East Africa: U.S. Signs Trade Agreement With Region
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Edmund Kagire
Kigali
THE United States Government on Wednesday signed an agreement with the East African Community that will see the US strengthen and increase their trade relations with the economic bloc.
Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) on behalf of the US while EAC Director-General for Customs and Trade Peter Kiguta signed on behalf of the EAC.
Trade ministers and other senior officials from EAC member states Burundi , Kenya , Rwanda , Tanzania and Uganda witnessed signing ceremony.
"The EAC is one of the leading regional economic organizations in sub-Saharan Africa ," said Ambassador Schwab.
"It is making significant progress in opening up regional trade and advancing economic integration among its members.
We see the TIFA as a major step toward deepening the U.S.-EAC trade and investment relationship, expanding and diversifying bilateral trade, and improving the climate for business between U.S. and East African firms."
The U.S.-EAC TIFA will establish regular, high-level talks on the full spectrum of U.S.-EAC trade and investment topics, including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round, trade facilitation issues, and trade capacity building assistance.
Bilateral trade between the United States and the EAC region exceeded $1.2 billion in 2007. U.S. imports from EAC members under AGOA and the Generalized System of Preferences totaled $265 million in 2007.
All five member states of the EAC are eligible for trade benefits under AGOA.
Zimbabwe: Hefty Cash ‘Thank You’ for Soldiers
July 21, 2008
19 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Foster Dongozi/Bertha Shoko
SOLDIERS, partly blamed for the brutal wave of violence that gripped the country before the 27 June presidential election run-off, have been awarded hefty salary increases ranging between $3 trillion and $10 trillion.
Several Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) officers confirmed the developments to The Standard amid reports that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) had sanctioned a daily withdrawal limit of $1 trillion for the soldiers.
The RBZ is now responsible for procuring army supplies and salaries for the security forces.
However, while the soldiers were excited about their windfall, it was not the same story among other arms of the security forces such as the police.
"As police officers, we are not aware that we will get hefty salary increments," said an officer speaking on condition of anonymity. "The government is afraid of soldiers and we are not surprised that they have awarded them a lot of money."
Corporals saw their salaries ballooning from $150 billion to $2,5 trillion while sergeants are now earning $4,7 trillion, up from $180 billion.
This means while the rest of the Zimbabwean population is only able to withdraw a paltry $100 billion at a time — only enough to get them to and from work — soldiers are the only ones whistling merrily all the way to the bank.
Building societies and a foreign-owned commercial bank confirmed that they were providing preferential treatment to officers from the army by allowing them daily withdrawals of between $1 trillion and $2,5 trillion.
Banks, however reportedly maintained the $100 billion daily limit for members of the public — an amount hardly enough to buy a loaf of bread, now selling at $120 billion.
Efforts to get a comment from RBZ were fruitless.
But angry members of the public who spoke to The Standard said they were seriously disturbed by this preferential treatment being given to soldiers. They criticised the RBZ for failing to sympathise with the suffering masses.
Samuel Mwedzi of Kambuzuma told The Standard that he was upset that for the past week he had failed to withdraw money to buy basic commodities that have run out at home.
"It is unfair that I should wake up every single day to join a long queue just to get $100 billion, which is not enough for anything at all while the military are being allowed withdrawals of $1 trillion or more," Mwedzi said.
Many of the callers saw the preferential treatment of soldiers as an act of gratitude for their part in the ruling party’s campaign in an effort to win the presidential election run-off at all costs.
Other observers said it was important for the government to keep the military happy during a time of increasing economic instability.
ZNA spokesperson Colonel Ben Ncube could not be reached for comment yesterday as his phone was continuously unavailable.
Nigeria: Massob Militants Plot Against Britain, Over Niger Delta
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Emma Ogu
Owerri
Leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has warned Britain against sending troops to the Niger Delta, saying that MASSOB will join forces with the militants to fight such foreign troops.
Uwazuruike, in an exclusive chat with Daily Champion yesterday in Owerri, said British forces would be defeated if they came to Niger Delta because his men were ever ready to defend the people of the region.
According to him, the deployment of foreign soldiers in the region will be viewed as war between the North and South and MASSOB cannot afford to sit and watch the killing of our "brothers in the Niger Delta."
