Impunity Watch: Africa

Chuckie Taylor Ordered to Pay Millions in Torture Damages

By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MIAMI - A United States (US) judge ordered the son of ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor to pay over 22 million dollars to five torture victims.

Last year, the paramilitary unit led by Charles McArthur Emmanuel Taylor (Chuckie) was found to have tortured Liberian citizens during the West African nation's bloody civil war.

This same Miami federal court sentenced Chuckie to ninety seven years in prison for a criminal conviction under a US anti-torture law.  He was the first person convicted by a US court under the 1994 law, which allows US charges for human rights abuses committed outside the US.

At the trial, five Liberians testified that they had been tortured and abused by the group Chuckie lead, known as the Anti-Terrorist Unit.   They said they had been held in pits in the jungle that were filled chest-high with water, had been exposed to electric shocks to the genitals and other body parts, and had witnessed the killing of others by the paramilitaries.

Last weeks civil trial ended with Chuckie, who is currently in prison in Illinois, dismissing the torture allegations as deceptive propaganda.

"This notion that I'm this human rights abuser, this poster boy for human rights abuse, is deceptive and propaganda."

Human rights groups have welcomed this most recent ruling against Chuckie.  Deeming it a move in the right direction.  This might serve as a warning to others who commit similar abuses that they will be held accountable for their actions.

This ruling will "serve as a deterrent to others who believe they could mistreat fellow humans in this manner and never be held accountable," said Piper Hendricks, an attorney with Human Rights USA who represented the Liberians along with Troy Elder, a law professor at Florida International University (whose law students did research in the case).

Chuckie's father, Charles Taylor, is currently on trial in The Hague.  He faces eleven charges including murder and rape in connection with the civil war in Sierra Leone in the 1990s. 

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica - Former Liberian Leader's Son Ordered to Pay Torture Victims - 6 February 2010

BBC - Son of Charles Taylor Ordered to Pay Torture Damages - 6 February 2010

Washington Post - Judge Awards $22M Damages in Liberia Torture Case - 5 February 2010

Crisis in Somalia Leaves Millions in Need of Humanitarian Assistance

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A widespread humanitarian crisis persists in war-torn Somalia, with an estimated 3.2 million people, approximately 42 percent of the population, in need of emergency aid or livelihood support.

Sporadic outbursts of violence have caused hundreds of thousands of people to leave their homes and seek shelter in other parts of the country or flee to neighboring or nearby states, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) continue to be the largest single group in crisis, representing 44 percent of the 3.2 million, and with the ongoing conflict this is likely to increase even further.

According to the latest statistics, an estimated 29,000 people were displaced in January in Dhusamareebb in the Galgaduud region, while over 25,000 fled their homes to escape renewed clashes in Beled Weyne in the Hiraan region. Additionally, some 18,000 displaced people were forced out of the capital, Mogadishu. "The recent wave of displacement has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis that was already worse," the UNHCR said.

Fearful of returning to their homes, many are reported to be sleeping in the open with dwindling shelter and little water. There are also growing concerns about the health conditions of particularly vulnerable groups, such as children, women and the elderly.

The crisis has left one in six children acutely malnourished and requiring specialist care, according to a United Nations update released Thursday. Of these children, one in 22 is severely malnourished and at a nine-fold increased risk of death compared to well-nourished children, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported.

In south and central Somalia, which has been plagued by factional fighting and has not had a functioning central government since 1991, the rates are higher with one in five children acutely malnourished, of which one in 20 is acutely malnourished. These national rates of acute malnutrition continue to be amongst the highest in the world.

In the north, a drought following four seasons of below-average rainfall has left 290,000 pastoral and agro-pastoral people in need of both life-saving and livelihood support to recover.

Currently, the rates translate into an estimated 240,000 children under five years of age being acutely malnourished, of which 63,000 are severely malnourished. More than two thirds of these children are located in south and central Somalia, the area's most affected by the current conflict.

“So far, the deteriorating security conditions have made it hard, if not impossible, for humanitarian workers to access the needy population.” the UNHCR said.

