Impunity Watch: Africa

U.S. Aid Worker and Two German Film Makers Arrested in Niger for "Espionage and Terrorism"

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Central and Western Africa

NIGER DELTA, Nigeria- A U.S. aid worker, Judith Asuni, and two German film makers, Florian Alexander Opitz and Andy Lehmann, have been arrested in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta on charges of “espionage and terrorism.” The German nationals without a government clearance have been filming masked youths from the Ijaw region in the Niger Delta. The Germans were preparing a possible TV documentary about the string of violence in the oil rich region. The Germans were detained last week by the State Security Service.

Judith Asuni has lived in the Niger Delta for 36 years. The United States embassy has released the following statement, “All we know is that Judith Asuni is a peace worker who got funding from academics and international donor agencies to work for peace in Nigeria.” Asuni is in charge of an organization called Academic Associate Peace Work as organization that conducts mediations between the government and militant groups and encourages disarmament In the past, she has organized workshops with the Nigerian police on conflict management.

Asuni was arrested for giving assistance to the German filmmakers. Now all three suspects face accusations of carrying out an act of terrorism against the Nigerian government. Addo Mwazu stated, "The lady is suspected of espionage by exploiting the situation in the Niger Delta." Other people believe that the arrests were a result of the Nigeria’s fear of the embarrassment following the worldwide release of the documentary.

While members of the government may be uncomfortable with the German filmmaker’s work, Port Harcourt journalist Ibiba Don Pedro believes that these filmmakers “are playing a crucial role in getting information out about the region's problems.”

The U.S. embassy is presently in touch with Nigerian officials. Meanwhile, Germany’s ambassador to Nigeria has rejected the charges that the Germans are spies and terrorists. German officials insist that the two filmmakers are only journalists.

For more information, please see:

BBC - Nigeria arrests foreign 'spies' - 28 September 2007

VOA - American Peace Worker, 2 Germans Detained as 'Spies' in Nigeria's Niger Delta - 29 September 2007

Afriquenligne - Germans arrested in Nigeria are not spies' - 29 September 2007

Extreme Violence in Somalia

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Violence in Somalia continues to be a great concern for the international community.  Extreme violence, attacks and threats against the media, and lack of humanitarian aid plague this war torn country where more than 700,000 civilians have been forced to leave their homes. 

Civilians face severe human rights violations by all parties to the conflict including the right to life, disappearance, torture, recruitment of child soldiers, and sexual and gender-based violence.

On Friday, four Somali soldiers were killed and several more wounded when an army truck was ambushed in the capital, where the government is currently battling a deadly insurgency.   This attack follows an earlier ambush on a government base.

The military has ordered thousands of civilians in the Somali capital to vacate their homes in order to search for arms and insurgents.  Most forced to leave their homes have either left Mogadishu or sought refuge with family and friends in other parts of the city. 

Journalists and human rights activists are also a target of increasing fear and intimidation.  Since January, seven journalists have been killed and dozens more threatened into silence for their work.   Many have been forced to leave the country.

The violence in Somalia is not confined to their borders, as extremist groups have begun attacks in neighboring countries as well.  On Friday, the United States issued a warning to American tourists in Kenya that Somali-based extremists may try to kip American citizens from the beach resorts.  Kenya shares a 400-mile border with Somalia, which is currently closed.   Kenyan security forces have guarded the border since a radical group controlling much of southern Somalia was ousted last December by Ethiopian troops supporting the weak UN-backed government. 

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica.com - UN Expert Voices Deep Concern At Extreme Violence – 28 September 2007

International Herald Tribune - Troops forcing residents from homes in Somali capital, rights group says – 29 September 2007

AFP - Four civilians killed in fresh Somalia violence – 29 September 2007

Associated Press - Somalis May Kidnap Americans From Kenya – 28 September 2007

AFP - Four Somali soldiers killed in Mogadishu attack – 28 September 2007

Ongoing Conflict in Sudan

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan – The United Nations Security Council held a summit yesterday, chaired by France’s president Nicolas Sarkozy, aimed at strengthening and mobilizing the international community in working with African Union representatives to map out concrete goals and a plan of action.  Heads of State and government from the 15 Security Council members, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and AU Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare took part in the debate that largely focused on the ongoing conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution early Tuesday morning approving a European Union-AU peacekeeping force to be sent to Chad and Central African Republic to deal with the spillover from the Darfur conflict.  The resolution, says the “multidimensional presence” of EU and UN forces should protect civilians, help the governments in Chad and the Central African Republic deal with refugees, and assist in the delivery of humanitarian aid.  The resolution authorizes the force to remain for an initial period of a year and states that the UN should plan on and create a UN peacekeeping force to replace it.

