Sudan President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has been announced the winner of the nation's first multi-party vote in 24 years. The Voice of America's Alan Boswell reports from Juba that opposition parties have rejected the results, which they say were rigged, but all eyes will likely now focus on a southern independence referendum eight months away.
Sudan's election commission says Mr. Bashir won 68 percent of the nation's votes. Under electoral law, he needed to surpass 50 percent in order to avoid a run-off vote against his nearest competitor.
Yasir Arman, the northern secular Muslim slated by the southern-based Sudan People's Liberation Movement to challenge Mr. Bashir, came in second with 22 percent, most of which came from the southern states. His strong showing was made despite announcing his withdrawal from the race days before polling began, citing electoral fraud.
In Southern Sudan, the president of the semi-autonomous region and head of the SPLM, Salva Kiir, retained his seat with 92 percent of the votes from the region.
Some international observers, such as the Atlanta-based The Carter Center, have said the election will fall short of international standards. Northern opposition groups widely boycotted the elections, citing what they called an unfair campaign environment and allegations of vote rigging. Following the five days of chaotic polling, the charges of vote rigging have only escalated from the opposition forces.
But with the results final, the international community has indicated its efforts will be focused on securing the final implementation of a 2005 peace deal signed between Bashir's government and the southern SPLM rebels. The accord includes a January referendum in the South on whether to remain part of the country or to secede and form its own state.
The lead-up to the referendum is contentious, with a number of outstanding issues analysts warn could derail the peace process.
With no major change in the leadership of either of the two peace parties, these negotiations are expected to begin hitting their final sprint, and logistical planning for the referendum starts almost immediately.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
US Admiral: Commercial Ships Need Armed Guards to Fight Pirates
U.S. Admiral Mark Fitzgerald says commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean should carry armed guards to help defend against Somali pirates."The area is enormous and we just do not have enough assets to cover every place in the Indian Ocean," said Fitzgerald, who commands U.S. Naval Forces in Europe and Africa, in an interview with VOA.
While trying to open a corridor through the Gulf of Aden, some of the pirates have been forced into the Indian Ocean as far away as the Seychelles.
"There has got to be security on these ships in my opinion," said Fitzgerald. "Those security detachments that are on some of the large commercial ships have been very effective. It is up to the commercial industry to figure out how to deal with this. But I do not think that we can give them a 100 percent guarantee that we can protect them, nor should we."
Somali pirates have stepped up hijacking attacks in recent months, making tens of millions of dollars in ransom by seizing ships, including oil tankers, despite the presence of dozens of foreign naval vessels. They have been particularly active in recent weeks, and now hold about 20 ships with hundreds of crew members.
The U.S. Navy says it has five to 10 ships, ranging from speed boats to frigates, involved in counter-piracy efforts off the coast of East Africa.
Fitzgerald says Somalis enriched by piracy are buying up properties in the Kenyan cities of Nairobi and Mombassa, as well as in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He says the international community must organize a joint campaign to crack down on those who finance the pirates.
"We really need to go after, in my opinion, the money, the logistics, how are they being supported with ships, fuel, those kinds of things," he said. "And we really need the rule of law piece to be fixed so that when we do catch these pirates, we are able to bring them to justice."
The admiral says it is difficult to find countries willing to prosecute the pirates.
He says the U.S. State and Justice departments are working on a plan to prosecute pirates being held on board Navy ships.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Angola: Oil Wealth Eludes Nation’s Poor -- Human Rights Watch Report
(Washington, April 13, 2010) – The government of Angola has not done enough to combat pervasive corruption and mismanagement, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Even though the oil-rich country’s gross domestic product has increased by more than 400 percent in the last six years, Angolans are not seeing their lives improve accordingly, Human Rights Watch said.
The 31-page report, “Transparency and Accountability in Angola: An Update,” documents how the government took only limited steps to improve transparency after Human Rights Watch disclosed in a 2004 report that billions of dollars in oil revenue illegally bypassed the central bank and disappeared without explanation. The report details newly disclosed evidence of corruption and mismanagement and includes recommendations for reversing the pattern.
“The government needs to take strong action to combat the corruption and secrecy that undermine Angolans’ rights,” said Arvind Ganesan, director of the Business and Human Rights Program at Human Rights Watch. “Here is a nation with a wealth of resources while its people live in poverty.”