"All the problems in Nigeria today were caused by Britain. I think God is looking for a way to punish them. If they go to Niger Delta, they will be defeated. If they go to Niger Delta what you will have will be civil war between the North and South because the Igbo will see the Niger Delta people as their brothers. Though they were against us during the Biafran war, we have all learnt our lessons. The Housas merely used them against us. We have taken that behind us. If British people or whatever you call them come to Niger Delta today to fight our brothers, I tell you MASSOB will join our brothers to fight them".
The MASSOB leader said that the marginalisation of Ndigbo in positions of authority under the present administration in the country was real and that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s government was only implementing the directive principle of state policy.
According to him, it is a state policy that Ndigbo should be kept away from top positions and successive governments in the country both military and civilian, have implemented the policy to the fullest since the end of the civil war.
"It has always been like that for Ndigbo since 1970. Every regime tends to be worse for the people of the race. When Gowon was there, it was like that, when Shehu Shagari was there it was like that. Think of Buhari, Babangida, Abacha, Shonekan, Abdulsalam, Obasanjo regimes, it was the same. The thing is that immediately after the war, there was understanding between Hausas and Yorubas that the Igbo should be kept under and that is what is happening since then. It is a fundamental policy and whoever that is there will execute the policy. After Yar’Adua, another person that will come will become the worst enermy of Ndigbo".
On the issue of corruption in Nigeria, he said that the country would not make any progress in the anti-corruption war because those spear-heading it are corrupt people. According to him, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who started the programme was more corrupt than any other leader Nigeria has produced and yet the incumbent government of President Yar’ Adua refused to prosecute him.
" Obasanjo deceived the people that he was recovering Abacha’s stolen money but ended up stealing more than Abacha. Yar’Adua will end up being more corrupt than Obasanjo also. If he is sincere with anti- corruption programme why hasn’t he tried Obasanjo. The meaning of one Nigeria is stealing".
He said that the only way to salvage the country was for the people to carry out a revolution that would consume all the past rulers of the nation as it happened in Ghana.
Kenya: MSF Teams Blocked From Assisting Civilians Affected By Conflict in Mount Elgon
July 21, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
For the last three weeks, staff working for the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have been stopped at road blocks and prevented by local authorities from providing medical assistance to the affected civilian population of Mount Elgon in western Kenya. MSF is calling on the authorities to lift the restrictions and allow the resumption of vital humanitarian relief.
"We were helping thousands of civilians until a few weeks ago and are extremely concerned for them,” said David Michalski, MSF’s operations coordinator in Kenya. “Some have contacted us in great despair. Referrals to hospital of patients with emergency conditions are hampered given the lack of transportation which used to be provided by MSF, and vulnerable people are being left in harsh and cold living conditions without access to vital assistance,” he said.
Since MSF began providing free medical care to people affected directly or indirectly by the conflict in Mount Elgon in April 2007, over 35,000 medical consultations have been carried out by MSF teams, together with the Kenyan Ministry of Health. As recently as mid-June, MSF publicly called for an immediate increase in aid as well as an end to indiscriminate violence against the population.
The reality is that, today, MSF’s assistance is being curtailed. Despite repeated attempts to discuss the matter with local and national authorities, no explanation has been provided.
Adding to MSF’s concerns, the blockage comes at a time when its teams are receiving reports of further attacks in one of the areas they used to serve. People who had sought refuge in the highlands of Chebongweny told MSF that their houses, shelters, and food reserves were burnt down nine days ago by armed forest guards. Blankets were either stolen or destroyed and the clearly identified MSF medical unit, where many people had spent the night in search of safety and shelter, was also burnt down.
“Intentionally attacking medical structures and hampering relief agencies from working, whether during conflict or periods of instability, are serious acts prohibited under the Geneva Conventions," added Michalski. "This attack shows, once again, how the civilian population in Mount Elgon is the first victim of this conflict and is in desperate need of assistance. MSF is calling on the authorities to meet with us, and to lift the current restrictions so that we can continue providing humanitarian aid to the people of Mount Elgon as we have always done — in a neutral and impartial manner."
Background materials:
MSF is one of very few humanitarian organizations providing assistance to people affected by the conflict in Mount Elgon. Dealing with the consequences of the violence against civilians, MSF’s activities since April 2007 have focused primarily on providing free medical care through support to primary health care structures, immunisations, and mobile clinics in more remote areas. MSF has also established a hospital referral system for medical emergencies and distributed clothing and blankets.
