United States Africa Command

Public Affairs Office

16 December 2010

USAFRICOM - related news stories

TOP NEWS RELATED TO U.S. AFRICA COMMAND AND AFRICA

Obama Urges Cooperation With ICC Probe (Daily Nation)

(Kenya) US President Barack Obama has called on Kenyans to cooperate with the
International Criminal Court investigation into the post election violence.

Hague Prosecutor Pursues Kenyan Leaders (Wall Street Journal)

(Kenya) The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said he will pursue cases
against six Kenyan leaders for their alleged involvement in election-related violence
two years ago, sending an ominous signal to African leaders involved in their own
tainted ballots.

Zimbabwe: Regime Change - Unmasking Franchise Owners (The Herald)

(Zimbabwe) What has the 2009 documentary "The Obama Deception: the Truth Strikes
Back", got to do with the WikiLeaks, and more specifically with the numerous attempts
made by the West in their efforts to effect an illegal regime change in Zimbabwe?

The U.S. Embassy in Freetown, Sierra Leone responds to the recent WikiLeaks
revelations (Newstime Africa)
(Sierra Leone) The United States Embassy in Freetown was contacted by Newstime
Africa to give its reaction to the recent WikiLeaks revelations about allegations that the
government of Sierra Leone may have interfered with the judicial process during the
cocaine trial in Freetown just over two years ago.

AU experts pore over draft law on terrorism (AFP)

(Pan Africa) African Union experts and leaders debated in Algeria Wednesday a draft
law and common ground in the continent's fight against terrorism.

UN Chief Warns of Possible War in Ivory Coast (Voice of America)

(Ivory Coast) United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon says he is deeply concerned about the
threat of violence in Ivory Coast as a result of that country's continuing political
stalemate. In a statement through his spokesman Wednesday, Ban said recent
developments have created a politically-charged environment where actions could have
"unpredictable consequences," including the renewal of civil war.

Global Fund approves disease payouts amid fears for Africa (AFP)
(Pan Africa) The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria on Wednesday approved
1.7 billion dollars for projects against the diseases, amid warnings that some hard-hit
African countries were being left out.

South Africa: Deadline approaches for Zimbabweans (Associated Press)

(South Africa) As many as after fleeing entwined economic collapse and a political
crisis in their homeland. South African authorities announced a crackdown on 3 million
Zimbabweans living and working in South Africa in September, saying that those who
did not apply for legal status before Dec. 31 would have to go home.

Ethiopia holds talks with Somalia (Xinhua)

(Ethiopia/Somalia) Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi held talks with Somali
Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on bilateral ties and regional issues here
Tuesday.

UN News Service Africa Briefs

Full Articles on UN Website
 ICC prosecutor requests summons against six Kenyans on post-election violence
 Ban deeply concerned over continuing stalemate in Côte d’Ivoire
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UPCOMING EVENTS OF INTEREST:

WHEN/WHERE: Friday, December 17, 12:00 p.m.; Washington Institute for Near East
Policy
WHAT: The Coming Secession Crisis in Sudan: Will There Be War?
WHO: Andrew Natsios, Richard Williamson
Info: http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateI01.php
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FULL ARTICLE TEXT

Obama Urges Cooperation With ICC Probe (Daily Nation)

Nairobi — US President Barack Obama has called on Kenyan to cooperate with the
International Criminal Court investigation into the post election violence.

"I urge all of Kenya's leaders, and the people whom they serve, to cooperate fully with
the ICC investigation and remain focused on implementation of the reform agenda and
the future of your nation," he said in a statement Wednesday.

President Obama said that those found culpable should not drag their community into
their woes.

"Those found responsible will be held accountable for their crimes as individuals. No
community should be singled out for shame or held collectively responsible," he said.
He said Kenya "is turning a page in its history, moving away from impunity and
divisionism toward an era of accountability and equal opportunity".