Human Rights Watch said that a recent agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), enacted in the wake of the global financial crisis and drop in the price of oil, offers some hope for improvement if its provisions are carried out.
The government has improved the publication of oil revenue figures, the Human Rights Watch report says, but human indicators in Angola remain abysmal and have not been commensurate with the rapid growth in Angola’s national wealth. Angola is the largest producer of oil in sub-Saharan Africa, yet millions of Angolans have limited access to basic social services. Angola ranked 143rd out of 182 countries in the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index.
Angola’s ranking in Transparency International’s 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index is growing worse, from 158th out of 180 countries in 2008 down to 162nd in 2009.
The report also details new evidence of corruption and mismanagement, including that of Dr. Aguinaldo Jaime, who served as the governor of the Angolan Central Bank from 1999 to 2002. As documented by a February 2010 US Senate report, Jaime initiated a series of suspicious $50 million transactions with US banks. For each attempt, the banks, concerned about the likelihood of fraud, ultimately rejected the transfer or returned the money shortly after receiving it. During Jaime’s three-year tenure as central bank governor, the government could not account for approximately $2.4 billion.
Recent statements by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos seem to indicate a willingness to combat government corruption. He has called for a “zero tolerance” policy against corruption. And as the US Senate conducted its recent investigation into corruption in Angola and elsewhere, he announced a new Law on Administrative Probity, to reduce corruption by government officials.
However, given that the president and ruling party have been in power for more than three decades, including the entire period in which oil-fueled corruption has been rampant, skeptics will wait to see whether meaningful action will accompany these statements, Human Rights Watch said. Further, a new constitution was recently enacted that will enable dos Santos, in power now for 30 years, to remain in power for 13 more years.
“Dr. Jaime’s activities underscore the need for accountability,” Ganesan said. “If the Angolan government is serious about transparency and reform, it should rigorously investigate government officials, publish audits of its expenditures, and act on President dos Santos’ pledge of ‘zero tolerance’ for corruption.”
While the recently announced reforms have not gone far enough, a new Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF offers both the framework and international impetus to make substantive improvements and combat corruption in Angola.
This may be an opportunity for the Chinese government to address problems with transparency and accountability, Human Rights Watch said. The Chinese government and Chinese companies are some of the largest investors, trading partners, and consumers of Angola’s oil. The Chinese government and Chinese companies have invested billions in oil-for-infrastructure deals while remaining relatively silent on governance in Angola and elsewhere.
The China Investment Fund, a prominent private Chinese company that has extensive ties to Sonangol, the Angolan national oil company, is of particular concern. It has been controversial in Angola and other countries, such as Guinea.
Human Rights Watch said that IMF board members, such as the United States and China, should ensure that Angola complies with provisions of the Stand-By Arrangement, specifically by making public the audits of the state oil company Sonangol and providing regular updates detailing Angola’s expenditures.
In addition to the role of the United States as an IMF board member, the Obama Administration has been outspoken about corruption, but some of its policy proscriptions are unlikely to have a significant impact. Instead, Human Rights Watch urged the administration to fully implement the recommendations from the US Senate to combat the use of US financial institutions by foreign kleptocrats to spend their money in the United States.
The 31-page report, “Transparency and Accountability in Angola: An Update,” documents how the government took only limited steps to improve transparency after Human Rights Watch disclosed in a 2004 report that billions of dollars in oil revenue illegally bypassed the central bank and disappeared without explanation. The report details newly disclosed evidence of corruption and mismanagement and includes recommendations for reversing the pattern.
“The government needs to take strong action to combat the corruption and secrecy that undermine Angolans’ rights,” said Arvind Ganesan, director of the Business and Human Rights Program at Human Rights Watch. “Here is a nation with a wealth of resources while its people live in poverty.”
Human Rights Watch said that a recent agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), enacted in the wake of the global financial crisis and drop in the price of oil, offers some hope for improvement if its provisions are carried out.
The government has improved the publication of oil revenue figures, the Human Rights Watch report says, but human indicators in Angola remain abysmal and have not been commensurate with the rapid growth in Angola’s national wealth. Angola is the largest producer of oil in sub-Saharan Africa, yet millions of Angolans have limited access to basic social services. Angola ranked 143rd out of 182 countries in the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index.