Meanwhile, efforts to get rebel leaders to agree to meet for peace talks next month have proven difficult.  On Tuesday, rebel leader Khalil Ibrahim said that he will continue fighting during the upcoming peace talks until a final settlement is agreed on.  Despite the intense international pressure to end the fighting, the rebel leaders continue to refuse to agree to a cease-fire during the peace talks.  Ibrahim stated that ceasing fire is a “termination of the resistance and revolution” and that he refused to do so until a lasting peace agreement was made. 

In 2006, the three rebel groups negotiated a truce, which the government allegedly violated.  Only one of the rebel groups singed that agreement, and many in Darfur have rejected it as inadequate.  Since those talks, the rebels have split into more than twelve rival groups. 

Currently, the U.S. is the only country on the Security Council that has labeled the Darfur conflict a genocide.  More than 200,000 people have died and 2 million have been displaced. 

For more information, please see:

Reuters UK - Darfur rebel leader says no truce for talks – 26 September 2007

Relief Web - UN Mission in Sudan News Bulletin – 26 September 2007

AFP - US, France back peacekeeping forces to Darfur, Chad – 25 September 2007

Blooomberg - Bush, Citing Darfur ‘Genocide,’ Demands Cease-Fire – 25 September 2007

AllAfrica.com - Sudan: Echoes of Genocide in Darfur, Eastern Chad – 25 September 2007

Claims of Abuse by Ugandan Army

KAMPALA, Uganda- Human Rights Watch released a report a couple weeks ago that allege unlawful killing and torture of civilians during a governmental operation in the Karamoja region. The pastoral region, which borders Kenya and trafficks much of the weapons from Somalia, was the scene of a disarmament program which left several children dead. For several years, President Yoweri Musenevi’s government has attempted to disarm ordinary citizens; however his aggressive tactics has only led to increased tension. According to the report, which recounts the testimony of 50 witnesses, the soldiers of the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) opened fire on mothers and children. One boy and his mother were shot during a cordon-and-search operation. The army has denied any human rights abuse.

According to the Ugandan army spokesman Major Felix Kulayigye, his soldiers have been trained on issues of human rights and the reports of witness accounts have been fabricated.

In spite of this denial, the army has demanded the names of soldiers implicated in the allege abuses. Margaret Sekaggya, the chairperson of the Uganda Human Right Commission, did not comment as to whether the names would be submitted. Instead Sekaggya is urging the Parliament to set up an independent committee to investigate allegation of human rights violations.

In the meantime, Uganda is in a state of emergency. Severe rainfall has caused the worst flooding in three decades. Eighteen different countries in Africa and more that 1.8 million people have been affected. Uganda has been hit the hardest. 500,000 people have been displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance and local leaders place the number of dead at 45. To make matter worst fresh rain has complicated efforts to reach those in need. Without air transport to delivery food and drugs, many villages are cut form society; the people are left to the mercy of disease and starvation.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica.com- Uganda: Army Demands Names of Soldiers in Rights Abuse -  21 September 2007

Human Rights News- Uganda: Army Abuses Civilian in Plan to Secure Karamoja - 11 September 2007

Yahoo News (AP)-  NGO Says Ugandan Army Abuses Civilians - 11 September 2007

Yahoo News- Fresh Rain Hampers Aid Delivery in Flood-hit Uganda – 23 September 2007

Yahoo News- Floods Plunge Uganda Displaced in Further Misery - 22 September 2007

Ceasefire in DRC Challenged By Fighting

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo - In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, intense fighting between government forces and insurgents loyal to General Laurent Nkunda have forced the army to withdraw from its positions in the northeast.

Gabriel de Brosses, the military spokesman for MONUC, the United Nations peacekeeping force in DRC stated that "the fighting started early in the morning Monday and afterwards MONUC sent in heavy patrols to monitor the situation and some of the fighting resumed this morning,"

Army commanders have withdrawn from the area in order to meet strict orders from President Joseph Kabila that only allow soldiers to use defensive and not offensive force. Presently, the Congolese government is attempting to provide a peaceful solution to this violent situation.