"The path ahead is not easy, but I believe that the Kenyan people have the courage and
resolve to reject those who would drag the country back into the past and rob Kenyans
of the singular opportunity that is before them to realize the country's vast potential,"
he said.
------------------
Hague Prosecutor Pursues Kenyan Leaders (Wall Street Journal)

NAIROBI, Kenya—The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said he will

pursue cases against six Kenyan leaders for their alleged involvement in election-
related violence two years ago, sending an ominous signal to African leaders involved
in their own tainted ballots.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the court's chief prosecutor, told a news conference at The
Hague that he had asked the court to summon six top Kenyan officials that he believed
were most responsible for the violence, which left an estimated 1,300 people dead. The
court will determine whether to charge the men with crimes.

Among those named were two figures who are believed to be at the center of the
allegations: Uhuru Kenyatta, son of Kenya's first president and the current finance
minister; and powerful opposition figure William Ruto, who served as the minister of
higher education until recently, when he was suspended over corruption allegations.

The prosecutor also named Kenya's former police commissioner, Mohammed Hussein
Ali; the head of public service, Francis Muthaura, and two opposition figures, Henry
Kosgey, the minister of industrialization; and Joshua arap Sang, a radio broadcaster.

The prosecutor filed two cases of crimes against humanity, including allegations of
murder, deportation, torture and rape against the six men. The casess were politically
balanced, implicating three allies of the president, and three from the main opposition
party.

That balance could help assuage fears of violent reaction to the announcement. Police
were on high alert in Kenya on Wednesday, though the country remained largely calm.

The prosecutor's move is likely to reverberate far beyond Kenya. On a continent that
has seen several recent disputed elections, the International Criminal Court appears to
be targeting those who violently subvert the democratic process.
"These were not just crimes against innocent Kenyans," said Mr. Moreno-Ocampo in a
statement Wednesday. "They were crimes against humanity as a whole. By breaking the
cycle of impunity for massive crimes, victims and their families can have justice."

In 2008, for example, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe refused to relinquish power
after a widely disputed election. His main challenger, Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai, dropped out of a presidential runoff because of attacks on his supporters.
The two now form a fragile "unity" government.

In the Ivory Coast, incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo claims he won a Nov. 28
election, though most of the world recognizes his rival, Alassane Ouattara, as the victor.
Today, the West African nation is saddled with two self-proclaimed presidents and
threatened again with civil war.

In Kenya, the news from the ICC was welcomed by many who have become frustrated
with political corruption and perceived lack of accountability in East Africa's biggest
economy.

Since the political turmoil here in late 2007 and 2008, no major political figure has been
investigated, indicted or put on trial despite an extensive report by an independent
commission that drew up a list of people who it believed should be investigated. The
list wasn't released publicly.

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo's petition to the court sets in motion what will likely be a lengthy
legal process. The court will now review the prosecutor's evidence and determine
whether to issue arrest warrants, or request that the accused appear in the court on their
own. Only after this process will the court decide whether to bring the cases to trial.

Mr. Kosegey and Mr. arap Sang couldn't immediately be reached on Wednesday. Mr.
Ali and Mr. Ruto didn't respond to calls to their cellphones. Mr. Ruto has said he
expected his innocence would be proven in court.

Mr. Muthaura, in a statement Wednesday, said the investigation into his involvement in
the violence "amounts to an unwarranted slur on my reputation and is both unfair and
unjustified."

Mr. Kenyatta, who held a briefing after the announcement, also denied the allegations.
"We will await the decision of the judges," he said, adding that he hoped the process
would be "free and fair."

President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have both agreed to work with
the court. The prosecutor hasn't summoned either of the two political rivals.
The ICC prosecutor said that Mr. Ruto, Mr. Kosgey and Mr. Sang were some of the
principal planners and organizers of crimes against supporters of President Mwai
Kibaki. Mr. Moreno-Ocampo said the men had planned the attacks at least one year
before the December 2007 election. The three men established a network to arm and
organize attackers, and Mr. Sang used his radio broadcasts to pass on coded messages
about the attacks, the prosecutor said.

