Salem-News.com Africa articles Page 42

OkoNGO: Solutions and Investment needed for DRC

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Next year is shaping to be a defining year for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The country is scheduled to be the Chair of the Kimberley Process, Presidential & Parliamentary Elections are scheduled for this year, and the United Nations Mission is scheduled to withdraw from the Country mid-year as well.

Somalia Pirate Realities

Ecoterra has written many times about the tragedy western anti-piracy military operations represent. Their massive ships are ill-equipped to counter the small fast pirate vessels.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The group Ecoterra Int. that monitors pirate activity out of Nairobi, said that as of Friday night, at least 29, possibly 30 foreign vessels plus one barge, are in the hands of Somali pirates, being held against the will of their owners.

Along with the various ships, at least 519 hostages or captives - including an elderly British yachting couple and 5 new hostages from Somaliland are being held against thelr will by pirates, awaiting their eventual release.

Africa: Faces in Words

New weekly update on the breaking stories in the African nations.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Unseen, unheard; no one should be the bearer of these two words. Unfortunately, Africa is often in the forefront of this association.

Our common humanity should change this; we should never look away because it is too distant. Our commitment to one another, to human rights, and the ability to learn should always keep us connected no matter the severity and complexity of problems.

Rwanda Politics, Behind Bars

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Ms. Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza , Chair of FDU-Inkingi was arrested and incarcerated in Kicukiro on October 14th 2010. Police had surrounded her home, keeping her from leaving or receiving visitors several days prior to the arrest.

“The police should grant Ingabire access to visitors and should respect her rights to due process,” urged Rona Peligal, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

Children as Weapons of War; Okay says President Obama

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - International Human Rights groups and organizations are outraged and left grappling for answers. Earlier this week President Obama gave four countries a year pass, a waiver for the use of child in war; Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Sudan, and Yemen.

In one momentary, sweeping act President Obama has undercut years of work and thousands of dollars spent in effort to protect children worldwide from this very traumatizing act.

Africa: Faces in Words

New weekly update on the breaking stories in the African nations.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Unseen, unheard; no one should be the bearer of these two words. Unfortunately, Africa is often in the forefront of this association.

Our common humanity should change this; we should never look away because it is too distant.

Update on Pirate Activity in Somalia, Gulf of Aden & Indian Ocean

The latest from Ecoterra International.

(NAIROBI, Kenya) - Today, 24. October 2010, at least 27 foreign vessels plus one barge are still kept in Somali hands against the will of their owners.

This includes at least 485 hostages or captives - among them an elderly British yachting couple and the 5 new hostages from Somaliland. They all await their release.

Africa: Faces in Words

New weekly update on the breaking stories in the African nations.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Unseen, unheard; no one should be the bearer of these two words. Unfortunately, Africa is often in the forefront of this association.

Our common humanity should change this; we should never look away because it is too distant. Our commitment to one another, to human rights, and the ability to learn should always keep us connected no matter the severity and complexity of problems.

Demands of Independent Investigation into Death of Cameroonian Journalist

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is calling on the Cameroonian government to quickly open an independent investigation into the death of journalist Cyrille Germain Ngota Ngota alias Bibi Ngota.

“We are surprised by the bias in the report presented by the Cameroonian authorities which purports to validate simply the official version conveyed shortly after the tragic incident,” declared Gabriel Baglo , Director of IFJ Africa office.

Update on Pirate Seized Vessels in Somalia, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean

(NAIROBI, Kenya) - Today, 11. October 2010, 21h00 UTC, still at least 26 foreign vessels plus one barge are kept in Somali hands against the will of their owners. This includes at least 454 hostages - including an elderly British yachting couple and the 5 new hostages from Somaliland - suffer to be released.

On 8. October only 17 ships with 369 hostages under duress, but obviously doesn't account for the smaller sea-jacked vessels from Yemen or Iran and other maybe considered less important countries, for which the European naval forces seem only to care.