Angola’s ranking in Transparency International’s 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index is growing worse, from 158th out of 180 countries in 2008 down to 162nd in 2009.
The report also details new evidence of corruption and mismanagement, including that of Dr. Aguinaldo Jaime, who served as the governor of the Angolan Central Bank from 1999 to 2002. As documented by a February 2010 US Senate report, Jaime initiated a series of suspicious $50 million transactions with US banks. For each attempt, the banks, concerned about the likelihood of fraud, ultimately rejected the transfer or returned the money shortly after receiving it. During Jaime’s three-year tenure as central bank governor, the government could not account for approximately $2.4 billion.
Recent statements by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos seem to indicate a willingness to combat government corruption. He has called for a “zero tolerance” policy against corruption. And as the US Senate conducted its recent investigation into corruption in Angola and elsewhere, he announced a new Law on Administrative Probity, to reduce corruption by government officials.
However, given that the president and ruling party have been in power for more than three decades, including the entire period in which oil-fueled corruption has been rampant, skeptics will wait to see whether meaningful action will accompany these statements, Human Rights Watch said. Further, a new constitution was recently enacted that will enable dos Santos, in power now for 30 years, to remain in power for 13 more years.
“Dr. Jaime’s activities underscore the need for accountability,” Ganesan said. “If the Angolan government is serious about transparency and reform, it should rigorously investigate government officials, publish audits of its expenditures, and act on President dos Santos’ pledge of ‘zero tolerance’ for corruption.”
While the recently announced reforms have not gone far enough, a new Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF offers both the framework and international impetus to make substantive improvements and combat corruption in Angola.
This may be an opportunity for the Chinese government to address problems with transparency and accountability, Human Rights Watch said. The Chinese government and Chinese companies are some of the largest investors, trading partners, and consumers of Angola’s oil. The Chinese government and Chinese companies have invested billions in oil-for-infrastructure deals while remaining relatively silent on governance in Angola and elsewhere.
The China Investment Fund, a prominent private Chinese company that has extensive ties to Sonangol, the Angolan national oil company, is of particular concern. It has been controversial in Angola and other countries, such as Guinea.
Human Rights Watch said that IMF board members, such as the United States and China, should ensure that Angola complies with provisions of the Stand-By Arrangement, specifically by making public the audits of the state oil company Sonangol and providing regular updates detailing Angola’s expenditures.
In addition to the role of the United States as an IMF board member, the Obama Administration has been outspoken about corruption, but some of its policy proscriptions are unlikely to have a significant impact. Instead, Human Rights Watch urged the administration to fully implement the recommendations from the US Senate to combat the use of US financial institutions by foreign kleptocrats to spend their money in the United States.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Elections in Sudan: Trouble Ahead?
Growing problems with Sudan's upcoming election are sparking fears of more instability in the volatile and fragmented country. The U.S. government has been involved in trying to bring about what it calls a credible election to normalize the situation, but analysts in the United States fear it could have the opposite effect.
VOA's Nico Colombant reports that partial and full boycotts are being announced by parties opposed to the president's National Congress Party (NCP) for the April 11 to 13 vote.
This comes as Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir warned that if the former southern rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), which now rules in the south, boycotted the election, he would reject the planned referendum on southern secession in January 2011.
The SPLM candidate for president, Yasir Arman, has pulled out because his party says conditions are not set for a fair vote. But the party has said it will contest parliamentary and municipal polls everywhere except in the troubled western Darfur region, where registration has been scarce and violence persists.
Terrence Lyons, a Horn of Africa expert at George Mason University, says he fears the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2005 between the southern SPLM rebels and the ruling NCP ending more than two decades of war, could be derailed. "I think the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was an extraordinary accomplishment and that needs the attention of the international community so that all the hard work that went into negotiating that agreement is not lost," he said.
J. Peter Pham, the director of the Africa Project at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, sees what he calls a 'train wreck'. The agreement, known by its initials, CPA, initially called for elections in 2008. "If the CPA had been adhered to in the spirit and the letter which it was crafted, the election should have been held two years ago, which would have given a national government of unity that would have been credible a three-year period leading up to a referendum," he said.
