United States Africa Command Public Affairs Office 6 March 2012

USAFRICOM - related news stories

Good morning. Please see today's news review for March 6, 2012. This format is best viewed in HTML. Also, the transcript of General Carter Hams testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee is now available on the AFRICOM website: http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=7682&lang=0 Of interest in today's report: -Government under fire after Congo arms blast. -UN Security Council backs results of London conference on Somalia. -Open Letter to President Obama. -Heavy fighting in North Somalia Kills 40 people. U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs Please send questions or comments to: publicaffairs@usafricom.mil 421-2687 (+49-711-729-2687)

Headline Government under fire after Congo arms blast

Date 03/05/2012

Outlet Thomson Reuters Africa - Online

BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) - Standing in the wreckage of the small bar he owned in the Mpila district of Brazzaville, Simplice Gaylolo knew where he put the blame for the arms dump blast that ripped a hole in the Congo Republic's capital.

UN Security Council backs results of London Conference 03/05/2012 on Somalia

Xinhua News Agency

UNITED NATIONS, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council issued a presidential statement here on Monday, showing its support for the recent London Conference on Somalia and its outcomes.

South Sudan: Open Letter to President Obama - Now Is the Time to Act to Prevent Starvation in the Nuba Mountains

03/05/2012

AllAfrica.com

In blatant contravention of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Government of Sudan (GoS) has carried out a brutal assault for the past eight months against the people of the Nuba Mountains. Due to abject fear, an estimated 200,000 people have soug...

Nigeria: U.S. Under Secretary to Visit Nation, Four Others 03/05/2012

AllAfrica.com

New York -- The U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, has commenced a five-nation Africa tour with visits to Nigeria, Angola, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya.

Somalia: Heavy Fighting in North Kills 40 People

03/05/2012

AllAfrica.com

Bosaso -- At least forty people were confirmed killed and more than that number have been injured in a heavy battle between Puntland forces and Gal-gala fighters loyal to Sheik Sa'ed Atom linked with Al-shabab militants, witnesses say on Saturday.

Illegal Trade Leads to Unrest in Border Town of Ben Guerdane and Assaults On Libyans

03/05/2012

AllAfrica.com

A fight broke out this Thursday between Libyan travelers and local inhabitants near the town of Ben Guerdane in the southeast of Tunisia.

Nigeria threatens to retaliate deportation of 125 citizens by South Africa

03/04/2012

World Stage News

Abuja (WorldStage Newsonline)-- The Federal Government of Nigeria on Monday warned that it may be forced to reciprocate the deportation of about 125 citizens on Sunday by South Africa at the airport on the excuse that they came into the country without app...

Kenya: Al Shabaab Will Be Wiped Out - Oguna

03/05/2012

AllAfrica.com

The Kenyan army incursion into Somalia will end only after the war-torn country becomes stable, Operation Linda Nchi spokesman Cyrus Oguna has said.

Nigeria: Obama's Aide Meets Jonathan Over Security This Week

03/05/2012

AllAfrica.com

The United States Government has expressed its unwillingness to put Nigeria on its terrorism watch list despite its recent travel advisory warning anyone visiting the country and its growing concerns for the safety of its citizens.

Congo farm law seen hurting foreign investment

03/05/2012

Thomson Reuters Africa - Online

KINSHASA (Reuters) - A law meant to breathe new life into agriculture in Democratic Republic of Congo risks scaring off needed foreign investment due to a clause calling for farms to be majority-owned by Congolese, according to investors and other sector p...

Ghana: Abuja to Grace Ghana's 55th Anniversary

03/05/2012

AllAfrica.com

A contingent from IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja will stake the Independence Match Play trophy between Nigeria and Ghana in Accra on, March 10-11.

United Nations News Centre - Africa Briefs

03/04/2012

United Nations News Service

-Central African Republic relief efforts facing severe funding shortfall, UN warns -UN chief saddened at loss of life in Congo arms depot explosion -Power of UN-sponsored school meals for girls to be highlighted in video series -UN mission will stay in ...

