Africa : 14 janvier 2011 [Tunisie- le Premier ministre remplace Ben Ali qui a quitté le pays] -

Daily Africa News

{jcomments on} -. Le Premier ministre tunisien, Mohammed Ghannouchi, a annoncé qu’il prenait la présidence à la place de Zine El Abidine Ben Ali qui a quitté le pays après 23 ans de pouvoir. «Comme le président est temporairement dans l’incapacité d’assumer ses devoirs, il a été décidé que le Premier ministre exercerait provisoirement ses fonctions », a dit Mohammed Ghannouchi.

BURUNDI :

Burundian army deplores killing of peacekeeper in Somalia

09:03, January 14, 2011

A Burundian peacekeeper serving in the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was killed this week in the Somali capital Mogadishu by al-Shabaab insurgents, Burundian army spokesman Col. Gaspard Baratuza told Xinhua on Wednesday afternoon.

Col. Gaspard Baratuza said the Burundian peacekeeper “was ambushed” on Monday by an al-Shabaab insurgent. “The al-Shabaab insurgent fired only bullet towards the peacekeeper and the latter died immediately.”

The spokesman said the body of the Burundian peacekeeper has already moved from Mogadishu to the Ugandan capital Kampala, before it is repatriated Friday to the Burundian capital Bujumbura for burial.

“We’re not discouraged by this loss of a peacekeeper. We are in Somalia to serve the Somalia nation and we will also serve other nations if necessary,” the Burundian army spokesman said.

“We’re aware there are risks and some preventive measures have been taken. However, it’s sometimes difficult to avoid al-Shabaab’ s ambushes because they (insurgents) use sniper guns. We’re sorry for what happened on Monday,” Col. Baratuza said.

For several times, al-Shabaab insurgents have attacked AMISOM troops in Mogadishu in attempts to force them to go back to their home countries — Burundi and Uganda.

Al-Shabaab has also threatened attacks against the capital cities of the two contributors of troops in the AMISOM. The latest threats were made at the end of last year.

In July 2010, al-Shabaab insurgents carried out bomb attacks in the Ugandan capital Kampala, killing 76 people.

Source: Xinhua

Next EAC secretary general should come from Rwanda or Burundi

By Jerry Okungu 14/01/2011

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/20/743630

THERE are situations that call for more common sense than written down logic. One such situation is the rotational occupation of the executive seat at the East African Community (EAC) that takes place every five years.

It is the kind of decision that really does not call for debate, jockeying or politicking among member states if indeed the players have read and understood the 1999 Treaty that established the EAC.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania must understand one thing; when they admitted Burundi and Rwanda to the membership of the EAC they would either have their cake or eat it but not both. On that important day when the two states penned their signatures to the East African Treaty, the treaty was effectively altered to mean five member states not three as was originally intended.

Founder members must have understood that henceforth the cake would be shared among five family members, not three as was the case before.

If the rotation has been smooth between 1999 and 2005 when Juma Mwapachu of Tanzania took the reins of the secretariat, it would be illogical to expect a Kenyan to jostle for the same position for the second time before the new members who have proved their worth as effective and full contributors have had their chance. And for those that may forget, Rwanda has in the short time of its membership successfully chaired the summit for one year with impressive results. And had it been for Burundi ceding its turn to Tanzania a year later, all the five states would have chaired the summit in the last five years.

What baffles many of us are press reports that Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda have ganged up to decide that the position should be competitive. This cheeky behaviour is introducing double standards in the community that should be engaging in more substantive issues of integrating it.

The post of the EAC chief executive has never been elective or competitive. The next occupant has always been nominated by a member state and endorsed by partners. It has been that simple. There are some realities we must face as Kenyans, Ugandans and Tanzanians. If we want the EAC to grow to the size of the ECOWAS, SADDC or the European Union, there are certain backward tendencies we must be prepared to discard. Today we are whining about who becomes the EAC secretary general when we are just five states. What happens when Ethiopia, South Sudan, the DRC and the Central African Republic join us in the next five years as it is rumoured that they have shown interest? Will we admit them in to the community but lock them out of important executive positions?

The argument that our new members do not have enough experience to run the secretariat is hogwash. Being the secretary general does not need a rocket scientist.

The last three SGs have had no special qualities other than being career civil servants in their own countries. To be precise, their most important qualifications were that they were politically correct in their countries.

The truth of the matter is; since Kenya offered the first secretary general in 1999, it must now wait for 20 years to have another go. That time is 2021 assuming that other members do not join in between. By the same token, Uganda must wait until 2031 while Tanzania must be patient until 2041 if all factors remain constant.

But there is an even bigger reason why big brothers like Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda must be careful how they handle sensitive issues like the appointment of a chief executive of the EAC. They must realise that we are not out of the woods yet. Theories abound why the EAC of 1967 broke up 10 years later. Other than ideological and governance issues, foreign powers played a part in that break-up.

Many envious international observers, fearful of an economic and political powerhouse once we are fully established, are watching keenly for an opportunity to cause rifts among the member states because they know we are still a fragile organisation that depends on their donations to bridge our development budgets. It is easier for them to plant negative perceptions in the minds of new members like Burundi and Rwanda or those states planning to join by pointing to them how founder members are behaving towards new member states.

When you see a cabinet minister of a member state buy space in the local press to protest the move by other member states against her country like the Rwandan minister did this week; it is a warning shot that boardroom wars are finally finding their way into the public gallery.

If indeed member states want to make all positions of the EAC competitive; the fairest thing is for them to amend the 1999 Treaty and make all positions at the secretariat open to all East Africans through competitive recruitment after 2031; that is after Rwanda and Burundi will have had their turn.

By that time we shall hopefully have realised political and economic integration and declared the federal presidency and EALA elective posts with a fully fledged federal cabinet. Achieving this feat depends very much on our common sense, manners and decency today.

jerryokungu@gmail.com

Tanzania: Local Lad Enters Finals of Burundi Tennis Meet

Paul John13 January 2011 / Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

http://allafrica.com/stories/201101140270.html

LOCAL tennis lad Tumaini Martin has downed regional contestant Ken Ngaji of Burundi by two straight sets to muscle his way to the finals of the ongoing ITF / CAT Zonal Championship 2011 in Burundi.