Mr. Ali, the former police commissioner, allegedly authorized the use of excessive force
against opposition protesters, a reaction that was also backed by Mr. Muthaura, the
head of public service, the prosecutor said.

Mr. Kenyatta is alleged to have organized a violent retaliation for the deaths of
government supporters by dispatching the feared Mungiki gang to attack opposition
supporters.

"According to our evidence these people are the most responsible" for the violence, said
Mr. Moreno-Ocampo.

The government initially had agreed to establish an independent tribunal to try those
believed to be behind the violence. When the administration failed to try them, the list
of suspects was forwarded to The Hague.

Kenya has been tense ever since. A peace deal brokered by Kofi Annan, the former U.N.
secretary general and others, including pressure from U.S. officials, ended the violence
and crafted a power-sharing government.
------------------
Zimbabwe: Regime Change - Unmasking Franchise Owners (The Herald)

What has the 2009 documentary "The Obama Deception: the Truth Strikes Back", got to
do with the WikiLeaks, and more specifically with the numerous attempts made by the
West in their efforts to effect an illegal regime change in Zimbabwe?

After all, we all know that the United States does not have permanent friends, but
permanent interests, and since President Obama came to power, his policy on Africa
and Zimbabwe in particular has not endeared him to the continent, considering that he
is a son of Africa.

The most intriguing thing however, is that Obama has pursued President George W
Bush's policies and his much touted "soft" diplomacy is now a fallen deck of cards as
Australian-born Julian Assange through WikiLeaks is releasing damning diplomatic
cables from different parts of the world.

When I analysed WikiLeaks last week, I alluded to the fact that out of all the countries
where the United States has diplomatic missions, Zimbabwe was topping the bill with
the amount of leaks that WikiLeaks was leaking. Why? Who was behind it? What is the
bigger picture in this whole saga, especially after Assange himself wrote about
Australian media mogul, Rupert Murdoch?

When someone with a megaphone shouts at Obama and says, "We will take our
country back... The game of secrecy is over", what does it mean? Did it have to result
with the leaks?

In the documentary Obama's opening remark is, "Contrary to the rumours that you
have heard, I was not born in a manger. I was actually born in Krypton and sent here to
save planet earth." We ask, after Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, is WikiLeaks an addition in
debunking the "saviour" mentality? More of that later.

As WikiLeaks continued to make more revelations about the United States' clandestine
activities between its envoys and those deeply enmeshed in Zimbabwe's regime change
agenda, surprisingly, last Friday was "Woza Friday" in Harare's Africa Unity Square.

It was yet another commemoration of the UN International Day of Human Rights. The
celebrants were clad in black (a colour for bereavement), but they waved colourful
banners. They were in a jubilant mood. As one kwasa kwasa song after another blared
away, engulfing that whole area surrounding the Square: Herald House, Anglican
Cathedral, Parliament Building, Meikles Hotel, Travel Centre, Greatermans and ZB Life
Towers, this writer wondered at the seeming contrasts -- the mourning colours and the
celebration.

What was there to celebrate when WikiLeaks was denting civil society's image? So
much about how donor funds being put to "good" use.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was guest of honour. But, here is the irony. The
Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe officiated but the national anthem was not
the curtain raiser. It was kwasa kwasa and other sungura songs.

Does it mean that the United Nations does not recognise our sovereignty to the extend
that in the centre of the Central Business District, Zimbabwe's national anthem, which
has been played in yonder countries among foreigners while Kirsty Coventry received
her gold medals could not be played in Harare's Africa Unity Square?

What kind of international human rights occasion that does not give recognition to the
host country? Strange times indeed!

Is it therefore surprising that the WikiLeaks cables so far released have centred mostly
on Mr Tsvangirai's meetings with Western envoys, representing this very group that
was celebrating in Africa Unity Square? On the other hand, isn't it surprising that the
so-called independent media speaks of human rights abuses by President Mugabe and
Zanu-PF, while the very people whose rights they claim to be abused are dancing the
morning away in Africa Unity Square (sic)?

