SOMALIA'S DEADLINE - AUGUST 20th

Good morning to you all.

Today is August 20th and it is a very important deadline in the history of Somalia.

 Mogadishu is now relatively peaceful since the AMISOM forces pushed out the Al Shabbab Militants in August 2011

Somalia's newly selected parliament is to hold a vote to name the president of the country.

The vote will then mark the end of a period of eight years of rule by the UN-backed Transitional Federal Government, the TFG, whose mandate expires today.

 La Villa Somalia is still the headquarter of the TGF

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Here is a link to the latest article from the BBC's website that says it all:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19314308

"Les camps palestiniens dans la révolution syrienne" - Par Noria Research

Les camps palestiniens dans la révolution syrienne - Noria Research

"Arrivés par vagues successives du nord de la Palestine en 1948, du Golan en 1967 et du Liban dans les années 1980, les Palestiniens sont aujourd’hui 500 000 à vivre en Syrie"...

 

http://www.noria-research.com/les-camps-palestiniens-dans-la-revolution-syrienne/

Noria is a network of researchers and analysts, promoting the work of a new generation of specialists in international politics.
Founded in 2011, a year littered with socio-political upheaval, Noria aims at providing a pertinent and in-depth perspective on the changing nature of the international landscape and a new approach to understanding and analysing international issues. The network chiefly focuses on issues pertaining to conflict, mobilizations, organized crime, and the foreign policies of ‘emerging’ powers.

Cronicas Mexicanas - Amexica

Ah, I'm dreaming of America Latina.

The heat, the light, the music I am immerging myself into make me want to see the continent I have never been to. Maybe it is because this year I travelled all over Europe, East Africa and beyond, like Liberia and South Africa and Tunisia, and India, that the main continent remaining to visit is so appealing. Maybe it is just because it seems wonderful.

I want to see Mexico and Argentina, and if I could I would do a long trip from New York City to Ushuaia via Mexico and Buenos Aires... But for now I travel through imagination...

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One of my favourite singer was Mexican, Lhasa de Sela, and since yesterday, I have been living with her record "The Living Road". Here is one of her most beautiful song:

 Para el fin del mundo O el ano nuevo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SByYavtLV8 

Who can translate for me?

I want to learn Arabic but since it is a bit difficult and it's still summer so I'm in the mood for something a little less challenging, I am teaching myself Spanish.

Where is this book I used to have? 

I tried to learn Spanish with a friend whose mother was a Spanish teacher... years ago in Paris, though I know I kept the book and my notepad, I cannot think of where I stored them... But it's fine, as nowadays there are so many way to learn online.

I discovered the BBC Mundo website has this great programme:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/guide/

I lived in Miami and was there exactly four years ago, and stupidly I did not make the effort to learn proprely, but it is never too late.

Miami felt like the capital of America Latina, with all its population from Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, etc. But how can I tell if I don't go and seethe rest of the continent?


Europa Latina

The good thing is that Latin America does not seems as far as it really is in Europe's big cities as it present everywhere, at least on my road.

Books, as the one a friend just told me about all summer and just lent to me: the famous Peruvian Writer Mario Vargas Llosa's 'El Sueno del Celta'.

The great French review XXI, for 21st Century dedicated its summer edition to Latin America:

And the literary review 'Le Matricule des Anges' has a special edition on Mexican literature for its September issue:

I don't even mention London MexFest and multiple Mexican restaurants and clubs... As I think I have already.

Well, in the meantime, we still have enough to dream.

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Two more links: Latest news 

From the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19303131

France Info:

And in France, my friend Marjorie Hache is producing a lovely programme on places in France to enjoy a taste of other countries and this week is Columbia's turn. You can listen here:

http://www.franceinfo.fr/societe/tour-du-monde-en-france/colombie-en-france-708821-2012-08-19

France Culture:

My favourite French radio is all about Latin America this week!
Wonderful invitation to travel in 'Les Archives du Continent", rebroadcasting geography lessons from the 60s:

http://www.franceculture.fr/emission-les-archives-du-continent-amerique-du-sud-15-les-grandes-conferences-geographie-politique-d

And much more here and there:

On more travels
http://www.franceculture.fr/emission-les-grandes-traversees-voyages-atlantiques-regards-croises-archives-voyageurs-reveurs-et-pi 

On Mexico
http://www.franceculture.fr/emission-les-grandes-traversees-voyages-atlantiques-regards-croises-archives-le-mexique-des-dieux-et

On literature
http://www.franceculture.fr/emission-les-grandes-traversees-voyages-atlantiques-regards-croises-archives-l-aller-et-retour-nerud


Hasta luego!