The boy who was born and brought up in Tanzania’s tourists City of Arusha 13 years ago, went on the rampage, winning all four matches in the round robin stage before the semis 6-4 and 6-2 onslaught, thus booking a final tie against Burundian star Saidi Nkurunziza.

He therefore remained a few minutes away from being crowned the unbeaten winner of this year Zonal Championships, but most importantly in contention to qualify for the most coveted African Junior Championships (AJC) 2011 edition.

The seven-day tournament that climaxes on Saturday in the Burundian Capital Bujumbura, attracted junior tennis athletes aged below 16 years from across the East African region to a competitive regional qualifier for the annual AJC.

Among East African nations that have been competing include Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ethiopia and host Burundi, with Tanzania being represented by six athletes namely Shabani Ibrahim, Salum Msafiri, and Lydia Lucas in the 16 & Under category, while Tumaini, Sarah Bura and Edna John competed in the 14 & Under category.

Coincidentally, Sarah and Edna had a chance to renew their local rivalry when they were pitted against each other in a game of chance towards their maiden qualifier for the continental championships, where Edna managed to underline her superiority with a 2-1 triumph.

Although they both have two more matches to play, chances are that either of them will qualify.

The rest of the team was hit badly on the Burundian clay courts, clearly pushed to the sidelines with Salum and Shabani competing for positions nine and 12, while Lydia will be lucky to finish in the top six of the girls’ 16 & Under category.

RWANDA

Rwanda: quatre ex-proches de Kagame condamnés à de lourdes peines de prison

(AFP) – 14/11/2011 – KIGALI — La justice militaire rwandaise a condamné vendredi par contumace quatre anciens proches du président Paul Kagame à des peines allant de 20 à 24 ans de réclusion notamment pour “atteinte à la sécurité de l’Etat”, a-t-on appris de sources concordantes.

“La Haute cour militaire siégeant à Kanombe (à Kigali) a condamné à 24 ans de prison l’ex-chef d’état-major de l’armée, le général Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa”, exilé en Afrique du Sud, et le major Théogène Rudasingwa, lui-aussi en exil et ancien directeur de cabinet du chef de l’Etat, a indiqué à l?AFP un membre du greffe de la cour.

L’ancien patron des renseignements extérieurs, le colonel Patrick Karegeya, vivant également en Afrique du Sud, et l’ancien procureur général Gérald Gahima, frère du major Rudasingwa, “ont été condamnés à 20 ans de prison”, a poursuivi cette source jointe au téléphone et qui a requis l’anonymat.

Ces informations ont été confirmées par des militants des droits de l’homme ayant assisté au jugement prononcé par le général Peter Bagabo.

Les quatre anciennes personnalités rwandaises, devenues de farouches adversaires du président Kagame, étaient toutes poursuivies pour “trouble à l’ordre public, atteinte à la sécurité de l’Etat, injures et diffamation, sectarisme et association de malfaiteurs”.

Pour Kayumba et Rudasingwa, s’y ajoutait la désertion de leur poste au sein de l’armée. Le 3 janvier, le procureur avait requis contre eux 35 ans de prison, et 30 ans contre les deux autres accusés.

“Ce n’est pas fini. Il y a d’autres enquêtes en cours, pour terrorisme, en ce qui concerne particulièrement Kayumba et Karegeya”, a indiqué à l’AFP le porte-parole de l’armée, le lieutenant-colonel Jill Rutaremara.

Selon lui, les deux hommes sont soupçonnés d’être derrière les attentats à la grenade qui ont fait l’année dernière cinq morts dans la capitale. Ces attaques, dont aucune n’avait été revendiquée, ont visé à chaque fois des endroits très fréquentés de la ville à une heure de grande affluence.

L’armée rwandaise a affirmé en août 2010 avoir découvert le groupe responsable de ces attentats, sans en préciser l’identité ou les motivations.

“Le moment venu, ces faits seront aussi portés devant un tribunal”, a assuré le lieutenant-colonel Rutaremara.

Il a par ailleurs annoncé que son pays allait demander aux Etats Unis et à l’Afrique du Sud d’arrêter et extrader vers le Rwanda les quatre condamnés, en exécution du jugement de la Haute cour militaire.

“L’exécution de cet aspect du jugement de ce vendredi dépendra de la bonne volonté des Etats hébergeant les condamnés”, a-t-il reconnu.

Ces quatre anciens proches du chef de l’Etat, tous des Tutsi ayant grandi en exil en Ouganda comme lui, avaient, dans un document publié début septembre 2010, dressé un bilan très négatif des libertés dans leur pays depuis l’arrivée au pouvoir de M. Kagame en 1994.

Ils avaient dénoncé “un gouvernement minoritaire aussi répressif qu’irresponsable” et exigé la mise en place d'”un gouvernement de coalition qui inclurait l’opposition actuellement exclue du jeu politique”.

“Aucun des quatre n’a le minimum d’intégrité ou l’autorité morale requise pour critiquer l’actuel gouvernement”, avaient rétorqué en octobre le porte-parole de l’armée, et le conseiller du président Kagame pour les questions de défense, le général Richard Rutatina.

Rwandan Court Sentences Four Officials, Including Ex-Army Chief, to Prison

By David Malingha Doya – Jan 14, 2011

Rwanda’s Military Court sentenced the country’s exiled former army Chief of Staff and three other officials to prison terms for charges including crimes against internal order and defamation.

Faustine Kayumba Nyamwasa and the country’s first envoy to the U.S., Theogene Rudasingwa, each received 24-year sentences, Captain Fidel Musingi, the head of military prosecutions, said in an interview today from Kigali, the capital. Patrick Karegyeya, Rwanda’s former spy chief, and ex-Prosecutor General Gerard Gahima were sentenced to 20 years in prison, he said.

“We had asked for 35 years for the military officers and 30 years for the other two, but this sentence is good,” said Musingi.

Nyamwasa, now a critic of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, was part of the Rwandan Patriotic Front that toppled the government and stopped the massacre of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda in 1994.

Nyamwasa served as Rwanda’s high commissioner to India until he fled to South Africa with his family in February amid accusations that he was behind a series of deadly grenade attacks in Kigali. He was hospitalized after being shot in the stomach at his home in South Africa in June. Nyamwasa said the allegations by the Rwandan court as attempts to stop his efforts against government corruption.