Initially Tsvangirai said that he was "not bothered". When there are still more than 2 500
cables on Zimbabwe to be leaked, one would have thought that he would have kept
quiet, since this would touch many people, and also affect relationships big time.

But at the weekend Tsvangirai was reported as saying that WikiLeaks were nothing but
"wiki -lies?" Really? Maybe the analyst who said this was meant to destabilise the
region was point on.

How did Tsvangirai arrive at such a pejorative conclusion? What they have released is a
drop in the ocean, and the world is waiting with bated breath on the other cables, which
might be a bombshell not only for Zanu-PF and President Mugabe, but also for the
MDC leadership as a whole.

You do not have to an Albert Einstein to note that these cables on Zimbabwe were
released barely a fortnight before the Zanu-PF 7th Conference which started yesterday.
The frequency with which they are being leaked, also made analysts wonder whether
they were meant to speak into the Conference's final outcome.

This is why we wonder why the MDC-T leader was so quick to brush them off. If
WikiLeaks competitors come on board, how much more will we hear?

The world has become so porous. New skills are required to read, view and write
between the lines. Leaking minds can prove very costly. Why not allow Zimbabweans
to judge as they read, and use our cumulative opinions and analysis as ammunition?
Why would lies require Interpol to intervene so that Julian Assange was arrested? Why
would "lies" pose a major global threat -- cyber warfare as Assange's supporters hack
into major financial institutions such as Visa and Mastercard?

This Tuesday, Assange was granted bail, but Sweden is appealing against it and is
already seeking that Assange be extradited to Sweden. But the twist is that Assange is
said to have angered the United States. So is Sweden doing the United States' dirty jobs?
And they are still lies?

If WikiLeaks are "lies", why was former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd angry at
the way Assange was treated? When the whole world says that Assange's arrest is
politically motivated, why does Tsvangirai think that all that he has been revealing to
the world about him are lies?

Now that Assange has spoken and demonstrated that he wants freedom of information,
one of the human rights Tsvangirai celebrated last Friday, what does this say about
Tsvangirai's "wiki-lies"?
As this writer revisits the WikiLeaks issue, I also do so from a historical perspective. We
need to know the other active agents in the dimension. Slavery and the partition of
Africa are the starting points.

Then came colonialism, followed by bitter liberation struggles Africans waged against
settler colonialism. Now we have a resurgence of neo-colonialism -- which seeks to
impose puppets so that they can pillage and plunder Africa's resources at will.

Worthy noting is that with each generation of Anglo-Saxons, what has been changing
are personalities, not the motives, content and perceptions.

Although Assange said that WikiLeaks was not the only organisation with such cables,
we look at some of the WikiLeaks-kind of stuff published in the past, but which did not
receive as much attention.

In December 1998, a project managed on behalf of the European Analysis and

Evaluation Centre titled "Zimbabwe: A Conflict Study of a Country Without Direction"
was published.

It was a briefing paper authored by Stiftung Wissenschaft Und Politik and Conflict
Prevention Network. CPN is described as a network of academic institutions, NGOs
and independent experts, which forms part of the European Union Analysis and
Evaluation Centre. The masthead on the cover page has a European Union flag.

Soon after publication, it was one of the most sought after and talked about documents
in political circles. The Internet was just beginning to take shape, and it was not there.
Satellite television was for the elite. The report's contents caused a lot of discomfort
among some members of the ruling class. But the bottom line was that it was one of the
few documents made public that outlined illegal regime change, before the term had
even become part of the vocabulary.

Apart from its contents, one major issue for some analysts was the "local" personalities
behind the report's contents. Some names were mentioned as likely possibilities. The
report clearly shows that these again were sanitised diplomatic briefs compiled into a
report.

Although a lot of groundwork had been done to start the Movement for Democratic
Change, this report was published fourteen months before the MDC was founded in
September 1999.