News Headline: Government under fire after Congo arms blast | News Date: 03/05/2012 Outlet Full Name: Thomson Reuters - Africa - Online News Text: BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) - Standing in the wreckage of the small bar he owned in the Mpila district of Brazzaville, Simplice Gaylolo knew where he put the blame for the arms dump blast that ripped a hole in the Congo Republic's capital. "We've lost absolutely everything ... it's the fault of the government for not taking precautions," Gaylolo complained as he gestured at the military base next door, surrounded by buildings flattened by the explosion in the early hours of Sunday. Around 200 people were killed by the blast sparked by a fire at the Regiment Blinde arms dump, medical and local authorities said. A similar number were seriously wounded and an unknown number of more bodies are still hidden under tons of wreckage. Living cheek by jowl with left-over munitions has been a feature of life in Brazzaville since the 1997 civil war, when rival

factions of the army turned it into a battlefield for months. Jammed up tight against the Blinde dump, neighbourhoods like Mpila stood little chance against a blast so fierce it blew out windows 4 km (2.5 miles) over the Congo river in Kinshasa, the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo. "We shouldn't have been allowed to live so near the camp," said Victoire Ndzota, whose house was also wrecked. "We've had no help, no assistance from the government, not even consolation. We'll just have to manage on our own," she shrugged, adding she and her family hoped to be taken in by friends. While the oil-producer has seen coups and civil war since 1960 independence from France, it has remained largely peaceful since the 1999 ceasefire. President Denis Sassou-Nguesso's government has at various times since then acknowledged that something must be done about the inner-city arms stocks. But somehow the promise never made it to reality. Brazzaville on Monday was a city full of residents walking amid the destroyed houses with luggage balanced on their heads, with others searching debris for their belongings - or bodies. "It is too hard to bear, this is a real catastrophe," said Christephane Ilich. "Look - if you start searching inside this bit here you will see bodies straight away," he said, pointing to a section of debris nearby. The Congolese government was not available to comment on why it had not got around securing the Regiment Blinde site. Lionel Cattanei, head of local operations for the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), an agency that works to alleviate the aftermath of conflict, said a project to destroy the munitions had been agreed but had not quite got off the ground. "The problem was taken into account by the Congolese authorities," said Cattaneo. "The project has not been finalised yet, but these were problems that the government was aware of."
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News Headline: UN Security Council backs results of London Conference on Somalia | News Date: 03/05/2012 Outlet Full Name: Xinhua News Agency News Text: UNITED NATIONS, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council issued a presidential statement here on Monday, showing its support for the recent London Conference on Somalia and its outcomes. "The Security Council supports the progress made at the London Conference on Somalia, which affirmed international support, progress on the political process, security, increasing stability, economic development and action to address terrorism, piracy, and hostage taking," the presidential statement said. The statement was adopted as the 15-member body on international peace and security met for an open debate on Somalia. "The council emphasized the need to build on agreement in London and continue to pursue a comprehensive strategy for the establishment of peace and stability in Somalia through the collaborative effort of all stakeholders," said the statement. On Feb. 23, representatives from governments and organizations from around the world met in London to discuss security, humanitarian, and political challenges facing Somalia, a country that has been troubled for many years by conflict between armed groups. The one-day conference resulted in a communique that outlines a plan for Somalia's future. The presidential statement noted that the council "welcomes the conference" and "fully supports" the conference communique as a display of the international community's political will to support the Somali people.