‘Fabricated’

Karegyeya told the Observer newspaper based in neighboring Uganda on Aug. 2 that charges against him were “fabricated and baseless.”

The four officials in August wrote and published on the Internet a document titled ‘The Rwanda Brief’ uttering statements that the Rwandan government considered criminal, according to Musingi. They were accused of exposing Rwanda to the hostility of a foreign power, discrimination and sectarian practices and establishing a criminal gang, he said.

All four were stripped of their civil rights, while Nyamwasa and Rudasingwa will also lose their army ranks. Rudasingwa is also currently living in exile in South Africa, while Gahima and Karegyeya are in the U.S.

Nyamwasa and Karegyeya have previously been accused of alleged acts of terrorism in connection with the grenade attacks in Kigali.

“We are also preparing another case of terrorism against these four officers,” said Musingi.

To contact the reporter on this story: David Malingha Doya in Kigali via Johannesburg at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Paul Richardson at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net

Rwanda targeting 300 MW of geothermal power in next six years

By: Njiraini Muchira / 14th January 2011

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/rwanda-geothermal-2011-01-14

Rwanda plans to include geothermal power in its energy mix in a bid to tackle severe electricity challenges and power its fast-expanding economy.

The East African nation says it has set itself a target of generating 300 MW from geothermal sources in the next six years.

Stephen Onacha, an energy expert at Rwanda’s Ministry of Infrastructure, says that the drilling of three geothermal exploration wells, at a cost of $20-million, will start this year.

“From surface studies, we believe Rwanda has [great] potential for the development of geothermal power,” he says.

The decision to invest in geothermal energy is part of a comprehensive energy diversification programme aimed at expanding Rwanda’s installed capacity to 1 000 MW in seven years, connecting more people to the grid and driving economic growth.

The programme is expected to cost a staggering $900-million, and various financers, such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank and the European Union, have already committed to assisting Rwanda in the implementation of key projects, including the upgrading of the country’s dilapidated transmission and distribution infrastructure and the construction of new generation plants.

Although Rwanda is East Africa’s fastest-growing economy, with the World Bank forecasting gross domestic product growth of 7% in 2010, the country has been facing major energy challenges.

The Rwanda Electricity Corporation says the country’s installed capacity stood at a mere 69 MW in 2009, but plans are under way to increase this capacity to 130 MW by the end of next year through investments in small hydropower plants and methane gas plants. Only 6% of the population is connected to the electricity grid.

If Rwanda’s aspiration of boosting power generation capacity to 130 MW by the end of 2012 is realised, 16% of its ten-million-odd people will have access to electricity.

A World Bank study conducted in 2008 concluded that Rwanda needs to invest heavily in geothermal plants. This is based on the fact that Rwanda is located in a prime area of the East African Rift Valley – one of the world’s hottest spots for geothermal activity.

“Systematic assessment and exploration of geothermal resources for energy production would not only address the recurring energy crisis in Rwanda, but would also [ensure] long-term energy security,” notes the study.

The World Bank estimates the geothermal potential along the East African Rift Valley is in excess of 15 000 MW.

This huge potential has largely remained unexploited, with Kenya, which is believed to have potential to generate 7 000 MW, managing to exploit only 280 MW.

Kenya is, however, undertaking enormous investments, with a view to increasing geothermal power generation to 3 000 MW by 2017.

RDC –Congo

Uganda surprise DR Congo to reach Nile Basin final

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/54/3879/Sports/Africa/Uganda-surprise-DR-Congo-to-reach-Nile-Basin-final.aspx

Uganda overcome favorites DR Congo to qualify for the Nile Basin tournament final

Hatem Maher, Friday 14 Jan 2011

Uganda claimed a surprise 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Cairo on Friday to reach the final of the Nile Basin friendly tournament.

Habib Kavuma pounced on an error from DR Congo keeper Muteba Kidiaba, who inspired TP Mazmbe to a second-place finish at the Club World Cup last month, to score the winner midway through the first half.

Kidiaba could only parry a tame effort into the path of the left-back, who made no mistake from close range.

DR Congo, who finished on top of Group B, were favorites to emerge winners but appeared out of sorts against Uganda.

Uganda will face either Egypt or Kenya, who meet in a Friday’s late kick-off, in the tournament’s final on Monday.

DR Congo: 12,000 DRC refugees in Congo Brazzaville back home

Pana 14/01/2011 / Kinshasa, DR Congo – Twelve thousand Congolese who took refuge in Ipfondo, in the Republic of Congo, following inter-ethnic violence, have gone back home in Dongo, in the district of South-Ubangi, Equator province, north-west of DR Congo following the stabilization of peace and security in the area. According to a communiqué of the UN Mission for the Stabilization in the Democratic Republic of Congo which made available to PANA here Thursday, the peaceful situation followed the deployment of a team of 36 Ghanaian blue helmets deployed to Dongo.

The arrest of the rebel chief Mangbama Udjani and his father, Ibrahim Mangbama, in Congo Brazzaville are indications of the return of peace in the province of the Equator.

However, some elements of the Armed Forces of DRC (FARDC) are yet to vacate the houses they occupy in the city of Dongo and this is slowing down the return of the displaced people who crave to go back to their country to participate in the revision of the voters’ list which will begin soon in the Equator, according to the UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

PANA recalled that over 120,000 DRC nationals crossed the Oubangui River, fleeing inter-ethnic violence in the province of the Equator in 2009, to take refuge in Likouala, Congo Brazzaville.

UGANDA

Uganda surprise DR Congo to reach Nile Basin final

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/54/3879/Sports/Africa/Uganda-surprise-DR-Congo-to-reach-Nile-Basin-final.aspx

Uganda overcome favorites DR Congo to qualify for the Nile Basin tournament final

Hatem Maher, Friday 14 Jan 2011

Uganda claimed a surprise 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Cairo on Friday to reach the final of the Nile Basin friendly tournament.

Kidiaba could only parry a tame effort into the path of the left-back, who made no mistake from close range.

DR Congo, who finished on top of Group B, were favorites to emerge winners but appeared out of sorts against Uganda.

Uganda will face either Egypt or Kenya, who meet in a Friday’s late kick-off, in the tournament’s final on Monday.

