[Ugandan troops captured a top Lord’s Resistance Army commander, Caesar Achellam, in the jungles of the Central African Republic as the hunt for fugitive rebel leader Joseph Kony enters a decisive stage, the Ugandan army said Sunday.]
BURUNDI :
Burundi: six personnes assassinées sur fond d’accusations de sorcellerie
lundi 14 mai 2012 /Belga
(Belga) Une Burundaise, accusée de sorcellerie et de provoquer des décès dans le nord-est du Burundi, a été tuée à coups de machette par des habitants, ainsi que cinq de ses enfants et petits-enfants, ont annoncé dimanche les autorités locales.
Samedi, “un groupe de gens a attaqué le domicile d’une vieille femme du nom de Marthe Kabatesi dans la commune de Bwambarangwe (…) ils l’ont massacrée à coups de machette”, a déclaré à l’AFP Révérien Nzigamasabo, le gouverneur de la province de Kirundo, où les faits se sont déroulés. “Puis, ils ont fait subir le même sort à ses deux filles et à trois de ses petits-enfants dont un bébé de 3 mois (…) Ce qu’ils ont fait est inqualifiable, insupportable à regarder: toutes les victimes ont été tués par des coups assenés sur la tête et le cou”, a-t-il poursuivi. Selon M. Nzigamasabo, cette femme était accusée depuis un certains temps d’être responsable des décès dans la zone de Bwambarangwe (280 km au nord-est de Bujumbura). Elle a été tuée après une réunion au cours de laquelle les autorités locales ont tenté de convaincre la population que leurs craintes n’étaient que des superstitions. “Ces gens croient par exemple qu’il y a quelqu’un qui a ressuscité en 2011, à cause des pouvoirs maléfiques de cette vieille femme”, a expliqué le gouverneur. Au Burundi, des dizaines de personnes, essentiellement de femmes âgées, sont assassinées en toute impunité chaque année par des foule en colère, les accusant d’être des sorcières. (VAD)
RWANDA :
Rwandan President Paul Kagame Delivers Commencement Address
Monday, May 14, 2012/oskynews.org
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Security was tight as the visiting head of state, Rwandan President Paul Kagame was on hand to deliver the 2012 commencement address at William Penn University.
Students of William Penn started gathering just before noon in the gymnasium, and the college of working adults gathered in the upstairs gym. Students talked amongst their friends and classmates, savoring those last words, sharing memories and accomplishments.
Just like every other person attempting to gain access to the building, everyone was subject to a walk through the metal detector and, on some occasions, a pat down by security.
Secret Service, Rwandan Security, Homeland Security, Iowa State Patrol, Oskaloosa Police and the Mahaska County Sheriff along with William Penn Campus Security all took part in protecting the visiting head of state. Despite the just over 25 protestors outside, everything on the inside ran with no interruption.
Kagame was bestowed an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by William Penn. “It is a distinct pleasure for me to be associated with William Penn University,” Kagame said about the relationship that has developed between the university and Rwanda in the past few years. “This partnership is evidently beginning to produce results. Today, we mark another milestone in this relationship, with Rwandan students being part of this graduating class. We are proud of them and this university.” Kagame said he hoped that many more students would find their way to William Penn in the future. “They did not only find an education here, but also a home away from home.”
Speaking towards the common principles between Rwanda and William Penn, Kagame said, “I’m also happy to say that Rwanda shares the principles and values of which this university was founded and continue to shape it.”
“Whenever people decide to live the best life they can, and better the lives of others as well, one will find some common characteristics,” Kagame said continuing to draw the correlation between the two.
Once all the diplomas and honors had been handed out, students filed out of the Penn Activity Center onto the lawn of Penn Hall for the traditional “Blue and Gold Ceremony”. This ceremony welcomes every graduate into a lifetime Alumni Association. The ribbon is stretched across the lawn, with knots every so often. This knot is representative of the bond shared by all alumni. Scissors are used, and each graduate takes with them a section of knotted ribbon as a reminder of that day.
