Somalia: somali peacekeepers want out

Addis Ababa - African Union peacekeepers want to withdraw from Somalia as soon as possible, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said last week.

Sudanese Government and UNICEF sign agreement to protect children

United Nations 24-12-2008 : Sudan's military and child welfare authorities have partnered with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to protect children's rights and prevent the recruitment of child soldiers in the war-torn African nation.

Soldiers to withdraw after shooting in Sudan

Soldiers caught up in fighting in Sudan's oil town of Abyei have agreed to pull out of the settlement to ease tensions, local officials and UN officers said on Sunday.

Forum on free press gets off to censored start

BEIRUT: Four journalists and rights activists from Saudi Arabia, Syria and Tunisia were prevented by their governments from traveling to Beirut to attend a regional forum on Arab press freedom on Friday. Over 160 journalists, bloggers, publishers, editors and press freedom advocates came together for the first session of the two-day Third Annual Free Press Forum in Beirut.

Kenya’s Odinga calls for Zimbabwe invasion

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga intensified his attacks against Robert Mugabe yesterday, saying foreign troops should prepare to intervene in Zimbabwe to end a worsening humanitarian crisis and the president should be investigated for crimes against humanity.

Sanaa forum countries to meet in Khartoum

Leaders of the Sanaa Cooperation Forum, comprising Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and, Yemen will meet in the Sudanese capital on December 30 to discuss regional issues. The six-year-old Saana Grouping, named after the Yemeni capital, is aimed at enhancing security, political and economic cooperation in the volatile region.

Iran expands nuclear operations

Iran has expanded its controversial nuclear programme and now operates more than 5,000 uranium enrichment centrifuges, the country's nuclear chief has said.

Uganda peace deal in limbo

Efforts to bring a definitive end to Uganda's two-decade civil war were in limbo after rebel leader Joseph Kony's no-show at a weekend signing ceremony but the government refused to lose hope.

Iran leader faces poll challenge

A senior opposition figure in Iran has announced that he will challenge President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in next summer's presidential election.

AU chief in DRC to end army, rebel clashes

African Union chief Jean Ping met Saturday in Kinshasa with officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo to try and bring an end to fighting in the country's east between the army and rebel forces.

Global slow-down increases Africa's risks

Current global turbulences are increasing Africa's risk of decline in resource flows, both in private capital, remittances as well as aid, IMF has said in a report.

AU fears donors will cut African aid

Jakaya Kikwete, the Chairman of the African Union (AU) and President of Tanzania, today told the press in Antananarivo that the AU fears international donors may cut aid to Africa as the global financial crisis deepens. Experiences from earlier crises show his concerns are well founded.

Human Rights Defenders Take the Floor

Under the theme “The Defenders Take the Floor”, the UDHR 60 conference gathered prominent human rights advocates and representatives of human rights organizations to share their experience and to review available UN, EU and Council of Europe mechanisms supporting the work of human rights defenders.

Africa to be hit by world crisis

While economic growth projections for Africa in 2009 remain quite optimistic, the continent is set to feel a negative impact of the global financial crisis. Credits will be more difficult to obtain and development aid transfers are set to be reduced.

International Medical Corps Offices in Somalia's Central Region Looted; Activities Suspended

Armed men identifying themselves as Al-Shabab, a splinter group of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), invaded four International Medical Corps (IMC) offices in the Bakool and Bay regions of Somalia on Wednesday. Al-Shabab demanded keys to all offices and warehouses and in the subsequent two days looted IMC property from all four sites, including drugs, medical supplies, equipment and supplementary and therapeutic food intended for malnourished children. No IMC staff was injured during the course of these attacks.

Special Report On Human Rights In Somalia

All rights including human rights were drastically violated in the ignorant-torn Somalia. No rights were reserved for anyone - especially those who remained in Mogadishu and its surroundings after fierce war erupted between the Ethiopian and Somali government forces and the opposition groups.

South Sudan delegation participates in border workshop in UK

September 22, 2008 (LONDON) – Officials from southern Sudan government participated in a three day training workshop on strategies and tools for effective border management in the United Kingdom.

World Bank stops financing Chad oil pipeline

World Bank has stopped financing a Chad-Cameroon pipeline after Chadian government failed to keep its promise to channel oil revenue on poor.

Sierra Leone ready for new law

Freetown - Sierra Leone's President Ernest Koroma will sign into law the new Anti-Corruption Act "sometime this week", and present his asset declaration form and that of all cabinet ministers to the Anti-Corruption Commission, the head of the anti-graft organisation said on Monday.

Sudan and Chad agree to restore diplomatic relations

Sudan and Chad agreed to restore bilateral relations and stop media campaigns. Also, the president of the two countries agreed to take part in tripartite summit with the Libyan leader

Is Ethiopia really enjoying economic development?