SOMALIA: "Political transition could be deadly for journalists"

SOMALIA: Political transition could be deadly for journalists, say CPJ and Somali organisations

MOGADISHU, 16 August 2012 (IRIN) - The recent murders of two Somali journalists have brought to 10 the number of media workers killed in the country since December 2011. Journalists and rights groups fear that more targeted killings lie ahead as the country prepares for a new government.

On 12 August, Yusuf Ali Osman, a veteran broadcaster in the Ministry of Information, was killed [ http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/somalia-must-end-impunity-killing-media-workers-2012-08-13 ] as he walked to work by a man dressed in high school uniform. In a separate incident on the same day, Mohamud Ali Yare, a 24-year-old journalist, was killed by a stray bullet after government troops reportedly opened fire on each other.

"We have our worries because every transitional period in Somalia is always risky for journalists. Every time a new administration is coming to power [journalists are a target]," Abdurashid Abdulle Abikar, treasurer of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), told IRIN.

The mandate of the UN- and African Union-backed Transitional Federal Government, which has been the official administration since 2004, expires on 20 August and will be replaced by new government structures under a new constitution. The country is expected to hold presidential elections on 20 August; dozens of candidates have thrown their hats in the ring.

Journalists are often caught between opposing politicians jostling for positive media coverage [ http://www.irinnews.org/Report/94288/SOMALIA-Telling-the-story-against-all-odds ]. "All the warring sides and the political sides want journalists to serve their interests. If [their desired stories are] not reported, the journalists are [at risk]," said Abdi-Aziz Mohamed Diriye, an independent journalist based in Mogadishu who was injured by a stray bullet in an Al-Shabab attack on a suspected government spy in April.

Routinely targeted

Media advocacy group Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) ranks Somalia as the most dangerous place for journalists to operate in Africa, despite relative peace in the capital, Mogadishu, since the 2011 withdrawal of the insurgent Al-Shabab militia.

"Since the conflict started in late 2006, journalists have been routinely targeted. Unfortunately, this year is proving to be one of the most dangerous years for Somalia journalists, so I do not see conditions improving for the press despite general security improvements in the capital [Mogadishu]," Tom Rhodes, the East Africa consultant for CPJ, told IRIN.

"The challenges Somali journalists face are immense and [they] will undoubtedly face many more in the months ahead when elections are meant to take place," he added.

According to NUSOJ's Abdulle, more than 100 journalists in Mogadishu have received death threats by phone from Al-Shabab and opposing political factions.

"Often the killing appears to be the work of the Al-Shabab insurgency, who views journalists as legitimate targets along with government politicians and soldiers. But in some cases, it appears more likely that government officials or prominent businessmen may be behind some of the killings of journalists for their critical reporting," CPJ's Rhodes said.

Government officials say the risky nature of journalists' work makes it difficult to provide protection.

"Journalists are not excluded from the ordinary people; we are in charge of protecting their security. But journalists become targets because they report risky events taking place in the country - that is why the Islamists are targeting them," said Warsame Mohamed Jodah, deputy mayor of Mogadishu. "We can't protect them everywhere."

CPJ says more than 25 journalists have been murdered [ http://cpj.org/killed/africa/somalia/ ] in Somalia since 1992, shortly after the conflict began; 60 percent [ http://cpj.org/killed/africa/somalia/murder.php ] of these died covering the war. An additional 12 journalists have been killed in combat or crossfire since 1992, and five others have been killed covering other dangerous assignments.

Rights groups have called on the government and the international community to investigate the deaths of journalists - many of which remain unresolved - and to respond to threats on their lives. "The Somali authorities and the international community must act to end impunity for the killing of media workers," human rights group Amnesty International said in a statement on 13 August.