According to Colonel Delphin Kahimni, government forces were attacked on three fronts in the North Kivu province. Presently, President Kabila declines to negotiate with the armed rebels.

According to Muzong Kodi, a DRC analyst with London-based Chatham House, believed that the DRC government has handled the situation poorly by not negotiating with the rebels. Kodi stated, "Nkunda is going to try as much as possible to force the government to the negotiating table, which the government is not going to want-otherwise they will lose face and there is a lot of pressure from the politicians in the area and a large portion of the population not to negotiate with Nkunda."

During this year alone, more than 300,000 people have been displaced in the DRC. Many of the refugees flee from General Nkunda’s troops. In a site located twelve miles west of Goma, more than 10,000 people are being housed in camps. The United Nations refugee agency reports that over 4,000 people were seen arriving to those camps just this week. The conditions in the sites are very poor. Thousands of people live in crowded areas, while others squat in school buildings.

For more information, please see:

VOA news: Fighting in DRC Challenges Ceasefire 25 September 2007

VOA News: Displaced DRC Citizens Relocate Amid Lull in Fighting 24 September 2007

BBC: Rebel breaks DR Congo ceasefire   25 September 2007

BRIEF: UN Approves New Force for Chad and CAR

The United Nations Security Council today unanimously approved a new European Union-UN peacekeeping force to be sent to Chad and the Central African Republic.   The new troops are being sent to protect civilians in the Darfur area.  The purpose of the new mission, called a "multidimensional presence," is to end cross-border incursions into villages and refugee camps by fighters from Sudan.  The mission is authorized to operate for an initial period of one year. 

For more information, please see:

BBC News - New Force to head to Chad and CAR - 25 September 2007

AFP - UN endorses sending peace force to Chad, CentAfrica - 25 September 2007

BRIEF: Nigerian Militants Call Off Truce

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), a militant group in Nigeria's oil-rich Delta region called off a ceasefire on Sunday and promised a fresh campaign of violence and kidnappings of oil workers.  A voluntary ceasefire had been agreed to in May following the inauguration of President Umaru Yar'Adua.  The calling off of the ceasefire is in response to the arrest of one of their leaders by Nigerian authorities and claims that the talks have failed.

The Niger Delta holds all of Nigeria's oil, and is responsible for 95% of hard currency earnings, although most of the people of the Delta live in poverty.  Corrupt officials take millions of dollars meant for basic services and development, and many are accused by civil rights groups of having involvement in the trade of crude oil stolen from pipelines across the region.  President Yar'Adua ordered an investigation last week into the alleged links between government officials in the Niger Delta and the violent criminal gangs.

For more information, please see:

BBC News - Nigerian Militants Call off Truce - 24 September 2007

USA Today - Nigerian militants vow further attacks - 23 September 2007

Reuters - Nigerian oil rebels threaten attacks after arrest - 23 September 2007

UN Releases Their Report on Ethiopia’s Eastern Region

OGADEN, Ethiopia- On Wednesday, the United Nations (UN) released their report on the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. The region, which borders Somalia and is predominantly inhabited by Somalis, has been caught between the clashes of the government and rebels for several months. The anticipated report comes after the UN humanitarian assessment team visited the region from August 30th to September 5th.

The report comes after the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) alleges violations of human rights by government military. The government has denied all allegations. The team visited three of the five zones in the Somali Regional State. According to the ONLF, the Fik and Warder zones are the areas where the worst atrocities were committed; the UN mission was only granted access to “routes approved by the regime.”

The report however did not comment on the claims of abuses. Yet, taking into account the deteriorating situation in the region and direct accounts of human rights abuses, the report does urgently recommend an independent investigation of those allegations.

Instead, the main focus of the report was the humanitarian and food situation. The OFLA has also accused the government of creating a man-made famine. The report expresses concerns of drastic food, drug and medical shortages that will likely reach emergency level very shortly. The region has long been extremely poor but the increased fighting between the ONLF and the government has worsened the conditions. Furthermore, the government commercial and livestock trade restrictions have only aggravated the situation. The price of food has nearly doubled.