The communique presented an agreement by the international community that Somalia's current temporary Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) should end in August as planned. "The Security Council further welcomes the consensus in London that the mandate of the Transitional Federal Institutions will end in August 2012 and that there will be no further extension of the transitional period," said the statement. On the subject of security, the communique called for a continued strengthening of the African Union Mission in Somalia ( AMISOM), as well as the development of Somali security forces. In its statement, the council "underlines that the development of the Somali security force and institutions is vital to ensure Somalia's long-term security and stability and calls upon the international community in coordination with the UN and AMISOM to provide increased support to the Somali security and justice sectors." Combating the scourge of piracy off the coast Somalia, said the statement, is also a high priority in the country's development and security. The statement added that although famine is over in Somalia, humanitarian problems still exist in the country, including the existence of many internally displaced persons (IDPs) who need urgent assistance. "The council emphasizes the need for the international community to provide well-coordinated, timely, and sustained humanitarian assistance to the Somali people, and to help build their resistance to future shocks, and stresses the importance of upholding and respecting the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence," the statement said.
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News Headline: South Sudan: Open Letter to President Obama - Now Is the Time to Act to Prevent Starvation in the Nuba Mountains | News Date: 03/05/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: In blatant contravention of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Government of Sudan (GoS) has carried out a brutal assault for the past eight months against the people of the Nuba Mountains. Due to abject fear, an estimated 200,000 people have sought sanctuary in mountain caves where they are attempting to eke out an existence without food. Many are already suffering from malnutrition. As the GoS indiscriminately bombs farms, villages, churches, and schools, it disingenuously claims that it is solely targeting members of the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement/Army-North, the latter of which is intent on freeing the Nuba Mountains from the iron fist of Khartoum. The fact of the lie is seen in the stony eyes of the dead -- babies, children, women and the elderly -- in the gory photos now coming out of the Nuba Mountains. Equally grave is the fact that the GoS has prevented the international community from providing humanitarian aid to those in dire need of food in the Nuba Mountains and the Blue Nile State. The ongoing attacks in the Nuba Mountains have prevented many farmers from planting seasonal crops, thus disrupting the agricultural cycle and leaving many people without adequate sources of food. Food insecurity has been exacerbated by restrictions on access to markets and the destruction of food stores. This is not the first time that the GoS has resorted to starving the Nuba people; it did so in the late 1980s and 1990s. The people were so desperate they "ate" leaves, grass, and roots. The international community did virtually nothing to address the mass starvation, and as a result an untold number of people died miserable deaths in a classic case of genocide by attrition. Such inattention and lack of action must not be repeated. Only once in the past eight months (August 30th) has the GoS authorized any outside agencies (in this case, UNICEF) to offload emergency health supplies, vaccines, and nutrition assistance into the Nuba Mountains. International humanitarian

actors continue to advocate strongly for access to conflict-affected populations in both Government- and SPLM-N controlled areas, but the GoS continues to deny them permission to do so. Over a month ago, on January 21st, your administration suggested that it was considering the possibility of opening up a humanitarian corridor in South Kordofan in order to provide desperately needed aid. To date, your administration has not acted and neither has the United Nations. It seems as if you and your fellow world leaders do not understand that each and every day that goes by, an ever-increasing number of people are bound to face malnutrition and its ill effects, including death by starvation. The time to act is now, not a month or two from now when lives will have already been lost to abject hunger. As U.S. Permanent Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice recently noted: "If there is not a substantial new inflow of aid by March," the situation in Southern Kordofan will be "one step short of full-scale famine." While we understand that at this point in time neither the U.S. government nor the U.N. are willing to intervene militarily to protect civilians in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile, as they did in Libya, we believe that it is imperative that action be taken immediately to provide food to the region. Indeed, we beseech you and your administration to place pressure on the United Nations to act now to open a humanitarian corridor in order to provide humanitarian aid to those in the Nuba Mountains who have faced horrific and ongoing atrocities and a near-famine at the hands of a murderous regime whose president (Omar al Bashir) is already wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for the atrocities perpetrated in Darfur. As a presidential candidate, you promised you would be proactive, versus reactive, in addressing potential and actual genocide. It is time to honor that commitment and press the international community to open a humanitarian corridor. If the U.S. and the rest of the international community continue to dither there is a very real possibility that many of the 200,000 people may end up victims of genocide by attrition. At the least, the international community should honor its commitment to the "Responsibility to Protect," and demand an immediate end to the violence in Sudan and unimpeded access to civilian populations by human rights monitors and humanitarian aid personnel. If the United Nations fails in this responsibility, then we urge you, President Obama, to accept the moral responsibility and to act now, along with the European Union and our African allies, to avert mass starvation in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile regions.
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News Headline: Nigeria: U.S. Under Secretary to Visit Nation, Four Others | News Date: 03/05/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: New York The U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, has commenced a five-nation Africa tour with visits to Nigeria, Angola, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya. The tour which begins on March 3 is to end on March 11. This was contained in a statement issued by the U. S. Department of State in New York. It stated that the Under Secretary would hold discussions with national leaders to underscore U. S. interests and strengthen collaborative efforts that promote good governance, economic growth, regional security, social development and human rights. According to the statement, the visit will also highlight the long-term American commitment to Africa and strengthen its strategic partnerships with Nigeria and Angola. The statement said that during Sherman's visit to Nigeria, she would discuss political, security and economic issues with senior government officials and civil society leaders. "In Angola, the Under Secretary will meet with senior officials and civil society, youths and opposition parties.

