AFRICOM AOR-related news clips for 20 January 2010

Recent articles on Kenya, Algeria, DR Congo, Guinea, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe

GHANA: KENYA, US SHOULD CHANGE THEIR SOMALIA POLICY (Modern Ghana)

Nairobi – Last week’s protests in Nairobi revealed radicalisation among Nairobi’s Muslims and inter-faith resentment that Kenya should redress while working closely with the United States, which is involved in interconnected regional initiatives.

KENYA: AFRICA WEIGHS OBAMA’S FIRST YEAR (Global Post)

Nairobi – Barack Obama’s inauguration was greeted with euphoria in Africa, perhaps nowhere more than here in Kenya, but a year down the line Obama’s Africa policy is just coming into focus.

NIGERIA: TERRORISM: THE NEED TO DUELIST NIGERIA! (Daily Triumph)

Kano – America has already gone too far in its terrorism-enlistment against Nigeria, and now it seems to run the risk of intensive humiliation of the Nigerian people at port of entries.

NIGERIA: MUTALLAB ASKS U.S. SENATE FOR ‘CLARIFICATION’ (Daily Trust)

Lagos – Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, whose son allegedly attempted to bomb an American airliner last month, is awaiting clarification from the U.S. Senate asking him to appear before it tomorrow to testify on the alleged bombing attempt.

NEW YORK: CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM MAYHEM IN NIGERIA KILLS DOZENS (New York Times)

New York City – Christian and Muslim antagonists in central Nigeria’s religiously volatile city of Jos have been fighting for three days in sporadic clashes that have left dozens dead. Estimates ranged from 30 to 300 deaths.

NEW YORK: China’s Africa Play (CBS NEWS)

New York City – China’s main concern in Africa is its unprecedented drive to take the preeminent role on the continent, fuelled by China’s vast energy, mineral and food stuff requirements.

UN News Service Africa Briefs Full Articles on UN Website

• UN agency says 63,000 Somalis already uprooted by fighting this year
• DR Congo: UN official visits new military operation to ensure civilian protection
• UN envoy in Sudan to leave post at end of next month
• Guinea: Ban welcomes steps to restore constitutional order

SOMALIA: TFG Soldiers Join Al-Shabab (Shabelle)

Mogadishu — Transitional Federal Government soldiers with a vehicle have joined to Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen, officials said on Tuesday.  

 US designates Al-Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula “AQAP” terrorist group (AFP) 

Washington, D.C. – The United States named Tuesday Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) a terrorist group in a bid to cut support to the outfit blamed for the plot to bring down a Detroit-bound jet on Christmas Day.

UN: UNSC terrorism Panel adds two individuals, one entity to consolidated list (KUNA)

United Nations – The Security Council Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee late Tuesday added the names of two Individuals and one Entity to its consolidated List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo, pursuant to council resolution 1904 adopted last month under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

NIGERIA: Jos Crisis Escalates  (Leadership) 

Abuja – The religious crisis in Jos, Plateau State, snowballed to alarming proportions yesterday, leading the Vice-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to order a deployment of troops into parts of the state to forestall further bloodbath. 

NIGERIA: Why Senate Can’t Impeach Yar’Adua (Daily Independent) 

Abuja — Regardless of national agitation, the Senate leadership is against the invocation of Section 143 of the Constitution, which could lead to the impeachment of President Umaru Yar’Adua.

NIGERIA: Yar’Adua’s Fate Now Uncertain (Daily Champion)

Lagos – At the end of yesterday’s closed session, Senate tied its next action to the presentation of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, who is expected to the brief the lawmakers tomorrow on the state of the health of the president.

RWANDA: Libya to Expand Investments (The New Times) 

Kigali — The investment arm of the Libyan government, Libya African Investments Portfolio (LAP), is keen on investing large sums of money in other sectors of the Rwandan economy.

NIGERIA: China May Dominate Oil Sector, Analyst Predicts (Daily Independent) 

Lagos – The next ten years in Nigeria will be the years of China’s dominance in Nigeria’s multi-billion dollar oil industry, analyst Mark Dominic predicted at the weekend.

CONGO: UN Official Visits New Military Operation called “Amani Leo” to Ensure Protection of Civilians (UN NEWS SERVICE)

Kinshasa – The top United Nations official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been visiting the war-torn east of the vast country for talks on reinforcing the protection of civilians within the context of a new anti-rebel operation launched by the national army with UN support.

SOMALIA: Hisbul Islam Says Will Start Operating Port, Airport in Out Mogadishu (SHABELLE)

Mogadishu – The Islamic organization of Hizbul Islam has said that they were planning to start operating a port and airport in the out of the Somali capital Mogadishu; officials told Shabelle radio on Tuesday.

SOMALIA: An MP of Puntland Wounded in Bosaso Town (sHABELLE MEDIA NETWORK) 

Bosaso — An MP of Puntland has been wounded by unidentified gunmen in the coast town of Bosaso in Bare region tonight, witnesses said on Tuesday.

ZIMBABWE: PM resists pressure for polls (NEWS24) 

Harare – Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Tuesday resisted pressure for elections next year, in opposition to calls made by South African President Jacob Zuma over the weekend. 

ZAMBIA: Politician’s threat to ‘gang rape’ (NEWS 24) 

Lusaka – The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) youth chair leader Chris Chalwe of Zambia’s ruling party on Tuesday threatened to “gang rape” a female politician Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) leader Edith Nawakwi unless she stopped criticising President Rupiah Banda’s leadership ahead of next year’s elections. ”

GUINEA’s Dore appointed PM (NEWS24)

Ouagadougou – Guinea’s leaders have appointed an opposition veteran as prime minister, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday, a key step to prepare the West African nation to transition from military rule to democratic elections later this year.

ALGERIA will be exposed to an earthquake before the end of January (ENNAHAR)

Algiers – Lot Bonatiro, Ph.D. in astronomy and space technology: “Algeria will be exposed to an earthquake before the end of January”.

NIGERIA: WEST AFRICA, CURSE OF ABSENTEE PRESIDENTS (Daily Champion)

Lagos – Several West African countries have seen the populace and the wider world community come to terms with the fall-outs of absentee-leaders, including Nigeria, Cameroon, and Guinea.