Tag: GreatLakesNews

{{Militants in Mogadishu have attacked Somali presidential palace, police said Friday without disclosing any casualities.}}

During the attack, Police says, the militants were wearing suicide vests and carrying guns and grenades.

A Police officer told local media that militants began the attack with a car bomb, and then tried to fight their way into the presidential palace as guards returned fire.

Another bomb blast was heard inside the presidential palace.

The heavily guarded presidential palace is the residence of the country’s president, prime minister and speaker of parliament.

{{Social scientist Harve Maupeu has now told the International Criminal Court (ICC), in the case facing Deputy President William Ruto and former Kass FM presenter Joshua arap Sang that the post-election violence (PEV) of 2008 was spontaneous.}}

His admission came as a blow to the prosecution which had called him as their expert witness on the social and political dynamics of the 2008 PEV and through whom they had sought to show on Tuesday that the violence was premeditated on the premise of Kalenjin militia being trained prior to the 2007 General Election.

“People at the time didn’t realise the extent of what was about to happen and it was a surprise and a shock not just in Kenya but all over,” Ruto’s defence counsel David Hooper put to Maupeu.

To which he responded, “Yes. The way the election was organised gave rise to a lot of mistrust and a lot of people considered that the results were illegitimate. And in the major cities young people who were revolting reacted very strongly.”

Maupeu also admitted that he could not speak to the veracity of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) reports that had claimed that Kalenjin militia were trained immediately prior to the 2007 general election.

“Those NGO sources, of course, cannot be accepted on their own. You have to put them into perspective, put them into context and assess the quality,” he told the court.

He then testified that the mood of the Kenyan electorate prior to the 2007 elections was volatile and that, “there was agitation on both sides and it was known violence could be used – not that it was definitely going to be used.”

He also defended the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leadership, of which Ruto was a part, against previous witness testimony that they advocated for ethnic cleansing.

Maupeu said the ODM hierarchy was, “very careful,” not to promote this kind of majimbo where those not originally from a certain region would be forced out for fear of losing votes.

“So they did try to assure the various communities that lived in the Rift Valley as it were,” he said.

The prosecution however sought to recover its footing through the admission of Maupeu’s entire written out report which Trial Lawyer Lucio Garcia said painted a truer picture without the leading of the defence.

Garcia also sought to have articles by Jacqueline Klopp and Gabrielle Lynch on ethnic clashes in the Rift Valley admitted as evidence. And by so doing, the prosecution hoped it would put Ruto’s alleged use of ‘madoadoa’ in the run up to the 2007 general election, in context.

Hooper and Sang’s defence counsel Caroline Buismann however challenged their admission as evidence for the reasons that the information therein could not be verified.

“If we look at the Klopp article, Ruto, at one point it states, became the treasurer of Youth for KANU in 1992. He was never treasurer for Youth in KANU in 1992,” Hooper observed.

Buismann also challenged Garcia’s claim that neither the report nor the articles would be prejudicial to the accused as neither of them were directly linked, in them, to the 2008 PEV.

“Whilst we concede there’s no direct link to Ruto and Sang there are theories about organisational violence and all of this is of course relevant because that is why the prosecution has brought him in,” she put to the court.

Despite these objections, the chamber admitted Maupeu’s report with the prosecution’s twelfth witness expected to take the stand on Thursday.

{{Fleurette Group’s subsidiary Oil of DRCongo has agreed to renovate the Bunia-Kasenyi Road, situated in the Oriental Province in northeast DR Congo, for US$750,000.}}

The project, covering a stretch of 14km, is expected to be complete within the next six to eight months.

The road is reportedly a vital artery linking the towns of Bunia and Kasenyi. It facilitates the supply of goods to Bunia and the on-going trade between these towns, creating jobs, encouraging investment and aiding the development of a region which has been heavily impacted by conflict over so many years, the company said.

As operator of Blocks I and II on the Albertine Graben, Oil of DRCongo said that it has provided support to the local community, company sources said.

The explorer has also completed feasibility studies for the refurbishment of the Budana Power Plant with the aim of doubling capacity, the enhancement of waters supply system to Bunia through a new pipeline and new storage/treatment facilities, and the drilling of new water wells in Kasenyi.

The company added that it has also received endorsements from the country’s minister of hydrocarbons to ensure the continued development of the oilfields.

According to the company sources, Oil of DRCongo has invested in excess of US$70mn in the exploration works of the Blocks I and II so far, including above US$20mn on the seismic investigations. The seismic data acquisition was carried out by UK’s TESLA.

Giuseppe Ciccarelli, CEO of Oil of DRCongo, said, “We are delighted to be supporting the rehabilitation of this important transport link as part of Oil of DRCongo’s on-going commitment to the communities in northeast DR Congo. We are excited about the future prospects for Blocks I and II.