RD Congo: Arrestation d’un groupe de rebelles au sud-ouest

Kinshasa, RD Congo – Un groupe de 72 rebelles ont été arrêtés dans la province du Bas-Congo, au sud-ouest de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC), a annoncé le sénateur Jacques Mbadu. M. Mbadu n’a pas donné plus de précisions sur l’origine de ces rebelles ni sur leur organisation.

Il a cependant fait savoir qu’ il ressort de l’interrogatoire auquel ces individus étaient soumis qu’ils s’apprêtaient à faire sauter le barrage hydro-électrique d’Inga, situé à une centaine de kilomètres de cette contrée.

Pana 13/01/2011

Le parlement de la RD Congo en congrès pour réviser la constitution

http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article&id_article=138597

APA-Kinshasa (RD Congo) Les deux chambres du parlement de la RD Congo sont depuis vendredi réunis en congrès en vue de réviser la constitution du 18 février 2006.

La plénière dirigée par le président du Sénat, Léon Kengo wa Dondo, a mis sur pied une commission chargée de l’examen du projet de révision de la Constitution composée de 25 membres dont 20 venus de l’Assemblée nationale chambre basse) et 5 du Sénat (chambre haute).

Cette commission qui va travailler à huis clos aura à proposer des résolutions sur certains points de la Constitution qui seront soumis à la plénière du congrès samedi.

460 membres étaient présents sur les 608 qui composent le congrès dont 500 de l’Assemblée nationale et 108 du Sénat.

Les députés et sénateurs de l’opposition ont décidé de ne pas participer au congrès.

Dans une déclaration vendredi au Palais du peuple, ils ont indiqué que la proposition de loi sur la révision de la Constitution du 18 février 2006 se fait en violation de la Constitution.

La révision concerne 8 articles de la constitution dont l’article 71 devant consacrer un scrutin à un tour unique pour l’élection présidentielle.

KIT/of/APA 14-01-2011

TANZANIA:

Une embarcation en provenance de la Tanzanie prend feu au port de Moba

publié il y a 4 heures, 16 minutes, sous Actualité, Katanga. 14/11/2011

http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2011/01/14/une-embarcation-en-provenance-de-la-tanzanie-prend-feu-au-port-de-moba/

Une barque à moteur transportant du carburant a pris feu, jeudi 13 janvier dans la matinée au port de Moba, au Katanga. L’incendie a causé d’énormes pertes matérielles, selon la police. L’origine de l’incendie reste jusque-là inconnue.

Une centaine de fûts de carburants, des sacs de ciments et divers autres articles de commerce sont partis en fumée.

Le dispositif anti-incendie étant inexistant au port de Moba, les flammes de feu ont empêché les secouristes de récupérer le maximum de la charge transportée.

Seule une dizaine de sacs de ciments a été tirée de la cargaison.

Le reste a coulé dans les eaux du port sous le regard impuissant des secouristes.

Il s’agit d’une embarcation des Ets Kalusu Trans de Moba, qui provenait de la Tanzanie.

Elle a pris feu après avoir mouillé l’encre au port de Moba.

Tanzania: Netball Going Up in World Ranking

13 January 2011

http://allafrica.com/stories/201101140260.html

TANZANIA has climbed one position in world netball ranking, positioned 21 by the International Federations of Netball Associations (IFNA) released.

According to the latest ranking posted on the IFNA website, Tanzania stands at 21 being the fourth in Africa with South Africa, Malawi and Botswana leading the African countries in the ranks.

Tanzania’s latest improvement was largely contributed by the national team’s show in the Six-Nation tournament held in Singapore last month where Taifa Queens finished third.

The top ten in the world ranking in sequence order are Australia, New Zealand, England , Jamaica, Fiji, South Africa, Malawi, Trinidad and Tobago, Samoa and Barbados.

However, South Africa which was standing at seventh position has improved her performance while Malawi the fifth in the world ranking has dropped by two positions in the newly released ranking.

The ranking list relates to senior teams of member countries that are playing regular international test matches. According to the website the latest list has been updated on December 14 last year and is based on matches up to December 12, last year.

KENYA :

Actualité Afrique : Afrique : Vers le retrait du Kenya du statut de Rome

Avec l’adoption par le Parlement kenyan d’une motion appelant le Kenya à se retirer de la Cour Pénale Internationale (CPI), suite à l’annonce par le procureur général de la Cour, Luis Moreno Ocampo, des noms de six personnes considérées comme les commanditaires des violences post-électorales de 2007, un danger réel se fait de plus en plus sentir de voir aggravées les rivalités ethniques avec la politisation des enquêtes du Tribunal international.

Les députés kenyans estiment avoir remporté une victoire avec l’adoption d’une motion ouvrant la voie pour le retrait du Kenya du Statut de Rome, en vertu duquel a été créée la CPI, mais ce n’est que partie remise, car cela pourrait aggraver les rivalités ethniques entre les partisans du camp appelé “Ocampo Six” et les détracteurs appelant à s’opposer au processus initié par La Haye, estiment les analystes. Pire encore, notent-ils, cela pourrait aussi entraîner de graves conséquences économiques, politiques et financières pour le pays.

En vertu de l’article 62 de la Convention de Vienne, un pays peut se retirer d’un traité international en citant un changement fondamental de circonstances. Pour le Kenya, la seule façon de justifier une telle mesure serait d’établir un processus judiciaire local dépourvu de toute manipulation politique, souligne-t-on.

Un choix difficile

Reste à savoir comment le président kenyan, Mwai Kibaki et le Premier ministre, Raila Odinga vont réagir à cette motion, même si les analystes estiment que certains “dinosaures” n’auront pas du mal à convaincre les plus hautes autorités du pays à se retirer du Statut de Rome.

C’est alors que le chef de l’Etat se trouvent confronter à deux options dures, puisqu’il doit trancher entre ignorer la requête des députés ou répondre aux vœux du parlement et écrire ainsi au Secrétaire général des Nations Unies pour demander le retrait du Kenya de la CPI. Dans le premier cas de figure, le président doit être prêt à affronter la colère des députés qui étaient presque unanimes à adopter la motion de retrait.

