IGIHE

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  • 5 UN Troops Wounded in DR Congo Attack

    5 UN Troops Wounded in DR Congo Attack

    {{Five UN peacekeeping troops were wounded Monday when two people on a motorcycle threw a grenade at their patrol in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN force said Tuesday.}}

    The UN mission for the stabilisation of the country (Monusco) said in a statement the attack occurred in the area of Beni in North Kivu province. It did not say how seriously the troops were hurt.

    “This unacceptable attack… does not in any way reduce our support for FARDC (DRC Armed Forces) in the fight against armed groups,” Monusco chief Martin Kobler said in the statement.

    “Our brief is to neutralise all the illegal armed groups in the east of the DRC, and we are determined to carry it out,” he added.

    Beni is more than 300 kilometres north of Goma, the capital of North Kivu, a restive resource-rich province that borders Rwanda and Uganda.

    On January 16 the FARDC regular army launched an offensive against the Ugandan Muslim rebel group ADF-Nalu and announced in mid-February that it had inflicted severe losses on the rebels.

    The UN provides them with logistical and tactical support to the FARDC, but on Saturday, for the first time since the start of the operation, two Monusco attack helicopters fired on a large ADF-Nalu base.

    ADF-Nalu stands for Allied Democratic Forces-National Army for the Liberation of Uganda. It is one of the oldest but lesser known rebellions based in North-Kivu and is considered the only Islamist organisation in the region.

    {wirestory}

  • Museveni Moblises Clergy in Fight Against Gay Lobbyists

    Museveni Moblises Clergy in Fight Against Gay Lobbyists

    {{Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has asked religious leaders in his country to rally behind him in the war with homosexual lobbyists that was sparked off when he signed the anti-gays Bill into law recently.}}

    On Sunday, Mr. Museveni said Ugandans should resist Western cultures being imposed on Africans.

    “You are congratulating me for signing this Bill and it has already opened a war with us and those who support gays. I am not concerned about that war. I am more concerned about the laziness here,” Mr Museveni said.

    “When you are lazy, you cannot fight. They will cut off their aid and support. That is why the campaign to wake up our people to work hard for food and money is important. Although we are going to fight this war on homosexuality, let us also produce more for money and food,” he added.

    He urged religious leaders to encourage people to participate in economic activities to avoid conditional aid.

  • Kagame calls for Enhanced Global Police Cooperation Against Crimes

    Kagame calls for Enhanced Global Police Cooperation Against Crimes

    {{President Paul Kagame has called upon Police forces to strengthen cooperation as an effective way to deal with global security challenges which pose threat to the socio-economic transformation of communities and states.}}

    The Head of State made the call on March 3 while officially opening the two-day 3rd Sub-Saharan Africa International Association of Chief of Police (IACP) conference in Kigali held under the theme “Contemporary Policing for a Safer World.”

    He said that the security challenges of the 21st century are increasing and sophisticated which requires collaboration to effectively combat them.
    He urged them to come up with frameworks to improve security and development on the region and beyond, and enhance global Police cooperation in fighting crime.

    “Development can only take place on the foundation of law and order. Law enforcement agencies, therefore, have a crucial role in ensuring peaceful conditions within which citizens can fully participate in the prosperity and wellbeing of their communities,” he said.

    He observed that security threats in one country, region or continent have far reaching beyond national and natural borders.

    The three elements of historical mission of the police, its role in a modern integrated political and economic setting and common security threats, he said, define the nature of effective role of enforcement agencies.

    “Our collective aspirations are to improve the livelihoods of our people. We can achieve this more effectively when we pull our resources and efforts,” President Kagame said.

    He commended regional Police organizations like the Eastern Africa Police Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) and similar others in South, West and Central Africa and the recent formation of a wider Police organization – African Police Organisation (AFRIPOL) – which he said are part of the answers to the current policing challenges.