But, it was published during that same year when food riots rocked Zimbabwe, and
when suddenly the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union compromised its mandate by
entering into unholy alliances with employers, the majority of them Anglo-Saxon.
And, it was a ZCTU led by Tsvangirai who became the first leader of the MDC.

So, is this report again "lies"?

If the SWP-CPN report eventually had devastating results, what evil abode will the
diplomatic briefings bring us?

When we get to 3000th one, who will top the list in providing information on
Zimbabwe? Who will win the coveted prize of Zimbabwe's Tshombe?

Below is a striking statement made by Obama while campaigning for the presidency:

"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national
security objectives that we have set. We have got to have a national civilian security
force that is just as powerful. Yes, we can."

There are remarks about creating militias starting with youths up to people 64 years of
age.

Maybe he had people at the Border Gezi youth training centres. They saw something in
Zimbabwe's national youth service, but since it would scuttle their efforts, their media
vilified it using all sorts of hate language.

The Zimbabwean people got sucked into this "green bomber" element, hook, line and
sinker, not knowing that the United States of America's first black president was also
telling the American people that "Yes, we can" create our own militias to protect the US
from terrorists.

Other interesting elements are the remarks made by historian and writer Webster
Tarpley: "The other thing you got to remember is that the American presidency is a
puppet post . . . The idea that Obama is someone who can exercise real authority when
he has been chosen, when he has obviously been chosen and given everything by these
financiers . . . They give him the money, the bundling, vote fraud and now they are
giving him media whores, goons and now they have elected officials who put you in jail
if you criticize Obama in public".

He also claims that Obama is probably America's biggest puppet considering that he
was chosen for the job (groomed for the job for thirty years) and like the others, he was
a "corporate pitchman".

Is WikiLeaks one such route, while the Anglo-Saxon world wants to export and impose
the puppet model in former colonies? Or it's the oligarchies doing that? We have seen
thousands of activists demonstrating against globalisation, climate change, big
government and others.

What has pushed WikiLeaks to this extent? Freedom of information dominated by a

few rich people who pick and choose leaders at will, using money and the media?

There is also a suggestion that the Patriot Act introduced by George W Bush, whom
Obama has not rescinded, could be behind all this.

It is an act that allows them to wire tap and spy on people, even on the Internet, a
contravention of the constitution and the human rights celebrated last week.

But, the film makes a direct reference to Zimbabwe and Africa: "Obama is already
pushing to expand the Defence budget and station more troops overseas, encircling
Russia Iran and China, as well as setting up bases in Africa under the pretext of
humanitarian aid and dominate and occupy Africa through Africom."

Tarpley adds, "Obama has this idea. Keep the Chinese out of Africa; keep them out of
Sudan where they've got oil. Keep them out of Zimbabwe where they have got raw
materials, start a civil war in Congo, another source of raw materials."

He alludes to the fact that al-Qaeda is already active in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia,
and that there is destabilisation going on in Kenya around Odinga, Obama's cousin.

Continues Tarpley, "All of Africa is a battlefield -- in flames between the US and the
Chinese, with Obama leading the charge to keep the Chinese out for geo-political
reasons".

Dear reader, this is an attempt to understand a humongous issue, which our Prime
Minister continues to rebuff, preferring to call them lies when others are calling for
investigations in order to understand the global agenda at play.

Top hip-hop singer and activist KRS-One says that it is important to know who the
franchise owner in the global agenda is. In WikiLeaks, we have to know the franchise
owner beyond Assange.
------------------
The U.S. Embassy in Freetown, Sierra Leone responds to the recent WikiLeaks
revelations (Newstime Africa)

The United States Embassy in Freetown was contacted by Newstime Africa to give its
reaction to the recent WikiLeaks revelations about allegations that the government of
Sierra Leone may have interfered with the judicial process during the cocaine trial in
Freetown just over two years ago. The bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and the
United States is one centered on mutual cooperation. The United States Ambassador in
Sierra Leone has expressed regrets over the cable leaks and have personally apologised
to the government and the presidency. But as the Guardian newspaper in London
continues to publish more revelations from the cable leaks, Newstime Africa thought it
necessary to get official reaction from embassy officials in Freetown.