“Long-term integrated responses combining nutritional rehabilitation with promotion of optimal infant and young child feeding practices and increasing access to safe water and health services are the only way to address the crisis,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

The UN agency said it planned to distribute emergency relief items and shelter materials to over 18,000 people in 27 locations, where the displaced are temporarily settled as soon as the security situation will permit.

For more information, please see:

UN News Service - Humanitarian Crisis Persists in Somalia with Malnutrition Rampant in Young, UN Warns - 5 February 2010

Afrique En Linge  - UNCHR Says 80,000 Displaced in Somali Conflicts - ‎4 February 2010‎

Middle East Online - Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Somalia – 4 February 2010

A Big Win for the Indigenous People of Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya- A landmark ruling on indigenous land rights in Africa took place today in Nairobi, Kenya.  A ruling by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights condemned the eviction of the Endorois people from their land in Kenya. In the 1970’s the Kenyan Government ousted the Endorois people, a traditional pastoralist community, from their homes at Lake Bogoria in central Kenya. The purpose of evicting the Endorois people was to make way for a national reserve and tourist facilities.

Lake Bogoria is considered to be a great cite for tourism in Kenya because of its hot springs and abundant wildlife that includes one of Africa’s largest populations of flamingos. The decision to remove them from the land over 30 years ago was clearly an economic decision that many have believed needed to be addressed and remedied.

With today’s ruling, many human rights advocates believe precedent has been set for recognizing the land rights of indigenous people in Africa.  The commission found that the eviction, with insufficient compensation, violated the Endorois’ right as an indigenous people to “property, health, culture, religion, and natural resources.” The commission ordered Kenya to restore the Endorois to their historic land, and to compensate them. This is the first ruling that defines who indigenous people to a particular land are and what their rights to that land are.

Working on this case as the advocate for the Endorois community was a London-based Canadian lawyer, Cynthia Morel. Morel said in a statement, “This landmark decision marks the beginning of a new dawn, not only for the Endorois community, but for all indigenous peoples across Africa.”

For more information, please see:

Montreal Gazette – Canadian Lawyer Helps Win Compensation for Indigenous Kenyans – 4 February 2010

Reuters – Landmark Ruling on Indigenous Land Rights – 4 February 2010

Washington post – Kenya Illegally Evicted Group – 4 February 2010

Judicial Commission to Investigate Increase in Ugandan Human Sacrifice Murders

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KAMPALA, Uganda - The number of people killed in human sacrifice in Uganda has increased from 3 in 2007 to 25 in 2008 and 29 in 2009, according to a report obtained from Ugandan Police.

In addition, a total of 123 people were still missing by the end of 2009, the majority of them, or 90, were children. Most of the missing are suspected to having become victims of human sacrifice. Reports indicate that most tribes traditionally sacrificed livestock for good luck however, only in recent years have Ugandan's begun to sacrifice human beings.

To date, 125 suspects have been arrested and 54 were taken to court. They were charged with criminal offenses such as murder, abductions, kidnap, causing harm and attempting to sell children. However, nobody has been convicted so far.

The Ugandan government announced Monday that they plan set up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the increasing number of suspected ritual murder cases. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Kirunda Kivejinja, informed Parliament that the commission would be headed by retired Supreme Court judge Joseph Mulenga.

The announcement came after the MP, Mathias Kasamba, complained about daily media reports of mysterious murders involving cutting of limbs. Kasamba said the brutality and rate at which children are sacrificed is sickening. "As people's representatives, we cannot just sit and watch. We request the Government to tell Parliament what measures they have to reduce these deaths," said Kasamba.

For more information, please see:

New Vision - Judicial Commission to Probe Ritual Murders - 2 February 2010

Nam News Network – Human Sacrifice on the Increase in Uganda – 31 January 2010

New Vision - Police Should Clarify on Ritual Murder Cases – 29 January 2010

New Vision - Ritual Sacrifice Victim Drugged – Relatives - 26 January 2010

Taylor Denies Additional Allegations

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Journal, Africa Desk

THE HAGUE, Netherlands-As the Charles Taylor trial continues, prosecutors have continued to assert more atrocities committed by Taylor through their direct examination of him. The last few days saw prosecutors allege Taylor used children in combat, transferred money to foreign bank accounts, and that he is a liar. Prosecutors also challenged the motives behind his ensuring the release of UN hostages in Sierra Leone. Finally prosecutors also claim that Taylor did not encourage Press Freedom in Liberia, despite his claims that he did.