    Rwanda is the brain behind the merging of EAPCCO and Interpol to form AFRIPOL, which was adopted by African Chiefs of Police during their meeting held in Algiers, Algeria in February.

    He highlighted Information Communication Technology (ICT) as an opportunity to development and also another answer to current policing challenges.

    “To take full advantage of these prospects, it is critical that police forces are connected internally and across the region and set up the requisite infrastructure for gathering and sharing information.”

    “As citizens and governments put technology to humanity, criminals are also quick to adopt and abuse these tools. In some cases, they are ahead of law enforcement agencies. The emergency of cybercrime which encompasses offences ranging from terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking, theft, fraud, blackmail constitutes a major challenge to police forces across the world.”

    He underscored the need for Police forces to rethink and reshape approaches to keep criminals in check and called upon governments to support their respective Police agencies to execute their tasks effectively.

    He urged participants to come up with mechanisms to establish a technology-best global framework for law enforcement, harmonize their stands, regulations, laws and practices in order to cope with reality of globalization and to safeguard the benefits of technology.

    “Our people need a peaceful and secure environment to effect this transformation. This forum presents a strategic platform to optimize opportunities and check frets to our chosen path towards a safer and more prosperous world. For this to happen, increased collaboration is both inevitable and the answer.”

    About 150 partcipants including Chiefs of Police, senior Police officers and IACP members are taking part in the conference which seeks to strengthen the professionalism, cooperation, exchange of information and experience among police forces.

    Founded in 1893 in USA, IACP is a dynamic organization that promotes enhanced administrative, technical, and operational police practices; foster cooperation and the exchange of information and experience.

    The President of IACP, Mr. Yousry Zakhary, who thanked the Government of Rwanda for hosting this important conference and lauded IGP Emmanuel K. Gasana for pushing for cooperation of Police forces to ensure sustainable security globally.

    “It’s our duty to make every possible effort to establish working partnership between Police agencies and executives throughout the world. Despite the difference between our languages, culture and even the laws we enforce, we must work together to prevail against our common enemies and fulfill our common missions,” Zakhary said.

    The Inspector General of Rwanda National Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana, who commended the big turn-up of participants to continue the path to a safer continent, said this 3rd IACP for the Sub Saharan Policing Conference comes in to enhance the existing collaboration, partnership and strengthen synergies with regional police organizations for a safer world.

    He thanked the Government of Rwanda for the support towards the success of this conference.

    Rwanda and Rwanda National Police in particular, have been at the forefront of uniting regional and international Police forces and organization to effectively deal with cross-border and organized security threats.

    Rwanda has hosted similar international Police conferences, professional trainings and joint exercises both in command post and field training exercises.

    Next year, Rwanda will host Interpol Regional Assembly, another big commitment Rwanda has made towards international cooperation.

    Rwanda is also the current delegate for Africa on the Interpol Executive Committee, hosts the continental anti-gender-based violence secretariat (AFSOCCA-VAWG), Regional Centres of Excellence for high learning of Police Senior Command and Staff College, Peace Support Operations Training Centre and motor-vehicle Mechanical Inspection Centre (MIC).

    RNP

  • President Kagame Speech : 3rd IACP Sub-Saharan Africa Executive Policing Conference

    President Kagame Speech : 3rd IACP Sub-Saharan Africa Executive Policing Conference

    {{President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police;
    Heads of Regional Police Organisations in Africa;

    Chiefs of Police and Heads of Delegation;
    Distinguished Delegates;
    Ladies and Gentlemen:}}

    I am pleased to be here with you to share insights into the crucial relationship between development, technology and security on our continent in the coming decades.

    It is evident that the security challenges of the twenty-first century are increasingly sophisticated as well as global, and require international collaboration to effectively combat them.

    This meeting in Kigali is therefore significant and timely, and its outcomes should form the framework for improved security and development in our region and beyond, and enhance global police cooperation in combating crime.

    First of all, the theme is highly relevant and resonates with the issues of concern to our people in Africa, namely greater cooperation and integration and the use of technology to create a safer and more prosperous world.