This report online: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportID=96120

 

Human Rights Watch worried about crackdown on Muslim Ethiopians

Ethiopia: Prominent Muslims Detained in Crackdown (HRW)

August 15, 2012

 

Here is Human Rights Watch's latest report from Ethiopia. The NGO's expert Laetitia Bader is on BBC Afrique with me today to comment on the issue, but here is the report in English: 

 

 

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Security Forces Arrest Hundreds of Peaceful Protesters; Detainees at Risk

(Nairobi) – The Ethiopian government should immediately release 17 prominent Muslim leaders arrested as part of a brutal crackdown on peaceful Muslim protesters in Addis Ababa, Human Rights Watch said today. A court is expected to rule during the week of August 13, 2012, on whether to bring charges against the detainees who have been held for almost three weeks in a notorious prison without access to lawyers.

Since July 13, Ethiopian police and security services have harassed, assaulted, and arbitrarily arrested hundreds of Muslims at Addis Ababa’s Awalia and Anwar mosques who were protesting government interference in religious affairs, Human Rights Watch said. Many have been released but at least 17 prominent members of the community arrested between July 19 and 21 remain in detention. A number of protesters who have been released told Human Rights Watch that they were mistreated in custody.

“The Ethiopian government should address the grievances of its Muslim community through dialogue, not violence,” said Ben Rawlence, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The security forces should be upholding the law, not breaking it.”

According to official figures, Muslims make up approximately 30 percent of Ethiopia’s population, the second largest religion in this historically Christian country.

The crackdown followed months of widespread peaceful protests, petitions, and appeals by the Muslim community in response to what they considered to be unconstitutional government interference in Muslim affairs. This included government attempts to determine the makeup of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs by imposing members of and the teachings of an Islamic sect known as al Ahbash on the community, and seeking to control the operations of Awalia mosque.

The Muslim community created a committee in January to represent it in discussions with the government. The 17 prominent Muslims currently detained include seven of the committee members, along with nine other religious leaders and activists, and at least one journalist. An additional six people, all members of the Awalia Student Council, were arrested the previous week.

The Muslim leaders and student council members are being held in pre-trial detention without charge at the notorious Federal Police Crime Investigation Department, known as Maekelawi prison, in Addis Ababa. They have had no access to legal counsel or, in several cases, their relatives. Their lack of access to lawyers while detained in a prison known for torture heightens concerns about their safety, Human Rights Watch said.

It is unclear what the detainees will be charged with. According to unconfirmed reports, they are under investigation on unspecified charges under the country’s overly broad anti-terrorism law. This week, the 28-day remand period that is stipulated only under the anti-terrorism law expires, and the detainees are therefore expected to appear before the court.

“The arrest of 17 prominent Muslims for exercising their basic rights to free speech is just the latest misuse of Ethiopia’s laws, and notably its anti-terrorism law,” Rawlence said. “All those held should be immediately released unless the government can promptly produce credible evidence of unlawful activity.”

Excessive Use of Force

Several witnesses told Human Rights Watch that on July 13, as hundreds of worshippers gathered at Addis Ababa’s Awalia mosque to prepare for a July 15 awareness-raising event, federal police forcibly entered the mosque, breaking doors and windows, and fired teargas inside. They beat people gathered there, including women and children, and made numerous arrests. A witness said that police beat a disabled woman, forcing her to the ground and then continuing to beat her. One man said teargas was fired directly at him inside the mosque before the police beat him.

People at the mosque sent out an appeal for help, leading scores of people to converge on the mosque in the Gullele financial district. Police forces encircling the mosque and its compound assaulted the people approaching the mosque, beating and arresting many of them.

A witness described seeing blood-soaked victims by the roadside on the way to the mosque. Several witnesses told Human Rights Watch that they saw scores of men and women being loaded into separate trucks. Many appeared to have broken bones and other serious injuries, apparently inflicted by the police, the witnesses said.

On July 21, police broke up a sit-in at the Anwar mosque in response to the arrests of the committee members. The police entered the compound, then beat and arrested large numbers of people, witnesses told Human Rights Watch. One man told Human Rights Watch that he was beaten until he lost consciousness. The government said publicly that the protesters had started throwing stones at the police.

Arbitrary Detention and Mistreatment of Detainees

The Ethiopian government told the media that 74 people were arrested on July 13, though witnesses and members of the Muslim community said that hundreds had been detained.