"In Zambia, Sherman will be the highest ranking U. S. official to visit newly-elected President Michael Sata after Zambia's peaceful democratic transition in September 2011. "She will meet with senior government officials, civil society leaders and journalists to discuss issues, including reform, the economy and elections." The statement noted that the visit to Malawi would allow Sherman to review the progress of U.S. development assistance efforts and the government of Malawi's programmes in addressing the country's multiple economic and social challenges. Sherman would also encourage Malawian leaders to strengthen good governance practices and human rights for all citizens. It explained that the visit would conclude in Kenya where the Under Secretary would stress U. S. interest in peaceful and transparent elections as well as the continued implementation of the new constitution. "The Under Secretary will express support for broad-based reforms advocated by Kenya that build investor confidence, social development and prosperity. "Importantly, the visit will demonstrate U.S. recognition of the challenges Kenya faces, due to the conflict in Somalia," it said, noting that the visit was coming shortly after an international conference on the conflict in Somalia. It also said that the Under Secretary would visit Somali leaders and other stakeholders in Nairobi to reinforce the urgency for Somalia's Transitional Federal Government to lay the foundation of good governance
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News Headline: Somalia: Heavy Fighting in North Kills 40 People | News Date: 03/05/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: Bosaso At least forty people were confirmed killed and more than that number have been injured in a heavy battle between Puntland forces and Gal-gala fighters loyal to Sheik Sa'ed Atom linked with Al-shabab militants, witnesses say on Saturday. The fighting is said to have broken out late on Friday night after Gal-gala fighters targeted a landmine blast on convoy belonging to Puntland forces passing at a small village,40 Km away south of the port and commercial city of Bosaso, killing 40 people- most of them Puntland forces. Sheik Abdiazaiz Abu Musab, the spokesman of Al-shabab militants for the military operations told a pro-radio station in Elasha-Biyah, south of Mogadishu claimed victory over the battle with Puntland forces, saying they killed 32 soldiers and took over the control of a village nearby Bosaso town after the attack. He admitted that three militants were killed during the combat, Abu Musab urged people in Puntland regions to stand with Al-shabab fighters shoulder by shoulder to overthrow the administration led by Abdirahman Farole. Puntland has not made any comments about the battle and Al-shabab claim.
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News Headline: Illegal Trade Leads to Unrest in Border Town of Ben Guerdane and Assaults On Libyans | News Date: 03/05/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: A fight broke out this Thursday between Libyan travelers and local inhabitants near the town of Ben Guerdane in the southeast of Tunisia.