Face à ces développements tumultueux, le Premier ministre Raila Odinga que les nombreux sondages d’opinions annoncent comme le futur successeur du président Kibaki lors des élections de 2012, court, lui aussi, le risque de mener un double jeu sur la scène politique. Bien que les membres de son parti ODM ont appuyé la motion de retrait et exprimé leur volonté de collecter des fonds pour payer les frais juridiques du président du parti, Henry Kosgey, l’un des six accusés des violences post-électorales, Raila a déclaré que “le gouvernement ne souhaite pas sortir de la Cour pénale internationale”.

Quant à la société civile, elle a vivement critiqué les députés pour avoir adopté la motion. “L’appel au retrait de la CPI est un cas évident de la frustration des députés face à la lutte contre l’impunité et aux espoirs des victimes des violences post-électorales d’obtenir justice”, a déclaré le président de la Commission nationale des droits de l’homme, Hassan Omar.

“Les députés qui ont appuyé la motion ont montré clairement qu’ils n’aiment pas la reddition de comptes et qu’ils ont pris l’exemple de nombreux pays en arrière dans la lutte contre l’impunité”, a-t-il déploré.

Le rejet de la CPI a un coût élevé pour le Kenya

Tout en affirmant que le Kenya a le droit souverain de se retirer du Statut de Rome, Salim Lone, un responsable de communication des Nations Unies et ancien consultant du Premier ministre kenyan, a mis en garde qu’en cas de retrait, le pays perdrait les bonnes relations dont il jouit actuellement avec ses partenaires au développement.

“Bien que l’ONU ne va pas automatiquement arrêter le financement de ses programmes au Kenya, la cote de crédit du pays va baisser parce que les tensions politiques sont susceptibles d’augmenter à mesure que le retrait de la CPI sera considéré comme une action visant à défendre l’impunité”, a indiqué le responsable onusien.

Même position pour l’Union européenne, dont 12 ambassadeurs à Nairobi avaient vivement conseillé au gouvernement kenyan de ne pas céder aux pressions des députés et se retirer de la CPI.

En Afrique, les analystes estiment que si le président kenyan accepte de répondre favorablement à la requête des députés et demander le retrait de son pays du Statut de Rome, il pourrait ainsi servir de mauvais exemple pour d’autres pays africains qui ont signé le Statut.

Néanmoins, une source bien informée de la coalition au pouvoir a révélé que des hauts fonctionnaires du gouvernement sont plus enclins à inciter l’Union africaine à demander au Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU de différer le cas du Kenya, plutôt que de se retirer de la CPI.

Aussi attaché à dédramatiser l’action du Parlement, le procureur général de la République, Amos Wako, a déclaré que le passage de la motion n’oblige pas nécessairement le gouvernement kenyan à se retirer de la CPI.

“Le Parlement a simplement exprimé son point de vue sur la question, qui n’est pas nécessairement celui du gouvernement”, a-t-il dit, rejoignant ainsi l’avis du ministre de la Justice, Mutula Kilonzo, qui a exhorté le président Kibaki d’ignorer la motion du Parlement puisque, a-t-il dit, “elle est susceptible d’altérer l’image du Kenya”.

Par Hamid Aqerrout / Casafree.com le 12/1/2011

Kenyan in US killings to be sentenced

BY BERNARD MOMANYI

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 13 – A Kenyan who killed his wife and two of their children in the United States in October last year is due to be sentenced on Friday.

Justus Kebabe who was arrested and charged for killing wife Bilha Omare 32, and children Kinley and Ivyn admitted to the charges when he appeared at the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Centre.

The court said Mr Kebabe’s sentence would be made on January 14 by District Judge Elena Ostby.

The county attorney’s office in Ramsey said it would be asking for three consecutive sentences of 25 years and six months for each of the three counts of second-degree intentional murders and Mr Kebabe could spend up to 50 years in prison.

When he was arrested, Mr Kebabe admitted in court that he struck his wife in the head with a golf club and then strangled her with an electric wire in the family’s third floor apartment in the Willow Ridge Apartments in the 1200 block of County Road D.

In his own plea, said he gave two of their children cranberry juice laced with Tylenol PM pills before killing Kinley Ogendi, 12 by holding his head underwater and Ivyn Ogendi, 9 by suffocating her with a pillow and strangling her.

The bodies were discovered on October 14 after a relative, concerned about Mr Kebabe’s erratic behaviour called 911.

Mr Kebabe was arrested by a State Trooper the previous evening after his vehicle ran out of gas on Interstate 35 near Faribault, Minnesota.

His three-year-old daughter was found in the car, unharmed. There was no immediate explanation why he killed the two older children and spared the youngest.

Mr Kebabe told investigators he was angry because he believed his wife was being unfaithful.

Bodies of the three were buried in the US after a tussle between the woman’s family over whether they should be buried in Kenya.

If convicted, Mr Kebabe, 43 would only be eligible for parole after serving at least 50 years in jail, meaning the earliest he could leave prison will be at the age of 93.

The plea came at an omnibus hearing for Mr Kebabe, 43, in October last year at the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Centre next door to the jail.

Follow the author on https://twitter.com/momanyibernard

AFRICA / AU :

Tunisie: le Premier ministre remplace Ben Ali qui a quitté le pays

vendredi 14 janvier 2011 / Mohammed Ghannouchi./EPA/MaxPPP

Le Premier ministre tunisien lors de la déclaration à la télévision. Mohammed Ghannouchi, Premier ministre de Ben Ali depuis fin 1999, prend le pouvoir en Tunisie.

EPA/Max PPP — Le Premier ministre tunisien, Mohammed Ghannouchi, a annoncé qu’il prenait la présidence à la place de Zine El Abidine Ben Ali qui a quitté le pays après 23 ans de pouvoir.

«Comme le président est temporairement dans l’incapacité d’assumer ses devoirs, il a été décidé que le Premier ministre exercerait provisoirement ses fonctions », a dit Mohammed Ghannouchi.

Le Premier ministre tunisien a assuré, à la télévision qu’il respecterait la constitution et restaurerait la stabilité du pays, pendant la période de transition, jusqu’aux élections anticipées. Le nouveau président, filmé dans la palais présidentiel de Carthage, a lu sa déclaration debout, entouré par le président de la chambre des députés, Fouad Mebazaa et celui de la chambre des conseillers (sénat), Abdallah Kallal. «J’appelle les Tunisiens toutes sensibilités politiques et régionales confondues à faire preuve de patriotisme et d’unité», a-t-il déclaré solennellement.