    At the heart of our discussion here, is the consensus that exists among the leaders and people of our countries that individually we can achieve a lot, but collectively we can develop even faster and more sustainably.

    Second, we recognise the fact that development can only take place on the foundation of law and order. Law enforcement agencies therefore have a crucial role in ensuring peaceful conditions within which citizens can fully participate in the prosperity and well-being of their communities.

    Third, we must appreciate our current realities, where in an increasingly globalized world, events in one country, region or continent have far-reaching consequences beyond national and natural borders. This inevitably includes security threats.

    These three elements – the historical mission of the police, its role in a modern, integrated political and economic setting, and common security threats – define the nature of effective law enforcement agencies in our time. In this kind of environment cooperation becomes imperative.

    {{Distinguished Delegates;}}

    As nations develop, so do their institutions. In order to remain relevant to the environment in which they operate, law enforcement organizations must be prepared for new roles that come with shifting circumstances.

    Today’s effective police force therefore must understand these imperatives in order to fulfill its role as an institution that reflects the character, ideology and aspirations of individual nations, and the region within which they operate.

    Our collective aspiration is to improve the livelihoods of our people. Again, we can achieve this more effectively when we pool our resources and efforts.

    In this regard, it is pertinent to ask: Do police forces in Africa share the ideology of the nations and region they serve? How prepared are they to meet the challenges of integration and globalisation?

    Only when we develop the requisite skills, expertise and equipment, and pool our resources and efforts for the shared benefit of our nations can there be effective responses to these questions.

    The existence of regional police organisations such as the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPPCO) in this region and similar others in south, west and central Africa is already an important part of the answer.

    At the continental level, I am pleased to learn that out of these regional efforts, a wider police organisation is being developed: the African Police Organisation.

    The other part of the answer to current policing challenges is provided by technology, especially Information and Communication Technology.

    We are all aware of the immense opportunities digital technology offers for development in general and policing in particular. To take full advantage of these prospects, it is critical that police forces are connected internally and across the region, and set up the requisite infrastructure for gathering and sharing information.

    However, we also recognise that technology often comes with a downside, including security threats at various levels.

    As citizens, governments and industrialists put technology to the service of humanity, criminals are also quick to adopt and abuse this tool. In some cases they are ahead of law enforcement agencies.

    The emergence of cyber crime, which encompasses offences ranging from terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking, theft, fraud, drugs, blackmail and many more, constitutes a major challenge to police forces across the world.

    To ensure that technology remains a force for good and that criminals are kept in check, the police have no choice but to be on top of latest developments in technology. This requires rethinking and reshaping our approach to community policing.

    In this respect, it is essential, first to establish a technology-based global framework for law enforcement.

    Secondly, it is necessary to establish greater harmonisation – of standards, regulations, laws and practices – in order to cope with the reality of globalisation and to safeguard the benefits of technology.

    This is why it is crucial to reinforce or create cooperation mechanisms and inter-operable policing technologies. This meeting will have served an important purpose if it comes up with such mechanisms between Africa and the rest of the world.

    In conclusion, let me reiterate the crucial role of police forces in a context where Africa is on a path to rapid socio-economic transformation in which technology is both a facilitator and motor. Our people need a peaceful and secure environment to effect this transformation.

    I believe this forum presents a strategic platform to optimise opportunities and check threats to our chosen path towards a safer and more prosperous world. For this to happen, increased collaboration is the answer.

    Thank you for your kind attention.

  • Lupita’s Brother Gets Instant Fame

    Lupita’s Brother Gets Instant Fame

    {The celeb selfie that shut down Twitter}

    {{Ellen DeGeneres gathered some of Hollywood’s elite to join her for a selfie with Meryl Streep. }}

    While stars like Jared Leto and Angelina Jolie were struggling to get in on the action, Lupita Nyong’o’s absolutely adorable brother sneaked in to get a prime spot in the selfie that brought Twitter to a standstill.

