Hundreds of Libyans surrendered their weapons to the new Libyan Army at the weekend, following public outcry at armed militia. See here for report in The Times. The amnesty, which took place in Tripoli and Benghazi, entered those taking part into a free prize draw with the opportunity to win items including a Hyundai hatchback, flat screen televisions and iPads. Small arms, ammunition and heavy weapons, including Kalashnikovs, anti-aircraft guns, rocket-propelled grenades were all handed over as a military marching band and pop music played in the background.
The judicial commission of inquiry into the fatal shootings of 44 people at the Marikana mine protests last month, began today. Set up by the president Jacob Zuma, the probe is mandated to determine the involvement of the police, managemant of the mine, the trade unions, government and Lonmin. It comprises of a three member panel, including a retired Supreme Court Appeal Judge Ian Farlam, and is expected to submit its analysis in four months time. The final report will be submitted within one month of the investigation drawing to a close.
The United States implored Rwanda to publicly denounce Congolese rebels, who have seized vast areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s East. The appeal outlined the United States’ frustration over the Rwandan’s alleged role in propping up the M23 Congolese rebel movement, which has also resulted in the slashing of aid by donor countries to Rwanda. Though Rwanda has consistently denied supporting the M23 rebels, it is yet to publicly condemn the movement. Emphasising the importance of denouncing the Congolese rebels, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson,...
A disarmament drive by security forces in Libya has resulted in more than a thousand Libyans handing in their weapons. Libya’s current leader Mohamed Magarief pledged to disarm all illegal militias after the killing of the US ambassador in Benghazi. Weapons from pistols to tanks were collected at collection points in Tripoli and Benghazi. "They are handing over weapons to the military so that they are kept in the right place and not on the streets," Yussef al-Mangoush, chief-of-staff of the Libyan army said to Reuters. Libya’s many militias were instrumental in overthrowing Gaddafi’s regime...
Kenyan warships attacked the Somali port of Kismaya on Saturday night, despite al Shabaab rebels stating that they were abandoning the city, reported residents. According to al Shabaab, two children were killed, and several others wounded. In a statement, the Kenyan military spokesperson, Col. Cyrus Oguna, denied this, and argued that the rebels said they had abandoned the town to lure the Kenyan troops into a trap. Speaking to Reuters, Oguna said , "The troops are consolidating and making plans to expand into the southern part of the city," "A lot of caution must be exercised here. We don't...
Kenya’s high court is scheduled to decide, on Monday, whether citizens living outside the country will be eligible to vote at next year’s elections. An activist group, the Kenyan Diaspora Alliance, asked the jurisdiction to force the nation’s Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IBEC) to allow citizens abroad to register and vote in the election. A former member of parliament who is now the co-convener of the Kenyan Diaspora Alliance, Shem Ochuodho, wanted the IEBC to make provisions for Kenyans living overseas to cast ballots through electronic voting. According to Kenya’s Central...
A Syrian rebel group has claimed to have captured Yemeni troops who were sent to the country to assist the Syrian government in putting down the uprising. A video posted by the al-Nusra Front, who are currently fighting government forces in Syria, showed five men, reportedly Yemeni military personnel, calling on the Yemeni government to cease assisting the Syrian government. One man said in the video, "I ask the Yemeni government to cut all logistical and military ties because Bashar al-Assad's regime is a regime that is killing its people and that is what we saw with our own eyes when we...
The former chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court has joined a United Nations investigative panel into war crimes in Syria, announced the UN Human Rights Council. Carla del Ponte’s appointment to the commission came as the UN HRC also moved to extend the mission of the UN probe by a further 6 months. The appointment has been hailed as a strong show of the UN’s determination to bring perpetrators of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria to justice. Laura Dupuy Lasserre, president of the UN Human Rights Council welcomed del Ponte’s appointment, along with that of...
The European Union froze an aid programme to Rwanda worth £140 million yesterday, over allegations that the Rwandan government was supporting M23 rebels. The UK meanwhile, will continue giving aid. Jean-Michel Dumond, the EU’s Ambassador in Kinshasa, said: “It was agreed to freeze the programme of budgetary assistance and to not agree to any supplementary budgetary credit for Rwanda without them giving signs of co-operating.” The US, Sweden and Netherlands have already cut all aid to the country. Human rights groups have accused the M23 rebels, a group operating in neighbouring Democratic...
The United Nations Human Rights Council extended the mandate of its investigation into war crimes in Syria by another six months on Friday. The UN condemned the widespread violations by the Syrian government forces in the 18 month old conflict. The resolution, which was drawn up by the Arab states, won the support of 41 out of the 47 member states with 3 abstentions. China, Cuba and Russia made up the 3 states against the resolution. The US ambassador, Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, said: “The work of the commission of inquiry is important because as they continue to document the names of...