AFRICOM Related Newsclips 7 Sep 11

8/4/2019 AFRICOM Related Newsclips 7 Sep 11

1/23

U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs Office +49(0)711-729-2687 [email protected]

United States Africa CommandPublic Affairs Office7 September 2011

USAFRICOMrelated news stories

Good morning. Please find attached news clips related to U.S. Africa Command and upcomingevents of interest for September 7, 2011.

Of interest in today's news clips: Al Jazeera reports that according to Reuters, the on-the-runLibyan leader may be on his way to Chad or Niger.

BBC highlights Qadhafis history of first identifying with Arab leaders unsuccessfully before hesought recognition as the African King of Kings.

Several news services focused on the West African region and how the economic decline in theU.S. is driving Nigerias decision to delink 10 percent of its reserve currency from the dollar tothe Chinese yuan.

Also in the region, Ghana is developing a social pact between its political leaders and its citizensto ensure that wealth generated by oil will be distributed fairly and evenly throughout the nation.

AllAfrica reports on the duel between China and the U.S. for Africas vast natural resources.

U.S. Africa Command Public AffairsPlease send questions or comments to:[email protected] (+497117292687)

Top News related to U.S. Africa Command and Africa

Gaddafi 'last tracked in southern Libya' (Al Jazeera)http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119623851679211.htmlBy Unattributed Author7 September 2011 --Muammar Gaddafi has probably left the Libyan desert town of Bani Walidand is heading further south with the help of loyalist tribes towards Chad or Niger, Reuters newsagency quoted a senior military official in Libya's new leadership as saying.

Large Libyan armoured convoy arrives in Niger (Al Jazeera)http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119691025123868.htmlBy Unattributed Author6 September 2011 -- About 250 vehicles enter country, as Libyan fighters hold talks with triballeaders to peacefully enter Bani Walid.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119623851679211.htmlhttp://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119623851679211.htmlhttp://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119691025123868.htmlhttp://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119691025123868.htmlhttp://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119623851679211.htmlmailto:[email protected]


2/23


Gaddafi: African asylum-seeker? (BBC Africa Service)http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14806140By Farouk Chothia6 September 2011--Col Gaddafi - after being shunned by Arab rulers - switched his focus to

Africa in the 1990s to raise his international profile.

Somali leaders adopt plan to end transitional rule (AF Reuters)http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7850L920110906?sp=trueBy Unattributed Author6 September 2011MOGADISHU--Somali leaders adopted a roadmap on Tuesday designed to lead to electionswithin a year and end a string of fragile transition governments that have failed to bring peace tothe anarchic Horn of Africa nation.

West Africa Rising: Nigeria shifting currency reserves from dollars to Chinese yuan (CS

Monitor)http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Nigeria-shifting-currency-reserves-from-dollars-to-Chinese-yuanBy Drew Hinshaw6 September 2011DAKAR, SENEGAL -- Nigerian Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi said inBeijingtodaythatAfrica's top oil exporter will convert as much as 10 percent of its $33 billion in foreignreserves from US dollars into Chinese yuan. Central banks use foreign reserves to manage theirown currency's value.

West Africa Rising: Ghanaian citizens develop social pact on oil wealth ahead of elections

(CS Monitor)http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Ghanaian-citizens-develop-social-pact-on-oil-wealth-ahead-of-electionsBy Clair MacDougall6 September 2011ACCRA, GHANA -- When the coastal West African nation of Ghana struck upon oil in thewaters, hopes for its future were raised high. But how to ensure this resource is used to benefitthe nation and citizens of Ghana instead of merely draining into the pockets of a few politicallyconnected members of the elite?

Africa: China, U.S. in Stiff Competition Over Untamed Africa (All Africa)http://allafrica.com/stories/201109060180.htmlBy Unattributed Author6 September 2011 -- Africa has of late remained in the spotlight of the world because of its vastand untapped natural resources, which are critical to global economic turnaround

US Embassy disappointed in kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTate
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14806140http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14806140http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7850L920110906?sp=truehttp://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7850L920110906?sp=truehttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Nigeria-shifting-currency-reserves-from-dollars-to-Chinese-yuanhttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Nigeria-shifting-currency-reserves-from-dollars-to-Chinese-yuanhttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Nigeria-shifting-currency-reserves-from-dollars-to-Chinese-yuanhttp://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/tags/topic/Beijinghttp://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/tags/topic/Beijinghttp://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/tags/topic/Beijinghttp://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/tags/topic/Africahttp://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/tags/topic/Africahttp://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/tags/topic/Africahttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Ghanaian-citizens-develop-social-pact-on-oil-wealth-ahead-of-electionshttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Ghanaian-citizens-develop-social-pact-on-oil-wealth-ahead-of-electionshttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Ghanaian-citizens-develop-social-pact-on-oil-wealth-ahead-of-electionshttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109060180.htmlhttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109060180.htmlhttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109060180.htmlhttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Ghanaian-citizens-develop-social-pact-on-oil-wealth-ahead-of-electionshttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Ghanaian-citizens-develop-social-pact-on-oil-wealth-ahead-of-electionshttp://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/tags/topic/Africahttp://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/tags/topic/Beijinghttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Nigeria-shifting-currency-reserves-from-dollars-to-Chinese-yuanhttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Nigeria-shifting-currency-reserves-from-dollars-to-Chinese-yuanhttp://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7850L920110906?sp=truehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14806140


3/23


By Ava Rogers - Charg d'AffairesSept. 5, 2011 -- The U.S. Embassy was disappointed to read the unsubstantiated allegations MrKamati kaTate published in the New Era (Security threat called AFRICOM, August 31, 2011).

Rwanda terror trial of Victoire Ingabire to proceed (BBC News)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14789140

By Unattributed Author5 September 2011 -- A Rwandan judge has ordered the terror trial of opposition leader VictoireIngabire to proceed.

