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AngolaSome 35 000 landmines have been discovered in 50 districts in the north of the Angolan enclave of Cabinda, according to press reports issued from Luanda on November 10. Norwegian experts found the mines in the sectors of Belize and Baku Zawu describing them as mostly of South African and Russian origin. They could have been planted by any of the several armed groups who have fought or are fighting in Cabinda: liberation movements active during Angola's war of independence, still active secessionist groups, government forces and UNITA rebels.The devices include MI-57 anti-tank mines and several types of antipersonnel mines. Other minefields were found in southern areas of the Cabinda enclave, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, but lack of maps hindered their precise location.(Source: Daily Nation)
DjiboutiReuters reported that rights activists occupied the Djibouti Embassy in Paris on October 5 in protest of human rights abuses in Djibouti.After presenting a letter to the Ambassador, the protesters left peaceably. The roughly 20 protesters were from four Djibouti associations: Association for Democracy and Development, the Association of Solidarity for the Afar People, the Association for the Respect of Human Rights in Djibouti, and the Committee in Europe for the Defence of Political Prisoners in Djibouti. (Source: NNS)
Eritrea/EthiopiaThe International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) released a statement on October 8 describing ICRC activities in relation to the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia.The Ethiopian Red Cross Society and the Red Cross Society of Eritrea are also assisting those impacted by the conflict with resources and services.Among ICRC activities are exchange of news between internees and relatives and reunification of unaccompanied minors with their parents. Further, as of early October, ICRC had assisted in 18 civilian border crossings.In August, ICRC officially opened an office in Asmara.The statement also notes ICRC efforts to bring up recurrent humanitarian problems with relevant authorities. (Source: NNS)
KenyaDisabled persons in Kenya now have a representative in parliament . This comes after the October 27 nomination ofMrs. Josephine Odira Sinyoto parliament by Safina , an opposition party.According to the United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UPDK) persons with disabilities had for long time appealed to parties in the country to consider working with people with disabilities but none had responded positively."Prior to last year's general elections, we wrote to all main parties requesting them to work with us and articulate issues of disability in their manifestos, but the parties had waived aside this issue," said UPDK chairman Mr. Samuel Kabue. Mrs. Sinyo who is visually impaired becomes the seventh woman to join Kenya's eighth parliament . She replaces Dr. Richard Leakey, a world renown environmental conservationist whom the government recently reappointed the director of Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS). Announcing the nomination, the Safina party leadership said that they had considered the nomination on the basis of the less privileged groups and the gender aspect in the community. The nomination had attracted 21 candidates. "Mrs. Sinyo, being blind and in possession of an excellent educational background and rich work experience was an automatic choice",said the party spokesman. Speaking after the nominations, an excited Mrs. Sinyo said she hoped the government would now recognize the need to involve disabled persons in all aspects of development. "Disabled persons play big roles in their communities .it is important that disabled persons are not left out on commissions such as electoral, public service and teachers services where their rights can be appreciated," said Mrs. Sinyo. (Source: AANA)
MalawiMalawi government has denied refugee status to thirteen illegal Arab immigrants who were arrested two weeks after the simultaneous bombings in Nairobi and Dar Es salaam in which over 250 people were killed and about 5000 injured.The 13 Arab nationals were arrested for entering Malawi using fake documents similar to those of a Kenyan arrested in connection with the bombings in Kenya and Tanzaniaon august 7. Nine others were arrested at Lilongwe airport while four others were picked up at the trading center within Lilongwe capital in a joint operation by police and immigration officials. Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Ivy Kamanga told the illegal aliens that they would be sent to Dzaleka refugee camp, if the minister of home affairs failed to decide their fate within 14 days. Commissioner of refugees Humphrey Nthara, disclosed that the 13 immigrants breached the laws of Malawi on refugees which stipulatesthat all those who seek such status should apply immediately upon arrival in the country. He added even though they have not yet been approached on the issue there is no way the Arabs would be granted refugees status in Malawi. On the same note theUnited Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesMr. Godfrey Sabiti said although it was the prerogative of the government to grant refugee status to the 13 Arabs,he concurs with the Nthara that the Arabs breached the laws of Malawi. He also said that the UNHCR had done a part of its investigations and discovered that the 13 used forged passports and had never been refugees elsewhere as they claimed.(Source: AANA)
MoroccoThe head of the United Nations on November 10 warnedit could not keep troops in the Western Sahara forever , and urged the rival claimants to back his proposals for the disputed region. Morocco and the Algerian based Polisario Front both claim the phosphate-rich desert territory in northwest Africa, over which theyfought a guerrilla war until the late 1980s."The United Nations will not keep trying to help them find a solution because the two parties have asked us to do so." UN secretary-general Koffi Annan said in the region's main city, Laayoune. "However both sides already know that we cannot stay here indefinitely, no matter how willing we may be to help them resolve their differences". Conflict over the 266,000sq km Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony is the UnitedNations' longest-running dispute after Cyprus and has strained relations between Morocco and Algeria. UN peace keepershave been stationed there since 1991. A referendum was originally scheduled for the following year to decide whether Western Sahara should be incorporated into Morocco, which claims it , or become independent as sought by Polsario. But the opposing sides disagree over voting rights for some 65 000 members of three tribal groupings ,and the ballot, already six years late is now scheduled for December 1999 at the earliest. Annan who arrived in Morocco controlled Laayoune on November 9 as part of a 10-dayNorth African tour , said he hoped to receive backing from both sides for his five-point package to resolve the dispute. (Source: Daily Nation)
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