Those rounded up on July 13 were taken to police stations across Addis Ababa, notably Kolfe Keraneyo and Gullele, and to Maekelawi Prison.

Many released detainees told Human Rights Watch that the police mistreated them.

A witness told Human Rights Watch that in Kolfe Keraneyo, the police forced at least two women to take off their hijab (head covering) and that they spat on one when she refused. The second, a young woman who was detained with her young son, was sexually assaulted by a policeman, who pulled the hijab off and grabbed her breast. Detainees, even some who already had been injured, described being beaten with sticks and the butt of a gun when they arrived at various police stations.

About two dozen of the people initially detained at Maekelawi were subsequently taken to Sendafa police training camp, several kilometers outside of Addis Ababa, where they allege they were mistreated. People who were detained at both Maekelawi and Sendefa described being forced to run barefoot on sharp stones. Two protesters detained at Sendafa for 10 days were beaten and made to carry out harsh physical labor, they told Human Rights Watch.

The majority of those arrested between July 13 and 21 have since been released, in several cases after having been made to sign a document. Some said they were made to sign the document without being allowed to read the content.

Reports that the police and other security services beat and otherwise mistreated the 17 prominent Muslim leaders and others while in custody should be thoroughly and impartially investigated, Human Rights Watch said.

Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that on July 20, police came to the home of Yusuf Getachew, the editor-in-chief of a popular Muslim magazine Yemuslimoch Guday(Muslim Affairs), intimidated his family, looted cash and phones, and arrested Getachew. His relatives were subsequently informed that he was at Maekelawi, but they have been repeatedly refused permission to visit him.

A witness said that Ahmedin Jebel, the spokesman for the Muslim committee, was arrested that evening and badly beaten by police.

In addition to the 17 prominent community members in Maekelawi, other prominent members of the Muslim community have been under house arrest since July 21. The families of two journalists from Yemuslimoch Guday, Akemel Negash and Isaac Eshetu,wereheld under house arrest for at least 10 days. The police reportedly searched the houses of many Muslim leaders, activists, and journalists.

Muslim leaders in Ethiopia have faced ongoing harassment during the last eight months. Ahmedin Jebel and the same two journalists from Yemuslimoch Gudaywere detained for four days at Maekelawi in mid-December. The crackdown on Muslim dissidents has extended beyond the capital. On August 5, three imams were arrested in the town of Gelemesso in East Harerge. And on August 10, according to a credible source, the police used teargas and beat protesters outside the Areb Genda mosque in the north-central town of Dessie.

Since 2011 the Ethiopian government has convicted at least 34 opposition members, journalists, and others on similar offenses under the country’s Anti-Terrorism Proclamation. Human Rights Watch has strongly criticized the law itself and its use, calling for the release of political prisoners sentenced under the law and for amendments of the law’s most abusive provisions. This includes its broad definition of terrorist acts, which can include peaceful protests that result in the “disruption of any public services,” and its vague provisions that proscribe support or encouragement of terrorism, which can include public reporting on banned terrorist groups.

The anti-terrorism law also contains provisions that violate fundamental due process rights. For instance, the provision on pre-trial detention allows suspects to be held in custody for up to four months without charge, one of the longest periods in anti-terrorism legislation worldwide.

“In the hands of the Ethiopian government, the anti-terrorism law is becoming a multi-purpose tool used against any kind of dissent,” Rawlence said.

Latest on Somalia

I wrote this piece for BBC Afrique, so it is in French. For French-speaking readers interested in the Horn, here it is:

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En Somalie, le processus de sélection des députés et des chefs de l'Etat se poursuit, mais la date butoir du 20 aout, et nombreux sont ceux qui s'inquiètent du retard pris dans le processus de sélection des députés par les chefs traditionnels représentants les différents clans, piliers de la vie sociale et politique de la Somalie.

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La Somalie vit une période unique dans son histoire. Apres 20 ans de guerre civile, le pays traverse une période de paix relative, notamment dans la capitale Mogadiscio, libérée des militants islamistes Al Shebab depuis plus d'un an.

Dans ce contexte, et avec la pression de la communauté internationale, le gouvernement de transition a organisé un processus de sélection politique pour renouveler son parlement, son président et le chef de son gouvernement.