###

UN News Service Africa Briefshttp://www.un.org/apps/news/region.asp?Region=AFRICA

(Full Articles on UN Website)

Somalia: UN-backed meeting endorses roadmap to end transition, restore stability6 SeptemberDelegates attending a United Nations-backed meeting on ending Somaliastransitional period today endorsed a roadmap that spells out priority measures to be implementedbefore the current governing arrangements end in August next year.

DR Congo: UN condemns pre-election violence and urges dialogue6 SeptemberThe United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of theCongo (DRC) today called on all parties in the upcoming elections to avoid actions that couldjeopardize the smooth running of the polls following a recent wave of violence.

Darfur: UN steps up education after children are killed by unexploded ordnance6 SeptemberPeacekeepers serving with the joint United Nations-African Union mission inDarfur (UNAMID) will hold a public awareness campaign this week about the risks posed byunexploded ordnance (UXO) in the wake of the recent deaths of two children who had beenplaying with ordnance.

More than 80 per cent of Somali refugees in Ethiopia are childrenUN6 SeptemberChildren are bearing the brunt of the Horn of Africa crisis and constitute themajority of all Somali refugees in neighboring Ethiopia, the United Nations reported today.

UN agencies dispatching aid as more Sudanese refugees flee to Ethiopia6 SeptemberUnited Nations agencies are mobilizing to assist at some 20,000 people who havefled the fighting in Sudans Blue Nile state and arrived in neighboring Ethiopia.

###

UPCOMING EVENTS OF INTEREST:

8 SEPT 2011
http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14789140http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14789140http://www.un.org/apps/news/region.asp?Region=AFRICAhttp://www.un.org/apps/news/region.asp?Region=AFRICAhttp://www.un.org/apps/news/region.asp?Region=AFRICAhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14789140


4/23


WHEN: September 8, 2011, 12:001:30 p.m.WHAT: Ten Years LaterPublic Diplomacy and the Arab World, Center on Public Diplomacyat the Annenberg School, Conversations in Public DiplomacyWHO: Several Panelists (see website)

WHERE: USC; Tutor Campus Center ForumCONTACT:[email protected] Media contact:http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/events/events_detail/16973/

WHEN: September 8, 2011, 2:004:00 p.m.WHAT: Woodrow Wilson Center Discussion on "Sudan: From the CPA to Separation." WHO:Tim McKulka, UNMISS; Jok Madut Jok; and Nureldin Satti, UNESCO Representative inEthiopia, Djibouti, the African Union and IGAD.WHERE: WWC, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 5th floorCONTACT: 2026914000; web site:www.wilsoncenter.org

WHEN: September 8, 2011, 6:008:00 p.m.WHAT: Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Book Discussion on Counterstrike: The

Untold Story of Americas Secret Campaign Against al Qaeda. WHO: Eric Schmitt and ThomShanker,New York Timesnational security reporters and Steve Inskeep, host of NPRs MorningEdition.WHERE: Willard InterContinental Hotel, 1401 Pennsylvania AvenueCONTACT:www.cnas.org

20 SEPT 2011

WHEN: September 20, 2011, 12:00 p.m.WHAT: Pakistan, the U.S. and Public Diplomacy with Consul General Riffat Masood CPDConversations in Public DiplomacyWHO: Riffat Masood, the Consul General of PakistanWHERE: USC; SOS B40CONTACT :[email protected] Media contact:http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/events/events_detail/17070/

###

Full Text

Gaddafi 'last tracked in southern Libya' (Al Jazeera)http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119623851679211.htmlBy: Unattributed Author7 September 2011
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/events/events_detail/16973/http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/events/events_detail/16973/http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/events/events_detail/16973/http://www.wilsoncenter.org/http://www.wilsoncenter.org/http://www.wilsoncenter.org/http://www.cnas.org/http://www.cnas.org/http://www.cnas.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/events/events_detail/17070/http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/events/events_detail/17070/http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/events/events_detail/17070/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119623851679211.htmlhttp://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119623851679211.htmlhttp://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119623851679211.htmlhttp://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/events/events_detail/17070/http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/events/events_detail/17070/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.cnas.org/http://www.wilsoncenter.org/http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/events/events_detail/16973/http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/events/events_detail/16973/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


5/23


Muammar Gaddafi has probably left the Libyan desert town of Bani Walid and is heading furthersouth with the help of loyalist tribes towards Chad or Niger, Reuters news agency quoted asenior military official in Libya's new leadership as saying.

Hisham Buhagiar, who is coordinating the National Transitional Council's efforts to find the

former Libyan leader, said reports indicate that he may have been in the region of the southernvillage of Ghwat, some 950km south of Tripoli and 300km north of the border with Niger, threedays ago.

"He's out of Bani Walid I think. The last tracks, he was in the Ghwat area. People saw the carsgoing in that direction .... We have it from many sources that he's trying to go further south,towards Chad or Niger," Buhagiar said in an interview late on Tuesday.

Gaddafi, who was ousted from power in August after a February uprising against his rule spreadto the capital Tripoli, is believed to be travelling in a convoy of some 10 cars and may be using atent as shelter, Buhagiar said.

"It's the tent. We know that he doesn't want to stay in a house, so he stays in a tent. People saythe cars came, and then they made a tent," he said, adding that his sources had not seen Gaddafithemselves.

Convoy enters Niger

Earlier on Tuesday, military sources from France and Niger told Reuters that scores of Libyanarmy vehicles had recently crossed the desert border with Niger, in what may be a bid byGaddafi to seek refuge in a friendly African state.

Gaddafi has long touted his tribal, desert roots, and even received foreign dignitaries in a tent. Healso has portrayed himself as an African leader and has boosted his influence in Africa throughloans, aid and diplomatic contacts.

The United States said it believed the convoy was carrying senior members of Gaddafi'sentourage and urged Niger to detain anyone liable for prosecution for alleged crimes committedduring the uprising against the deposed Libyan leader.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Gaddafi was "on the run" but Washington said it had noreason to believe the fugitive leader had left Libya, something his spokesman Moussa Ibrahimconfirmed.