Nigeria: Gunmen Kidnap Delta SSG’s Father
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Victor Efeizomor
Asaba
Father of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Secretary to Delta State Government, was yesterday kidnapped from his country home at Boji Boji Owa, in Ika North-east Local Government Area, by a four-man gang suspected to be militants.
The gun men, stormed the number 2, Amokwu Street , off Efeizomor road, home of Chief Arthur O.U Okowa, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, at about 11a.m.
The 70-year-old man was said to have returned from an early morning Sunday Church service, at Anglican Church, Boji Boji Owa, at about 10:30a.m., and was in his bedroom when a househelp informed him that he had some visitors.
Oblivious of what was in stock, Okowa, who is the Ojuyagbe of Owa Kingdom, asked the househelp to usher in the visitors into the house, after having been told that they were carrying bags, and on business trip .
According to a family source, Okowa emerged from his bedroom, when the four-man gang pulled the gun and asked him to cooporate or he will be shot dead.
THISDAY gathered that the gun men, who had been hanging around the neighbourhood for about five hours, tied his hands and sealed his mouth.
The househelp was also tied and locked in one of the toilets in the house. Okowa was subsequently led into his Operus Hyundai Executive Saloon car, with the inscription, "Ojuyagbe" on the number plate and whisked away.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr Jacob Oshiomoh, when contacted through the telephone, simply said, "I have not been told , I am going to call the area commanders for further confirmation."
However, the State Police Public Relations officer, Mr Charlers Muka, told THISDAY in a telephone interview that "we haver just recived a signal that somebody has been kidnapped in Boji Boji Owa," but advised that THISDAY speaks with the Commissioner of police for more details.
The Divisional Police Officer in Charge of Owa Oyibu, Police Post , in Ika North East Local Government area, Mr Stephen I . Musa, also told THISDAY that his command had been informed of the kidnap and that his men have been sent out to comb the area for clues.
THISDAY was in the a middle of an interview with Muka, when he received signals that the police have recovered Okowa’s car along Agbor-Uromi road junction.
When THISDAY visited Okowa’s residence, politicians, Owa Royal Chiefs and friends were seeing milling around, discussing in low tones.
Those at the residence include, Chief Ben Obuh, PDP Chairman Delta North, Chief Ogada Omola, Chairman PDP Ika North-east, Dr E.O Efeizomor, Obi of Owa Kingdom and Chief I.I Erigbuim, among others.
Nigeria: MEND - We’ll Ensure Safe Release of German Hostages
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Ahamefula Ogbu
Port Harcourt
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has offered to intervene to ensure the release of the German hostages working for Julius Berger who were kidnapped July 11 at Rumuji, along East-West, Rivers State.
MEND said its intervention was because of the failure of the security agencies to make any headway in the release of the hostages which it attributed to their poor intelligence ability.
MEND, according to a statement on its official site said it had already identified the group which carried out the attack with a view to ensuring an unconditional and safe release of the two Germans.
"MEND has located and identified the culprits and will begin negotiations with the kidnappers in the hope for a safe and unconditional release of the captives," it claimed.
According to Gbomo Jomo who signed the statement, MEND’s intervention is predicated on their consideration of hostage - taking as a criminal act especially as the men taken hostage were involved in construction of infrastructure which is meant for the development of the region.
"The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) will intervene towards the release of the two German construction staff of Julius Berger who were ambushed and kidnapped for ransom in Rivers state of Nigeria on Friday July 11, 2008 because from all indications, the inept Nigerian security forces have been unable to make any progress, towards their freedom.
"We consider such criminal acts as a duty for the law enforcement agencies as practiced in every part of the world and as a rule, never get involved. However, this case will be an exception to the rule because the men are involved in construction of infrastructure in the Niger Delta region," MEND said.
The kidnappers were said to have stormed the camp of Julius Berger near Rumuji and made away with one of the hostages while their attempt to take the second worker was foiled by soldiers guarding the facility.
Sources however said the hoodlums staged a come back where they encountered the second hostage in a bullet proof vehicle and tried all they could to stop the vehicle and take the second hostage.
At a point, after shooting consistently, they stopped the vehicle by blocking it with a bus but could not open the doors. After shooting at it for sometime, they allegedly threw some explosives under the vehicle which forced it to overturn and forced the four doors to open.