Pour le Premier ministre sortant, Abdiwali Mohamed Ali, qui se présente pour le poste de président, il faut saluer cet élan et cette première : "La Somalie est à un carrefour. Elle laisse derrière elle 20 ans de non-droit et d'instabilité. Elle va de l'avant et connait enfin une certaine paix".

Cependant, il ne faut pas oublier que même si le pays connait une accalmie relative, il reste impossible d'organiser de véritables élections, du fait de l'insécurité et du niveau de corruption.

De plus, le mandat du TFG – le gouvernement fédéral de transition - s'achevé cependant le 20 aout, et de nombreux observateurs s'inquiètent du retard pris dans le processus de sélection des députés par les chefs traditionnels représentants les différents clans, piliers de la vie sociale et politique de la Somalie.

Pour le militant Jibil Abdullah, les risques sont grands de voir le pays de nouveau basculer dans le chaos :"il n'y a pas d'habitude d'élection avec des gagnants et des perdants dans le pays donc beaucoup s'inquiètent et se demandent si certains candidats ne vont pas se relever être de mauvais perdants et refuser les résultats".

Les principaux partenaires de la Somalie, les EU, l'UE et l'ONU ont mis en garde cette semaine contre les méfaits de la corruption et les tentatives d'acheter leur siège...

Parallèlement,  les combats se poursuivent dans la sud du pays contre les miliciens d'Al Shebab, et l'urgence de renforcer les institutions, ainsi que l'armée se fait plus que jamais sentir.

SOMALIA'S (S)ELECTIONS

As you may know, Somalia is going through its very unique process of political selection this month, a first move in years to attempt to renew all its political elite.

Somalilandpress just published today the full list of Presidential candidates. One is my former colleague from the BBC, just upt to last week editor of the BBC Somali Service, Yusuf Garad Omar.

Here is the list below:
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MOGADISHU — Somalia released a list of more than 21 candidates who have qualified to run in this month’s presidential election, including incumbent Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and his current prime minister, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali.

The list, which some say is double that figure, includes the son of Somalia’s last Dictator-president General Mohamed Siad Bare and the current speaker of parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden. New players include the journalist and former head of the BBC Somali services, Yusuf Garad Omar.

In less than a week the yet to be formed 275-member parliament will decide the country’s president in post-transition period. The arbitration committee tasked to choose the 225 legislators based on a tribal power-sharing system known as 4.5 formula have so far submitted only 184 names.

Deadline to form the parliament has already expired and presidential election is also expected to face its own delays and setbacks.

The 135-member committee said the process was hampered by what they said was state interference in a bid to dominate influential groups to gain wider political support before elections.
This week they protested a ‘government interference’ in their selection process and said it was making their decision very difficult. The government denied trying to influence the process.

As a part of an agreement by Somali leaders, the formation of the parliament will help end the transitional mandate in Somalia after two decades. Once selected, the lawmakers will elect a speaker, two deputy speakers and a president.

Below, we list the major candidates:

1: Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, the current President and member of Abgal sub-clan of Hawiye.
2: Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gas, current PM and member of Majertein sub-clan of Darod.
3: Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, former Finance Minister of Somalia, and the current Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament, a member of Ashraaf sub-clan of Digil and Mirifle.
4: Maslah Mohamed Siad Bare, the son of Somalia’s last dictator and member of the Marehan sub-clan of Darod.
5: Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmajo”, former prime minister and member of the Marehan sub-clan of Darod.
6: Abdullahi Ahmed Adow, former Finance Minister of Somalia and Ambassador to the United States, born in Barawa, he is a member of the Habar Gedir sub-clan of Hawiye.
7: Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, a senior administration member of Mogadishu University, member of the Abgal sub-clan of Hawiye.
8: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, a teacher/researcher, a graduate of Somali National University and member of the Abgal sub-clan of Hawiye.
9: Prof. Ahmed Ismail Samatar, writer, professor and former dean of the Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester College, he is member of the Samaroon sub-clan of Dir. He is the only candidate who originally hail from Somaliland.
10: Haji Mohamed Yassin, Real Estate businessman who holds a degree in public administration and member of Majertein sub-clan of Darod. His businesses operate in a number of African countries but started in Zimbabwe.
11: Abdirahman Abdulshakur Warsame, a lawyer who graduated from International University of Africa and National University of Malaysia and a member of the Habar Gedir sub-clan of Hawiye.
12: Mohamed Nur Galal, a Major General, who served under dictator Mohamed Siad Bare as the intelligence chief. He is a member of the Habar Gedir sub-clan of Hawiye.
13: Hassan Abshir Farah, a member of the Majertein sub-clan, he served as the mayor of Mogadishu and prime minister. He also holds a law degree from the Somali National University.
14: Prof. Ali Mohamed Gedi, a veterinarian turned politician. He was the prime minister under president Abdillahi Yusuf and is a member of the Abgal sub-clan of Hawiye.
15: Abdiwahid Elmi Gonjeh, little known politician who temporarily held the prime minister post after the ouster of Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke. He is a member of the Majertein sub-clan of Darod.
16: Salad Ali Jelle, a member of the Abgal and the former Deputy Minister of Defense.
17: Dr Hussein Khalif Haji Jama “Atosh”, a member of the Majertein sub-clan, he is a banker and new comer to the politics.
18: Yusuf Garad Omar Ahmed, a member of the Habar Gedir sub-clan, is the former head of BBC Somali Service in London and a multilingual journalist.
19: Dr. Said Issa Mohamud, received a PhD in Chemical Science in Mogadishu where he later taught science classes. He also has a degree in Political Leadership from the University of Southern Maine. He is a member of the Habar Gedir sub-clan of Hawiye.
20: Osman Haji Omar “Falko”, a general and the former deputy chief of Somali Police under Siad Bare. He is a member of the Mursade sub-clan of Hawiye.
21: Dr. Mohamed Mohamud Guled “Gama’dheere”, the former interior minister and a fluent speaker of Somali, Arabic, Italian, Romanian and English. Member of the Habar Gedir sub-clan, he has Bachelor’s, Master’s and PHD degrees in the fields of Economics and Agriculture.
Most Somalis believe the current president will reclaim the seat easily, who has wide support among all Somali lawmakers and clans.

Somalilandpress

Amadou et Mariam appelle à la paix au Mali (BBC Afrique)

Au Mali, le gouvernement a denoncé un "acte ignoble" qui rend une intervention militaire "inévitable" pour reconquérir le nord du pays, suite à l'amputation d'une main d'un voleur présumé par les islamistes à Ansongo, au sud de la ville de Gao.

Et cela s'est passé devant des dizaines de personnes, sur une place publique.

La nuit derniere, un soldat malien a été tué près de Bamako dans des conditions "troubles" selon les temoins.

Il appartenait au corps d'élite qui assurait la protection de l'ex-président renversé Amadou Toumani Touré, ce corps surnommes les "Bérets rouges".

La situation est donc de plus en plus precaire dans le pays alors que la CEDEAO a entame hier 5 jours de reunions dans le but de former une force d'intervention.

Le but est d'obtenir un mandat de l'ONU autorisant l'entreprise de reconquete du nord du pays.

Dans ce contexte, les Maliens manifestent de plus en plus leurs inquiétudes.

Cette semaine, une équipe de la BBC a pu rencontrer le célèbre couple de chanteurs maliens Amadou et Mariam. Leurs chansons d'amour nées de leur rencontre dans une école pour aveugles de Bamako ne cessent de proner la paix et les artistes déplorent la crise que subit leur pays, tout en se disant porteur d'un message de conscience politique et d'unité.

Notre magazine de ce vendredi sur BBC Afrique est conscré aux Maliens Amadou et Mariam... Il est réalisé par Leslie Goffe à New York lors de leur tournée.

Ecoutez sur http://www.bbc.co.uk/afrique/.

News from Mali

Mali was making headlines on BBC Soir and is still on BBC Matin, our morning programme broadcast from the BBC office in Dakar, Senegal.

Islamists in Northern Mali have applied the first sentence of amputation for theft in the city of Ansogo yesterday, raising general outrage.

More from BBC Afrique's website here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/afrique/region/2012/08/120809_charia_mali.shtml

Mali: amputation au nom de la Charia

Les islamistes du mouvement pour l'unicité et le jihad en Afrique de l'Ouest (Mujao), ont tranché la main d’un présumé voleur.