Mais l’arrivée au pouvoir de ce proche de Ben Ali, en place depuis plus de dix ans, ne sera peut-être pas de nature à satisfaire les manifestants.

En fin, d’après-midi, l’Elysée assurait qu’il n’y a n’a «pas d’information» sur une éventuelle venue de Ben Ali à Paris. Le ministère des Affaires étrangères a assuré qu’il n’avait pas reçu de demande en ce sens. Vendredi soir, l’avion de l’ex-président tunisien a survolé l’espace aérien maltais et se dirigeait vers le nord.

Etat d’urgence

Dans la journée, Ben Ali avait décrété l’état d’urgence, limogé le gouvernement et annoncé des élections législativesanticipées dans un délai de six mois.

«Cet état d’urgence signifie que les rassemblements de plus de trois personnes sont interdits, que les armes seront utilisées par les forces de l’ordre lorsqu’un suspect refusera d’obtempérer et, troisièmement, qu’un couvre-feu sera en vigueur de 17h00 à 07h00 pour une durée indéterminée», avaient annoncé les autorités.

Les Etats-Unis ont invité les autorités tunisiennes à tenir les promesses faites par Ben Ali, et notamment à respecter les droits de l’Homme et à procéder à des réformes politiques. La Maison blanche a condamné d’autre part les violences et indiqué qu’elle suivait de près la situation.

Dans un communiqué laconique, publié après une réunion entre Nicolas Sarkozy et François Fillon, la «France a pris acte de la transition constitutionnelle» en Tunisie.

Plus d’informations dans le journal Ouest-France

Ouattara dénonce des retraits bancaires

Avec Reuters 14/01/2011

Le président élu ivoirien Alassane Ouattara s’est plaint vendredi de retraits “quotidiens” effectués sur les comptes de son pays à la Banque centrale des Etats d’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO), malgré les efforts internationaux pour priver de financements son rival Laurent Gbagbo.

La BCEAO avait pris note en décembre de la reconnaissance par la communauté internationale de la victoire électorale d’Ouattara et avait déclaré que seuls les membres du “gouvernement légitime” pouraient accéder aux fonds de la Côte d’Ivoire.

Cette décision a été saluée comme une mesure essentielle pour contraindre Laurent Gbagbo à quitter le pouvoir et mettre un terme à la crise politique qui l’oppose à Ouattara depuis le second tour de la présidentielle le 28 novembre dernier.

Gbagbo a été proclamé président par une Cour constitutionnelle dirigée par un de ses alliés, tandis que la victoire d’Ouattara a été annoncée par la commission électorale indépendante (CEI) avec 54,1% des suffrages puis reconnue par la communauté internationale. “Nous avons les chiffres, il s’agit de retraits quotidiens sur le compte de la Côte d’Ivoire”, a déploré devant les journalistes Toikeusse Mabri, ministre d’Ouattara chargé de la planification et du développement, après avoir rencontré le gouverneur de la BCEAO au siège de la banque, à Dakar.

Les réserves de la Côte d’Ivoire s’élèvent, au sein de la banque, à environ trois milliards de dollars.

Mabri a ajouté que les employés de la banque, dirigée par un Ivoirien passant pour être un allié de Gbagbo, étaient victimes d’actes d’intimidation, à Abidjan, de la part des militaires pro-Gbagbo déployés dans leurs bureaux. “Il semble que les employés de la BCEAO à Abidjan agissent sous la pression”, a expliqué Mabri.

La BCEAO n’a pas réagi pour l’instant aux propos de Mabri, pas plus que le camp Gbagbo.

Tunisian President Flees Country Amid Unrest

Lisa Bryant | Tunis 14 January 2011

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Tunisian-President-Dismisses-Government-Amid-Protests-113607609.html

Tunisian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi went on state television to say he was assuming power amid reports the country’s president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali had fled the country. The army has sealed off the airport and closed Tunisian airspaced. Earlier President Ben Ali announced a state of emergency and fired the government following the worst unrest to hit this North African country in decades.

Earlier in the day, thousands of protesters demonstrated in Tunis demanding President Ben Ali step down. The main Habib Bourguiba Boulevard was a sea of humanity, as young and old, well-off and poor, chanted for change.

One young man said the message was clear: Tunisians had lost confidence in their government. They want someone who can serve the country, serve its people. Many other protesters voiced similar sentiments.

But the demonstrations took an ugly turn in the afternoon. Riot police came out in force. People scattered. Young men lobbed objects at the police who responded with tear gas.

The government announced a curfew, sealing Tunisians and foreigners in their homes. Tunis hospital officials reported 13 dead late Thursday. There were no immediate reports of a casualty toll Friday.

The unrest began several weeks ago, touched off by the death of a man in southern Tunisia who set himself on fire to protest his inability to sell his produce. It was fanned by the Internet and by Tunisians angry about economic hardship and perceived corruption among top Tunisian politicians. Dozens of people have died in the unrest, although government officials and human rights groups offer vastly different tallies.

L’UE décide le gel des avoirs du camp Gbagbo

Par TF1 News (D’après agence), le 14 janvier 2011 à 15h42, mis à jour le 14 janvier 2011 à 17:58

Dossier : Crise en Côte d’Ivoire

Cette nouvelle sanction a été décidée vendredi face au refus du président sortant de céder le pouvoir à Alassane Ouattara. Pour tenter de dénouer cette crise, une nouvelle médiation africaine est attendue dimanche à Abidjan.

Sanctionné. L’Union européenne a décidé vendredi le gel des avoirs en Europe de Laurent Gbagbo et de 84 de ses proches pour son refus de céder le pouvoir à Alassane Ouattara, selon des sources diplomatiques. Egalement décidé : le gel des avoirs de “11 entités” économiques notamment dans le secteur portuaire et des médias. Cela s’ajoute à une première liste de personnes frappées d’interdiction de visa dans l’UE, sur laquelle figuraient déjà 59 personnes dont le président ivoirien sortant Laurent Gbagbo et son épouse, adoptée fin décembre.

Ces sanctions interviennent alors que le Premier ministre kényan Raila Odinga, envoyé par l’Union africaine, doit se rendre dimanche en Côte d’Ivoire. Il avait effectué une première visite infructueuse début janvier à Abidjan où il avait rencontré, avec trois chefs d’Etat mandatés par la sous-région (Cédéao), MM. Ouattara et Gbagbo, qui revendiquent tous deux la présidence depuis l’élection du 28 novembre.

