BY NANGAYI GUYSON – A UN official Atul Khare told the Security Council that the scale of systematic rape by armed rebels was far worse than feared and UN “failed” the victims of mass rape in eastern DR Congo. Atul Khare “Our actions were not adequate, resulting in acceptable brutalisation of the population of the villages in the area. We must do better.” Night patrols . Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. He said that up to 500 women and children were now believed raped in recent weeks – more than double the previously reported figure. He... Continue Reading
By Guyson Nanagayi (SOURCE- AP) – Nairobi – African Union peacekeepers on Friday said they have established nine new bases in Somalia’s capital over the last several months. The deputy head of the AU commission on Somalia says the peacekeepers have established nine new bases over the past five months. This comes after days of bloody clashes in Mogadishu that left many people dead . Wafula Wamunyinyi says the bases have helped secure a key road linking government buildings with Mogadishu’s port and airport. The area has been the scene of fierce fighting in recent days and Wamunyinyi estimated around... Continue Reading
JOHANNESBURG, 3 September 2010 (IRIN) – South Africa will resume the deportation of undocumented Zimbabweans on 1 January 2011, ending its 17-month moratorium, the Cabinet announced on 1 September. “After the 31st of December [2010] all undocumented Zimbabweans will be treated like all others and their deportation will resume,” said a statement issued after the Cabinet met. In April 2009 the government placed a moratorium on deportations, introduced a 90-day visa on demand for passport holders, and was on the cusp of issuing Zimbabweans with a special permit allowing them to work and reside in South Africa for between 6... Continue Reading
Under the arrangement, Harare will issue all its undocumented nationals in South Africa with proper documents, laying the ground for Pretoria to give them necessary permits. The South African government has finally agreed to issue all illegal Zimbabweans with relevant permits, but warns those who fail to obtain the documents face deportation starting next year. Government spokesperson Themba Maseko said Thursday that illegal Zimbabweans will be given appropriate documentation provided they have valid Zimbabwean papers. Under the new arrangement, Harare will issue all its undocumented nationals in South Africa with proper documents, laying the ground for Pretoria to give them... Continue Reading
By Shout-Africa Correspondent – Some 240 women, girls and babies may have been raped after rebels recently seized a town in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN says. Officials had previously said they had received reports of 150 rapes in and around the town of Luvungi. The UN mission has been heavily criticised for not doing more to protect the local population as it had peacekeepers based nearby. But it says it was only told of the rapes after the rebels had left. The incident prompted an emergency session of the UN Security Council, and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon... Continue Reading