Libyan cars' fronts were smashed by Tunisians protesting a decision by Libyan authorities to stop and unload Tunisian cars carrying gas and fuel tanks. Following that incident, the nearby Ras Jedir border crossing between Tunisia and Libya was closed and did not reopen until today. A decrease in the number of Tunisians crossing into Libya has been noticeable whereas Libyans continue to enter Tunisia at the normal rate. Such incidents have become commonplace in the border town of Ben Guerdane and have intensified since the outbreak of the Libyan revolution and the ouster of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. During the months of November and December 2011, some Libyans passing through Ben Guerdane were subject to physical attacks, had their cars smashed and their money taken. What left them irate was "the inaction of Tunisian authorities in the face of such attacks," said an eyewitness from Tripoli. Only 30 kilometers from the Ras Jedir border crossing, Ben Guerdane is naturally regarded as Tunisia's southeastern gateway to Libya. The town has traditionally been one of the biggest trading points between Tunisia and Libya. Before the revolution, Ben Guerdane's main market, Al Magharebia, attracted 45,000 visitors each week from all over Tunisia and has 200 stores that sell different types of products imported from neighboring Libya. Trade is so important for Ben Guerdane residents, yet not all that passes through this frontier region is done so legally. In August 2010, violent clashes occurred between locals and Tunisian police, resulting in the burning of the local town hall, after Libyan authorities had decided to close the Ras Jedir crossing in an attempt to curb the illicit trade of certain goods. The sad truth is that the livelihoods of many local families depend on this illegal trade, given the high rate of unemployment among Ben Guerdane's youth in particular. Many locals resort to the illegal trade of cheap counterfeit products from Asia as their only source of income. Illegal trade remains a subject of concern for both Tunisian and Libyan authorities. It has continued after the revolution, albeit less intensely than before the Libyan revolution. Ennhadha Constituent Assembly representative for Ben Guerdane, Nafti Mahdhi said that this illicit activity is deplorable and should be addressed. "The government must present alternatives for the development in the Tataouine and Medenine regions and particularly the town of Ben Guerdane," he stressed.
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News Headline: Nigeria threatens to retaliate deportation of 125 citizens by South Africa | News Date: 03/04/2012 Outlet Full Name: World Stage News News Text: Abuja (WorldStage Newsonline)-- The Federal Government of Nigeria on Monday warned that it may be forced to reciprocate the deportation of about 125 citizens on Sunday by South Africa at the airport on the excuse that they came into the country without appropriate travel document, particularly, the Yellow Fever Card. The country's Interior Minister, Abba Moro on Monday assured that the country was going to appropriately react. Moro who spoke to newsmen said if it was found out that South Africa deliberately frustrated Nigerians that wanted to travel to the country, certainly Nigeria will reciprocate appropriately. He noted that for now the government would want to believe that South Africa acted in good faith. We don't want to speculate, I want to say that if South Africa have every reason to believe that the document that some Nigerians were carrying are fake, it is incumbent upon us to find out the authenticity of the situation. I can assure you that we are going to appropriately react. But for the time being, I want to say that the Nigeria immigration service has the

mandate to allow persons into Nigeria and people who are not qualified certainly will not be allowed to enter Nigeria, but let's not hasten by jumping into conclusion the possible reasons why South Africa has repatriated Nigerians. I want to assure you on one thing that Federal Government has the capacity to reciprocate appropriately if it is find out that it is not done in good faith. The minister who also reacted on the invasion of Nigerian embassy in South Africa said, I want to state that the Joint Commission of Nigeria and South Africa is working. Let me also say that we should not forget very easily the role Nigerians played in the liberation of SA and I want to believe that the sacrifice and contributions of Nigeria is not lost. At the moment Nigeria maintains a very cordial diplomatic relations. With SA and I can assure you that we will react appropriately if it is found that SA has taken unfriendly action against Nigeria. On the issue of porous border, Moro said It is unfair to say that we don't know the category of persons that enter Nigeria. Nigeria like any other big countries has this problem of border porosity. I agree with you that Nigeria border as vast as it is, is porous to some extent, but that is not to say that we don't know the category of people that enter Nigeria. What we have done recently against the backdrop of the conclusion that we have terrorism in Nigerian against the backdrop of the fact that we have people coming from outside the country perpetrate terrorism in this country is for us to fortify our borders which we are doing. At the moment we signed several joint agreements with our neighbouring countries, the recent one last week we signed with Cameroon, we have such arrangement with Niger and Chad. Jointly we have all agreed to step up our activities at our borders to ensure that people who have nothing to do with Nigeria or any other country for that matter will not enter. If you don't have any legitimate business doing in Nigeria, the immigration service within the level of their own capacity will not allow you to enter Nigeria. As you have heard recently, those who find their way through to Nigeria one way or the other have also been eased out of Nigeria. The immigration service is topping up its activities to discharge its mandate of securing our borders. On the series of complaint of deportation against ECOWAS Protocols, the minister said, Nigeria as a big brother had always abide by agreements and protocol arrangements entered into. The fact is that I keep insisting that ECOWAS protocol which provides for free movement does not provide for free lunch in the sense that you can just wake up from your bed and say you want to go to any African country. You must also come with appropriate document. There is ECOWAS travel document that the member nations issue out to their citizens. If you come to Nigeria without those travel documents, then certainly you have not followed the ECOWA protocol, then you are illegal alien, the minister said.
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News Headline: Kenya: Al Shabaab Will Be Wiped Out - Oguna | News Date: 03/05/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: The Kenyan army incursion into Somalia will end only after the war-torn country becomes stable, Operation Linda Nchi spokesman Cyrus Oguna has said. Oguna said the forces may withdraw from Somalia on October 31 alongside African troops, Amisom, only if the al Shabaab terror thugs will have been defeated. He said this on Saturday during the weekly briefing on the status of the war on al shabaab. Oguna reiterated that KDF's exit from Somalia will depend on the two countries' security and ability to resume normal life devoid of fear from the militia. KDF has joined Amisom in an international move that is aimed at strengthening effort to restore calm and bring order in the Horn of Africa state. Addis Ababa will this week host a meeting of the four nations whose troops are fighting al Shabaab in Somalia. The meeting will among other issues discuss the transition phase based on the timeline that will