Lead prosecutor Brenda Hollis told Taylor that he recruited and used children for military purposes in Liberia, explaining why it would be no surprise to him that RUF rebels were also using child soldiers. He dismissed the claim as untrue. Ms. Hollis said to Taylor, “You yourself had armed children, some as young as eight years old.”  In response to this statement, Taylor said, “That is total nonsense. Every child that I held I put in an orphanage.” Taylor also responded to the prosecutions allegation that he used children as young as ten to man check points by saying, “I did not use any children as young as ten to man check-points. There were soldiers and some of them had their relatives around them, but I did not use any children to man check-points.”

In regards to Taylors restrictions on the Press in Liberia, Ms. Hollis alleged that during his time as President of Liberia, several media outlets were closed and several journalist were harassed and imprisoned.  Hollis said to Taylor that his government was actually “repressive and intolerant to press freedom.” Taylor dismissed these claims as “totally incorrect”.

Ms. Hollis also questioned the sincerity and motive behind Taylor’s ensuring the release of hostages in Sierra Leone, and his further request for a cease fire. Hollis is claiming that the true motive was to help Sierra Leonean Rebel forces establish more control in the country. This was also dismissed by Taylor in court.

For more information please see:

Charles Taylor Trial – …He Used Children in Combat, He Transferred Money to Foreign Bank Accounts And He is a Liar, Prosecutors Say- 29 January 2010

Charles Taylor Trial – Charles Taylor Did Not Encourage Press Freedom In Liberia, Prosecutors Say – 1 February 2010

Charles Taylor Trial – Taylor Ensured The Release of UN Hostages In Sierra Leone… - 2 February 2010

Guinea Junta Commission Blames Diakite for Massacre

By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

CONAKRY, Guinea - On Tuesday, a Guinean investigative commission blamed renegade solder, Lieutenant "Toumba" Diakite, for the deaths of dozens of opposition protesters. 

 Initially a United Nations (UN) inquiry accused military leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara of responsibility for the killings.   However, prosecutor Siriman Kouyate, head of the Guinean commission of inquiry, has now laid the blame on Dikate.   

Following last year's September 28th massacre, Dikate was accused of attempting to assassinate Captain Camara.  Dikate has been in hiding since the shooting, and previously told French radio that he shot Camara because he feared the military leader was trying to blame him for the killings.

Human rights groups say that at least 157 activists were killed and dozens of women were raped during the massacre.  The violence ensued after a pro-democracy rally that took place at a football stadium.

Siriman Kouyate has expressed that Diakite should face justice because he had disobeyed direct orders that the army should stay in the barracks during the rally.  He has also stated that the previously accused Camara was responsible for nothing.  Captain Camara is currently in Burkina Faso recuperating from the shooting. 

"It has been established that the president did not go to the stadium," said Kouyate. 

The Guinea commission has also called for amnesty for the opposition leaders who brought together the pro-democracy rally on September 28th.   These leaders include veteran opposition leader Jean-Marie Dore, who was sworn in as prime minister last month.

AFP - Guinea Commission Absolves Junta Chief - 2 February 2010

BBC - Guinea Junta Blames Toumba Diakte for Massacre - 2 February 2010

Washington Post - Guinean Commission Report Casts Blame for Massacre - 2 February 2010

Attacks Stand as Harsh Reminder of Insecurity on First Anniversary of Somali Transitional Government

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Islamic insurgents who control much of rural Somalia launched an early-morning attack on international peacekeepers and government soldiers in this battered capital of Mogadishu on Friday, killing at least 10 people and injuring over 21 others.

Medical officials said most of the casualties were civilians whose houses had been hit by mortar fire, some of which appeared to have come from African Union peacekeepers and government troops.

The attack came as the transitional government prepared to mark its one-year anniversary with a parade, poetry readings and celebrations at Villa Somalia, the presidential palace. It was not clear whether the assault was timed to coincide with the anniversary festivities, but it offered another reminder of the government’s weakening grip on security.

