Senegal to return Chad war crimes case to AU
A cabinet statement indicated last Friday that President Abdoulaye Wade is determined to hand ex-Chadian dictator Hissene Habre's war crimes dossier back to the African Union. Last December Wade said that he wanted to "get rid of" Habre, exiled in Dakar and whom the AU had mandated Senegal to try in 2006 on behalf of Africa for war crimes, crimes against humanity and torture. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had ruled in November last year that Senegal alone cannot try Habre for crimes against humanity, but said a special tribunal could be set up. The cabinet said, “The President of the Republic has informed the cabinet that the ECOWAS Court states that Senegal cannot try the former Chadian president," and added, "The President has thus committed to implement this decision by handing the Habre dossier back to the African Union."
South Sudan leader Kiir urges forgiveness for civil war
President Salva Kiir has urged his people to forgive the North for killings during a civil war that lasted more than 20 years. He made the appeal from the pulpit of a Catholic Cathedral in Juba. The results from Southern Sudan's referendum indicate that the region has voted overwhelmingly to split from the north and form a new country. Full results of the election are not due until next month, but the region is widely expected to choose to secede. "For our deceased brothers and sisters, particularly those who have fallen during the time of struggle, may God bless them with eternal peace." said President Salva Kiir on Sunday and added, "And may we, like Jesus Christ on the cross, forgive those who have forcefully caused their deaths."
DR Congo parliament approves one-round election
The Democratic Republic of Congo's parliament has approved voting reforms that are seen as possibly lifting President Joseph Kabila's chances for re-election in the November election. The country's Assembly and Senate passed eight constitutional amendments on Saturday that would allow an election to take place in just one round on November 27. The president would be elected by a simple majority of votes instead of an absolute majority, which would eliminate any possible need for a second round. Joseph Kabila, earlier this month mooted the idea to revise the constitution, saying it would cut costs and would prevent post-electoral crises as seen in Guinea or the Ivory Coast. But it was widely contested by opposition leaders who described the move as a "fraud" aimed at keeping the leader in power. Among the 608 members of parliament, 485 voted for the revision of eight articles in the Congolese constitution which was set up in 2006. More than 100 opposition lawmakers boycotted the voting session. Earlier this month the influential archbishop of Kinshasa, Laurent Monsengwo, voiced support for a two-round election saying that the elected national leader would "have a sufficient foundation" in the country.
AU in fresh attempt to unlock Ivorian crisis
The African Union mediator and Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga,flew to Abuja last Sunday to meet the head of the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, after which he will head to crisis-stricken Abijdan. The AU and the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have struggled to mediate between Ivory Coast's embattled strongman, Laurent Gbagbo, and the man the world says won the November 28 presidential runoff Alassane Ouattara. Gbagbo's rival has for weeks been holed up in an Abidjan hotel resort, with United Nations peacekeepers and northern ex-rebels protecting his camp from the army which remains loyal to the incumbent. Several African leaders have shuttled between the two men who have each sworn themselves in as president, with ECOWAS threatening military action as a last resort if Gbagbo refuses to hand over power. "We want a dialogue to begin between the Ouattara camp and president Gbagbo," the incumbent's spokesman, Ahoua Don Mello, said last Sunday and added, “The two men know each other, they can sit down and find a solution."
Top Rwandan exiles could face fresh terrorist charges
Four exiled former allies of Rwandan President Paul Kagame who were sentenced in absentia last week to long jail terms for alleged links with a rebel group could face fresh charges. Captain Fidel Musingi, the head of Rwandan military prosecutions, told Bloomberg news wire on Friday that the prosecution is preparing “another case of terrorism charges against the four officers.”
Former army chief Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa and a former head of military intelligence, Patrick Karegeya, were sentenced this month to 20 years in jail each together with two other former senior state officials on charges of “threatening state security”. No one knows what evidence is likely to be used for the new terrorism charges the prosecutor is preparing. However, the authorities have been keen to link Nyamwasa to a series of deadly grenade attacks that rocked the capital Kigali shortly before the presidential election in August last year.
Niger junta moves ex-leader Mamadou Tandja 'to prison’
Official sources said that Niger's ex-president Mamadou Tandja has been moved from house arrest to prison and is accused of corruption. He was deposed by the army in February 2010 following widespread criticism of his attempts to seek a third term. The West African Regional Court ordered the junta to free him last November 2010. Tadja's transfer comes two weeks ahead of presidential elections organised by the military. Local elections - the first under the new constitution - were held last week. The new constitution reduces the powers of future presidents and limits them to two terms in office.