The embassy has said, through its public affairs office in Freetown, that they are in no
position to comment on the authenticity or content of any of the alleged cables
published via WikiLeaks. Talking to Newstime Africa on the phone, Public Affairs
Officer, Mark Carr, was keen to emphasise the strong bilateral ties that exists between
the two countries and said that the cables that were released by WikiLeaks in no way
represent official U.S. policy towards Sierra Leone or its government. According to
Carr, these were personal and internal communication between certain embassy
officials and do not reflect on official U.S. government views. “WikiLeaks obtained this
material in circumstances that constitute a violation of U.S. law, without any regard for
the grave consequences of its actions; as long as WikiLeaks holds this material, the
violation of the law is on-going. The U. S. Department of Justice is in the process of
actively reviewing this matter. The Department of State is committed to working with
its partners, both government and non-government actors, to advance shared foreign
policy priorities. We are committed to ensuring that the partnerships we have worked
so hard to build will withstand this challenge. And we are confident they will” Carr
went on to say.

In an attempt to set the record straight, the Embassy has issued this statement through
its Public Affairs Officer: “U.S. diplomats do use cables as a means of internal
communication. Such cables represent opinions, analyses, and ideas that reflect
evolving, complex situations. They are not finished products intended for public
discourse. Most importantly, U.S. government cables do not represent U.S. policy, and
are in fact only one part of the policy-making process. Official U.S. foreign policy,
which defines and directs our relationships with other nations, is ultimately determined
in Washington, DC. Finally, I would like to stress that U.S. Embassy Freetown is
looking toward the future as it continues to build on its strong, productive relationship
with the people of Sierra Leone. This is evident from the joint programs in health, food
sustainability, and education being carried out by the governments of the United States
and Sierra Leone. Actions will always speak louder than words, and our actions,
together with those of our hosts here in Sierra Leone, are the real indicator of our good
intentions and mutual commitment.”

Newstime Africa has requested an official interview with the United States Ambassador
to Sierra Leone, Mr Michael S. Owen, in order for the embassy to be given an
opportunity to fully respond to the situation and express its position on the issue of
cable leaks. The kind courtesy accorded by embassy staff to Newstime Africa, is clearly
indicative of the embassy’s willingness to be open and receptive to the media and it also
conveys the seriousness with which the embassy views this issue. The emphasis has
been on how important the United States views its relationship with the government
and people of Sierra Leone.
------------------
AU experts pore over draft law on terrorism (AFP)

ALGIERS – African Union experts and leaders debated in Algeria Wednesday a draft
law and common ground in the continent's fight against terrorism.

Algerian Minister for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel said the
legislation should take into account international norms and conventions as well as
resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council.

The text was expected to be adopted later Wednesday by the Algiers-based African
Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), a structure within the 53-nation
African Union.

It would be "a further important step by the Commission of the African Union aiming
to consolidate and harmonise AU actions against the scourge of terrorism," ACSRT
director Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira said, according to APS news agency.

The ACSRT, set up in Algiers in October 2004, is responsible for "strengthening the
capability of African countries in the domain of the prevention of terrorism", according
to its statutes.

Messahel said the law "will have to be comprehensive and complete and provide all
legal measures to prevent and fight terrorist acts, including the criminalisation and
penalisation of terrorist acts".

Cooperation among countries, the strengthening of border controls, the exchange of

information, legal assistance and the fight against the financing of terrorist acts will be
among the benefits of a law, he added.

The Sahel region of northern Africa has in recent years seen a resurgence of activity by
drug traffickers and bandits, but also groups affiliated to Al-Qaeda of the Islamic
Maghreb (AQIM), including hostage takings.

The UN Security Council on December 17, 2009 passed a resolution "criminalising the
payment of ransoms", in particular to "terrorist entities", as the African Union did on
July 3, 2009.

