Impunity Watch: Africa

Zimbabwe opposition appears ready to talk with Mugabe, with guidelines; ICC probes Darfur rebel leaders; Somalian humanitarian crisis worsens due to food shortage

 By Ted Townsend
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa  –  Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga announced Sunday that Zimbabwe’s opposition group was prepared to hold talks with President Robert Mugabe’s party. Later that same day, however, opposition leaders said that it would not sign any peace accord until its concerns were addressed by South African mediators.  In spite of this, regional officials still believe an accord is possible.

The Kenyan president, believing an agreement was imminent this week, said that he hoped such an agreement would lead to a quick and safe exit from power for Mugabe. In an interview on BBC television Odinga condemned Mugabe, saying that “(he) is an embarrassment to the African continent,” adding, “he lost an election and refused to move on.”

The purported negotiations were to take place in South Africa this week, however late Sunday both sides appeared to be “digging in to their respective positions.” For its part, Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party took aim against Western nations threatening sanctions against Harare. The party believes that involved Western firms have, at least in the past, created “false shortages of basic commodities and unnecessarily pushing up prices.”

The opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has said it will not sign until South African president Thabo Mbeki, mediator for the crisis, establishes some sort of guidelines for the talks.

Since the June 27^th disputed election, Zimbabwe’s already heightened inflation has increased to well over two million percent, exacerbating an already “desperate” economic situation. Zimbabweans are suffering from an unemployment rate of almost eighty percent, and chronic food shortages.

For more information, please see:

Reuters   – Zimbabwes MDC holds out on talks deal  – 20 July 2008

Reuters –Odinga says Zimbabwe opposition ready for talks – 20 July 2008

International Herald Tribune – Zimbabwe opposition appears ready to talk with Mugabe – 20 July 2008

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KHARTOUM, Sudan – The International Criminal Court has announced it will be investigating rebel leaders from the war torn Darfur region on allegations of war crimes. Last week, Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo asked for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to be indicted on war crimes charges, sparking angry protests in the capital Khartoum. The new charges are focused on two rebel commanders, suspected of an attack against a military base last year which left ten dead. In bringing the charges, Ocampo announced that “any attack against peace keepers . . . is a war crime.”

The charges allege that ten African Union peacekeepers were killed when the rebels assaulted their base in the town of Haskanita, in southern Darfur. Ocampo told the BBC that he was asking other militant groups to help them gather evidence against the two leaders. In a statement focused on getting the rebels to show respect for the law, Ocampo said that “the rebel groups have an opportunity to . . . provide evidence, to arrest the commanders and to stop crimes.”

UN officials fear that, if an arrest warrant is issued against president al-Bashir, there may be reprisals against UN peacekeepers and aid workers in Darfur. Ocampo responded, however, that the UN Security Council decided justice had to be done in Darfur in order to make peace.

For more information, please see:

BBC News– ICC probes Darfur rebel leaders – 18 July 2008

TheAge.com – ICC prosecutor pursues Darfur rebels – 19 July 2008

VOA News – Darfur Investigation Finds Refugees Voices In Tune With Sudan Indictment – 18 July 2008

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MOGADISHU, Somalia – A food security analysis has warned that over three and a half million Somalians may need food by the end of the year, exacerbating an already worse humanitarian crisis. The Food Security Analysis Unit of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization counts among the causes of the food crisis rapidly rising food prices, an abnormally harsh dry season and a delayed start to the April-June rains. Millions are in immediate need of urgent aid, according to the agency.

The United National World Food Programme Country Director for Somalia told a London audience that “Somalia is at a dire crossroads” if the food problem is not solved. He added “if sufficient food and other humanitarian assistance cannot be scaled up in the coming months, parts of the country could be in the grips of disaster similar to the 1992-1993 famine, when hundreds of thousands of people perished.”

In addition to the food issues, the humanitarian aid operation is also being hindered by a number of killings and kidnappings of staff from UN agencies.

For further information, please see:

IRIN Africa – Somalia: Some 3.5 million could need food aid by end of the year – 21 July 2008

allAfrica.com – Somalia: Insecurity And Drought Leave Millions in Dire Need of Aid - UN – 18 July 2008

Update on Charles Taylor Trial

By Ted Townsend
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The Trial of Charles Taylor continued into its fifth month, with the direct and cross examination of prosecution witness TF1-388, former Revolutionary United Front (RUF) Military Policeman Jaward Jabati. The witness testified over the course of five days as to the scope of investigations conducted by his MP unit.

According to Jabati, certain RUF commanders were accused of “conniving with the enemy” and the witness’ unit was ordered to investigate. However, the investigations were cut short,  when many of those investigated were then killed by notable RUF commanders Issa Sesay and Mosquito, including Foday Sankoh’s girlfriend. According to the witness, Sankoh himself ordered the executions of the commanders, many of whom were tortured to death and had hot oil thrown on them. Others were beheaded.

The witness also spoke about a top 20 operation which was a battle between Sierra Leone and Liberian Groups of the RUF. During the operation, many civilians were killed, including his own grandmother.