follow the expiry date of Amisom mandate. While affirming KDF's commitment to safely guard its territorial borders and repulse threats from the terror group, Oguna assured Kenyans that the war is on course. "We will not relent on our quest for the national security, and our efficiency will not go down," Oguna said. He exuded confidence that al Shabaab will soon be wiped out, as the soldiers' combine efforts with the Transitional Federal Governmentss. Last week the forces destroyed 15 al Shabaab technicals following three airstrikes in Bahare and Tabda, where more militiamen were eliminated. "Our intention is to degrade the Al shabaab by destroying their sources of funding," Oguna said, adding that KDF was targeting infrastructure and equipment owned by the militia. One of the raids was conducted on the Western side of Somalia in what was perceived as efforts by the Al shabaab to flee into Kenya, while aiming to gain access to the refugee camps. "The killings have left the Al shabaab extremely damaged and weakened," he said, and appealed for vigilance. The militia is reported to be rooting for exit points from south and west. Kenya has lost 10 soldiers since the invasion into Somalia five months ago, while two others whose whereabouts is unknown have been reported as "missing in action". Two government officials who were captured by the insurgents are yet to be released, even as Oguna appealed for calm as local leaders continue to negotiate for their freedom.
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News Headline: Nigeria: Obama's Aide Meets Jonathan Over Security This Week | News Date: 03/05/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: The United States Government has expressed its unwillingness to put Nigeria on its terrorism watch list despite its recent travel advisory warning anyone visiting the country and its growing concerns for the safety of its citizens. This is coming just as a top aide of President Barrack Obama, the Under Secretary for Political Affairs; Wendy Sherman will be heading to Nigeria to discuss security and terrorism issues with PresidentGoodluck Jonathan this week. It would be recalled that the Department of State had last week warned U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Nigeria, recommending that its citizens should avoid all but essential travel to the Niger Delta. This is even as the authorities in Niger Republic have expressed concerns about thousands of its citizens who fled northern Nigeria fearing military attacks and arrest. BoubeYaye, an official of Niger Republic's government was reported to have said: "according to statistics, we've seen from the police, we have 10,000 Nigeriens that have returned on their own since the start of violence in Nigeria." Yaye also said some Nigerian security forces had arrested 13 innocent Nigeriens, noting that the insecurity posed by Boko Haram cannot be solved with such acts. A top official of the United States Department of State, who confirmed this to our correspondent yesterday, added that the United States government would find all the ways to assist the Nigerian government to get out of the problem, rather than putting the country on a watch list. Saying that these acts of terrorism from Boko Haram had caused a lot of embarrassments for Nigeria before the international community, the US official who said she preferred anonymity indicated that some security officials of the American government are billed to visit the affected parts in Nigeria in the coming weeks. She said that it is one of the major priorities of President Barack Obama and the United States government to ensure that terrorism is flushed out of the African continent, most especially, Nigeria which is assumed to be the giant in the region.