"He is in Libya. He is safe, he is very healthy, in high morale," he told Reuters by telephonefrom an undisclosed location.

The convoy included officers from Libya's southern army battalions and pro-Gaddafi Tuaregfighters and is likely to have crossed from Libya into Algeria before entering Niger, sources said.


6/23


Niger's minister of internal affairs, Abdou Labo, however, denied that a Libyan convoy hadentered his country. But he confirmed that Niger had given asylum to Gaddafi's internal securitychief Abdullah Mansoor on humanitarian grounds.

Al Jazeera's James Bays, reporting from Tripoli, said information about the specifics of the

convoy were contradictory, but it was certain that a convoy had crossed.

"What is significant is that none of the reports we have heard so far says anything about sightingof Gaddafi and his sons in the convoy."

A French military source said he had been told the commander of Libya's southern forces,General Ali Khana, may also be in Niger, not far from the Libyan border.

He said he had been told that Gaddafi and his son Saif would join Khana and catch up with theconvoy should they choose to accept Burkina Faso's offer of exile.

Burkina Faso, a former recipient of large amounts of Libyan aid, had reportedly offered Gaddafiexile about two weeks ago but has also recognised the NTC as Libya's government.

On Tuesday, however, Burkina Faso's government said it had not received a request for exilefrom Gaddafi and the ousted leader was not expected in the West African state.

"Gaddafi in not in Burkina Faso and we have not been approached for any exile demand.Burkina (Faso) has not been informed of Gaddafi's arrival. We are not expecting him,"Communications Minister Alain Edouard Traore said on state television.

Surrender talks fail

Also on Tuesday, NTC fighters were preparing for an imminent attack on Bani Walid as effortsfor a peaceful resolution to a standoff with Gaddafi loyalists seem to have failed.

During prolonged negotiations, the NTC tried to convince representatives from Bani Walid,about 150km southeast of the capital Tripoli, that there would be no retributions if the the townsurrendered peacefully.

But the representatives, upon returning to the town to deliver the message, were fired at andforced to retreat to NTC territory.

Al Jazeera's Sue Turton, reporting from north of Bani Walid, said the situation seemed bleak andan attack seemed imminent.

"The five Bani Walid representatives went back with the assurances from NTC, but as theyapproached the city, they were fired upon. They quickly came back to the rebel territory to takeshelter for the night," she said.


7/23


"We have talked to commanders and people here. They believe two of Gaddafi sons are still inthe city, thats why no negotations work here."

Thousands of NTC fighters have been camping outside Bani Walid. They have also built a fieldhospital and deployed 10 volunteer doctors to prepare for the possibility of a fight.

###

Large Libyan armoured convoy arrives in Niger (Al Jazeera)http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119691025123868.htmlBy: Unattributed Author6 September 2011

A large convoy containing between 200 and 250 military vehicles Libyan armoured vehicles hascrossed into Niger.

Military sources from France and Niger told the Reuters news agency that the convoy, escortedby the Niger army, arrived in the northern desert town of Agadez on Monday.

Amid the reports about the convoy, Libyan opposition fighters have been holding talks withtribal leaders in Bani Walid to enter the town peacefully.

They are also negotiating with some tribes in Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown, to lay down arms.

Monday's convoy included officers from Libya's southern army battalions and pro-GaddafiTuareg fighters, and likely crossed from Libya into Algeria before entering Niger, the sourcessaid.

The French military source said he had been told Muammar Gaddafi and his son Saif al-Islammight be considering joining the convoy en route to Burkina Faso, a landlocked West Africanstate which has offered Gaddafi and his family asylum and has a border with Niger.

Niger's harbouring of wanted Gaddafi-regime officials is "a breach of the United Nations travel[restrictions] for most of these people", Aly Abuzaakouk, executive director of Libya Human andPolitical Development Forum, told Al Jazeera.

He said Niger should "not side with the enemy of the Libyan people".

The French military source said he had been told the commander of Libya's southern forces,General Ali Khana, may also be in Niger, not far from the Libyan border.

He said he had been told that Gaddafi and his son Saif would join Khana and catch up with theconvoy should they choose to accept Burkina Faso's offer of exile.

On Sunday, the head of Gaddafi's security brigades, Mansour Dhao, along with more than 10other Libyans, crossed into Niger, two Niger officials said earlier on Monday.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119691025123868.htmlhttp://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/09/20119691025123868.html


8/23


Dhao's departure comes days after Gaddafi's wife and three of his children fled to Algeria andfighters for the National Transitional Council [NTC] arrested his foreign minister outside Tripoli.

Burkina Faso offer

Burkina Faso, a former recipient of large amounts of Libyan aid, offered Gaddafi exile about twoweeks ago but has also recognised the NTC as Libya's government.

Yipene Djibril Bassolet, the country's foreign minister, said that Gaddafi could go into exile inhis country even though it is a signatory of the International Criminal Court, which has chargedhim with crimes against humanity.

Mansour El Kikhia tells Al Jazeera about the implications if Gaddafi was in the convoy

Mansour El Kikhia, chair of the political science department at the University of Texas, told Al

Jazeera: "What is bothersome to me more than anything else is that Gaddafi is aided by some ofTuareg supporters."

"Gaddafi is going to cause mischief, and it is now imperative that the council [NTC] prepares forthese contingencies."

Gaddafi has said he is ready to fight to the death on Libyan soil, although there have been anumber of reports that he might seek refuge in an African nation.

As for the toppled leader, he is reportedly still in Libya. His spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said thatGaddafi "is in a place that will not be reached by those fractious groups, and he is in Libya."

Gaddafi is in good health and in good spirits, Ibrahim said in remarks broadcast on Monday. Hesaid Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, was also in Libya, moving around from one place to another.

Conflicting messages

Thousands of NTC fighters have been camping outside Bani Walid, about 150km southeast ofthe Libyan capital, Tripoli.

Abdallah Kanshil, who has been conducting talks for the interim government, said on Monday apeaceful handover of Bani Walid was imminent.