"We were woken up by the explosions at 2 a.m. and haven't slept since because of the non-stop shelling," said Nurta Hussein, another resident. "Two mortar bombs landed in this neighborhood, killing four civilians and wounding six."

Residents described it as the most serious fighting in months. “I thought I was dreaming when I heard the sound of the artillery,” said Asha Abdulle, a mother of four.

Militants from the rebel group Al Shabaab and an allied group, Hizbul Islam, claimed responsibility in a statement, saying that they had assaulted “the strongholds of the enemies of Allah.”

Al Shabaab, some branches of which have ties to Al Qaeda, has seized control of much of southern Somalia. The Islamic insurgents have carried out suicide bombings and frontal attacks against Somali officials and peacekeeping troops as it seeks to unseat the country’s fragile government.

In addition to attacks on government forces, militants have launched mortar assaults on the country’s main airport and bombed a college graduation ceremony.

Western powers have spent millions on weapons and training Somali defense forces, but rampant defections and military victories by Al Shabaab rebels and their allies, who control some two-thirds of the country, have sharply limited the Somali government’s power.

Violence in Somalia has killed 19,000 civilians since the start of 2007 and uprooted a further 1.5 million people, a contributing cause of one of the world's worst humanitarian emergencies.

For more information, please see:

Shabelle Media Network -5 Killed, 15 Wounded Violence in Mogadishu Once Again - 29 January 2010

Garowe Online - Clashes in Mogadishu Claims 10 - 29 January 2010

New York Times - Islamic Militants Launch Assault on Somali Capital – 29 January 2010

Reuters - At Least 12 Killed in Mogadishu Fighting – 29 January 2010

Thousands Continue to Seek Salvation in DRC as Insecurity Persists

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

GOMA, Democratic Republic of the Congo – Military operations and banditry have forced more than 15,000 people to flee their homes over the past two months in Democratic Republic of the Congo's troubled North Kivu province.

Since December, the UN refugee agency has registered 15,508 newly displaced people at dozens of UNHRC -run sites for internally displaced people (IDP), where they seek shelter and safety.

According to the fleeing families, the situation is difficult and unsafe in their villages in the western part of North Kivu. They say military operations and violence conducted by numerous armed groups are forcing civilians to seek safety elsewhere.

The United Nations Human Rights Counsel (UNHCR) registered the new caseload of internally displaced people in and around Kitchanga, in a large area to the north-west of Goma, the capital of the province. This latest wave of displacement brings the total number of IDPs in the UNHCR-run sites to 116,000. UNHCR is currently managing 47 IDP camps in the region, providing protection and assistance.

"We estimate that so far we have registered only a part of the recently displaced population and that many more could be sheltering with host families or hiding in the woods fearing to return to their homes. These IDPs cannot be accessed due to insecurity and impassable roads," a UNHCR spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Fierce fighting has persisted in eastern DRC, particularly in North and South Kivu, where Hutu militants blamed for the Rwandan genocide of 1994 have fled. Last year the Congolese Government launched several offensives targeting the group known as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), with logistical support from the UN peacekeeping mission in the country (MONUC).

The FDLR and the national army, the FARDC (Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo), are blamed for human-rights abuses in North and South Kivu, including attacking civilians, looting property, burning homes, widespread rape and sexual violence.

At least 200,000 cases of sexual violence have been recorded in eastern DRC since 1996, according to the UN. Across the country, an estimated 2.1 million people have been displaced by conflict, including about 538,880 in South Kivu Province and 1,130,000 in North Kivu.

For more information, please see:

IRIN - DRC: IDPs Hiding in North Kivu Forests - 27 January 2010

UN News - UN Agency Assisting Thousands Uprooted by Insecurity in Eastern Region - 26 January 2010

Reuters - Violence Displaces 15,000 Congolese Civilians Over Past Two Months - 26 Jan 2010

Charles Taylor Trial Resumes

By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa Desk

THE HAGUE, Netherlands-Last week saw updates in the trial of Charles Taylor for war crimes against humanity.  Last week Taylor denied having any knowledge of rebel Commander, Sam Bockarie’s, public calls to kill sierra Leoneans.  Taylor has long claimed that when he became president of Liberia in 1997, the Economic Community of West African States made him the “point-person” for peace in Sierra Leone.  Lead prosecutor Brenda Hollis, used his self-proclaimed status as the “point person” to prove he was aware of Sam Bockarie’s threats to kill Sierra Leoneans.