Oil of DRCongo is generating jobs, fuelling development and prosperity and contributing to social progress. Fleurette Group is proud to be leading the effort help the DR Congo build a competitive, sustainable oil industry.”

The company is currently carrying out a feasibility study aimed at evaluating the entire drilling exercise to establish four wells in the country.

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{{Human Rights Watch has said the United States should recall its ambassador to Uganda and review diplomatic relations after the Uganda’s leader said he would sign into law a bill prescribing life imprisonment for homosexuals.}}

The New York-based group also said Uganda’s international donor partners should “clearly and publicly” specify the consequences for relations with Uganda if the Anti-Homosexuality bill becomes law.

“There is real urgency now that [Yoweri] Museveni has stated his intention to sign the bill,” Daniel Bekele, the Africa director for Human Right Watch, said on Wednesday, referring to the Ugandan president.

“The US should temporarily recall the ambassador to conduct strategic consultations on the US/Uganda relationship, while making clear the range of concerns for yet another clawback to human rights in Uganda.”

Human Rights Watch said the bill violates the country’s human rights obligations and would act as a barrier to advancing critical public health goals.

It called for a review of funding assistance to Uganda to ensure that US funds are not used to further prosecution of anyone under the homosexuality law.

“In particular funding for the police should be subject to close scrutiny as they would be legally mandated to enforce this law,” the group said.

Though popular among Ugandans who insist homosexuality is a “vice” from Western countries, the bill has attracted criticism from world leaders as it seeks to increase penalties for some forms of consensual same-sex conduct between adults and infringe on constitutionally protected rights to privacy.

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{{Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has signed a law which criminalizes indecency and promotion of pornography. }}

Henceforth, women have been forbidden from wearing clothes like miniskirts and cleavage-revealing blouses (‘tops’) that excite sexual cravings in public, unless for educational and medical purposes or during sports or cultural events.

Addressing the press at the Media Centre in Kampala on Tuesday, ethics and integrity state minister, Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo said the President signed the bill into law on February 6, two months after its passing by the House.

Parliament passed the piece of legislation December last year.

The law creates a national anti-pornography committee responsible for its implementation by ensuring early detection, collection and destroying of pornographic materials.

The committee, whose representatives will be drawn from various sectors including the media and entertainment industries, will also offer rehabilitation services to victims of pornography.

The anti-pornography law has repealed and replaced Section 166 of the Penal Code Act, widening the legal interpretation of pornography and prohibiting it comprehensively.

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{{East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) members are set for a 10-day extensive tour of Kenya beginning Wednesday.}}

The tour which is supported by the Kenyan Government through the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, will see the regional legislators tour projects and interact with various stakeholders in five counties.

The visit takes place in Mombasa, Kilifi and Nairobi counties in the first leg before winding up with a tour of Nakuru and Machakos.

It seeks to enable the East African Legislative Assembly appreciate the diversity of the people and the development initiatives that Kenya has to offer to the region.

The legislators shall also interact directly with citizens and hear their views, aspirations and fears on the regional integration process.

Legislators are also expected to get first-hand experience on devolved governments following the promulgation of the Constitution in Kenya in 2010.

According to the co-ordinator of the trip, EALA Member of Parliament (Kenya), Peter Mathuki, the visit shall enable the members to fully acquaint themselves with developments in Kenya and key integration issues.

“Article 5 of the Treaty envisages a people-centred integration. In this regard, we must enhance involvement of the people in deciding on the matters of the community. It is important for the Assembly to be in tandem with the needs of the people through structured interface and the working tour is one such avenue,” Mathuki stated.

At the Coast, the legislators shall visit the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and then call on the Mombasa County Government and the Kilifi County Government respectively.

In Nairobi, they will meet with a number of stakeholders including the top leadership of the Lamu Port Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project, Konza Techno City, Vision 2030 Secretariat as well as officials of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance and the East African Business Council.

They shall also visit the University of Nairobi’s School of Health identified as one of the EAC Centres of Excellence and hold interactive sessions with Parliamentary and Senate Committees and civil society groupings.

The lawmakers will then tour the Olkaria Geothermal station in Nakuru County and thereafter visit the Machakos County Government and make a trip to the Export Processing Zone and the Kenya Meat Commission in Athi-River.

In his address to the 3rd Meeting of the 2nd Session of the 3rd Assembly in November 2013, President Uhuru Kenyatta pledged his Government’s support for the Kenya tour.

Since, 2004, the Kenya Government has supported EALA Members to visit different parts of the country and to interact with the citizens while noting the progress that Kenya is making in the Integration process.