    By Monday afternoon, it had been retweeted some 2.8 million times, shattering the previous record of 810 000 retweets for the photo of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hugging after the 2012 election.

    Twitter was humming at 254 644 tweets per minute after DeGeneres’ request, and the company said the crush disrupted service for 20 minutes.

    {Lupita and her brother Peter.}

  • EUROPOL Commit to Support AFRIPOL

    EUROPOL Commit to Support AFRIPOL

    {(L-R) Prof. Jurgen Stock, Francis Rwego, Nigeria’s DIGP Jonathan Johnson and Michel Quill, the deputy director operation of EUROPOL}

    {{The European Police Organisation – EUROPOL – has pledged to support the newly created African Police body – AFRIPOL – to build its structures to effectively deal with emerging and challenging security threats.}}

    Mr. Michel Quill, the Deputy Director Operations of EUROPOL made the pledge on the final day of the two-day third Sub-Saharan International Association of Chiefs of Police, Africa executive policing conference in Kigali held under the theme, “Contemporary policing for a safer world.”

    “The creation of AFRIPOL is a very good idea. We are ready to support you fully to move quickly,” Mr. Michel said.

    The formation of AFRIPOL, which is an idea fronted by Rwanda, was adopted by African Police Chiefs during their meeting in Algiers, Algeria held in February after merging two Police bodies – EAPCCO and Interpol.

    The new continental Police body which awaits approval of Head of States was formed to strengthen cooperation between African Police forces to foil security threats like terrorism, human and drug trafficking and cybercrime.

    Rwanda’s enthusiasm to unite regional and international Police forces towards common goal earned her a vote of confidence to host regional centres of excellence like the Police Senior Command and Staff College, Peace Support Operations Training Centre and motor-vehicle Mechanical Inspection Centre (MIC) and is the continental anti-gender-based violence secretariat (AFSOCCA-VAWG).

    “For EUROPOL to be more effective, support from African Police forces is critical to combat organized crimes like human trafficking,” he added.

    “Joint operations and cooperation to exchange data is important and EUROPOL is open to working with the world.”

    Prof. Dr. Jurgen Stock, the vice President of Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) of German said cybercrime is major threat to security, which can only be addressed through cooperation among regional and international police organs.

    “Terrorists use IT to communicate and disseminate their negative propaganda and technology is the solution for law enforcement agencies to effectively fight these threats,” Prof. Stock said.

    He added: “The fast development of technology, therefore, requires us to cooperate in our regional and international frameworks to have enough technical equipment and experts for proper investigations.”

    Jonathan Johnson, the Deputy Inspector General of Nigeria Police force said there are still loopholes in the legal instruments to promote inter-state cooperation on criminals and defence issues.

    Jonathan also noted that states are still crippled by corruption, lack of data on criminals like fingerprints, passport numbers and names.

    “Some countries are yet to sign important treaties and where they did, implementation is still weak. We need to harmonise our mutual legal assistance, extradition and transfer of criminals and invest in training, information exchange and capacity building to give no room for criminals and terrorists to roam in one country and harming others in a neighbouring state,” Jonathan explained.

  • US Court Upholds Decision to Defrock Kenyan Pastor

    US Court Upholds Decision to Defrock Kenyan Pastor

    {{A US based Kenyan pastor who was defrocked following allegations of sexual misconduct will not be reinstated, a Massachusetts court has ruled.}}

    Judge Joseph M Walker III of Middlesex County Superior Court dismissed claims filed by Rev Dr Anthony Karimi Mumbui to counter a suit by the Trustees of the Presbytery of Northern New England (PNNE), seeking to enforce an earlier decision by a special tribunal.

    Dr Mumbui had sought to be allowed to resume his duties as the pastor of the Kenyan Community Presbyterian Church in Lowell, Massachusetts.

    But in a written ruling obtained by the media on Monday, Judge Walker said Mr Mumbui is unfit to continue leading the Kenyan congregation.