Our correspondent further learnt from the US top official that the Nigerian government under President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier demanded the assistance of the United States on the way to curb the activities of the Boko Haram sect. However, she confirmed that some bomb technicians from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI have been sent to Nigeria in order to work with the Nigerian government on the ongoing investigations of the recent bombings in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta states and some other parts of the country. Also, a statement made available to our correspondent by the office of the spokesperson of the Department of State confirmed that the US under secretary for political affairs Wendy Sherman would visit Nigeria in the coming week. The under secretary is to hold discussions with the Nigerian government to exchange views, underscore U.S. interests, and strengthen collaborative efforts that promote good governance, economic growth, regional security, social development, and human rights. The visit, which will be extended to Angola, Malawi, Zambia, and Kenya will highlight the long-term U.S. commitment to Africa and strengthen the Obama-led government's strategic partnerships with Nigeria and Angola. "During Under Secretary Sherman's visit to Nigeria, she will discuss political, security, and economic issues with senior government officials and civil society leaders," the media note stated.
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News Headline: Congo farm law seen hurting foreign investment | News Date: 03/05/2012 Outlet Full Name: Thomson Reuters - Africa - Online News Text: KINSHASA (Reuters) - A law meant to breathe new life into agriculture in Democratic Republic of Congo risks scaring off needed foreign investment due to a clause calling for farms to be majority-owned by Congolese, according to investors and other sector players. The Congolese Federation of Enterprises has written a letter to the government calling the law, which is set to go into effect in June, "discriminatory" and a "catastrophe" and appealing for it to be amended. "Everyone says to themselves, today they start with semi-nationalisation, and then one day we'll move to total nationalisation," said Paulin Mbandala, a Congolese lawyer specialising in agriculture. "Look at Zimbabwe, that's the problem," he said, referring to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's seizure of whiteowned farms in the 1990s. The Congo law, passed in December shortly after a chaotic presidential poll, aims to use tax breaks and other incentives to boost agricultural output in a country with enough cultivable land to cover Germany twice. Only 10 percent of the land is in use and the country has been a net food importer since the 1960s due to decades of neglect, conflict and corruption. Farmers and activists alike had been pushing for years for the government to pass the first ever agricultural law to revive the sector. Since the law's passage, however, agribusiness companies have expressed concern over an article that says farms must be owned by "a person of Congolese nationality or a Congolese legal entity whose shares, if applicable, are majorityowned by the Congolese state or by nationals". The risk is that the law could deepen Congo's investment woes, already suffering a setback from a drawn-out mining contract review that ended in 2010.

INVESTOR WORRIES Several of Congo's existing agricultural investors, including a unit of Canada's Feronia, said the law has created uncertainty over their projects and would likely stifle new investment. New investments are unlikely if the law is not amended, said Agnes Kasongo, managing director of PHC, an oil palm operation majority-owned by Feronia. The company produced more than 6,500 metric tonnes of palm oil last year and had plans to double the amount of land it cultivates. "I don't think that Feronia will invest further if the law is not amended," Kasongo told Reuters from her office in Kinshasa's dilapidated port area, where farmed produce used to arrive by river from the interior of the country before war during the 1990s and corruption saw the sector collapse. "I don't understand the law (article 16), the Congolese do not have money to acquire the land," she said. Officials from several other companies told Reuters they would reconsider investment, but asked not to be identified for fear of running into problems with the government. A Western diplomat, who also asked not to be named, said three potential investors have abandoned investment plans since the law was passed. LAND SOVEREIGNTY Congo's government has defended the law - which offers tax breaks and preferential rates on water and electricity for agricultural enterprises - as broadly positive for the sector, but admits the Article 16 clause on ownership could pose problems for foreign investors. "The Congo could feed the whole of Africa, that's certain, but we must have investment", said Marcel Kapambwe Nyombo, an agriculture ministry adviser. "(Article 16) poses a problem. Among new investors there is a certain reticence." Around a third of the country's food was imported in 2010 from as far away as Brazil, and more than two thirds of the country's 70 million inhabitants are living in poverty, the World Bank says. A letter written by President Joseph Kabila last August and seen by Reuters shows that the president himself backs the rules limiting foreign ownership, arguing it is necessary to protect the sovereignty of Congolese land. "I ask that the imperative is made clear that nationals control the shareholdings of Congolese-registered businesses eligible to be attributed land in Democratic Republic of Congo," it read. In one of the biggest deals in Congo's agriculture sector, China's ZTE won rights in 2008 to farm 100,000 hectares of land in Equateur province. But the three-year deal was not renewed in 2011 as nothing had been done to launch the project, agriculture adviser Kapambwe told Reuters. He said ZTE now holds just 600 hectares of land. The firm did not respond to requests for comment. Singapore commodities giant Olam is also negotiating with the government over possible farming ventures. The company declined comment on the law.
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News Headline: Ghana: Abuja to Grace Ghana's 55th Anniversary |

