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Advancing Islamic Fundamentalism in the Sahel
Terrorism in Nigeria's Sahel is Real
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The strong streak of Islamic fundamentalism that is adavancing in much of Africa's Sahel and into northern Nigeria. Radical Islamist movements are thriving in a Nigeria, where at least 12 northern states reintroduced Islamic laws. In July, mainly young militants of the fundamentalist Boko Haram sect which seeks to unite Muslims under a Caliphate carried out simultaneous attacks in four northern states. The authorities' response was swift and brutal, killing at least 800 in a five-day crackdown. Boko Haram means "Western education is a sin" an attractive scape goat for many disenfranchised youths of the Muslim-dominated north, who see this as another way to gain usefulness in a poorly govern society where they otherwise have no better goals or programs to engage their development.
While the Nigerian government, continues to deny its reality, contends that terrorism is alien to the country."The Nigerian government has persistently turned a blind eye to Islamic extremists coming from Northern Nigeria, choosing instead to focus and waste its resources on military hardware and troop deployment in the Niger Delta." While the real issue is northern Nigeria borders with Niger and Mali, a battleground for Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the former Salafist Group which is Preaching and training Combat to its militants, who engages in kidnapping and killing of westerners. The threat from Islamist militants prompted Washington in 2007 to establish the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. No Question now that Africa's sahel and Northern Nigeria has problem with terrorism, Islamic militants and extremism. The world better wake up to this reality early and face it sooner, or face its consequences with more Abdulmutallabs and possibly and African Iraq.
West African Al-Quaeda Elements Attacked And Killed Three Saudis in Niger
Barbaric Attacked Deplored By Niger's Government
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Three Saudi tourists have been killed and three others injured after they were attacked by unidentified gunmen in Niger, officials there say.
The Saudis were travelling by car to Mali and were attacked near the border, according to a government spokesman.
The three Saudis who were wounded were taken to hospital in the capital, Niamey, he said. The attack was reported near Djambala, where both Tuareg rebels and militants linked to al-Qaeda are active. Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled bin Saud told Al-Arabiya TV that the tourists were assaulted after they stopped to perform morning prayers. Niger's Communication Minister Kassoum Moctar condemned the attack on state radio.
"Niger's government deplores these barbarous acts that were unfortunately perpetrated on its territory, and offers its condolences to the Saudi government," he said. Recent kidnapping was claimed by al-Qaeda's North African wing, al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb, though Niger's president blamed it on Tuareg rebels. On Monday, the al-Qaeda branch - which is based in Algeria but has been active in the north-west African Sahel region - also claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of two Italians in Mauritania earlier this month.
Improved Human Rights in Libya
Libyan Penal Code Still Punitive on Freedom of Speech
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There have been improvements in Libya's human rights record, including greater freedom of expression, New York-based Human Rights Watch has said.
The group said abuses by security agencies were still the norm, but the fact that it was able to present its report in Tripoli showed the progress.
This indicated some in the government were open to listening to criticism of its human rights record, it added.
On Monday, a prominent critic and former political prisoner was arrested.
Jamal al-Haggi had criticised the continued detention of political prisoners and denounced government abuses in a BBC interview in September.
Mr Haggi had only been freed following Western pressure earlier this year after serving two years of a 12-year sentence for organising a demonstration. "The government should revise its penal code to allow all Libyans the freedom to have such public discussion without fear of criminal sanction and stop jailing those who express criticism of the government.
The improvements in Libya's human rights record remained out of step with the image of change it had presented since Colonel Muammar Gaddafi brought the country out of international isolation by ending its development of weapons of mass destruction and support for militants. However, though Libyan law still curtails free speech, some journalists have been allowed to criticise some sections of the government in a way they would not have dared before.
South African Groups Unhappy As American Actress Jennifer Hudson Gets To Play Winnie Mandela
She is Hailed as Mother of South African Nation
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The news that a film is to be made of Winnie Mandela's life, with Jennifer Hudson, the American actress, playing the leading role has not be received well in many quaters in South Africa, including the South African Filming industry. Hailed as the “mother of the nation” by some, reviled as a corrupt and violent adulteress by others, Winnie Mandela is one of South Africa’s most prominent figures. At a stormy weekend press conference, the Creative Workers Union of South Africa said that using foreign actors to tell the country’s stories undermined efforts to develop a national film industry. “It can’t happen that we want to develop our own Hollywood, and yet we keep bringing in imports,” said Mabutho Sithole, the union’s president.
South Africa has lost thousands of jobs as a result of the global recession, while a strong rand, driven by soaring gold prices, has increased costs and badly hit the film industry. “This decision must be reversed. It must be stopped now,” Oupa Lebogo, the union’s secretary-general, told The Times. Udo Froese, a close friend of Madikizela-Mandela, agreed: “There’s a lot of good local talent, why not use them? Winnie herself is not involved in this, and in no way has given any sort of green light.” Quite harsh responses to the scotting choice of the film makers. No official responses has been received from the sponsors of the proposed film.
Mogadishu The World Most Hostile City
The Beginning of the Violence For 18 Years
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Corpses covered with sheets were being prepared for burial and the air was heavy with incense burned to cover the stench of death. A mortar bomb had landed in the compound, pots and pans stained with blood were still scattered around the retirement home in the Somali capital the day before, killing nine people and injuring 23. Scenes like this are a daily reality in Mogadishu, a city ravaged by almost 20 years of war and abandoned by half its population. Here, civilians bear the brunt of a war that has caused thousands of deaths and displaced 1.5 million people in the past three years alone, with no end in site. A generation of war children now 18 years and older, with no other knowledge of life and no hope of finding peace. The war is elusive, so is any possible solution. There is no simple just cause to sttract the attention of any peace mission, its just a culture and a lawless society of war.