    The court sitting in Boston ruled that evidence adduced indicated that the Presbytery of Northern New England acted within its mandate when it defrocked the pastor in 2010.

    Dr Mumbui had moved to court to challenge a decision to strip him of his position as a cleric. He was removed from the pulpit by the PNNE trustees in November 2010 following an ecclesiastical trial which found him guilty of three counts of sexual abuse and sexual malfeasance.

    The court heard that in September 2009, the Presbytery received complaints that the pastor had sexually abused a young female parishioner.

    After investigations, formal charges were filed with the Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) which held a trial and found the pastor guilty as charged. Stephen Quinlan, a renowned Massachusetts lawyer, was the lead prosecutor during the sexual abuse proceedings.

    {{Church Disputes}}

    PJC is a special court appointed by the 2.3 million-member Presbyterian church of USA secretariat to deal with disputes within the church.

    Dr Mumbui dismissed the findings claiming that the Presbytery had no powers to strip him of his duties and immediately appealed the ruling at the Synod.

    But in a twelve-page ruling whose copy was emailed to the Nation on Monday, the judge said the Second Amendment of the US constitution did not preclude the right of organisations to form tribunals for adjudicating disputes related to malfeasance.

    “Mr Mumbui was a member of the New England Presbytery in 2010 and therefore subject to its jurisdiction, including its rules and regulations,” reads part of the verdict.

    The latest development is a culmination of a seven-year old protracted tussle pitting pastor Mumbui, members of the Kenyan Community Presbyterian Church, which is popularly known as Ushindi Church, and the New England presbytery.

    Judge Walker said the Massachusetts courts had long held that a church’s incorporation under the laws of the State does not exempt it from the jurisdiction of a hierarchical church.

    “The United States Supreme Court recognises that the Presbyterian Church is hierarchical in structure, as contrasted with congregational churches,” he said.

    As such, the judge added, the Presbytery’s decision to investigate a parishioner’s claim of sexual abuse and to subsequently hold a hearing to determine whether Mumbui violated church policy was within their authority under the Book of Order, which guides the operations of the Presbyterian Church.

    ‘Likewise, the Presbytery’s subsequent decision to sanction Mumbui was within its authority and this court will not interfere with that decision,” he said.

    The ruling elicited mixed reactions from members of the Kenyan Community Presbyterian Church who have been following the developments keenly.

    A Lowell-based Kenyan who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity said the allegations facing the pastor had divided the church into two camps. “It’s the biggest Kenyan Community Church in the region but its survival is threatened by the latest developments,” he said in a phone interview.

    Presbytery of Northern New England is the local governing body of Presbyterian Church of the US with jurisdiction over congregations in Northern Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont.

    Court documents show that prior to the fallout, the Presbytery of Northern New England had formally admitted Dr Mumbui as one of its members and allowed him to enjoy a number of benefits from the board of pensions.

    He also received immigration sponsorship which earned him a US Permanent Residency permit, popularly known as a Green Card.

    {Nation}

  • Khartoum Accuses South Sudan Army of Attacking Abyei

    Khartoum Accuses South Sudan Army of Attacking Abyei

    {{The Sudanese government has asked residents of the contested Abyei area for restraint and accused South Sudan’s army of attacking Sudanese citizens north of the border line drawn in January 1, 1956, calling upon Juba to withdraw its forces south of that border line.}}

    The Sudanese co-chair of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC), Al-Khair Al-Fahim, has briefed Sudan’s 1st VP Bakri Hassan Salih, on the conditions in the region following the recent clashes which erupted in north Abyei.

    Fierce clashes between Misseriya and Ngok Dinka tribes erupted on Saturday in Laki Al-Abiad area in north Abyei killing of at least 10 Arab Misseriya tribesmen and injuring of 20 others.

    Al-Fahim said the Salih demanded residents of Abyei to exercise self-control and promote stability and social peace in the region, pointing the meeting discussed the overall situation in the area.