Kanshil said: "The surrender of the city is imminent. It is a matter of avoiding civilian casualties.Some snipers have surrendered their weapons ... Our forces are ready."

About 20km outside Bani Walid, NTC forces have also built a field hospital and installed 10volunteer doctors to prepare for the possibility, in case Gaddafi loyalists did not budge.


9/23


Reporting from near Bani Walid earlier on Monday, Al Jazeera's Sue Turton said: "Fighterspushed to within seven kilometres of the centre of the town and exchanged fire with some ofGaddafi's forces.

"But they have since retreated a little bit instead of setting up a defensive position there."

UK to examine spy ties

Against the backdrop of the continuing conflict, David Cameron, the British prime minister, saidan inquiry into his country's pursuit of terrorism suspects will examine new allegations aboutcosy ties between UK intelligence officials and the Gaddafi regime.

Security documents discovered after the fall of Tripoli have offered embarrassing examples ofthe warm relationships that British and American spies had developed with their Libyancounterparts.

Cameron said his country's special representative to Libya was moving to Tripoli on Monday tore-establish full diplomatic presence.

"Today the UK's Special Representative [John Jenkins] is deploying to Tripoli to re-establish ourfull diplomaticpresence," he told parliament.

In another development, media reports on Monday suggested that Chinese arms firms hadoffered to sell weapons worth about $200m to Gaddafi's forces in July.

While China's foreign ministry acknowledged that talks had taken place, it denied priorknowledge.

###

Gaddafi: African asylum-seeker? (BBC Africa)http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14806140By: Farouk Chothia6 September 2011

Col Gaddafi - after being shunned by Arab rulers - switched his focus to Africa in the 1990s toraise his international profile.This was not surprising: Libya's petro-dollars could not buy him influence in the Arab world, butthey gave him status and clout in poorer Africa.

"Libya is an African country. May Allah help the Arabs and keep them away from us. We don'twant anything to do with them," Col Gaddafi said in 2007.

Continue reading the main story Start QuoteMuammar Gaddafi, whatever his faults, is a true

nationalist. I prefer nationalists to puppets of foreign interests
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14806140http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14806140http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14806140


10/23


End Quote Yoweri Museveni President of UgandaA year later, several African traditional leader declared him "King of Kings", while Africa'spoliticians - including Nelson Mandela - addressed him as "Brother Leader".

Col Gaddafi's government invested heavily in Africa - from building roads to financing theAfrican Union (AU).

He saw the African stage as belonging to him, calling for a "United States of Africa" to rival theUnited States of America and the European Union.

Now, his dream lies in ruins - and his latest African convoy could be carrying him as a refugee toescape justice at the International Criminal Court.

While African leaders have had many differences with Col Gaddafi, they admired him as arevolutionary who championed Africa's cause since he seized power in a bloodless coup in Libya

in 1969.

'Western puppets'

As Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni said in February: "In Africa, we have benefited from anumber of independent-minded leaders: Col [Gamal] Nasser of Egypt, Mwalimu Nyerere ofTanzania [and] Samora Machel of Mozambique.

"Muammar Gaddafi, whatever his faults, is a true nationalist. I prefer nationalists to puppets offoreign interests.

Col Gaddafi on Africa2008: "We want an African military to defend Africa, we want a single African currency, wewant one African passport to travel within Africa," after being declared King of Kings byAfrican traditional rulers in Libya.

2010: "We don't know what will happen, what will be the reaction of the white and ChristianEuropeans faced with this influx of starving and ignorant Africans," after discussing halting theflow of African migrants to Italy.

2007: "Libya is an African country. May Allah help the Arabs and keep them away from us. Wedon't want anything to do with them."

2009: "I am an international leader, the dean of the Arab rulers, the king of kings of Africa andthe imam of Muslims, and my international status does not allow me to descend to a lowerlevel," at an Arab League summit.

"Therefore, the independent-minded Gaddafi had some positive contribution to Libya, I believe,as well as Africa and the Third World.


11/23


"We should also remember, as part of that independent-mindedness, he expelled British andAmerican military bases from Libya [after he took power]," Mr Museveni said.

African leaders seem to fear that following the offensive by Nato-backed rebels to take power,Libya will again become a "puppet" of the West.

For this reason, the AU has refused to recognise the rebel body, the National TransitionalCouncil (NTC), as the new government in Libya.

Nor does the AU support Col Gaddafi being hauled before the ICC on war crimes charges.

Burkina Faso, which borders Niger, had been said to have offered him asylum but now denies it.

The landlocked country is heavily dependent on French aid - and is unlikely to follow through onits offer without approval from Paris, analysts say.

An academic at the University of South Africa, Shadrack Ghutto, says Col Gaddafi would bebetter off if he sought asylum in a powerful African country such as South Africa and Nigeria.

"Any country that decides to give him asylum will have to be strong enough to withstandpolitical and economic pressure from the West," Mr Ghutto says.

War crimes charges

Nigeria gave asylum to ousted Liberian leader Charles Taylor in 2003, but it faced enormouspressure from the US and UK to hand him over to a UN-backed special court to face war crimescharges for his role in Sierra Leone's civil war.

Fearing that Nigeria would succumb, Mr Taylor tried to flee by road to neighbouring Cameroonin 2006.

Nelson Mandela refers to Col Gaddafi as "Brother Leader"He was arrested and Nigeria handed him over to the court. He is now on trial at The Hague.

So where in Africa could Col Gaddafi find shelter?

Several members of his family have taken asylum in Algeria, while a convoy - said to includepro-Gaddafi officials - has crossed into Niger.

The NTC spokesman in London, Guma el-Gamaty, has warned Niger not to grant Col Gaddafirefugee status.

"Niger is a neighbour of Libya from the south and should be considering the future relationshipwith Libya," Mr Gamaty said. "This - if confirmed - will very much antagonise any futurerelationship between Libya and Niger."


12/23


Col Gaddafi has strong support among Niger's Tuareg ethnic group.