More than 200 foreign guests attended the Algiers conference, including the former
presidents of Nigeria and South Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo and Thabo Mbeki, the
president of the AU Commission, Jean Ping, the secretary general of the Arab League,
Amr Moussa, and Taye-Brook Zerihoun, a special envoy of UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon.
------------------
UN Chief Warns of Possible War in Ivory Coast (Voice of America)

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon says he is deeply concerned about the threat of
violence in Ivory Coast as a result of that country's continuing political stalemate.

In a statement through his spokesman Wednesday, Ban said recent developments have
created a politically-charged environment where actions could have "unpredictable
consequences," including the renewal of civil war.

He called on all parties to avoid any action that could trigger violence. Ban also called
on incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo to respect the will of the Ivorian people and
step down so Alassane Ouattara, whom Ban called president-elect, can assume office.

The U.N., African Union and European Union all have recognized Ouattara as the
winner of the Nov 28 runoff election.

Gbagbo and Ouattara each have declared themselves president and named
governments, raising fears of a new conflict eight years after Ivory Coast's civil war.

The two leaders have the support of rival armed forces. Gbagbo is supported by senior
military officers who control the south, while Ouattara has the support of former rebels
in the north.

Gbagbo has ruled the country since 2000. His term officially ended in 2005, but he has
remained in office through repeated election delays.
------------------
Global Fund approves disease payouts amid fears for Africa (AFP)

GENEVA – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria on Wednesday approved
1.7 billion dollars for projects against the diseases, amid warnings that some hard-hit
African countries were being left out.

"This funding will allow us to reach millions of additional people with prevention,
treatment and care," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ethiopian Health Minister
and chairman of the Global Fund's board.

"It shows that even in hard economic times, we can continue to expand the fight against
the three diseases," he added in a statement after the board approved 79 new grants
over two years.
Executive director Michel Kazatchkine claimed that the latest round of grants was "fully
funded", allowing the UN-backed body to continue to expand the fight against the three
diseases.

More than 40 percent of the amount went towards projects to tackle HIV/AIDS.

However, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF - Doctors Without Borders) said several
"ambitious proposals" to tackle HIV/AIDS in the hardest hit sub-Saharan countries
were turned down.

They included additional projects in Malawi, Swaziland, Mozambique, Democratic

Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe that could have scaled up early treatment, cut deaths
and "aggressively" reduced the spread of the virus, according to the medical charity.

"It is crucial that countries ensure the money is used to fund the most sound treatment
approaches and governments are accountable, but without additional funding, these
countries will not be able to turn the tide on AIDS," said MSF doctor Jennifer Kohn.

In October, donor countries, private foundations and companies pledged 11.7 billion
dollars over three years for the Fund at a regular replenishment conference in New
York.

However, MSF described those donor pledges as "weak" and urged Italy, the
Netherlands and Sweden, which failed to come up with money, as well as Germany, to
help plug an 8.3 billion dollar deficit.

The Global Fund, a public-private partnership, has invested 21.7 billion dollars in 150
countries since it was created in 2002, after being kickstarted by donations from
software billionaire Bill Gates.
------------------
South Africa: Deadline approaches for Zimbabweans (Associated Press)

JOHANNESBURG – Wednesday's steady rain made the wait particularly miserable for
Zimbabwean immigrants crowded outside a South African immigration office, trying to
legalize their status before a feared wave of deportations.

As many as 3 million Zimbabweans are believed to be living and working in South

Africa after fleeing entwined economic collapse and a political crisis in their homeland.
South African authorities, who had allowed many to stay without even passports,
announced the crackdown in September, saying that those who did not apply for legal
status before Dec. 31 would have to go home.

That has led to crowds at immigration offices across South Africa, with some
Zimbabweans lining up for several days before even getting in the door to apply for
work or study permits. Human rights groups complained that four months was
insufficient and that bureaucrats in Zimbabwe and South Africa were unprepared for
the large numbers of applicants.