The report calls for immediate and “impartial” food distribution to 600,000 people in the region for the next three months. The government has promised to ensure the needs of the people through its collaboration with the UN. The report further appeals to both sides to guarantee the food and medical aid reach those in need.

For more information please see:

BBC - UN Seeks Ethiopia Abuses Inquiry - 20 September 2007

Yahoo News (AFP) - UN Calls for Probe into Alleged Eastern Ethiopia Rights Abuses - 19 September 2007

AllAfrica.com – Ethiopia: UN Report Warn of Food Crisis in Ogaden - 20 September 2007

ICC Prosecutor Demands Arrests in Sudan

KHARTOUM, Sudan – The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo is calling for the arrests of two men charged with war crimes in Darfur.  Warrants for Humanitarian Affairs Minister Ahmed Haroun and Janjaweed leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abad al-Rahman were issued by the ICC in April.   Sudan’s government has continued to assert that it is not bound by the ICC decisions.

Both men are wanted by the ICC on 51 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes.  Ahmed Haroun was a minister responsible for the Darfur portfolio in 2003 and 2004 and allegedly was responsible for organizing and funding the Janjaweed militia.  As the minister for humanitarian affairs, he currently has authority of the displaced persons camps and control over the flow of humanitarian aid.  Mr. Ocampo has said that “there can be no solution     to the crisis in Darfur while Mr. Haroun remained free.”  Ali Muhammad Ali Abad al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, is accused of ordering the torture and mass rape of civilians during attacks on villages in west Darfur. 

Ministers from 26 countries have been invited to attend a meeting on Friday chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and African Union Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare.  The meeting is intended to discuss mobilizing support for new political negotiations, deployment of a 26,000 UN-AU force, and expansion of humanitarian assistance.  Mr. Ocampo urged the international community to remind Sudan’s government of its duty to arrest those charged.  “I am concerned that silence by most states and international organizations on the subject of the arrest warrant has been understood in Khartoum as a weakening of international resolve in support of the law, and in support of the arrest…It is time to break the silence.”

Political talks are set to begin in Libya next month between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels to discuss peace and to speed up deployment of peacekeepers to the region.   The arrest warrants are not on the agenda for those talks.

For more information, please see:

BBC News - Prosecutor demands Sudan arrests - 21 September 2007

AFP - ICC prosecutor presses for arrest of Darfur war crimes suspects – 21 September 2007

Sudan Tribune - ICC Prosecutor urges world to be on side of Darfur victims – 21 September 2007

The Canadian Press - Prosecutors want arrest of alleged war criminals atop Darfur agenda – 21 September 2007

Child Soldiers in DRC

KINSHASA, Congo - According to the United Nations, children in Kinshasa, Congo, are being recruited as child soldiers in violation of international law. In the past week, militants under former army general, Laurent Nkunda, have raided four primary schools and ten secondary schools to round up children to join his battle.

UNICEF has reported that 54 children have been recruited in northeast Kivu. Moreover, there are reports that in the west, there has been “forced recruitment of all males over the age of 15.”  The United Nations believes that more than 1,000 children have been recruited into the militia. 

Female children are usually recruited to serve as sex slaves. In this capacity, young girls are often raped, tortured, mutilated or murdered by militants. The male children primarily serve as fighters. Males are taught from an early age to murder, maim, and rape. Recruitment also puts young children at risk of measles and cholera because they are living with spontaneous groups of people in poor living conditions without parental authority. Children who try to escape from the militant gangs are ultimately recruited by rival forces in the eastern part of Congo.

More than 80,000 children have been separated from the militia. Many of these children end up participating in petty crime or fall prey to other gangs.  Moreover, children become alienated from their former communities. Furthermore, since these children lack educational skills, they often lack the proper skills to reintegrate into civilian life. Presently, 5,500 children face the threat of re integration into militia groups.

UNICEF is currently trying to provide sanitary conditions for children living in camps and makeshift shelters. The agency is presently providing vaccination, nutritional supplements, and purified water to victims of the violence.

For more information, please see:

Yahoo news - Congo warlord recruiting children - 19 September 2007

AllAfrica - Congo-Kinshasa: Fighting Exposes Children to Forced Recruitment, Exploitation - UN - 19 September 2007

Christian Science Monitor - Ranks of Child Soldiers Swell Again in Congo - 19 September 2007