Following the announcement by International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Luis Ocampo-Moreno of the application to the Court for an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur, the African Union (AU) chair, Tanzania, has said that any attempt to arrest the Sudanese President would derail efforts to find a lasting solution to the conflict. The AU added that ‘the move would also affect the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in the Southern Sudan and the efforts to solve Sudan-Chad crisis’. A special report of the Executive Council of the AU states that "African states can lodge diplomatic protests objecting to the abuse of universal jurisdiction by some states, especially where a right of diplomatic protection may be more appropriate to proceed in cases concerning nationals of the states concerned". The Ugandan government has suggested that the AU Peace and Security Council investigate the alleged crimes against humanity committed by Sudanese President. Furthermore, the AU has urged the United Nations (UN) Security Council to defer the ICC process. Arab League criticisms and almost daily demonstrations in Sudan against the ICC have added weight to that call. ‘While transitional justice may be necessary and important, judicial approaches have been accused of endangering fragile peace processes by threatening the perpetrators, while some fear that non-judicial means let murderers get away.’ Lessons from other African countries remain invaluable to countries seeking peace with justice, in this vein, former representative of the UN high commissioner for human rights in Liberia, Dorota Gierycz, shares her experiences of transitional justice mechanisms in Liberia in an interview with IRIN. Meanwhile, the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) forces, which was expected to be 26,000 strong, now totals 8,000. The announcement came as UNAMID welcomed 172 Chinese military engineers.
Further in peace and security news, Zimbabwe’s political rivals signed a memorandum of understanding that commits the parties to intense dialogue for the next two weeks. The deal, facilitated by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, calls the three sides to commit to puting an end ‘to polarisation, divisions, conflict and intolerance’. Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had earlier praised the inclusion of the AU and the UN in the mediation process seeking to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe. As Zimbabwe proceeds with its mediation process, the Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence (CIPEV) in Kenya began its public hearings this week. ‘Beyond the sheer scale of the violence—more than a thousand people killed and 350,000 displaced in two months of turmoil sparked by electoral disputes—the commission’s job is further complicated by its resolve to address the large number of sexual crimes committed during the violent crisis’, which the chairman of CIPEV, Justice Philip Waki, described as the ‘silent crimes in conflict situation, much ignored and underreported’.
In economic news, trade ministers from the East African Community and the United States government signed the ‘Trade and Investment Framework Agreement’ aimed at strengthening, increasing and diversifying bilateral trade, which exceeded $1.2 billion in 2007. Similarly, the AU Commission deputy chairperson Dr. Erastus Mwencha, during African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum, noted that ‘Africa must continue to pursue its interests in the World Trade Organization negotiations to secure markets for African products in the United States’. On the other hand, Refugees International, in its report, has criticised the US government’s African Command (AFRICOM) for ‘prioritizing the Global War on Terror at the expense of Africa’s most urgent security and stability needs’. The report, however, argues that ‘AFRICOM could have a long-term positive impact on the continent’s development if it brings stability that is essential for investment and growth’. Also brokering a relationship with Africa, France seems to be diminishing its sphere of influence on the continent as economic aid to the continent is at an all-time low and the downscale or departure of its military bases in France’s former colonies on the continent is anticipated.
In development news, Malawi’s Minister of Economic Planning and Development notes that Africa is the hardest hit by rising oil and food prices because it is a net food importer and infrastructures networks lag far behind the rest of the world. It is for that reason that African leaders adopted the New Partnership for Africa’s Development framework to lead the continent to prosperity. Meanwhile, African Ministers of Housing and Urban Development will meet later this month to discuss how to overcome the financial and resource challenges for sustainable housing and urban development in Africa.
In health related news, American and British scientists are suggesting that ‘a gene which apparently evolved to protect people from malaria increases their vulnerability to HIV infection by 40 per cent’, offering this hypothesis as a potential explanation for the high rates of infection in Africa.
Finally, Africa celebrated the 90th birthday of the former South African president and freedom fighter Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
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