"Just being legal, it would change my life. I would be more comfortable," said Frank
Nkathazo, a 37-year-old gardener who was waiting to submit his application
Wednesday with little hope of reaching the doors before they closed at 4 p.m.

Zimbabweans make up the largest immigrant group in South Africa. Rights groups say
legalizing Zimbabweans would ensure they pay taxes and that their children go to
school so that they can grow up to contribute to the economy of their adopted country,
echoing arguments in immigration debates in the United States and Europe.

The decision to document Zimbabweans is "very worthwhile," said Kaajal Ramjathan-

Keogh of the Johannesburg offices of Lawyers for Human Rights, but she stressed that
the deadline should be extended.

Immigration minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said deportations would not start until
all applications are processed, acknowledging that could take some time. Speaking to
reporters Tuesday, she said she could not say when deportations would begin.

In early 2009, South Africa announced Zimbabweans could travel here on a free 90-day
visitor's permit and apply to do casual work during their stay. It was the end of that
"special dispensation" that was announced in September, with South African officials
citing improved economic and political conditions in Zimbabwe.

Nkathazo, the gardener from Plumtree in western Zimbabwe, stood under his umbrella
outside a handsome concrete and brick office tower on the edge of downtown
Johannesburg, clutching a purple plastic folder stuffed with his new passport and a
letter from his employer. He even brought a South African ID card he had lied to obtain
years ago. South African authorities have said those who obtained South African
identity documents illegally will get amnesty if they return them.

Nkathazo had arrived at 6 a.m. to find hundreds already there even though the office
did not open until 8 a.m. Nkathazo said he would wait all day, and come back earlier
the next time if he failed to get in on Wednesday

To qualify, applicants must prove they have been in South Africa since at least May this
year. Nkathazo has been here 15 years, and the ease with which he has regularly ferried
between his wife and four children in Zimbabwe and his job in South Africa
demonstrates how just how porous the border is.

Ahead of Nkathazo a woman sat wrapped in a blanket, huddling under an umbrella on

a concrete stump planted at the entrance to the building to keep cars from parking too
close. Entrepreneurs sold brightly colored plastic envelopes to keep precious
documents dry. Business was brisk for the envelopes and for umbrellas as rush hour
traffic splashed by.

Bryan Khumalo, a 27-year-old computer consultant, said he had lined up for four days
to apply in September, and last week received a cell phone text message informing him
he had been granted a work permit. He arrived at 4 a.m. Wednesday, but was still 87th
in line. Experience had taught him only 50 or 60 people make it inside on any day, and
he was resigned to returning.

"Some guys sleep here," Khumalo said.

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Ethiopia holds talks with Somalia (Xinhua)

ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi held talks with Somali Prime
Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on bilateral ties and regional issues here
Tuesday.

Zenawi said Ethiopia will continue its efforts with the African Union (AU) and
international community to ensure permanent peace and stability in Somalia as it is of
paramount importance to the Horn of Africa.

The newly established cabinet of Somalia is committed to ensure peace and stability in
the state, he said, adding that Ethiopia will work closely with Somalia's Transitional
Federal Government (TFG) in all spheres.

Mohamed said Somalia will work hard to promote relations between the two countries
for mutual benefits.

He said Somalia strongly condemns the disruptive acts of international terrorist groups
like Al Shabab, and that Somalia' TFG will fight resolutely against these together with
international peace organizations.
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UN News Service Africa Briefs
Full Articles on UN Website

ICC prosecutor requests summons against six Kenyans on post-election violence

15 December – The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) today
requested that the tribunal issue summons against six Kenyan citizens for alleged
crimes committed during the violence that erupted following the country’s general
elections in December 2007.

Ban deeply concerned over continuing stalemate in Côte d’Ivoire

15 December – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply concerned about the
continuing political stalemate in Côte d’Ivoire, where the situation is taking a worrying
turn with unfolding events that could lead to widespread violence.