In 1999, the witness left the RUF with RUF commander Sam Bockarie and fled to Liberia. Many civilians apparently fled along with Bockarie, who left over differences and misunderstandings with Sankoh. Later in his testimony, the witness described how he was arrested to be executed. Some RUF members freed him, and told Jabati that they had killed Sam Bockarie, his wife, and all soldiers who were with him. The order to execute all those with Bockarie came directly from Charles Taylor himself, according to the witness.

Outside of the courtroom this week, Chief Prosecutor Stephen Rapp gave a public statement regarding the progress of the trial, noting that many consider the court a “model for international justice.” Rapp said that "it shows that the trial of a former chief of State can be conducted openly and fairly and we're very proud to date of the progress that's been made.” He made special mention of the fifty nine witnesses testifying against Taylor, most of which were insiders to Taylor’s reign and all of whom are providing evidence against him.

Further, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir  joined Taylor as the second African leader to be indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Al-Bashir has been accused of masterminding atrocities in Darfur, including rape and human rights violations.

For more information, please see:

allAfrica.com – Examination in Chief of Witness TF1-388 Jabati Jaward Concludes – 15 July 2008

China View – UN Court prosecutor notes progress made on trial of former Liberian President – 15 July 2008

The Trial of Charles Taylor - last accessed 15 July 2008

Associated Press – Sudanese President Charged with Genocide in Darfur – 14 July 2008

Sudan’s President Accused of Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes

By M. Brandon Maggiore
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo told a panel of three judges that Omar al-Hashir, the sitting president of Sudan, is responsible for alleged atrocities in Darfur over the last five years. The three-judge panel will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir. 

Moreno-Ocampo submitted a report alleging al-Bashir is responsible for 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Moreno-Ocampo said that al-Bashir "masterminded and implemented a plan to destroy in substantial part the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa groups, on account of their ethnicity" and that pro-government militias attacked these groups on al-Bashir’s orders. Al-Bashir allegedly gave his subordinates impunity and it is alleged that these three ethnic groups were attacked in their villages and those who fled were pursued into the desert.

Moreono-Ocampo also said he has evidence to show that al-Bashir interfered with international relief efforts by ordering forces to surround aid workers. Moreno-Ocampo said that women were gang raped in camps for displaced people, sometimes young girls were gang raped in front of their parents and that he could not look away.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ali al-Sadig told Reuters news agency that "We consider the indictment of either the president or any other normal citizen of Sudan the same - we don't recognise [sic] whatever comes out from the ICC, to us it is non-existent."

Sudan has said that Luis Moreno-Ocampo is a criminal and that the indictment may stall peace talks in Sudan.

Last year Humanitarian Affairs Minister Ahmad Harun and militia leader Ali Kushayb were indicted by the ICC and Sudan has yet to hand them over to the international court.

The UN estimates that the Darfur conflict has caused the deaths of 300,000 people since 2003 and that more than two million people have fled their homes.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Sudan head accused of war crimes – 14 July 2008

allAfrica.com – Sudan: Court Accuses Al-Bashir of Darfur War Crimes – 14 July 2008

ICC – Press Release: ICC Prosecutor Presents Case against Sudanese President, Hassan Ahmad AL BASHIR, for Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and war Crimes in Darfur – 14 July 2008

New York Times - Sudan's Leader is Accused of Genocide - 14 July 2008

Voice of America - Former Charles Taylor Prosecutor Praises ICC Action Against Sudanese President - 14 July 2008

Wall Street Journal - Sudan President to Face Darfur Charges - 14 July 2008

 

ICC to Issue Indictment For War Crimes in Sudan; Zanu-PF Allegedly Continuing Covert Plan to Desimate the MDC

By M. Brandon Maggiore
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo’s office said Thursday that it will submit to judges "evidence on crimes committed in the whole of Darfur over the last five years" and seek charges against one or more individuals. No details were given, but it is believed that an indictment will be sought for sitting Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. This would be the first indictment by the ICC of a sitting head of state.

The Washington Post reports that an indictment will be sought against the Sudanese President for genocide and crimes against humanity. Sudan, aid groups within Sudan, and the international community fear that an indictment of the Sudanese President would undermine the peace process in Darfur and possibly cause a backlash.

Since 2003, at least 200,000 people have died in Darfur and 2.5 Million have been displaced. This figure by international experts diverges widely from the 10,000 people Khartoum reports killed.
According to Reuters, Sudan’s main rebel groups have also been accused of rights abuses. However, they have also said they will hand over any of their commanders if they are sought by the ICC.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – ICC Prosecutor Set to Charge Sudan's Bashir – 13 July 2008

Telegraph.co.uk – Sudan: Tension Mounts Before Expected War Crimes Indictments – 12 July 2008

the Darfur situation on 14 July – 10 July 2008

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HARARE, Zimbabwe – The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) alleges that the ruling Zanu-PF is continuing with a covert plan to decimate the MDC structures by eliminating key MDC members and destroying its businesses. The plan was allegedly created by the Joint Operations Command (JOC) after MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai received more votes than President Robert Mugabe in the March elections.