News Date: 03/05/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: A contingent from IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja will stake the Independence Match Play trophy between Nigeria and Ghana in Accra on, March 10-11. IBB Club and Achimota Club 1928 exchange visits and engage in match play annually, each time either of the West African nations is celebrating its Independence Day. The 55th independence anniversary of Ghana on Tuesday, March 6 will be followed by single and double matches involving players from the clubs at the Achimota Golf Club in Accra. IBB turned the light off a weakened Achimota in October last year when the Ghanaians visited Abuja to mark Nigeria's 51st Independence Day. The matches will be played over two days and would be payback time for Achimota to exact for their defeat in Nigeria and retain the trophy till the next event. Nigeria's prevailing security challenges almost took the steam out of the matches last year, when majority of the Ghanaians opted to stay at home. Boko Haram has been carrying out deadly terrorist attacks and assassinations across northern parts of the country in recent months. Achimota captain, Rene Gameli-Kwame attributed the low attendance of last year to the poor publicity Nigeria was getting on its security situation which he said bothered most of the Ghanaians. "It has been a long way with Nigeria as we exchange visits during Independence Day. It should continue irrespective of what happened this year (2011) where bad press about the recent developments in Abuja affected our participation. Some of us decided we had to make it by honouring the 51st anniversary of Nigeria. We are hoping that in future such an incident will not deter people from travelling," Gameli-Kwame then told us. Despite the discouraging Ghanaian presence where they only came to Abuja with 16 players as against the expected 50man team, it appears there will be no backlash from IBB Club as members have started to indicate their interest to travel to Ghana. IBB team will have a practice round in Accra on March 9 and will depart for Nigeria on March 12. Three years ago, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan personally welcomed the Ghanaian delegation at IBB Club as part of activities to mark the Golden Jubilee celebration of Nigeria.
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News Headline: United Nations News Centre - Africa Briefs | News Date: 03/04/2012 Outlet Full Name: United Nations News Service News Text: Central African Republic relief efforts facing severe funding shortfall, UN warns 5 March The Central African Republic (CAR) is facing one of the worst humanitarian funding shortfalls in the world, the United Nations warned today, adding that nearly half the country s population is in dire need of assistance. UN chief saddened at loss of life in Congo arms depot explosion 5 March Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his profound sadness at the loss of life and destruction caused by the accidental explosion of an ammunition depot in the capital city of the Republic of Congo. Power of UN-sponsored school meals for girls to be highlighted in video series 5 March A 13-year-old girl living in one of Kenya s poorest slums who has grown up receiving school meals through the United Nations food relief agency will share her experiences with other children around the world in a series of videos to be broadcast online tomorrow. UN mission will stay in Liberia, albeit in different form, says peacekeeping official 2 March A top United Nations official today assured the Liberian people that the world body is not preparing to leave the country but seeking to reconfigure its presence after assessing the ability of national institutions to maintain peace and security. Both pro- and anti-Qadhafi forces committed war crimes in Libya UN panel 2 March The United Nations-mandated commission of inquiry that probed human rights abuses in Libya reported today that crimes against humanity and war crimes were committed by both the troops loyal to the former ruler, Muammar alQadhafi, and the forces that fought to oust him.
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