He backed their two-decade long rebellion for more political and economic rights, beforebrokering a peace deal between them and Niger's government in 2009.

Several thousand rebels - including their leader Rissa ag Boula - then went to Libya, either towork or to join Col Gaddafi's army.

Risk for Africa

They were among the mercenaries who fought for Col Gaddafi as he tried to repel the Nato-backed campaign to overthrow him.

Mr Boula has now returned to Niger, causing a crisis for the government.

The former rebels could either push the government to grant Col Gaddafi asylum or they could

harbour him in their desert strongholds along the Libyan border - that is, if Col Gaddafi does notlive up to his promise to fight to death in Libya in the hope of being lionised by futuregenerations of Africans as a revolutionary who fought, as Mr Museveni put it, " puppets offoreign interests".

But the Libyan rebels were not only backed by Western powers: Arab countries - especiallyQatar - played a key role in the campaign to oust Col Gaddafi.

Against this backdrop, the new Libya could build strong ties with the Arab world, shunningAfrica.

This would be disastrous for Africa - not only was Col Gaddafi's Libya a key African financier,it also gave employment to hundreds of thousands of African migrants in the oil and otherindustries.

Denounced by the Libyan rebels as sympathisers of Col Gaddafi, they have been forced to flee,carrying the psychological scars of the conflict and battling to rebuild their lives in their homecountries.

###

Somali leaders adopt plan to end transitional rule (AF Reuters)http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7850L920110906?sp=trueBy: Ibrahim Mohamed6 Sept, 2011

MOGADISHU (Reuters)- Somali leaders adopted a roadmap on Tuesday designed to lead toelections within a year and end a string of fragile transition governments that have failed to bringpeace to the anarchic Horn of Africa nation.
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7850L920110906?sp=truehttp://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7850L920110906?sp=truehttp://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7850L920110906?sp=true


13/23


According to the road map, the aim is to hold polls by August 20 next year for members of arevamped federal parliament, local administrations and a president, after adopting a newconstitution by July 1.

Somalia descended into chaos in 1991 after dictator Siad Barre was ousted. The first

internationally backed transitional government was established in 2004.

But seven years later, the latest government controls little territory outside the capital, al Qaeda-allied rebels hold sway in much of the south and centre, while other regions such as Puntlandhave established their own administrations.

"There is no doubt we are now in a transition period that we hope will lead to an end of the longrunning crisis in Somalia," President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed said after signing the road map.

The U.N.-sponsored talks brought together senior members of the government, parliament, thesemi-autonomous regions of Puntland and Galmudug, as well as some representatives from the

pro-government militia Ahlu Sunna. They all signed the plan.

Also present were representatives from the United Nations, the African Union, Arab League andthe east African bloc IGAD.

The Security Council has said that future support for the Somali government and parliamentwould be contingent on the successful implementation of the road map.

Augustine Mahiga, the U.N. secretary-general's special envoy on Somalia, said ahead of themeeting that coming up with a new constitution to change the way lawmakers and presidents areelected would be crucial.

At the moment, presidents are elected by parliament, which is in turn made up of unelectedlawmakers nominated according to a strict formula splitting power between Somalia's majorclans, undermining the credibility of transition governments.

All of the administrations formed since 2004 have been hobbled by bitter in-fighting and graft,and have failed to establish any effective government control of the country.

Besides coming up with a new constitution and reforming parliament, the roadmap lays outtimetables for improving security in Mogadishu and other parts of southern Somalia, reachingout to political foes and tackling rampant graft.

###

West Africa Rising: Nigeria shifting currency reserves from dollars to Chinese yuan (CS

Monitor)http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Nigeria-shifting-currency-reserves-from-dollars-to-Chinese-yuanBy: Drew Hinshaw
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Nigeria-shifting-currency-reserves-from-dollars-to-Chinese-yuanhttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Nigeria-shifting-currency-reserves-from-dollars-to-Chinese-yuanhttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Nigeria-shifting-currency-reserves-from-dollars-to-Chinese-yuanhttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Nigeria-shifting-currency-reserves-from-dollars-to-Chinese-yuanhttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Nigeria-shifting-currency-reserves-from-dollars-to-Chinese-yuan


14/23


6 September 2011

DAKAR, SENEGAL -- Nigerian Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi said in Beijing todaythat Africa's top oil exporter will convert as much as 10 percent of its $33 billion in foreignreserves from US dollars into Chinese yuan. Central banks use foreign reserves to manage their

own currency's value. In Nigeria's case, the up to $3.3 billion it may convert to yuan isn't anenormous sumnot, at least, for the oil-rich exporter. What is enormous, economists say, iswhat the bank's decision says: The yuan, pegged to the dollar until not long ago and managedmore recently to keep Chinese exports cheap -- is turning into a global reserve currency. Africaparticularly West Africamay be China's earliest, easiest zone of success.

The rise of China's yuan as a global currencytrusted by central banks, accepted by financeministries, routinely used to purchase raw goodsis inevitable, Sanusi said, putting his mouthwhere his money is.

Coming from Africa's most dollar-denominated economydominated by Western oil companies

his vote of confidence is a significant win for the yuan, said Razia Kahn, economist atStandard Chartered-Bank.

I don't think the symbolism should be lost on anyone," she says. The fact that you have a major

African oil producer saying we're going to diversify our reserves has a significance that can't beignored. It's a goodwill gesture in the hope that it will lead to more Chinese investment inNigeria."

The bank, Sanusi adds, is likely to orchestrate a currency swap with China, which would allowthe Asian power to conduct more of its Nigeria dealings in its own currency, also called therenminbi.

That opens up a whole new dimension, Ms. Khan says.

Since the end of the second World War, most international commoditiesfrom barrels ofBahraini oil to casks of Chilean chardonnayhave been priced and sold in dollars, an advantageto US buyers, and the principal reason why dollar-conversions account for 85 percent of foreignexchange transactions in the world.

