Both Sudan and South Sudan have signed deals on trade, security and oil in a move that has been lauded as easing escalating tensions between the two nations. The deals, penned at African Union brokered talks, were hailed by AU mediator Thabo Mbeki as significant, saying, "We are convinced that what has happened, which culminated in signing of the agreements, constitutes a giant step forward for both countries." ICC wanted-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir stated it was a "historic moment for building peace" commenting, "We will continue talking with the same spirit to solve the other problems...
The former president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, has been subjected to a travel ban, preventing him from leaving the capital Male. A court ruled that Nasheed needs to seek the court’s permission if he wants to leave the capital, a move which, according to the court, is standard procedure ahead of the several court cases he is facing. Supporters of Nasheed have criticised the travel ban and accused the government of restricting the former president’s ability to campaign for elections next year. "The regime fears Nasheed will win an election. So they plan to convict him of something so...
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office expressed 'regret' at the recent elections that took place in Belarus on 23rd September. In a statement, the FCO spokesperson, felt that the Belarus elections were "neither free nor fair". The spokesperson said , “We note the OSCE assessment that the elections were neither free nor fair. This is clearly disappointing. Whilst we welcome the improvements to the electoral law made in advance of these elections, they did not go far enough. We call on the government of Belarus to work constructively with the OSCE on further reforms.
At the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the UK foreign minister, William Hague, met with his Burmese counterpart, Wunna Maung Lwin, marking an ever increasing welcome extended to Burma over recent months, including the easing of sanctions by the US and EU , despite the persecution of Rohingya Muslims by Buddhist monks. Writing in Forbes magazine on Burma and Sri Lanka earlier this week, Tim Ferguson, suggests that the Burmese economy may "leap-frog" Sri Lanka's. See here for full article. Extract reproduced below: " But a wave of excitement has swept through international investors as...
Mali has requested that the United Nations deploy an international force in the north of the country, to help recapture territory captured by Islamic rebels, according to the French Foreign Minister. Citing a letter sent to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon by Mali’s leaders, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that Mali has requested an international force "to help the Malian army to reconquer the occupied areas of northern Mali". He continued to say the letter said, "For several months Mali has been confronted by an unprecedented security crisis in northern areas (and has been)...
Speaking at a United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, outlined that a strong rule of law was the backbone for legal protection of human rights. She stressed the importance of states taking on the responsibility to uphold a rule of law that was based on UN developed international human rights laws. Pillay urged that member states to ratify the statue of the International Criminal Court, and highlighted that, safeguarding respect for the rule of law required effective accountability mechanisms for human rights...
The two US marines who were filmed urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban fighters have been recommended for a trial by court martial, according to the Pentagon. Staff sergeants Joseph Chamblin and Edward Deptola will face the court martial, a month after three of their colleagues were given administrative punishments for their role in the incident. Afghan officials praised the action taken by the US. "We welcome the US move to put those Marines on trial," defence ministry spokesman General Zahir Azimi told AFP. "We want all those people who commit unlawful acts to be brought to justice."...
German prosecutors have launched a war crimes investigation into an 87-year-old former SS guard who now lives in the United States, after years of failed American efforts to deport him and strip him of his US citizenship. Johann "Hans" Breyer is accused of being a guard at the infamous Auschiwtz camp, with the German office that investigates Nazi war crimes urging prosecutors to charge him with accessory to murder and extradite him to Germany where he may face trial for involvement in the death of at least 344,000 Jews. Associated Press have also obtained documents that they claim show some...
The Nigerian military said 35 members of Boko Haram were killed and several arrested during overnight violence in Damaturu. In a statement, the Joint Task Force spokesperson Eli Lazarus said, "The operation which lasted throughout Sunday night and continued into the early hours of Monday recorded fierce exchanges of fire between Joint Task Force (JTF) troops and the terrorists," "Thirty-five terrorists were killed in the fight while several others were arrested ... two JTF men were injured,"
A group of citizen journalists have been jailed for up to twelve years in Vietnam for blogging about human rights abuses, corruption and foreign policy. Nguyen Van Hai, Ta Phong Tan and Phan Thanh Hai, founding members of the ‘Free Journalists’ Club’ were found guilty of spreading “propaganda against the state”, and were handed sentences ranging from four to twelve years in jail. The mother of Ms Tan died in late July after self-immolating in protest against her daughter’s arrest. The US has expressed that it is “deeply troubled” by the convictions with State Department spokesperson Victoria...