The day’s “Blue and Gold Ceremony” was different than normal, as the sounds of protestors could be heard over the chatter of excited family members and students as they prepared for their final event at William Penn.
Kagame’s visit drew protestors from as far away as Texas, who say that Kagame’s “A human rights abuser,” as was stated by protestor Theophile Murayi. Murayi also said that Kagame, “doesn’t tolerate descent.”
Murayi said that he [Kagame] abuses human rights by oppressing all freedoms, “freedom of press, freedom of assembly, the freedom of speech.”
RDC CONGO:
Congo Official: Foreign Influence Fuels DRC Conflict
May 14, 2012/James Butty/www.voanews.com
Information minster Lambert Mende says his government has sent a fact-finding mission to neighboring countries
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Information Minister said his government is aware that foreign influence is fueling conflict in his country.
Lambert Mende said, while the government of President Joseph Kabila has no reason to believe neighboring countries are behind the conflict, Kinshasa has dispatched its defense minister on a fact-finding mission to Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.
Mende’s comments followed reports that heavy weekend fighting between Congolese troops and mutinous soldiers loyal to rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda forced to flee eastern Congo.
Mende said government forces are in hot pursuit of the rebels.
“What happened is that, during the five days of [a unilateral government] ceasefire, those renegade elements of Jean Bosco Ntaganda came back to surrender to authorities. But, this group is the last who refused that offer from the higher command to have them back to the barracks and, [while] trying to escape, they opened fire and we had no other issue but to follow them and stop them,” he said.
Ntaganda and his group were once integrated into the Congolese national army under a 2009 peace agreement. But, they mutinied after complaining of a lack of pay, poor food and difficulties getting promoted.
Mende described as “rubbish” the claims of the rebels. He said they simply refused to be deployed anywhere else in the country except in their birth places in eastern Congo.
“They are refusing to be deployed to other provinces than where they had been born. And, we know of no army on this planet earth who can accept that soldiers can decide on their own where they want to be deployed. Suppose we have a war, when soldiers decide where they want to go, and then they can refuse to fight,” Mende said.
Mende reiterated his government’s belief of foreign influence in Congo’s ongoing conflict. But, he said the Kabila government has dispatched its defense minister on a fact-finding mission to neighboring Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.
“We have no reason now to think that our neighbors are implicated in this situation, but, practically, we know that foreign interests are very much key to those mutinous rebels, not only in the neighboring Africa, but also from outside, those who are buying mining from those negative forces. They have interest to destabilize the situation so that they can continue with their business,” Mende said.
He said his government is concerned about the thousands of Congolese who have fled the fighting into neighboring countries.
“We have something like 7,500 in Rwanda where our governor for North Kivu was sent by the President to see what is happening with them. And, we have 10,000 who escaped to Uganda and our government will send, I think tomorrow or [the] day after tomorrow, to see what is happening and to prepare their way back home,” Mende said.
UGANDA :
Ugandan Forces Capture Top Kony Commander .
May 13, 2012/online.wsj.com/By NICHOLAS BARIYO
KAMPALA, Uganda—Ugandan troops captured a top Lord’s Resistance Army commander, Caesar Achellam, in the jungles of the Central African Republic as the hunt for fugitive rebel leader Joseph Kony enters a decisive stage, the Ugandan army said Sunday.
Mr. Achellam, a major-general in the rebel ranks, was captured alive after a firefight with U.S.-backed Ugandan troops Saturday, a Ugandan army spokesman said. “Achellam is alive, and we are expecting him at Entebbe airport today,” the spokesman said.
Mr. Achellam was captured in an ambush along the River Mbou, as he attempted to cross into the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ugandan army said. The army also detained his wife and an escort. At least a dozen fighters escaped the ambush.
Mr. Achellam is among the top three LRA commanders who have been on the run for more than two decades. Ugandan officials said Mr. Achellam was the LRA’s military strategist at the time of his capture.
Since the mid-1980s, LRA fighters have passed through Uganda, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and most recently the Central African Republic, killing tens of thousands of civilians and abducting more than 20,000 children.