Gingerly, the world's most populous country is attempting to push its currency as a rival forcommodity purchases. It will find no greater luck than in Africa, a continent flush with minerals,where China enjoys close ties, says Standard Bank researchers Simon Freemantle and JeremyStevens.

We, rather conservatively, anticipate that around 40 percent of [Chinese]-African trade wouldbe settled in renminbi by 2015, Mr. Freemantle wrote in an e-mailed statement. That 40 percentwould represent $100 billion worth of trade, more than China's entire trade with Africa last year.

If successful in Nigeria, they are likely to turn to other financial centers on the continent: SouthAfrica, then Ghana, Angola, and Kenya.


15/23


But, in a sense, Khan says, China has already displaced the dollar in Africa's more blightedcorners: Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan. In each, China, is constructingmammoth infrastructure projects -- roads, railways, ports, stadiums -- in return for commoditieslike cobalt and bauxite.

At the end of the day, Khan says. isn't all that infrastructure just a proxy for China'scurrency?

###

West Africa Rising: Ghanaian citizens develop social pact on oil wealth ahead of elections

(Christian Science Monitor)http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Ghanaian-citizens-develop-social-pact-on-oil-wealth-ahead-of-electionsBy: Clair MacDougall

6 September 2011

ACCRA, GHANA -- When the coastal West African nation of Ghana struck upon oil in thewaters, hopes for its future were raised high. But how to ensure this resource is used to benefitthe nation and citizens of Ghana instead of merely draining into the pockets of a few politicallyconnected members of the elite?A network of civil society groups thinks it has the answer to this question, one that has bedeviledother oil-rich African nations. The solution is a "social pact" between the nation's leaders and itscitizens, committing to an agreement on the governance of national resources such as oil and gasthat would be incorporated into the manifestos of major political parties before they head to thepolls in 2012. Parties that refuse to adopt the pact could face stiff consequences, includinggetting boycotted.

Ghana has long been the continent's shining example of a relatively functioning democracy, withstrong institutions of governance and relatively free of corruption. But even so, many citizensgroups say that ordinary Ghanaians have failed to benefit from the country's two economicpillars -- gold and cocoa -- and worry that the discovery of oil could weaken state institutions andincrease the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

Related: Think you know Africa? Take our geography quiz.

The group that spearheaded the project, the Integrated Social Development Center (ISODEC) anetwork of NGOs and civil society groups, recently held its first meeting that was attended bymembers of prominent thinktanks and Ghanas political parties, including the ruling NationalDemocratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Steve Manteaw, editor of the advocacy newspaper the Public Agenda and ISODECs campaign

coordinator, says the goal of the social pact, the first of its kind in Ghana, is to establishconsensus among political parties about the management of natural resources and the nations

development.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Ghanaian-citizens-develop-social-pact-on-oil-wealth-ahead-of-electionshttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Ghanaian-citizens-develop-social-pact-on-oil-wealth-ahead-of-electionshttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Ghanaian-citizens-develop-social-pact-on-oil-wealth-ahead-of-electionshttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Ghanaian-citizens-develop-social-pact-on-oil-wealth-ahead-of-electionshttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0906/West-Africa-Rising-Ghanaian-citizens-develop-social-pact-on-oil-wealth-ahead-of-elections


16/23


The rationale basically is to force some kind of national approach to doing things in this

country, says Dr. Manteaw. Resource management and development has always beengoverned by a winner-takes-all approach, where one party decides how resources should bemanaged. We cannot leave the management of this countrys destiny entirely in the hands of

politicians.

At the meeting the group agreed on broad areas around which they need to build consensus,among them a clear vision for how local businesses and workers can participate in the naturalresources sector, as well as transparency and accountability in the natural resources sector. Atpresent, the major players in Ghana's oil and gas exploration sector are large foreign-ownedexploration firms. The largest of these, Tullow Oil Ltd, is headquartered in London.

Analysts have long identified consensus on natural resource management and continuity ofdevelopment master plans as among the major setbacks that have hindered Ghanas

development. These issues were intensely debated at a conference held by Ghanas

Constitutional Review Commission earlier this year in which members of the public offeredsuggestions and ideas for amendments to sections of the 1992 Constitution.

Need a stronger mandateEconomist and senior fellow at the Accra-based Institute of Economic Affairs John Kwakye saidthat part of the problem has to do with a lack of clarity in the 1992 Constitution about the roleand political independence and neutrality of the National Development Planning Commission(NDPC), which develops policies in consultation with the president.

The Constitution seems to charge individual governments to develop their own plans to becoordinated by the NDPC, says Dr. Kwakye. This has led to haphazard development of half-plans that do not get fully implemented and which are discarded by succeeding governments.Meanwhile, the NDPC lacks the independence and resources to carry out its mandateeffectively.

IEA and others think tanks have proposed to the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), theneed for a long-term coherent national development plan that would extend beyond governmentterms. They also recommend that the NDPC should function as an autonomous and politicallyneutral body.

Kwakye says that Ghanaians have not sufficiently benefited from mining revenues, particularlydue to the high retention benefits granted to the mining companies to attract investment.

He says the social pact was a unique and innovative idea that could encourage greatergovernmental accountability.

It will be good to have all governments, notwithstanding theirpolitical affiliation, sign on to apact that commits them to use Ghana's natural resource wealth transparently and accountably forthe development of the country for the benefit of all the citizenry, he says.


17/23


While the project is still in its infancy, Manteaw says he is certain that Ghanaians would supportthe idea.

Any divisions that will arise will be over the content of the pact that is developed rather the idea

itself, Manteaw says.

###

Africa: China, U.S. in Stiff Competition Over Untamed Africa (All Africa)http://allafrica.com/stories/201109060180.htmlBy Professor Achiku Mustafah Haji6 September 2011

Africa has of late remained in the spotlight of the world because of its vast and untapped naturalresources, which are critical to global economic turnaround. This is what has broughtcompetition between China and America as they try to outwit each other and win the hearts of

African governments, especially those with vast untapped resources.