U.S. special envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, has been very busy in recent days in Khartoum meeting many government and opposition leaders in a bid to rescue the election. In the past few weeks, he has also been trying to help get a comprehensive peace deal for Darfur, and make sure the north-south deal stays on track.
Steven McDonald, the consulting director for the Africa program at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, says it is not clear which U.S. approach can be effective in reaching these goals. "It remains for the administration about how to play it, whether it is a carrots or a stick approach, and that does not come out clearly to the outside observer like myself, as to where the administration has settled, what leverage does the United States really have, how much is it coordinating with the international community on this," he said.
A joint statement released by the U.S., British and Norwegian governments this week expressed concern over the election, conditions on the ground in Darfur, and the slow implementation of other parts of the CPA, like border demarcation. Britain is the former colonial power, while Norway is a main provider of aid.
Further complicating negotiations is last year's indictment of Mr. Bashir by the International Criminal Court in the Hague for alleged crimes against humanity in Darfur. Envoy Gration has said the Sudanese president should respond to the charges, which he has rejected as a western conspiracy.
The court's prosecutor said last month an election in Sudan now is like what it was in Nazi Germany. Mark Davidheiser, who heads the U.S.-based Africa Peace and Conflict Network, says such statements are not helpful. "Given the man's world view and his cultural perspective and background that is just going to stiffen his resolve to resist. And, it is not going to have any productive impact at all," he said.
Davidheiser recently organized a public forum about Sudan, and several other organizations are planning similar events in the days ahead in the United States, amid growing uncertainty over the future of a country that has greatly worried Africa policy makers, activists and experts alike.
VOA's Nico Colombant reports that partial and full boycotts are being announced by parties opposed to the president's National Congress Party (NCP) for the April 11 to 13 vote.
This comes as Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir warned that if the former southern rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), which now rules in the south, boycotted the election, he would reject the planned referendum on southern secession in January 2011.
The SPLM candidate for president, Yasir Arman, has pulled out because his party says conditions are not set for a fair vote. But the party has said it will contest parliamentary and municipal polls everywhere except in the troubled western Darfur region, where registration has been scarce and violence persists.
Terrence Lyons, a Horn of Africa expert at George Mason University, says he fears the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2005 between the southern SPLM rebels and the ruling NCP ending more than two decades of war, could be derailed. "I think the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was an extraordinary accomplishment and that needs the attention of the international community so that all the hard work that went into negotiating that agreement is not lost," he said.
J. Peter Pham, the director of the Africa Project at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, sees what he calls a 'train wreck'. The agreement, known by its initials, CPA, initially called for elections in 2008. "If the CPA had been adhered to in the spirit and the letter which it was crafted, the election should have been held two years ago, which would have given a national government of unity that would have been credible a three-year period leading up to a referendum," he said.
U.S. special envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, has been very busy in recent days in Khartoum meeting many government and opposition leaders in a bid to rescue the election. In the past few weeks, he has also been trying to help get a comprehensive peace deal for Darfur, and make sure the north-south deal stays on track.
Steven McDonald, the consulting director for the Africa program at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, says it is not clear which U.S. approach can be effective in reaching these goals. "It remains for the administration about how to play it, whether it is a carrots or a stick approach, and that does not come out clearly to the outside observer like myself, as to where the administration has settled, what leverage does the United States really have, how much is it coordinating with the international community on this," he said.
A joint statement released by the U.S., British and Norwegian governments this week expressed concern over the election, conditions on the ground in Darfur, and the slow implementation of other parts of the CPA, like border demarcation. Britain is the former colonial power, while Norway is a main provider of aid.
Further complicating negotiations is last year's indictment of Mr. Bashir by the International Criminal Court in the Hague for alleged crimes against humanity in Darfur. Envoy Gration has said the Sudanese president should respond to the charges, which he has rejected as a western conspiracy.
The court's prosecutor said last month an election in Sudan now is like what it was in Nazi Germany. Mark Davidheiser, who heads the U.S.-based Africa Peace and Conflict Network, says such statements are not helpful. "Given the man's world view and his cultural perspective and background that is just going to stiffen his resolve to resist. And, it is not going to have any productive impact at all," he said.
Davidheiser recently organized a public forum about Sudan, and several other organizations are planning similar events in the days ahead in the United States, amid growing uncertainty over the future of a country that has greatly worried Africa policy makers, activists and experts alike.