In March, a U.S. advocacy group known as “Invisible Children” caused an Internet sensation with a 30-minute video, “Kony 2012,” on the LRA’s violent history. The “Kony 2012” video went viral, becoming the most-viewed video in web history and lifting Mr. Kony’s profile.
Last week, the United Nations said Mr. Kony’s capture was imminent.
At least 100 U.S. military advisers are stationed at five points in Central Africa to help Ugandan troops capture Mr. Kony.
Mr. Kony operated in northern Uganda until 2005, before fleeing to Congo. In 2008, Uganda launched a military offensive against the LRA, bombing several camps in the jungles of Garamba. Mr. Kony and his henchmen later fled to the Central African Republic where they have remained on the run.
Mr. Kony and at least three of his surviving commanders are wanted by the International Criminal Court to answer charges of rape, the mutilation and murder of civilians, as well as conscription and recruitment of children to serve as soldiers and sex slaves.
TANZANIA:
CCM prepares itself for exit of old Katiba
Monday, 14 May 2012 /By The Citizen Reporters
Dodoma. The rewrite of Tanzania’s Constitution – Katiba – was among the top agendas that preoccupied the one-day meeting of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) National Executive Committee (NEC) here yesterday.
Sources privy to the meeting, which was chaired by national party chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, said that delegates discussed the need for CCM members to get prepared for changes that were likely to come with the new supreme law whose processing began early this month.
Ruling party insiders said CCM members across the country were urged to get prepared “psychologically” for the forthcoming fresh Constitution, which was likely to bring in clauses that might be unpalatable to those who staunchly stuck to long-held traditions of managing the country.
The centre of discussions was the looming possibility of the new Katiba allowing an independent presidential candidate, an idea that has frequently been agitated for by sections of the population – mainly activists and certain politicians.
The sources said the governing party has formed a committee to coordinate the collection of views from CCM members, which would be presented to the Joseph Warioba commission that has been charged with collecting suggestions from the breadth and length of country, to be considered by experts who will rewrite the Constitution.
The introduction of an independent presidential candidate has been opposed by CCM for fear that its visibly powerful members who fail to be picked during preferential polls could opt to stand as independent candidates and win elections.
According to sources, the party’s committee to coordinate the collection of views on the constitutional review would be headed by Mr Abdulrahman Kinana.
The sources said the committee would also look at the structure of the Union that comprises Mainland Tanzania (Tanganyika) and Zanzibar Isles.
All these issues were to be discussed by ruling party’s NEC members last night when the meeting resumed after a late afternoon lunch break.
“The issues raised are likely to take centre stage in our discussions,” said one NEC member who preferred to remain anonymous since he was not the party’s official spokesperson.
On April 6, President Kikwete formed a 32-member constitutional review commission charged with spearheading the process.
The team is led by highly respected, vastly experienced legal professionals – Justices Joseph Warioba as chair, deputised by retired chief justice, Mr Augustino Ramadhani.
The team over which the two will superintend will collect views on the outlook of the envisaged new Constitution, as a preamble to seeking the final decision by wananchi through a referendum.
Besides holders of the chiefs, 30 other members – divided equally between the two partners of the Union – President Kikwete also appointed two people to head the commission’s secretariat – Mr Assa Ahmad Rashid (secretary) and Mr Casmir Sumba as his deputy.
Their substantive posts are, respectively, permanent secretary in the Zanzibar ministry of Justice, and chief (Union government) parliamentary draughtsman.
On the list (the Mainland) are prominent constitutional law experts – Prof Palamagamba Kabudi who is the dean of the University of Dar es Salaam School of Law and Dr Sengondo Mvungi who is the Vice Chancellor of Bagamoyo University.
Others include Professor Mwesiga Baregu, a political science professor at St. Augustine University and veteran politician and Chairman of the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation, Mr Joseph Butiku.
The most prominent nominee from Zanzibar is Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, a former secretary general of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), and lately a member of the Nyerere Foundation.