The United States of America and China in particular are in pitched battle to upstage each otherin terms of winning contracts in the mining of oil, diamonds, gold, platinum and uranium amongother resources.

The protracted struggle to win the heart of African government has become a cold war, in whichtactics are changing every minute, every hour and everyday.

While the Chinese have emerged smarter, without involving themselves in military conflicts orregime change, the United States has gone for a muscular approach centred of militaryinterventions and economic sanctions.

Where the US has failed to use its military mighty, it has tried regime change with oppositionpolitical parties that are backed by economic sanctions imposed on the sitting governments. It iscategorically clear that the future world economic power is going to be China, given thateveryone is looking east, including the Americans themselves with projections that China willeclipse America by 2014, which is just by the corner.

US is worried about the rate at which the Chinese are winning contracts in Africa, hence it hasestablished a military outfit called Africom, to elbow out China and other fair players likeRussia.

The US has sought co-operation with Britain, France and other countries to encircle China andRussia and make sure that they do not easily win contracts in Africa. But the Chinese are tricky,they have identified with the revolutionary and liberation credentials of Africans and hence aremore acceptable dealers, who have also brought into Africa affordable goods.

Besides Africom, which African liberation movements view as evil and a tool for re-enslavement, America and its allies have sought to tarnish Chinese products through a media
http://allafrica.com/stories/201109060180.htmlhttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109060180.htmlhttp://allafrica.com/stories/201109060180.html


18/23


blitz, yet they have starved Africans, like Zimbabweans of goods and trade, under the guise ofsanctions.

While the US is heckling with Africa's liberation movements, the Chinese are busy cutting dealsand assisting African governments develop their capacity to exploit their own resources. To this

day, the American and their allies have sponsored a lot of conflicts in Africa and are sponsoringmany opposition political parties through Usaid, DFID, Oxfarm, Ford Foundation CIDA andSIDA and so on, yet the Chinese and their Communist Party are giving loans and grants tostruggling African government, hence they get contracts, when need arises.

US' dilemma is that it is trying to use more of its muscles than its brains in getting to Africa'snatural resources, and therein lies its failure to cut an acceptable business figure and fair dealerstatus in the view of Africa's non-puppetry governments.

Even when African governments enjoyed a patch of independence from the 1960s, no one hadthought that the countries would until today remain unfree economically. The euphoria, the

pomp and fanfare, brought about by the feeling of having finally dethroned colonialism, has nowdied down as Africa faces a new sad reality, about a more subtle colonial import by the West, ledby the United States of America. The same vast natural resources that attracted colonialists toAfrica remain in abundance, despite being plundered for decades running into a century and thelot that remains in what America is eyeing and it will do anything to close out other players likethe Chinese and Russians.

Even if this means regime change and military intervention, the greedy Americans will do it.Having realised that brazen colonialism was untenable in modern day society, America and itsallies are now fast identifying natural resource hubs, analysing the governments there and theneffecting regime change, replacing them with governments that are compliant to their wish toplunder the natural resources.

The Chinese are not by any measure interested in brazen regime change and have not made asingle a manouvre for military intervention in Africa like what the US is doing through Africom.Africom was established in 2008 clearly to drive the American agenda in Africa militarily andAfrican governments, especially those with a revolutionary or liberation movement backgrounddetest that idea and have been mobilising against housing Africom. The Sadc region has beenvery strong against this idea and given what happened in Libya recently, the African Union mustmobilise and whip everyone alongside Sadc region's Africom stance. It is the way to go andAferica needs a stance like that.

Once Africom sets foot in Africa, no one can stop it. Once Nato set foot in Libya, who could stopit? Knowledge is power and history is a big tool in decision-making. It is a good walking stickinto the future. There is an African proverb, which says clever birds build their nests with otherbirds' feathers and America is quite astute, when it comes to that. American foreign policy hasserious predatory instincts, when it comes to plundering oil, platinum, uranium, land, gold etc,and the US will use its military sophistry and mighty to gain access to these resources.


19/23


The west made sure that Africa remained focused on Eurocentric democracy, good governancebut not on how to, protect, control, exploit, market and do value addition on the vast naturalresources.

The supposed democracy, good governance and a myriad of other terms are meant to provide a

smokescreen behind which the new generation of imperialists, would hide their regime changeantics and remove all African leaders standing as barriers in the resource exploitation chain. Theimperialists then formed numerous non-governmental organisations to put pressure of thepolitical leadership, especially that which proves to the vanguard of Africa's dignity andhumanity.

Any leader who has tried to stand up measure for measure with the imperialists has been gibed asenseless dictator, inhuman and so forth. In this case in point, African leaders like MohammedSiad Bare, Kenneth Kaunda, Samora Machel, Al Bashir, Mengistu Haile Mariam and PresidentMugabe among others, have been put under unnecessary pressure to avoid real liberation paths,that would advantage the Africans and disadvantage the Europeans. They had their different

approaches to life in their countries and handled situations as best as they could but it was theWest's desire to milk those countries that landed these revolutionaries in trouble.

In the modern world day politicking, America, Britain and France have emerged among theworst dictatorial governments, trying at every cost to oust all African leaders who protect theirnatural resources.

In fact, African politics are at the mercy of these countries and their allies and African has beenreduced to a punch bag. The only strength left is to fight for the control of all natural resourcesand look for fair dealers, like Russia and China, who are concerned mainly with business dealsand not internal politics.

Each African country should have an inventory of the natural resources it has put on the AU database for assistance in proper mining and management, without being subjected to exploitationthat is control by US and it allies. For example why should America dictate how Zimbabweshould get and expose its diamonds, when America itself does not produce even 10 percent ofthe world's diamonds?

How can a person without a milking cow try and control the dairy market? It goes to say thatAfrica has the resources that America and its allies desire and that America should not beallowed to dictate how and who Africa sells the resources to.

