampala lived in the posh residential suburb of Buziga at a tourist camp called Back Packers.
Editor's Note: A Norwegian source claim that these same mercenaries were trying to negotiate a contract with Laurent Nkunda to train his CNDP troops for commando and military intelligence operations (see above). In addition, Ugandan sources stated that Nkunda's brother was seen in Kampala prior to his arrest, and even stayed at a house on the road from Kampala to Entebbe for a while.
Iran is home to the biggest population of Jews in the Middle East outside Israel.
Daily Telegraph
by Damien McElroy
3 October 2009
Iran is home to the biggest population of Jews in the Middle East outside Israel. While the community faces limited discrimination, it is largely free to exercise the same rights as Muslims enjoy in the Islamic republic.
Like the country's Armenian, Assyrian and Zoroastrian minorities, it has one reserved seat in parliament.
Jews trace their presence in Iran from the point that Cyrus the Great liberated the people from slavery in Babylon in 593BC. There are about 25,000 left in Iran. Tehran has 20 active synagogues. But the Jewish population has dwindled rapidly since an Islamic theocracy was established. At the end of the Shah's reign, there were an estimated 100,000 Jews. Esther, the legendary empress and wife of Ahasuerus, was Jewish.
The community played a prominent role in commercial life and supplied several prime ministers. Sensitive posts in the judiciary and military are barred from Jews.
Maurice Motamed, the country's Jewish MP, has criticised Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statements on the Holocaust but is otherwise a staunch supporter of the president's foreign and security policies. "I am an Iranian first and a Jew second," he said.
by Damien McElroy
3 October 2009
Iran is home to the biggest population of Jews in the Middle East outside Israel. While the community faces limited discrimination, it is largely free to exercise the same rights as Muslims enjoy in the Islamic republic.
Like the country's Armenian, Assyrian and Zoroastrian minorities, it has one reserved seat in parliament.
Jews trace their presence in Iran from the point that Cyrus the Great liberated the people from slavery in Babylon in 593BC. There are about 25,000 left in Iran. Tehran has 20 active synagogues. But the Jewish population has dwindled rapidly since an Islamic theocracy was established. At the end of the Shah's reign, there were an estimated 100,000 Jews. Esther, the legendary empress and wife of Ahasuerus, was Jewish.
The community played a prominent role in commercial life and supplied several prime ministers. Sensitive posts in the judiciary and military are barred from Jews.
Maurice Motamed, the country's Jewish MP, has criticised Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statements on the Holocaust but is otherwise a staunch supporter of the president's foreign and security policies. "I am an Iranian first and a Jew second," he said.
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