KENYA: Uhuru Kenyatta wants ICC trial delayed
Uhuru Kenyatta, a candidate for the Kenyan presidency, has asked the International Criminal Court to delay his trial on charges of crimes against humanity in order to allow him to prepare for his defence. Acting through his lawyers, Kenyatta said a trial delay was needed to let him respond to evidence disclosed at the last minute by prosecutors. He also requested the judges to explore moving the trial location to Arusha, in Tanzania, where there is an existing UN court trying suspects in the Rwandan genocide.
Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto both face charges related to 2007 post-election violence in which they are accused of orchestrating bloody clashes in which 1,200 people died and thousands were uprooted from their homes after disputed elections in December 2007.
KENYA: Uhuru- Ruto integrity case dismissed
A bench of five High Court judges cleared presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto to contest the in the March 4 elections after dismissing petitions challenging their suitability to run for public office. The two both face charges related to 2007 post-election violence in which they are accused of orchestrating bloody clashes in which 1,200 people died and thousands were uprooted from their homes after disputed elections in December 2007.
The Court held that it did not have the jurisdiction to determine the matter and further underscored that despite the serious nature of the crimes facing Kenyatta and Ruto at the International Criminal Court, they are presumed innocent until proven guilty. But in a statement, one of the civil society groups that lodged the petition, the International Centre for policy and Conflict (ICPC), vowed to move to the Supreme Court.
SOMALIA: Al-Shabab executes Kenyan hostage
A Kenyan soldier, captured by Somalia's al-Shabab fighters has been executed by the militia group amid repeated threats to kill five other hostages. Al-Shabab fighters, who have previously released videos of Kenyan civil servants they have kidnapped, have said they will execute the five hostages within three days unless the Kenyan government gave in to their demands. However, Kenya maintains its position of none negotiation with the al-Qaeda-linked group.
MALI: French troops attempting to secure Mali's Gao
A French military operation to secure the northern Malian town of Gao is under way according to a military spokesperson. Colonel Thierry Burkhard stated that there was a risk of a residual presence of rebels among the population. France launched a military operation in Mali on January 11 to help the Malian government restore control. Rebels linked to al-Qaeda had imposed their own rule in northern Mali then started pushing toward the capital in the month of December 2012.
France has repeatedly said that it will begin to withdraw its 4,000 troops from the country by March, and has called for a UN peacekeeping force to be mandated to take over security from a similar African force by that date.
RWANDA: Rwanda genocide convictions overturned
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda appeal court has overturned genocide convictions of two Rwandan ex-ministers who were jailed for 30 years in 2011, and ordered their immediate release. Appeal Judge Theodor Meron overturned the convictions for complicity to commit genocide and incitement to commit genocide against Justin Mugenzi, who was trade minister during the 1994 genocide, and Prosper Mugiraneza, former minister in charge of civil servants. According to Roland Amoussouga, the ICTR spokesperson, the convictions were reversed because of errors in the trial chamber’s assessment of the evidence.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: DRC rebels say peace deal possible by March
Congolese rebels have said they expect to sign a peace deal with the government by the end of February that would end their ten-month revolt. Spokesman for M23 movement said negotiations are going well. The M23 rebels have carved out a fiefdom in eastern Congo's North Kivu province that has dragged Congo's eastern region back into war and displaced an estimated 500,000 people.
The Kampala talks aim to bring the rebels and the government of President Joseph Kabila closer on a wide range of economic, political and security issues dividing the two sides, including amnesty for war and insurgency acts, the release of political prisoners and reparation of damages due to the war.