Many Ethiopians, especially those in the Diaspora community have been and still are puzzled by two contradictory phenomena regarding the Ethiopian economy. On the one hand, the ruling party, the EPDRF, has been reporting record-breaking growth rates of the Ethiopian economy, year-after-year. Year after year, we have been informed that the state of the Ethiopian economy was on a higher growth trajectory, “thanks to the policies of the ruling government.” As of this writing, a rosy forecast is provided by the government for both this year (2008) and the next one, while at the same time, the United Nations humanitarian agencies such as UNICEF are reporting, as did the Voice of America on its June 6th broadcast, that “Ethiopia Faces Worsening Food Shortage…” Nearly a month ago, the prime minster, Mr. Meles Zenawi told the parliamentarians the rampant inflation rate that has engulfed the country was due to the “empowered” peasants asking for higher prices for their produce and due to a growing economy.

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Western Equatoria becoming a breading ground for LRA

The Lost Ruthless Animals (LRA) of Joseph Kony formerly known in Uganda as the Lord’s Resistance Army has for the last few years undergone successions of changes which at the present makes it a real regional threat to the neighbouring countries of South Sudan, The Democratic Republic of Congo( DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR). But who cares about insecurities in these areas of the world as long as whatsoever happens here do not affect the core interests of the USA, Britain and France plus their tribalistic puppets in the leaderships of these former colonies.

Building sustainable peace in Northern Uganda

The peace process to end the 22-year war in northern Uganda is at an uncertain, perilous juncture. Brokered by the semi-autonomous Government of South Sudan (GoSS), nearly two years of contentious, complex negotiations have produced a comprehensive peace agreement signed by delegations from the Government of Uganda (GoU) and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army/Movement (LRA/M). On 10 April, LRA/M leader Joseph Kony was to have added his signature, and four days later, President Museveni was to have done the same. In confused circumstances reflecting serious divisions both between and within the rebel delegation and fighters – including the firing of David Matsanga, the top rebel negotiator, and rumours of internal fighting that may have led to the death of Kony’s second-in-command, Okot Odhiambo – Kony did not sign.

China and Africa: Growing Pains

As the political crisis in Zimbabwe spirals into bloodshed and chaos, its ruler, Robert Mugabe, seems to have endless tricks up his sleeve. Already he has stalled an election after probably losing the first round, used the state-controlled press to divert attention to the chronic issue of land control, and apparently had thugs beat opposition supporters. But one of his strategies seems likely to fail. In mid-April, South Africa's Transport Workers Union refused to unload a shipment of Chinese arms destined for Zimbabwe.

Humanitarian conditions in Darfur, two months before the rainy season

Darfur’s rainy season largely coincides with the traditional “hunger gap” between spring planting and fall harvest; so the loss of transport capacity, rebel violence along the Chad/Darfur border, humanitarian obstruction by Khartoum, pervasive insecurity throughout Darfur, and the failure of effective UNAMID deployment may make this rainy season the “perfect storm” of human destruction

Message of the Iranian Resistance's leader Massoud Rajavi to the nation

Tehran regime is in a period of decline, desertions and divisions, which reflects its final phase

• Brutal crackdown is the mullahs' response to massive, widespread social upheavals

• The recent Majlis (Parliament) elections paved the way for obtaining nuclear weapons, regardless of the impending domestic and international costs

• If Tehran were to abandon export of terrorism and contain itself within Iran's borders, the Supreme Leader would lose dynamism, causing an implosion from within.

Darfur rebel leader urges British PM to make efforts to stop violence before talks

A Darfur rebel leader urged the British Prime Minister to exert efforts in order to arrest against the civilians in the war-torn region of western Sudan before proposing to host the peace process.

EU criticizes Sudan for refusing to extradite war crimes suspects

The European Union (EU) issued a statement this week condemning the Sudanese government for handing over war crimes suspects to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Chadian army repulses rebel attack on eastern town

N'DJAMENA, Chad - Rebels attacked a town in eastern Chad on Tuesday but the army repulsed them after a four-hour battle, the prime minister said.

Fresh fighting breaks out in Sudan North-South border region

There has been new reports of fighting between former southern Sudanese rebels and armed tribesman in the oil rich border region.The Al-Sahafa daily said that the deadly clashes broke out between the Sudan people Liberation Army (SPLA) and the cattle-herding Misseriya tribes around 20 kilometers east of the Heglig oil field.