Once full the colonial Italian architecture dating from its years as the capital of Italian Somaliland, the city centre of Mogadishu is now rubbish with destroyed buildings. This morning, two militias allied with the TFG are clashing for control of the port, civilians are caught in the crossfire. You must call your friends before venturing out and keep your cell phone with you to receive updates on clashes. That's the only way to survive living in this hell on earth called Somaliland.
African Prostitution Ring Leaders Jailed in Europe
Alleged Voodoo Curse Scheme To Force Girls into Prostitution
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Two Nigerians accused of using voodoo curses to force about 140 Nigerian girls into prostitution in Europe were sentenced to jail terms of four years. Four other defendants received terms of one or two years while three were found not guilty by a court in Zwolle in the central Netherlands Thursday. Prosecutors had asked for eight years in jail for the two main accused and up to four years for the others. The trial, on charges of human trafficking and membership of a criminal organisation, opened in March.
Prosecutors said about 140 Nigerian girls brought by the gang into the Netherlands as asylum seekers had disappeared from asylum centres in 2006 and 2007. About a dozen of the girls were traced, while the rest were thought to have been forced into prostitution in Italy, Spain and France. Most were minors at the time, their ages ranging from 16 to 23. The Netherlands allegedly served as a transit point for the girls, sent by the suspects from Nigeria with false identity papers and instructions for an asylum application. "The suspects used voodoo to influence the girls," said a prosecution statement. "They had to give blood, nails or a piece of clothing and make a promise to a voodoo priest to repay the 'debts' incurred for their travel to Europe" -- between 30,000 euros (44,400 dollars) and 60,000 euros each. The suspects were arrested in the Netherlands in October 2007 after an investigation by Dutch police in collaboration with Nigerian and some European counterparts.
South Africa's Economy Begins To Grow Again
The 2009 Economic Recession is Now Over
South Africa's the African Continent's biggest economy returned to growth by an annualised, seasonally adjusted rate of 0.9% during the quarter, compared with the previous three months. This signifies the end of the country's first recession since 1992.
A strong manufacturing sector was largely responsible for the return to growth. Manufacturing grew by 7.6% during the quarter compared with the previous quarter. Construction also performed well, growing by 6.1%. The upcoming World Cup, which takes place in South Africa next year, can be credited for the construction growth. This is good news for the African Continent, when now depends a lot on South Africa in propelling its economic growth.
Sea Pirates Problem Spread To West Africa
Armed Bandits Around Africa Have Learned They Can Make Big Bucks Like the Somalians
Pirates have attacked an oil tanker off the coast of west Africa, killing a Ukrainian seaman, the commander of Benin's naval forces says. Cdr Fernand Maxime Ahoyo says the Cancale Star's chief engineer was killed and one other crewman wounded. The pirates attacked the vessel some 18 nautical miles (33km) off the coast of Benin in West Africa, in what correspondents say is the country's first such attack.
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) says piracy in the waters of west Africa is on the rise, with 100 such incidents recorded last year. The IMB has previously warned of heightened piracy risks along shipping routes in Nigeria and Ghana, to the east and west of Benin. It said attacks usually took place while ships were at anchor or close to coastal areas, unlike in eastern Africa, where Somali pirates strike ships hundreds of miles out to sea.
Mrs Babangida is Not Dead
She Hopes To Return From US to Nigeria Soon
Former First Lady Mrs Maryam Babangida yesterday dispelled rumours of her death, saying she is hale and hearty. Speaking from her sick bed in the United States (US), Mrs Babangida said: “I’m surprised that people could wish me dead. It is God that gives and takes life. I’m alive and will soon join you in Nigeria.”
Her husband, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, had earlier issued a statement denying her rumoured death. He described the rumours as “untrue, cruel, malicious and calculated to cause mischief”. Babangida said: “It has become necessary to make this clarification because the IBB family has been bombarded with calls, SMS texts, e-mails, etc in the past 24hours with thousands of well-wishers seeking information and clarification of her rumoured death.” Stating the family’s belief in the Islamic doctrine that every human being is bound to die at the appointed time, Babangida said despite the rumours, “my wife is still alive.
Avoiding Bloody Elections in Abuja
Story By Abubakar Yakubu
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Bloody primaries: Aliero meets aspirants
Written by Muideen Olaniyi, Abubakar Yakubu, Abdulmutallib A. Abubakar & Abubakar Sadiq Isah
Monday, 16 November 2009 00:00
Senator Adamu Aliero
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Adamu Aliero and other party bigwigs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the territory, yesterday held a closed door meeting with all the ward aspirants in Saturday's bloody council primaries in order to resolve their differences. The meeting which was held at the minister's Life Camp residence began at 6 am and lasted until evening.
A party chieftain Adejoh James told Daily Trust that the meeting was attended by the FCT Chairman of the party, Hassan Gwagwa, PDP council chairmen, local government chairmen and a member of the House of Representatives, Philip Aduda.
Mr James said Aliero called the meeting to ensure that the party comes out with acceptable candidates that would win in the forth coming area councils election in the territory.
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