Nigeria: Delta SSG’s Dad Abducted
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Barry Osa Agbanigbi and Napoleon Ehiremen
Asaba/Worri
UNIDENTIFIED gunmen yesterday kidnapped Chief Arthur Okawa, father of the secretary to Delta State government at his Boji-Boji Owa, Agbor residence in Ika North East Local Government area.
The 75-year-old Agbor High Chief was reportedly abducted by four gunmen at 11.00 am.
His ordeal came barely 24 days after the convoy of Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan was attacked by suspected Armed robbers.
He was traveling to Warri to watch a testimonial match for Super Eagles former captain Austin Okocha.
However, a source said the kidnappers immediately on arrival, fired several shots to scare residents of the area before entering Okowa’s 2, Amoku Street residence in Agbor.
The victims who was 75 years old recently, was said to be hosting a family friend, when the gunmen arrived his home.
Daily Champion learnt that the victim was whisked away in a Toyota Camry car to an unknown destination.
Reasons for the kidnap was however not known as at press time. Congirming the incident, Delta State police Commissioner, Mr. Jacob Oshiomogho said the command had launched a full scale man-hunt for the suspected kidnappers.
He appealed to members of the public to give any useful information about the suspected kidnappers.
Meanwhile, public has gripped political officeholders in the state as some have started moving members of their families out of the state for fear of possible attack or kidnap.
It would be recalled that government Uduaghan convoy was attacked by suspected robbers June 25, 2008.
The State SSG, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, was a two time commissioner in the government of ex-governor James Ibori and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the last general elections in the state.
It would be recalled that governor Uduaghan convoy was attacked by suspected robbers June 25, 2008.
The State SSG, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, was a two time commissioner in the government of ex-governor James Ibori and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the last general elections in the state.
Nigeria: Niger Delta Crisis - UAD Groans Under British Involvement
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Moses John
The United Action for Democracy {UAD}, has described the purported security deal reached between President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua with the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown in London recently for Britain to provide security training and experts’ advice to combat what it termed "lawlessness" in the Niger Delta region as a suicide mission.
UAD, according to a statement signed by comradeAbiodun Aremu and made available to LEADERSHIP in Abuja, called on president Yar’Adua to denounce the action as was possible of succumbing to the blackmail of the international conspiracy to compromise Nigeria’s sovereignty and internal security.
The statement further indicated that "UAD wishes to affirm that the Yar’Adua’s failed State and its international collaborators of multinational oil companies who have consistently disregarded established global laws and conventions on the environment and climate change, are the least qualified to dub the militants and the people of the Niger Delta as lawless.
"The implication of Yar’Adua’s latest deal with imperialist Britain is similar to the recent failed attempt by America to position its "African Command" in Nigeria. It is to further the mad obsession of the failing regime to commit untold violence against the people of the Niger Delta, plunder the natural endowments, expose the region to the risk of biological and chemical warfare and diseases, and subject the environment to greater destruction", the statement added.
The group however called on President Yar’Adua and his imperialist masters to denounce this unpopular and slavish deal, or risk" our resolve to organise and mobilise Nigerians to resist it. The struggle against this deal would be reminiscent of the struggle of the Nigerian students and the Action Group that stopped the Anglo-Defence Pact in 1961, which would have made Nigeria a military outpost of Britain" its warned
Namibia: Govt Snubs Community Over ‘Secret’ Army Building
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Denver Isaacs
EXPECTATIONS of answers to what has been happening in their area for the last two years resulted in more frustration for the Arovlei community yesterday, as Government snubbed an invitation to address them at a community meeting.
More than 260 people from the Khomas farming community and some neighbouring villages convened at the village farmhouse, hoping to hear from their elected representatives what the secretive military building being erected inside one of their camps will mean for their future.
The Ministry of Lands and Resettlement, the Khomas Regional Council and the Ministry of Defence were all scheduled to have representatives present at yesterday’s meeting.
Since 2006, when construction of the controversial building began, the villagers have only been able to determine that the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) is behind the presence of the group of Chinese construction workers in their midst.
When no answers were forthcoming yesterday, their frustration was evident.
Rumours that the building will become an ammunition factory or warehouse; fears that they would be forced to resettle soon; and charges that construction waste, including cement bags and "sharp objects" have caused the death of numerous livestock, are being allowed to run rampant without any facts to the contrary being presented.
