By NICK CUMMING-BRUCE and RICK GLADSTONE, 29 MAY 2015, New York Times GENEVA — Questions over the handling of a confidential United Nationsinquiry into allegations of sexual abuse by French soldiers in the Central African Republic deepened on Friday when an advocacy group published leaked documents that it said detailed the reactions of senior human rights officials. The … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2015
Mugabe’s knives still out as Zimbabwe ruling party suspends 89 members, deepening purge
29 MAY 2015, Mail & Guardian (South Africa) It is striking that despite several rounds of purges over six months now, Mugabe feels he hasn’t yet subdued Mujuru loyalists. PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) barred 89 officials from holding office for two to three years, deepening a purge in the ruling party. The … [Read more...]
Indeed we are living in interesting times
By: Allan Brian Ssenyoga, 31 May 2015, New Times (Rwanda) Anyone who suffers from the task of having to write a weekly column knows the pain of having to deal with extremes. There are days when your head is blank and a text or brief email from your editor reminding you that he/she has not seen your piece feels just like one from a creditor who knows where you stay and has … [Read more...]
Burundi election body’s vice president has fled country: sources
BUJUMBURA, Sat 30 May 2015, Reuters The vice president of Burundi's election commission has fled the country ahead of the poll, sources said on Saturday, amid a political crisis triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to run for a third term. Spes-Caritas Ndironkeye joins a senior judge and a host of dissidents who have fled the country following a failed coup … [Read more...]
Six powers agree way to restore U.N. sanctions in push for Iran deal – sources
NEW YORK/PARIS/ANKARA | BY Louis Charbonnea, John Irish and Parisa Hafezi, Sun 31 May 2015, Reuters Six world powers have agreed on a way to restore U.N. sanctions on Iran if the country breaks the terms of a future nuclear deal, clearing a major obstacle to an accord ahead of a June 30 deadline, Western officials told Reuters. The new understanding on a U.N. sanctions … [Read more...]
U.S. defense chief says China’s island-building erodes security
SINGAPORE | By David Alexander and Rujun Shen, Reuters U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Saturday that Beijing's island-building in the South China Sea was undermining security in the Asia-Pacific but, despite his blunt remarks, the response from Chinese officials was measured. Carter, speaking to top defense officials from the Asia-Pacific at the annual Shangri-La … [Read more...]
Ambassador Cui Tiankai’s Interview with the Wall Street Journal on South China Sea
30 May 2015, People's Daily On May 28, 2015, Ambassador Cui Tiankai had an interview with Mr. Adam Horvath,World Editor of the Wall Street Journal. The following is the excerpt of the transcript: Adam Horvath: Ambassador, thanks for being here. As we are speaking, this week rhetorichas been heating up between the U.S. and China over a development in the South ChinaSea, … [Read more...]
Libya, land of last hopes: Where sub-Saharan refugees wait to risk everything to reach Europe
Kim Sengupta TRIPOLI, Friday 29 May 2015, The Independent (UK) “We are meant to be citizens of the world. We do the jobs others will not do to feed our family,” said Abdulahi Fateh, squatting under a hot sun on the dusty ground of the detention centre. “If they do not let us have even that chance, then send us back home and let us die with dignity.” A sudden, piercing … [Read more...]
Chinese Security Laws Elevate the Party and Stifle Dissent. Mao Would Approve.
By Edward Wong, 29 MAY 2015, New York Times BEIJING — China’s new national security law, released in draft form this month, has little to say about such traditional security matters as military power, counterespionage or defending the nation’s borders. Instead, to the surprise and alarm of many people here, it reads more like a Communist Party ideology paper and a call to … [Read more...]
‘Mujuru can slay Zanu PF in 2018’
THELMA CHIKWANHA, POLITICAL EDITOR • 29 MAY 2015 • Daily News (Zimbabwe) HARARE - Analysts say the only way Zimbabwe could get out of its current political and socio-economic mess would be if the opposition formed a coalition ahead of the 2018 national elections, possibly with former Vice President Joice Mujuru as their presidential candidate, to take on the ruling Zanu PF … [Read more...]