“Utiliser la force pour faire partir Gbagbo”

La venue de M. Odinga se réalise “dans la droite ligne des missions (africaines) précédentes qui consistent à dire: ‘nous demandons au président sortant Gbagbo d’accepter le verdict des urnes et de quitter le pouvoir pacifiquement'”, a déclaré à l’AFP Patrick Achi, porte-parole du gouvernement de Ouattara, reconnu président légitime par la communauté internationale. Laurent Gbagbo est sous la menace d’une opération militaire, en préparation au niveau de la Communauté économique des Etats d’Afrique de l’Ouest (Cédéao), s’il ne cède pas le pouvoir à Alassane Ouattara.

Vendredi, ce dernier a appelé au recours à la force pour faire partir son rival. “Je crois vraiment qu’il faut utiliser la force pour faire partir M. Gbagbo. Je pense qu’il est temps”, a déclaré M. Ouattara, qui s’exprimait depuis Washington. “Je ne veux pas d’effusion de sang”, mais Laurent Gbagbo doit savoir que les choses sont en train de s’aggraver, a-t-il plaidé M. Ouattara.

Côté terrain, le calme régnait vendredi à Abidjan au lendemain d’attaques visant la force de l’ONU. “Cela été vraiment très calme cette nuit”, a déclaré à l’AFP sous couvert d’anonymat un chauffeur de taxi, habitant du quartier d’Abobo, sous couvre-feu depuis mercredi et jusqu’à samedi matin, comme le proche quartier d’Anyama (nord d’Abidjan). La nuit précédente avait aussi été calme à Abobo, fief de M. Ouattara. Le quartier a été le théâtre d’affrontements violents en début de semaine entre des hommes armés non identifiés et les Forces de défense et de sécurité (FDS), loyales au chef d’Etat sortant. Au moins 11 personnes avaient été tuées. Selon un bilan de l’ONU publié jeudi, la crise postélectorale a fait 247 morts depuis la mi-décembre, dont des victimes de violences interethniques sans lien direct avec l’affrontement politique.

Par TF1 News (D’après agence) le 14 janvier 2011 à 15:42

UN /ONU :

UN Chief Concerned By Ivorian Attacks on Civilians, Peackeepers

Margaret Besheer | The United Nations 14 January 2011

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday that he is ‘deeply concerned’ by the growing number of violent attacks targeting civilians and U.N. peacekeepers in Ivory Coast, and warned perpetrators could face international justice.

Mr. Ban said he is deeply concerned about the deteriorating political and security situation in Ivory Coast, where the country has been mired since November in a post-election standoff between the defeated incumbent and the newly elected president.

Speaking to reporters during a news conference, the secretary-general said he has credible accounts of grave human rights violations, and called attempts by loyalists of defeated President Laurent Gbagbo to constrict supplies to the U.N. mission and their blockade on the Golf Hotel where President-elect Alassane Ouattara is holed up with his government, “unacceptable””

REUTERS

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the UN Headquarters in New York, 12 Jan 2011

Mr. Ban said he also has ‘concrete intelligence’ that the former president and those around him are inciting their followers to violence, both against fellow Ivorians and the United Nations.

“Let me be perfectly clear: attacks on civilians or international peacekeepers constitute crimes under international law. So is incitement to commit such crimes,” he said. “The International Criminal Court has declared its intention to open investigations. I call on all sides to exercise maximum restraint and I state once again in the strongest possible terms: those committing or inciting acts of violence will be held responsible.”

Mr. Ban said the U.N. force, known as UNOCI, would continue to patrol and protect civilians, as well as protect the Golf hotel. He said the United Nations would not be deterred from its duty in Ivory Coast, nor would it be intimidated.

The Secretary-General has asked the U.N. Security Council to reinforce UNOCI with approximately 2,000 more troops and police. The council is expected to authorize that request early next week. The force currently has a little over 9,000 troops and police.

Mr. Ban said it is ‘frustrating’ that Mr. Gbagbo will not heed the calls of the international community and the will of the Ivorian people and step down. He added that he would discuss the situation further with African leaders later this month at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa.

USA :

China and the U.S.: When giants meet

By Jaime FlorCruz, CNN

January 14, 2011

Beijing, China (CNN) — China and the United States: When giants meet When U.S. president Richard Nixon first visited China in 1972, I happened to be in China, working on a state farm in Hunan province. I remember being so stunned by the news.

The American president was a stout enemy of Communism. I found it incredible that Nixon would be in Beijing, shaking hands with Chairman Mao.

Speaking at a banquet in Beijing, Nixon hailed the beginning of a new era in China-U.S. relations. That was another shocker to my incredulous Chinese friends who stood around a tiny radio, listening to translation of his speech.

Only days earlier, these farmers were singing revolutionary songs and chanting: “Down with U.S. imperialism!” No permanent enemies, we reminded ourselves, only permanent national interests.

But Nixon’s momentous journey in 1972 opened the door to diplomatic ties and helped precipitate subsequent changes in China and the world.

Dramatic changes are evident in how China perceives President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the United States next week.

“Compared to Nixon’s visit, this upcoming visit won’t be that dramatic,” China’s vice minister of foreign affairs, Cui Tiankai said in an exclusive interview with CNN.

“We now have normal relations, frequent exchanges and intensive coordination. This visit will build on very sound basis and provide a clear direction for the future. It will give our people great hope and the rest of world reassurance that China and the U.S. will work together to address common concerns.”

Cui, 58, is China’s point-person on America. Fluent in English, he has spent seven years in Chinese diplomatic missions in the U.S.

“What do you think is the most common misperception of China among Americans?” I asked.

“It’s the so-called China threat,” he said. “I really do not understand why some people in the U.S. believe that China is posing a threat to the U.S.

“China’s development has offered great opportunities to the U.S. When the international financial crisis came, China’s economy played a great role to restore global economic growth.”

The United States is the unchallenged world superpower, but its clout has declined in recent years, bogged down by economic crisis at home and military conflicts overseas.

China is catching up, its firepower backed by economic clout. China is boosting its military capacity and increasing its diplomatic and economic reach into Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. In the past few months, it has formed closer ties to Europe.