###

US Embassy disappointed in kaTate (New Era)http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTateBy: Ava Rogers - Charg d'AffairesSept. 5, 2011
http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTatehttp://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=40471&title=US%20Embassy%20disappointed%20in%20kaTate


20/23


U.S. Embassy responds to AFRICOM article

The U.S. Embassy was disappointed to read the unsubstantiated allegations Mr Kamati kaTatepublished in the New Era (Security threat called AFRICOM, August 31, 2011).

Its always dispiriting to read inflammatory language marred by factual inaccuracy. While werespect freedom of opinion and the right of a newspaper to publish articles as it sees fit, we areequally mindful of the need for journalistic integrity and balanced reporting. In that spirit, we arewriting to clarify the facts for Namibians who deserve straight talk.

The article is riddled with errors and misunderstandings. We cannot address all of them;however, we wanted to point out Mr kaTate incorrectly stated AFRICOMs mission statement.

The current statement, strategic objectives, and even personnel strength are all publicly availableon its website, for the simple reason that we have nothing to hide. Additionally, General WilliamWard is not the current commander of AFRICOM, having passed that responsibility to General

Carter Ham half a year ago.

AFRICOM, as a part of the Department of Defense, represents an element of our foreign policy.As President Obama said in Ghana in 2009, Our Africa Command is focused not on

establishing a foothold in the continent, but on confronting these common challenges to advancethe security of America, Africa, and the world.

AFRICOM values the views of its African government partners and works with them to achievemutual goals, such as combating destabilizing influences like HIV/AIDS and transnationalterrorism.

During fiscal year 2010, U.S. Africa Commands military health programs reached over 409,000

African military personnel and family members with prevention messages and preventativemethods, and provided counseling and testing services for 210,000 service members and theirfamilies.

In addition, 1,100 peer educators and 3,000 health care workers across Africa have receivedHIV/AIDs training, and over 37,000 individuals are on antiretroviral treatment as a result ofthese collaborative efforts.

One way to ensure mutual understanding and build a stronger bilateral relationship is throughmilitary-to-military relationships. In Namibia, the USG has worked with the Namibian DefenceForce (NDF) to provide critical training to remove mines (known as demining), militaryprofessionalization skills, and assistance to test, treat and support Namibian military membersaffected by HIV/AIDS.

Training also includes language training to allow Namibian military personnel to work withother African and international military and relief organizations. Most recently, we concluded amilitary-to-military workshop for chaplains, the third year we have held this event.


21/23


None of this assistance has ever been imposed on Namibia, but rather all of it has beendeveloped together, in partnership.

Overall our foreign assistance in Namibia allows Namibians to define and resolve their ownproblems. Since 2004, the people of the United States have provided over US$500 million to

Namibia in the fight against HIV/AIDS alone.

The full figure for direct assistance since 2004, which includes the over US$300 million MCAcompact and disaster relief assistance for Namibians affected by flooding, comes to nearly US$ 1Billion.

Mr kaTate denigrates our interaction with several Namibian government officials.We are proud of our partnership with Minister of Health Honorable Richard Kamwi and theGovernment of Namibia.

Together, we have saved tens of thousands of lives, improved peoples ability to work and earn a

livelihood despite being HIV positive, and provided tremendous support for children who havebeen orphaned by AIDS.

And while we cannot speak for Minister Kamwi, we imagine that neither he, nor other seniorgovernment leaders, would characterize our partnership as a cosmetic initiative as Mr kaTatedoes.

It is true, as Mr kaTate states, that the U.S. supports Namibians through educational initiatives,including building schools.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation, working through MCA Namibia, has distributedroughly 700,000 English, math and science textbooks to 951 schools in Namibia.

Again, we doubt the learners using these books, their teachers, school administrators or theHonorable Minister Iyambo would detract from our joint educational initiatives by calling themcosmetic,

Part of the U.S. Embassys work has been to ask American citizens and Congress for resources

to facilitate the Government of Namibia in developing solutions to challenges in the sectors ofagriculture, tourism, education and global health.

Our job is made that much harder when Americans and Congress discover our cooperativepartnership is described by Mr kaTate as a devils initiative.

Fortunately, Namibians know that our assistance comes with no request for a payback, nointerest charged. It is a gift of the American people to the Namibian people.

We look forward to a continuing partnership and friendship between our two governments andpeoples. We are confident that the negative views expressed by Mr kaTate will not hold sway.


22/23


###

Rwanda terror trial of Victoire Ingabire to proceed (BBC)http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14789140By: Unattributed Author

5 September 2011

A Rwandan judge has ordered the terror trial of opposition leader Victoire Ingabire to proceed.

She is accused of propagating ethnic hatred and "genocide revisionism" - charges she says arepolitically motivated.

The prosecution wanted the trial to be postponed until more evidence arrived from theNetherlands, where Ms Ingabire lived until January 2010.

She was arrested in April and barred from standing in last year's election.

She appeared in court in handcuffs, wearing the standard pink Rwandan prison uniform and withher head shaved.

The BBC's Geoffrey Mutagoma in Kigali says it is common for Rwandan prisoners to have theirheads shaved for hygiene reasons.

Her British lawyer Iain Edwards argued for the trial to proceed as planned and judge AliceRulisa agreed.

"The prosecutor has said from the beginning that they were ready to proceed, and that they hadall the evidence they needed to prosecute this case," she said.

"Now they are saying they need more time."

The trial has already been delayed on two occasions.

The Unified Democratic Forces party leader is accused of colluding with an ex-officer of a Hutumilitia to buy and distribute weapons to threaten national security.

Ms Ingabire said the charges were a fabrication and politically motivated.

If she is found guilty of all the charges, she is likely to get a life sentence, our reporter says.

Ms Ingabire is a Hutu and most of the 800,000 people killed in the 1994 conflict were ethnicTutsis.

President Paul Kagame, the former rebel leader whose Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front(RPF) put an end to the genocide, won a second term in office in August 2010 with 93% of thevote.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14789140http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14789140http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14789140


23/23


###

END OF REPORT

Documents

AFRICOM Related Newsclips 7 Sep 11