    He said he also briefed 1st VP on the performance of the AJOC during the last three months, stressing that South Sudan’s army personnel wearing police uniform attacked civilians in north of Abyei.

    The Abyei official noted that AJOC submitted more than six complaints to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) on repeated violations committed by the South Sudanese army.

    He called upon South Sudan government to withdraw its forces to the south of the 1956 border line according to Abyei protocol, saying the move would help presidents of the two countries to achieve mutual understandings leading to resolution of the issue.

    Resolving the final status of Abyei still remains a major issue between Sudan and South Sudan after the latter broke away from the former in July 2011, leaving several unresolved post-secession issues.

    In 2012, the AU mediation team proposed holding a referendum in Abyei this month, but stated that only those residing permanently in the area will be allowed to vote in the plebiscite and decide whether they want to join Sudan or South Sudan.

    The Sudanese government, however, rejected the AU proposal aimed at breaking the deadlock over Abyei referendum saying it ignored the eligibility of the Misseriya.

    In October 2013, the Ngok Dinka held a unilateral referendum in Abyei but the Sudanese government rejected its results calling it an “outcast”.

    {sudantribune}

  • Cyber-jihadist Stands Trial in Landmark French Case

    Cyber-jihadist Stands Trial in Landmark French Case

    {{A young jihadist who ran a French website where he published al Qaeda propaganda was scheduled to appear Tuesday before the Paris Criminal Court for glorifying and inciting terrorism.}}

    Roman L., a 27 year old Muslim convert who used the pseudonym Abu Siyad Al-Normandy on the Internet, was arrested on September 17 in Calvados, where he lives.

    His arrest was the first under a law passed in December 2012 following a series of shootings in the south of France by Islamist gunman Mohamed Merah, which made incitement to terrorism an offence punishable by five years in prison and a fine of up to 45,000 euros.

    The accused man admitted that he was the administrator of the jihadist site Ansar Al-Haqq a radical Islamist platform. He was also charged with having translated and released two editions of the al-Qaeda magazine “Inspire” which calls for jihad.

    “Inspire” is published in English in Yemen and was written by Samir Khan, an American of Pakistani origin. An influential American imam of Yemeni origin, Anwar Al-Awlaqi, was a frequent contributor. Both were killed by US drones in Yemen.

    “I’m sorry…I take responsibility,” Romain L said in court on February 14 during a hearing at which he unsuccessfully requested his release. With his black hair pulled back and sporting a long beard, he spoke of “error” and “negligence.”

    “I did not intend to break the law or incite people to do wrong,” Romain L. said at his hearing, asking to be allowed to rejoin his family and “resume a normal life.”

    “He is the only person being held in France at the moment” for such acts, said his lawyer, Thomas Klotz. Klotz said that the charges were contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights.

    {france24}

  • Ghana tops 12 African Countries in Interest Rates

    Ghana tops 12 African Countries in Interest Rates

    {{Ghana is now ranked first among 12 African countries with the highest interest rates, according to Ecobank Research tracking of interest rates on the Continent.}}

    According to the report, the yield on the 91-Day and 182-Day bill stood at 21.08 and 20.90 percent respectively.

    It was followed by Malawi and The Gambia with interest rates of more than 15 percent on the short term dated instrument.

    ECOWAS biggest economy Nigeria recorded interest rates of 12.26 and 14.06 percent respectively on its 91-Day and 182-Day bills respectively.

    Ghana issued its first three-year bond last month which was marginally oversubscribed.

    While the longer term bonds are infrequently issued, the report said the Central Bank remain keen on extending the yield curve to deepen liquidity and support secondary market price discovery.

    The Monetary Policy Committee raised the policy rate to 18 percent in February.

    This significantly impacted on bond pricing, as yields on the 3-year bond rose significantly to reflect risk premium associated with uncertainty over the short term Cedi and inflation outlook.