The tours were held in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

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{{Rebel forces led by South Sudan’s former president, Riek Machar, say they are now in full control of Malakal, the capital of oil-rich Upper Nile state, following fierce battles on Tuesday morning with government troops and their foreign allies.}}

Rebel military spokesperson Brig Lul Ruai Koang told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that forces loyal to president Salva Kiir were flushed out from Malakal town and were being pursued towards Akok county.

It’s the third time Malakal, a strategic town located about 497km from the South Sudan capital, Juba, has fallen to rebel forces since conflict broke out in the country over two months ago.

Koang accused the government and its allies of provoking the rebels prior to the recapture of the state capital.

“The government troops and its allies today(Tuesday) in the morning launched unprovoked, simultaneous attacks on our defensive positions, 7km south and 5km east of Malakal town. The attacking forces were repulsed, pursued and flushed out of their last stronghold north of Malakal town,” said Koang.

He also accused neighbouring Uganda of military involvement in the battles, saying its jet fighters had dropped several bombs on rebel positions around Malakal.

“While close combat engagements were ongoing, Kiir’s troops received massive air support from Uganda warplanes. Our gallant forces under the direct command of Maj. Gen. Chayuot Manyang and under the overall command of Maj. Gen. Gathoth Gatkuoth are still chasing the remnants of government troops towards Akoka county,” Koang said.

He added that rebels were yet to ascertain the number of casualties on the ground from both sides.

{{Sudan has stated that the Ugandan military intervention in South Sudan is threatening Sudan’s national security.}}

The Sudanese armed forces (SAF) have further warned that the Ugandan military presence in the south is threatening the whole of East African countries, and is demanding Kampala pull out its forces.

Talking to media on Sunday, SAF spokesman Col. Alswarmy Khalid Saad accused Uganda of attempting to sabotage the relations between Khartoum and Juba.

“Uganda has many hostility actions against Sudan; they are trying to convince the government of South Sudan that they are supporting them while [they claim] we are backing Riek Machar’s forces, but that is incorrect” the spokesman said.

“Our position is very clear that we do not have any intention of militarily intervention in South Sudan” he reaffirmed.

Col. Saad further dismissed accusations by the South Sudan’s national army that Sudan’s air force have violated the Southern space.

“We have no military operations on our border with South Sudan and even the protection of the oilfields is the responsibility of the government of South Sudan” he said.

“We made it very clear that we are supporting the elected government in South Sudan, but we are against any military intervention and concerned of any foreign forces that have been deployed in the south” he added.

{{South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, has admitted forming a private army widely believed to have played a key role in ethnic killings after clashes broke out between rival factions within the presidential guard on 15 December.}}

Kiir made the surprise admission at a political function organised by the youth wing of the governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the capital, Juba, on Saturday.

The president attempted to justify the formation of the unauthorised army, saying the intention was to have “a reserve force” to help the nation in the event military action was needed.

“It was on this basis that somebody mobilised and recruited some youth to the national service. Those who thought of mobilisation of the youth to be trained did not have bad intention. It was not a bad idea. Any country which does not have [a] reserve [force] always gets into difficulties”, Kiir told the audience at the meeting.

He accused some officials of having denied the new recruits their salaries and weapons while undergoing training as they were opposed to the idea.

“When these people were in the training, they were denied everything. They were denied salaries, weapons and all the things they were supposed to get because some people did not like the idea, but when this thing (the outbreak of violence) happened, they did not think about all that happened to them. Who are now fighting in Unity, in Malakal and Jonglei states?” Kiir said.

The gathering was attended by high-ranking government officials and members of the SPLM’s leadership council.

Vice-president James Wani Igga also addressed the gathering, which was attended by the speaker of the national parliament, Magok Rundial, as well as senior military officers and members from other political parties in the country.

Close to half a million people have been displaced since the conflict broke out in Juba, quickly spreading to other parts of the country as government troops loyal to Kiir and rebels aligned with former vice-president Riek Machar battled for control of strategic areas.

The conflict divided along ethnic lines, pitting members of Kiir’s Dinka tribe against supporters of Machar, who hails from the Nuer tribe.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said a research team had documented widespread killings of Nuer men by members of the South Sudan army (SPLA) in Juba, particularly during the period between 15 to 19 December, including a massacre of between 200 and 300 men in the Gudele neighbourhood, after they were reportedly rounded up and forced into an overcrowded room in a government building before being shot.

Eyewitnesses and victims gave accounts of soldiers and policemen conducting house-to-house searches in the capital for Nuer men.

HRW also documented the targeting and killing of civilians of Dinka ethnicity by opposition forces in other parts of the country during the conflict.

(ST)