Meanwhile, CCM Publicity and Ideology secretary Nape Nnauye yesterday denied reports that the acting chairman of the party’s youth wing, Mr Benno Malisa, has been removed from the Central Committee.
The word doing the rounds here over the past two days had it that Mr Malisa got the sack after he questioned President Kikwete’s appointments of district commissioners announced by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda on Wednesday last week. “These reports are not true,” said Mr Nnauye, who was flanked by Mr Malisa himself.
Meanwhile, the CCM National Executive Committee (NEC) has appointed 32 CCM district secretaries in changes that are said to aim at strengthening the party. CCM Publicity and Ideology secretary Nape Nnauye mentioned the secretaries in a press statement as Grayson Mwenge, Abdallah Hassan, Ernest Makunga, Mgeni Haji, Innocent Nanzabar, Nicholous Malema and Mercy Moleli.
Others are Michael Bundala, Elisante Kimaro, Zacharia Mwansasu, Eliud Semauye, Habas Mwijuki, Loth Ole Nesele, Charles Sangura, Donald Magessa, Fredrick Sabuni, Janeth Mashele, Daniel Porokwa, Zongo Lobe Zongo, Mwanamvua Kilio and Joyce Mmasi.
Reported by Midraji Ibrahim and Daniel Msangya in Dodoma.
KENYA:
Kenya: Police Launch Manhunt for German Terror Suspect
Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu) /Xinhua/13 May 2012
Nairobi — Kenya’s anti-terrorism police have launched major manhunt for a German national who sneaked into the east African nation to plan terrorism attacks in the country.
Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere has also summoned Ahmed Khaled Muller to surrender to the nearest police station for questioning over Al-Shabaab links.
“The Kenya Police has cause to believe that this person could be in possession of information on planned Al-Shabaab criminal activities,” Iteere said in a statement released in Nairobi on Saturday.
The police chief also appealed to Kenyans to help the anti- terrorism police officers to arrest the German whose alias names are Andreas Martin Muller and Abu Nusaibah and whose picture has also been circulated
“Kenya Police would wish to inform the public that one person going by the name Ahmed Khaled Mueller, a German national is believed to have entered the country either illegally or by disguising himself and the nature of his mission in Kenya,” he said.
A string of grenade attacks in Nairobi and Mombasa recently have sent Kenyans living in other cities in the East African nation, specifically Nakuru, Kisumu and Eldoret, into panic as they fear terrorists may strike in their towns.
The latest development comes a week after the police chief released the photograph of Amar whom the police said was behind the recent grenade attacks inNairobiwhich left at least two people dead and more than 15 others injured.
The police said Amar’s picture was taken in a beach in Kismayu a few months ago before he returned to Kenya to carry out grenade attack on God’s House of Miracles International Church in Nairobi on April 29 which Al-Shabaab has since claimed responsibility.
More than 30 people have been killed in Kenya mostly in northern region blamed on Al-Shabaab who have since joined al Qaida network to cause terror attacks in the East African nation.
The deaths have been recorded after Kenya sent its troops into Somalia in October 2011 to hunt down the insurgents who were blamed for a series of murders and kidnapping on the Kenya soil.
The Kenyan police have particularly warned against the laxity in the screening of cars for explosives at all shopping malls and any business or social gatherings with at least 10 people at any given moment that these might be vulnerable to attacks.
Iteere ordered Mueller to report to the nearest police station from where he will be handed over to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit.
“Any person who knows the whereabouts of the said Mueller is requested to give this information to the nearest police officer, security officer or police station,” Iteere said.
“The public is also warned that this person is possibly armed. Mueller is also believed to use alias names Andreas Martin Muller and Abu Nusaibah,” Iteere said.
The attack comes a month after theU.S.embassy warned of an imminent terrorist attack inKenyais possible.
A warning from the embassy said the likely targets include Nairobi hotels and prominent Kenyan government buildings including places foreigners assemble, including shopping malls and night clubs.