Ils l’avaient reporté, cette fois-ci ils l’ont fait. Les islamistes du Mujao ont coupé mercredi la main à un présumé voleur de moto à Ansogo, au Sud de Gao.
Cette peine était censée être appliquée la semaine dernière. Mais des jeunes de Gao s’y étaient violemment opposés. Le report ne s’est donc pas transformé en grâce.
Selon des témoins, la sentence a été exécutée sur une place publique en présence de plusieurs dizaines de curieux.
"C'est la loi de Dieu (…) C'est la charia qui exige ça " a expliqué à l'AFP Mohamed Ould Abdine, un chef islamiste d'Ansongo.

Envers et contre tous

Les islamistes affirment que s’ils avaient reporté l'application la peine, ce n’était point sous la pression populaire. « La dernière fois, nous avons reporté l'amputation à cause de l'intervention des notables, non à cause de la population qui ne peut rien » a indiqué Mohamed Ould Abdine.
Cette amputation est la première depuis que les villes de Gao et de Tombouctou sont sous la coupe réglée des islamistes du Mujao et d’Ansar dine. Elle risque de ne pas être la dernière. « Dans quelques jours, nous allons faire la même chose à Gao. Personne ne peut nous empêcher de faire ça », a menacé le chef islamiste.
Dans un rapport publié devant le conseil de sécurité, mercredi, Ban Ki-moon, le secrétaire général de l’ONU, a appelé à prendre des « sanctions ciblées » contre les islamistes du nord Mali.

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News in English here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19195985

More on Nigeria, Clinton and Boko Haram

The main news from Africa today:

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Naigeria. Here is the summary of expectation in French, from my following work for BBC Afrique's news to be on air tonight at 1800 Universal time

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Hillary Clinton est arrivée au Nigeria dans le cadre de sa vaste tournée diplomatique en Afrique. La secrétaire d’Etat américaine va s’entretenir avec le Président nigérian Goodluck Jonathan, autour des relations spéciales entre leurs deux pays, notamment sur les questions pétrolières et sécuritaires.

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Les observateurs des relations américano-nigérianes s’attendent à ce qu’Hillary Clinton mette l’accent sur l’insécurité grandissante dans le pays, après les récentes attaques terroristes imputées aux islamistes de la secte Boko Haram.

La secte est encore une fois soupçonnée d’être responsable d’attaques contre une église dans le centre du pays qui a eu lieu en début de semaine, même si pour l’instant, elle n’a pas été revendiquée.

La rencontre entre Hillary Clinton et Goodluck Jonathan devrait donc être dominée par le problème Boko Haram.

Les efforts militaires nigérians pour gérer les islamistes radicaux ont échoué, et le Nigeria semble avoir désespérément besoin d’un plan B.

Beaucoup se demande ce que Mme Clinton peut offrir au Nigeria dans cette situation, au-delà d’un nouveau soutien militaire et de renforts en matière de renseignements.

Aux Etats-Unis, des hommes politiques débattent pour vérifier jusqu’à quel point Boko Haram peut être un danger pour les intérêts américains.

Le groupe aurait déjà noué des liens avec des groupes affiliés à la nébuleuse islamiste Al Qaida et devient une menace de plus en plus flagrante pour l’ensemble de la région ouest-africaine et même au-delà.

L’un des liens clés entre les deux pays reste le pétrole. Le Nigeria est le 5eme fournisseur de pétrole brut des Etats-Unis.

Avec les violences grandissantes, personne ne peut nier la possibilité que la production de brut du Nigeria risque d’être affectée.

Hillary Clinton pourrait également aborder le sujet de la corruption qui mine le pays.

On ne peut nier qu’il existe un lien entre le détournement de l’argent issu de l’industrie pétrolière, la pauvreté rampante et l’insécurité.  

Le Nord du Nigeria ou Boko Haram est le plus actif est bien moins développé que le reste du pays.

Hillary Clinton ne sera certainement pas la première à demander au Président nigérian et à son ministre de la justice pourquoi ils n’entreprennent pas plus d’efforts pour punir les hommes politiques qui pillent les finances publiques…

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We will have an analysis about Boko Haram in our evening programme tonight. Stay tuned.