 Taylor however still denied having any knowledge of these public statements by Bockarie. Prosecutors have argued throughout the trial that although Taylor was never present in Sierra Leone when RUF rebels committed crimes in the country, he was still aware of their actions and gave them his support to commit such crimes.

Taylor also denied allegations that during his time as Liberian President the Liberian judiciary was not independent.  Prosecutors have put together testimony by former lawyers in Liberia who have claimed that there was a “strong influence of the government on the judiciary.”  Taylor dismissed these allegations as “totally incorrect.” He further said, “the judiciary was rotten, I agree with the contents, but I met it this way, and I am trying to fix it.” This is a conference where Liberians are trying to solve historical problems.”  During his direct examination, Taylor said he brought good governance to Liberia and that he respected the fundamental human rights of his citizens.

Prosecutors are now trying to establish that he was not a good president for Liberia. They allege that as “leader of Liberia’s rebel group the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), Taylor was involved in the commission of atrocities against the people of Liberia and that when he became president, his system of governance did not reflect a democratic society.” Taylor has dismissed these accounts as untrue.

For more information, please see:

Charles Taylor Trial – Charles taylor Did Not Have Knowledge of Rebel Commander’s Public Calls To Kill Sierra Leoneans – 19 January 2010

Charles Taylor Trial –Charles Taylor Denies Allegations The Liberian Judiciary Was Not Independent Under his Presidency-19 January 2010

Charles Taylor Trial – Charles Taylor Denies Sending Fighters – 20 January 2009

Somali Al Shabaab Rebels Threaten to Attack Kenya

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya - Somalia's hardline al Shabaab rebels threatened on Thursday to attack neighboring Kenya following a crackdown on Somalis in the capital Nairobi, according to a recording posted on an al Shabaab Website.

The six-minute clip posted on the al Shabaab website stated, "We have arrived at the border, we will enter Kenya, and Inshallah we will get to Nairobi... when we get there, we will fight, we will kill, because we have weapons, enough weapons."

Islamist al Shabaab have threatened to attack Kenya before, although anger has been rising over the past week among the Somali community after Kenyan security forces detained hundreds of Somalis living in a Nairobi suburb. Kenya rounded up and arrested several hundred Somali immigrants and refugees living in a mostly Somali neighborhood. Earlier this month, Muslim protesters clashed with police after Friday prayers, leading to one death and extensive property damage.

The Kenyan police crackdown followed a violent protest in Nairobi against the detention of Jamaican Muslim cleric Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal, who was jailed in Britain for urging his audiences to kill Jews, Hindus and Westerners.

The website said the message had been composed by militants annoyed by Kenya's decision to deport the cleric and the deaths of protesters last Friday. The chaotic demonstration resulted in the death of at least two people during nearly nine hours of mayhem in the heart of the capital. The security forces conducted raids on Somali-inhabited in the capital and other major cities in the country, leading to arrest of more than 700 people, mostly Somalis.

Many of the marchers were Somalis and some waved a black flag identified with al Shabaab, a group seen by Washington as al Qaeda's proxy in the Horn of Africa nation.

Reclusive al Shabaab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, also known as Sheik Mukhtar Abdirahman Abu Zubeyr, was introduced on the recording by the men chanting. He is believed to be in close contact with senior foreign members of al Shabaab. The man they introduced called on Muslims in several sub-Saharan African nations to wage jihad, or holy war, against "infidels" and to destroy their interests around the world.

"Our brothers in Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda and Chad, you have a chance to join the jihad in the name of Allah. Don't you know whoever does not join the jihad today, will never join?" the man said in Arabic. "If we live on or die, we are between two victories."

For more information, please see:

CNN - Somali Rebel Group Threatens Kenya as Tension Mounts – 22 January 2010

Reuters - Somali Hardline Rebels Threaten Kenya Attack – 21 January 2010 

Garowe Online - Al Shabaab Threaten to Attack Kenya Capital - 21 January 2010