Residents say that, among others, goats at Arovlei have died after grazing on plastic bags allegedly left behind by construction workers.
"I voted for you to have prosperity. I am a loyal Swapo member. Were all my efforts in vain?" #Hanabaeb Gariseb, an elderly man, asked.
"If they talk about development, then it’s good. But what I don’t understand is why, in order for development to come, must we be moved away from that development.
"Let me ask who will benefit from this development? Is it the Malaysians or the Koreans? Let us please be part of this development," another, who identified himself as Nikolaas, said to cheers.
Others suggested that the community bypass the bodies they have tried to speak to present, and arrange for an appointment with the President himself.
"I suggest we speak to the President and ask him to get his subordinates into action. Otherwise, we will be sent from office to office and that factory will be in full operation while we sit and wonder still," said another.
The commander of the nearby Oamites military base, who identified himself only as W Heita, told the gathering that, because of structures in place in the military, he could not reveal Government’s plans and they needed to speak to someone higher up in the ranks.
Heita put a stop to the community’s plan to go to the building after the meeting and see for themselves what was going on. He refused to allow them access to the site.
The villagers say they will continue to press Government for answers, and will try and speak directly to Lands Minister Alpheus !Naruseb before trying to arrange a meeting with President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
Rwanda: Ahorugeze Sylvere - Extradition Request Due ‘As Soon As Possible’
July 21, 2008
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Kigali
The 40-day detention period for Genocide suspect Ahorugeze Sylvere will be enough time for Rwanda to process his extradition request from Sweden, a judicial official said on Monday.
The Head of the Genocide Fugitives Tracking Unit Mr. Jean-Bosco Mutangana told RNA that there is sufficient evidence linking Ahorugeze, former Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Rwanda.numerous massacres of Tutsis in Gikondo - a suburb of Kigali.
"As a normal judicial procedure, the forty days are for him to stay in detention as we prepared to submit our request for him to be extradited", he said.
On the morning of Tuesday July 16, Mr. Ahorugeze and his wife entered to Rwandan on the outskirts of Stockholm. Embassy staff noticed him as the Genocide fugitive figuring as number 2 on the government international Red Notice issued in April 2006.
‘The suspect came to the Rwandan Embassy accompanying his wife who had come to register for the new identity card and request the Rwandan Embassy to help process her new passport since the one she had was valid until 2009′, said Jacqueline Mukangira - the Rwandan envoy in Sweden.
Swedish authorities were alerted leading to his arrest. He has been appointed a Lawyer who appeared with him in court two days later.
Mr. Ahorugeze was first been arrested in Denmark, but was later provisionally released by the Danish Authorities, despite all the evidence against this suspect, Ambassador Mukangira said.
"There is no justification to think that because the ICTR and France refused (to hand over suspects) - Sweden may do the same", said Mr. Mutangana. "Every country makes independent judicial decisions".
The French Cour de Cassation overturned a lower court ruling in favour of extradition of Mr. Clavere Kamana and sent the case back to the Lyon appeals tribunal for a review. The full text of the ruling is to be released in the coming days.
Meanwhile, RNA has also established that the Extradition section of the British Home Office has written to a Rwandan campaign group in London assuring them over the case of four Genocide suspects awaiting extradition to Rwanda.
The Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will apparently ‘consider her decision with great care in those important cases’, according to a June 26 letter to Action Group for Peace and Justice in Rwanda (AGPJR).
The note also says in case an extradition is ordered, Dr Vincent Bajinya, Charles Munyaneza, Emmanuel Nteziryayo and Celestin Ugirashebuja would have a statutory right of appeal to the High Court.
The Home Office says the extradition process is subject to close judicial supervision and procedural safeguards and is not a political matter between the Rwandan and UK governments.
The Home Secretary reminds the group of her awareness of the ICTR decision in Munyakazi, Kanyarukiga and Hategekimana cases against extradition to Rwanda and appeals against those decisions that the ICTR Prosecutor has lodged.
In June, judges with the Tribunal ruled to keep Mr. Ildephonse Hategekimana, Mr. Gaspard Kanyarukiga and Mr. Yussuf Munyakazi at the court on grounds that Rwanda did not qualify to handle the cases fairly.