There is disagreement about the plan and what its intentions are. Some believe it is to force Tsvangirai into negotiations with President Mugabe, while others believe Mugabe has lost control of those who secured his “victory” twenty-eight years ago.

The MDC reports that 20 supporters have been killed and another 5,000 have gone missing since the June 27 Presidential run-off election which Tsvangirai withdrew from. The MDC says that the death for its supporters is 109 since Tsvangirai received more votes than Mugabe in the March 29 election. Each side blames the other for the post-election violence.

Also this week, Russia and China vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution to sanction Zimbabwe for the post-election violence. Russia and China said that the situation in Zimbabwe posed no threat to international security.

The veto brought strong reactions from the UK and the US. The BBC reports that the US said that Russia’s veto calls into question Russia’s reliability as a partner in the G8.

For more information, please see:

The Standard – Zanu PF's Grand Plan: Decimate The MDC – 12 July 2008

BBC News – Zimbabwe Hails Sanctions Failure  - 12 July 2008

African Union leaders leave G8 summit with mixed feelings on Zimbabwe sanctions; Britain resumes deportation of Darfur refugees; Displaced persons attacked by Militia in Zimbabwe

By Ted Townsend
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa  –  The Group of Eight (“G8”) Summit of industrialized nations met last week with leaders of seven African nations, to discuss both the need for aid to the continent and the international communities desire to sanction Robet Mugabe, recently re-elected President of Zimbabwe. These calls for action by the west have been met with skepticism by African Union leaders, some believing that public pressure and sanctions are the incorrect route to take with Zimbabwe. The leaders reticence could be, as Mugabe himself wondered “How many (leaders) can point a clean finger at (Mugabe)? How many held a better election than his one-man runoff that followed a campaign of violence against his foes that induced the opposition leader to quit the race?”

For one, Gambian president Yahya Jammeh praised the election of Mugabe, and ardently resisted the proposed sanctions, openly wondering “what has the west done for Africa.” In fact, many of the thirty-one African nations are ruled by despots who have run very similar elections as the recently-conducted Zimbabwe election.

The UN position is supported by evidence of an economic meltdown which has occurred under Mugabe’s reign. Over one third of Zimbabweans are hungry, and five million of an estimated twelve million native residents have fled the country, seeking more fertile pastures. According to Secretary General Asha-Rose Migro, the humanitarian issues and political precedents currently involved in Zimbabwe makes it “the single greatest challenge in southern Africa."

For more information, please see:

Associated Press  – West condemns Mugabe, ignores other African despots  – 4 July 2008

CNN –Bush focuses on Zimbabwe ‘punishment’ – 7 July 2008

allAfrica.com – Zimbabwe: African Leaders oppose sanctions – 7 July 2008

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LONDON, England – British officials say they will resume deportation of asylum-seeking refugees from Darfur to Sudan, a move that is widely criticized by human rights agencies. Beginning in December, Britain had a ban imposed on deportation of Darfur refugees back to Khartoum while it reviewed claims that Darfuri’s were being tortured. That review is now complete, and the British government claims that the accusations of refugee torture were unproven, paving the way for the resumption of deportations.

Opponents of the decision cited the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees opposition of the return. According to these opponents, those refugees who return to Khartoum face major human rights violations, including torture and death. Waging Peace, one of the peace groups opposing the return of the refugees, claimed that the British government already had returned one man to Khartoum, before the change in policy. The group alleges that instead of protecting refugees, as “promised,” the British government is “sending them into grave danger.”

One asylum seeker, Abubaker Yusuf Mohammed, said that he had been issued a plane ticket and ordered to return to Khartoum. Mohammed said he worked for rebel group the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), and expected that he would either be killed upon return or imprisoned for an extended period of time.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – UK lifts ban on deporting Darfur refugees to Sudan –  7 July 2008

UPI – Britain resumes Darfuri deportations – 7 July 2008

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HARARE, Zimbabwe – Two refugee camps, filled with displaced persons fleeing post-election violence in Zimbabwe, were attacked over the weekend, according to opposition and medical officials. According to the reports, the camps were raided by armed militia, some of them in army fatigues. Reports differ on the extent of the violence, but many agree that the raids could pose a major impediment to power-sharing proposals.

In Gokwe, north of Harare, the opposition claimed multiple deaths. Other reports claim one displaced person died in the raid.

At the same time, near the capital in Ruwa, a group of 354 men, women and children who had sought safety at the South African embassy in Harare were beat up by masked men in army fatigues. At least eight of those attacked at Ruwa were hospitalized, while fourteen remained missing. Eyewitnesses claim the refugees were promised security by the South African embassy. According to these witnesses, the armed militia burst into the camp with no warning, beating people with guns and kicking them.

For further information, please see:

BBC News – Militia attack Zimbabwe displaced – 7 July 2008

SW Radio Africa – Refugees attacked, several dead in weekend militia raids – 7 July 2008

News24.com – Zim refugees attacked at camp – 7 July 2008