Elections in Iran: Khamenei emphasized on the need for upcoming Majlis's full backing of Ahmadinejad and to keep distance from the enemies

Maryam Rajavi: Khamenei and Ahmadinejad's faction by purging their rivals cleared the way for a non-stop move for obtaining nuclear bomb as well as export of terrorism and fundamentalism

Speech by the Right Hon Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe “Human Rights in Europe now”

Thank you very much for your invitation to speak about the current condition of human rights in Europe. I will divide my comments into two parts. Since we are in Brussels, I will start with a few remarks about the respective roles of the Council of Europe and the European Union in the field of human rights. I will then refer to some of the most topical human rights challenges which face Europe today.

Iranian regime's responses to IAEA's questions on contaminated equipments and Plunium 210 are absolutely untrue and fabrications

The documents that the clerical regime has provided to the IAEA are nothing but fabrications, conjuring up stories, and justification of what has already been unveiled. These documents and claims bear no credibility and prove nothing

Uganda, rebel LRA signs permanent ceasefire agreement in Juba

The Government of Uganda and Lord’s Resistance Army and Movement (LRA/M) rebels have, today at 2.30 pm, signed a Permanent Ceasefire Agreement in Juba the capital of southern Sudan to silent guns.The a permanent ceasefire commencing 24 hours after the signature of the final peace agreement expected to be concluded by 29th February this month.

Singapore FM: Suu Kyi to be Barred from Voting in 2010

Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will not be allowed to take part in elections proposed by the country's military leaders in 2010 because she had been married to a foreigner, The Straits Times newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Ethiopia urges strong UN action against foe Eritrea

Ethiopia urged the United Nations on Saturday to take strong measures against "rogue regime" Eritrea, which Addis Ababa said was undermining the world body by cutting off food supplies to its troops.

Ugandan LRA rebels “on the move”

Hundreds of Ugandan rebels have left an assembly point on the border with Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a southern Sudanese official says.

Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on Council of Europe action to improve the protection of human rights defenders and promote their activities

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 6 February 2008 at the 1017th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe,
Noting the commitment made by Heads of State and Government meeting at their Third Summit in Warsaw 2005 that the Council of Europe “shall – through its various mechanisms and institutions – play a dynamic role in protecting the right of individuals and promoting the invaluable engagement of non-governmental organisations, to actively defend human rights”;

Chad rejects new Darfur refugees

Chad has refused to accept any new refugees from neighbouring Sudan's Darfur region. Nouradine Coumakoye, the prime minister, on Monday threatened to expel refugees if the international community did not send them home or find them a new host country.

How to negotiate lasting peace in Darfur?

The Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), signed in 2006, has been a failure from the outset. It was backed by the Sudanese government and only one rebel faction in Darfur. Instead of bringing peace, the agreement had caused more fighting among the rebels and between the Sudanese government forces and rebel groups. What’s more, the rebel faction that signed the DPA immediately initiated combined military action with the government’s forces against the non-signatory rebel groups.

Uganda: LRA peace talks - The inside story

JUBA : After a four-month recess, peace talks between the government and the Lord's Resistance Army resumed on a dramatic note in Juba last week. The LRA delegates walked out accusing the United States, which has observer status, of trying to hijack the peace process.

Chad rebels vow fresh offensive

N'Djamena: Thousands of civilians fled Chad's capital N'Djamena on Monday after rebels broke off a two-day assault but threatened a fresh attempt to topple President Idriss Deby.

Heavy Fighting in Chad as UN Meets for Emergency Talks

The United Nations Security Council is holding emergency talks on the situation in Chad, where heavy fighting is raging between rebel forces and government soldiers.

Seeking a Path in Democracy’s Dead End

LATE in the afternoon of Jan. 24, an American military plane landed in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, carrying Adm. William J. Fallon, the commander of the United States Central Command.

China banks cut Iran business

TEHRAN: Chinese banks have cut back business with Iranian banks due to US pressure over Tehran's nuclear programme, an Iranian Foreign Ministry official said.

The Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings enters into force on 1 February 2008

The Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CETS n° 197) enters into force on 1 February 2008. The Convention aims to prevent trafficking, protect the human rights of victims and prosecute traffickers. It applies to all victims of trafficking: women, men and children alike; to all forms of exploitation (sexual exploitation, forced labour, servitude, removal of organs etc.) and it covers all forms of trafficking: national and transnational, related or not to organised crime.

Burma: Prepare for the Worst, Not the Best

On Wednesday, we heard clearly the frustration felt by Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi about the way her talks with the regime’s mediator are going.

The freedom war inside Iran

A ferocious war is going on inside Iran. It is the war the tyrannical regime of ayatollahs has declared on people of Iran since coming to power in 1979 in order to preserve its nefarious rule. At its core, this is a war over two very different kinds of Iran; a democratic Iran with a pluralistic secular system of government at peace with the outside world; and a theocratic Iran under the tyranny of ayatollahs which breeds terrorism and proliferate weapons of mass destruction.