United States Africa Command

Public Affairs Office

3 March 2010

USAFRICOM -related news stories

From the Beltway/ From and About Africa

TOP 5 FROM THE BELTWAY

Concern over fresh Darfur fighting (Al Jazeera)

WASHINGTON, DC - The United States has expressed concern over reports that the
Sudanese army launched offensives against rebels in Darfur after signing a peace deal
with the main rebel group there last week.

US Case Involving Somalis Tests Immunity and Torture Laws (Voice of America)
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Supreme Court hears a case Wednesday involving a
former Somali defense minister accused of torture. The case will present the court with
a test of U.S. laws on both immunity and torture.

Five Member Delegation From U.S. Leave Banjul (FOROYAA Newspaper)

BANJUL, THE GAMBIA - A five man delegation from the United States Congress, who
are touring Africa to evaluate the role of international financial institutions and
multilateral development banks on the continents, have recently visited The Gambia.

Somalia war moves to the airwaves (Associated Press)

NAIROBI, KENYA - As the propaganda war intensifies in the battered Horn of Africa
nation, the Somali government is using a newly modernized radio station to get its own
message across to more Somalis, and the U.N. is financing a new radio station.

TOP NEWS FROM AND ABOUT AFRICA

DR Congo: Congolese Groups Demand the Removal of Abusive Army Commander

(Indymedia)
Goma - Fifty Congolese human rights and civil society organizations, along with
Human Rights Watch, lodged a formal complaint today against Colonel Innocent
Zimurinda, a senior army officer based in North Kivu province, eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo. The complaint was addressed to General Amuli Bahigwa, the officer
in command of Congolese army operations in eastern Congo. The Congolese groups
said that abuses were continuing under Zimurinda's command, including with his
direct involvement.

Somalia: UN food agency to ignore Somalia quit order (Nation)

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) yesterday vowed to continue
delivering food aid to Somalia despite an Islamist insurgent group having ordered them
to cease all operations.

Nigeria: Govs Stop Move to Oust Yar'Adua - North Retains President in 2011
(Allafrica)
Much anticipated moves at today's meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to
initiate a process under Section 144 of the Constitution to oust ailing President Umaru
Yar'adua were stopped in their tracks last night by the 36 state governors.

Nigeria: Jonathan Can't Run in 2011, Says PDP (allAfrica)

Abuja — After a crucial meeting in Abuja yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) announced that power must remain in the North till 2015, effectively barring
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan from the 2011 presidential poll.

DR Congo: HRW accuses DRC army officer (News24)

Kinshasa - The United States-based campaign organisation joined 50 Congolese rights
groups to file a formal complaint about Lieutenant Colonel Innocent Zimurinda, who
currently commands troops in the eastern province of Nord Kivu.

Liberia: Curfew imposed in northern Liberian city after riot (Indymedia)

Monrovia - The Liberian National Police (LNP) has announced the imposition of a
curfew in the northern Liberian city of Voinjama, after clashes broke out between
Christians and Muslims over the weekend.

Rwanda: Former first lady arrested in Paris (Telegraph)

Kigali - Rwandan judges had drawn up an arrest warrant for Agathe Habyarimana over
her alleged role in the 100-day orgy of killing which left an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and
moderate Hutus dead. The 67-year-old has been living in a Paris suburb since she fled
her homeland 12 years ago. Her arrest came just days after Nicolas Sarkozy, France's
president, returned from the first visit by a French leader to Rwanda since the genocide.

ADDITIONAL RELEVANT ARTICLES OF INTEREST:

Zim: Zuma calls for lifting of Zimbabwe sanctions (Telegraph)

Johannesburg - South African President Jacob Zuma has urged the lifting of sanctions
against Zimbabwe if progress is to be made in resolving Zimbabwe's political crisis.

SA: South Africa's Zuma starts British state visit (Newsmeat)

Johannesburg - South African President Jacob Zuma officially kicks off a state visit to
Britain on Wednesday which will mix lavish pomp and ceremony with sporting trips
and talks on Zimbabwe.

Sudan: US 'extremely concerned' by reported Darfur offensive (Newsmeat)

Khartoum - The United States is "extremely concerned" about a reported Sudanese
military offensive against rebels in the war-torn western region of Darfur, the State
Department said Tuesday.

Nigeria: Governors pledge support for acting president (Newsmeat)

Abuja - Nigeria's 36 state governors on Tuesday pledged their support for the country's
acting President Goodluck Jonathan, but dismissed suggestions that ailing President
Umaru Yar'Adua should resign.

Nigeria: Declare Yar’Adua incapacitated, Nnamani, Ribadu, El-Rufai tell FEC

(Vanguard)
ABUJA—The Senator Ken Nnamani-led Good Governance Group, 3G, has charged the
Executive Council of the Federation, EXCOF, to declare President Umaru Yar‘Adua
incapacitated in accordance with Section 144 of the Constitution should he fail to show
up at today’s meeting.

Somalia: Briton held by pirates 'could become blind in weeks' (Dailymail)

A British man kidnapped with his wife by Somali pirates is suffering from a severe eye
infection that could leave him blind. Paul Chandler is understood to have contracted
the infectious disease trachoma, which is prevalent in East African countries such as
Somalia. The condition could lead to him becoming blind within weeks.

Senegal: Rebels attack army (News24)

Dakar - "An army position was attacked around 13:00 by an armed group believed to be
members of the Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC)" in the village of
Diaboudior, 70km north of Ziguinchor, according to the police source speaking on
condition of anonymity.

Nigeria: Lawyer seeks media access to ailing leader (Reuters)

ABUJA - A Nigerian lawyer launched legal action against the aides of President Umaru
Yar'Adua on Tuesday in an attempt to force the ailing leader to appear before the media
and prove the state of his health.

Uganda: Uganda Landslides Kill 70 (Wall Street Journal)

KAMPALA - A landslide in eastern Uganda killed at least 70 people, with an estimated
250 more individuals still missing, officials and survivors said Tuesday.

Ethiopia: Candidate Is Stabbed to Death in Ethiopia (New York Times)

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA - An opposition candidate for Ethiopia’s Parliament was
stabbed to death early Tuesday in what opposition leaders said was part of a widening
campaign of repression ahead of May elections.

Morocco: Moroccan police dismantle 'terrorist network' (AFP)

RABAT, MOROCCO - Moroccan police have dismantled a terrorist network that was
"active in several towns" of the north African kingdom, the state security service
announced Tuesday.

Kenya: Toyota Group to expand operations in Kenya (Xinhua)

NAIROBI - The Toyota Group on Tuesday launched a formal process of expanding its
operations and establishing a regional headquarters in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi
following a request by Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga two weeks ago.