How does the United States deal with this?

“China has become increasingly confident and assertive in recent years,” notes Willem van Kemanade, a Dutch writer based in Beijing. “The U.S. had better get used to that.”

When Hu Jintao sits down with President Barack Obama next week, both sides will be bringing tough issues to the table.

China is especially upset over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Beijing considers the island a breakaway province that is part of China. Lately it has stressed peaceful reunification while warning that independence for Taiwan will not be tolerated.

Washington irked Beijing last year when it approved the sale of a $6.4 billion package of arms to Taiwan. China protested, saying it was an “interference in China’s internal affairs” and noting that it comes at a time when the mainland’s relations with Taiwan have warmed. In protest, Beijing suspended military exchanges with the United States.

China earlier this week hosted a long-postponed visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, marking the resumption of military exchanges. But mistrust lingers.

In its 2009 budget, China allocated a 14.9 percent rise in military spending to $70.3 billion. Some observers say actual Chinese military spending is much higher.

David Zweig, a political science professor at the Hong Kong University of Science Technology, said: “As China’s need for imported oil grows, it has to think about ways to protect its own sea lanes. Does it build a blue-water navy, does it build aircraft carriers, expand its naval presence around the world? There are now people in China who are advocating that.”

Cui dismisses such concerns. “China’s military expenditure is very, very small compared to the military expenditure of the United States,” he said. “So the U.S. has nothing to worry about. China follows a defensive defense policy. China does not threaten anyone.”

So why, I asked, does China need to develop aircraft carriers and stealth jet-fighters?

“May I ask you,” he retorted, “why do you have so many [of them]? We still don’t have them. We are only developing.”

Other bread-and-butter irritants could crop up. The U.S. complains that China is undercutting American exports and stealing American jobs by keeping its currency artificially low.

Is China ready to act to placate its critics in Washington?

“The value of China’s currency is determined by the market fundamentals, not by any politicians,” Cui replied. “This has nothing to do with the economic difficulties the U.S. might have for the time being. We will continue our currency reform but it will be determined by China’s economic development, not by politicians.”

No big breakthroughs are expected from the summit. Drew Thompson, director of China Studies at The Nixon Center, said: “The relationship is being updated, but the U.S. is focusing on Iran, North Korea and currency and trade as topics for the summit, so there is little likelihood that there will be dramatic progress on any one item.”

Cui is optimistic about the chemistry between Hu and Obama. “They have a very good working relationship,” he said. “Every time they met, they spent longer time than planned. That means they have very substantive discussion and are both very serious about our relationship.”

Just as Nixon and Mao did 39 years ago, China’s diplomats hope Hu Jintao and Obama can turn competition into a peaceful coexistence.

Read last week’s “Jaime’s China” about smoking and health.

CANADA :

AUSTRALIA :

Australia Floods Boost World Commodity Prices

by ANTHONY KUHN

January 14, 2011 / http://www.npr.org/2011/01/14/132939828/australia-floods-boost-world-commodity-prices

Australia’s economy has generally outperformed those of other developed nations during recent downturns. It has managed this partly on the strength of its commodity exports, from iron ore to cotton. But disastrous floods in northeast Australia have hurt production and caused global commodity prices to spike.

As Australia’s third-largest city, Brisbane, dries out from what some locals call “The Big Wet,” Australia is tallying the economic losses. Some Australian media have speculated that the damage may be greater than what Hurricane Katrina inflicted on the U.S. economy in 2005.

Professor John Rolfe specializes in Australia’s resources economy at the University of Central Queensland. He says it’s not just the total cost of the disaster that matters, but its impact on the larger national economy.

“I think that Hurricane Katrina had a very big impact,” he concedes. “But I think what is true here is that this shock would be a larger shock to the Australian economy proportionally than Katrina was to the American economy.”

The reason is that the state of Queensland has a dominant proportion of some of Australia’s most valuable commodities. Many of these are sold to China, whose voracious demand for resources has driven commodity prices up, Rolfe says.

“Commodity prices are very important to Australia,” he points out. “We are in the fortunate position of having a lot of coal to sell and a lot of iron ore to sell, again because of the China growth, and that’s really driving the national economy.”

Spot prices for coking coal, which is used to make steel, are up 10 percent in the past month. They’re expected to spike higher while Queensland coal mines are furiously pumping floodwaters out of their pits.

This will take time, says Brian Redican, a senior economist at the Macquarie Group in Sydney.

“That could take up to three months or even longer, before those coal mines are ready to go back into production,” he says. “And Queensland controls maybe half of the ocean-going, traded coking coal market. So that’s a lot of supply that’s been removed from the global market at the moment.”

Redican notes that other coking coal producers, including Indonesia and the U.S., are profiting from the short supplies.

“All those other suppliers that have been playing second fiddle to Queensland in recent years will now really be able to take advantage of those high prices and provide a much more important source of supply for the global market.”

The Reuters CRB index of 19 commodity prices is up 29 percent since last July, the highest level since the global recession began. There is also concern about inflation and food shortages.

Australia is a major exporter of agricultural commodities, including wheat, sugar and cotton. But Tracey Allen, a Sydney-based commodities analyst at Rabobank, which finances agribusinesses, notes that Queensland does not dominate Australia’s production of those crops.

“The reduction to cotton production Australia-wide is really about at an 8 percent sort of level,” she says. “So it is a very significant downgrade up in Queensland, but when you consider production on a national level, we are still predicting a record crop issue, with record production at about 3.95 million bales.”

One upside of the slowdown in Queensland’s commodity exports is that the Australian dollar may edge lower in value, and that could give foreign consumers a better deal on, for example, a case of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon, or a safari in the Outback.

EUROPE :

Summary Box: EU official urges openness to China

Jan 14, 2011 By The Associated Press

THE NEWS: EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said China should be allowed to investing privately in EU member countries in return for supporting the region’s economy’s by buying government debt.

THE CONTEXT: officials in both Europe and China have so far been unforthcoming about Beijing’s motives in taking on the debt.

WHAT’S NEXT: The EU and China are working on a possible treaty to increase bilateral investment and end trade disputes. The bloc is China’s largest trading partner, while China is the EU’s second-largest trading partner behind the United States.

CHINA :