“The U.S. Embassy informs U.S.citizens residing in or visiting Kenya that the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has received credible information regarding a possible attack on Nairobi hotels and prominent Kenyan government buildings,” the embassy said in a statement on April 23.
The warning comes as the country’s security forces have been on high alert across the country especially in northern Kenya over an imminent suicide bombing attack by members of the Al-Shabaab group from neighboring Somalia.
Kenya sent troops into Somalia to battle Al-Shabaab rebels in October 2011 after several attacks, including the kidnapping of a French woman and a British tourist – and the killing of her husband – damaged its key tourism industry.
Kenya’s government says armed attacks and kidnappings threaten the country’s tourism industry–a key driver of the economy–that had bounced back after near collapse following post-election violence four years ago in which more than 1,200 people died.
Al-Shabaab militants have vowed to attack Nairobi after the east African nation which hosted protracted negotiations that culminated in the signing of the federal charter for Somalia in 2005, invaded Somalia to flush out the insurgents it blamed for kidnappings of tourists.
ANGOLA:
Captive in Angola: More than 1,000 Indian workers held hostage for taking strike action
By Vikas Kahol/www.dailymail.co.uk/13 May 2012
One thousand-odd youths from Punjab, Haryana and many other states are stranded in Sumbe, Angola, and can’t return home as their travel documents have allegedly been confiscated by the multinational company they work for.
Uncertainty looms over the labourers’ fate, who work in a cement factory in Sumbe.
Though the Indian embassy in Angola claims to be working to resolve the issue, none of its officials has met the helpless workers. Manjinder Singh (name changed on request) revealed he was among more than 1,000 Indians who were hired by ETA Star International to work in a cement factory near Sumbe, the administrative capital of Cuanza Sul Province in west central Angola.
These youths have allegedly been kept hostage after they went on a strike four days ago, demanding that the company release their wages.
The firm also allegedly resorted to high-handed means, calling the police who are said to have arrested some of the youths. The workers at Sumbe – who were in touch with Mail Today for about a week – said the police had fired nearly 200-300 bullets along with tear gas shells on the agitating youths to disperse them.
One of the workers who’s from Mangalore – N.C. Vijaykumar – was injured in the firing.
‘Vijaykumar was injured in the firing and he is still awaiting proper medical care. He has sustained an injury in his leg,’ one of the labourers said.
He added that about three dozen men were arrested by the police and left starving for a week.
The father of one of the stranded youths, who’s from Punjab’s Gurdaspur area, said he had called them up two days ago and narrated the trouble he was in.
‘We have approached former MP Balwant Singh Ramuwalia for help,’ he said. Ramuwalia – who takes up issues relating to immigration and employment of the youth of Punjab – said he will pursue the matter with the ministry of overseas Indian affairs.
Another youth – who took shelter in a forest after the police firing on the workers – said ETA Star International brought them to Angola on contract.
‘The company has not paid us remuneration since February 2012. We are meeting our expenses only by overtime payments. We struck work for about a month. Some government officials visited the site and assured us that the wages would be paid on May 10.
‘But nothing has happened till date,’ he said.
The worker said the company had promised them to pay in the U.S. currency, ‘but, now they are offering to pay in Kwanza, the local currency of Angola’.
Col A.K. Singh, the person responsible for recruiting workers for the Angolan factory, attempted to wash his hands off the issue, claiming that he was on leave.
‘I just came in. I am having my tea at the moment and I am not aware of any problem in Angola,’ he said.
ETA Star International’s Dubai corporate office manager Rafiq Jeelani told Mail Today over the phone that the company pays overtime to workers at the site in the U.S. currency.
‘The problem started in February 2012 over payment of overtime at site. The banks stopped issuing dollars and there was a shortage of the U.S. currency.
‘The workers are demanding the overtime payment in dollars only. Because of the scarcity of dollars, the company offered to pay part of it in the U.S. currency and the balance in Kwanza,’ he said.
‘Their strike is illegal and defies their undertaking before joining to this project,’ Jeelani claimed.
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