2015-01-16 07:04
Nairobi - A Kenyan newspaper has apologised for reproducing a
caricature of Prophet Muhammad featured in the Paris-based Charlie Hebdo
magazine in its first issue since it was attacked by Islamic
extremists.
The Star, Kenya's third largest newspaper, said on
Thursday that many Muslim readers had complained about the picture,
which was published in Wednesday's issue.
The Star said it
sincerely regrets any offense and pain caused by the picture and will
bear Muslim sensibilities in mind in future.
Islam generally forbids depictions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
A
leader of Yemen's al-Qaeda branch officially claimed responsibility for
the attacks in Paris that left 12 dead, saying the slayings came in
"vengeance for the prophet".
Kenya
is battling growing extremism blamed on the recruitment of Kenyan youth
by al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants from Somalia.
Friday, 16 January 2015
UN: African states must unite against Boko Haram
2015-01-16 08:07
Dakar - The four African nations most threatened by Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram must put aside mutual distrust and agree on a command structure and strategy for a fledgling regional force if they want to defeat the militants, a top UN official said.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, UN Special Representative for West Africa, said the international community could only help Nigeria and neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon once they clearly laid out the assets they lacked to fight Boko Haram.
A month before presidential elections in Nigeria, Boko Haram has seized swathes of new territory. It has killed hundreds of people in northern Nigeria, displaced several thousand more and seized the base of a regional military taskforce meant to fight it.
The fall of Baga this month, where as many as 2 000 people are reported to have been killed, led to increased calls for international support to halt an insurgency that has spread from northern Nigeria to threaten parts of Niger, Cameroon and Chad.
"It is clear now that ... the countries should not be left to tackle it individually. That has been the approach so far and it is not winning the fight," Chambas told Reuters.
He said it was up to the four states bordering Lake Chad to draw up better coordinated plans. He called for a clearer command structure and rules of engagement, amid resistance from some countries to see their troops deploy outside their borders under foreign command.
Hot pursuit
"They have not been able to agree the idea of joint operations and right of hot pursuit, which is very, very crucial in fighting a movement like Boko Haram which can engage in battle in one country and then run into another," he said.
Chambas said defence and foreign ministers due to meet in Niger on Tuesday will have to agree on tough issues such as the ground rules and leadership of the regional military response.
"The challenge is to have the political will to agree and come to an understanding," he said.
Foreign powers stepped up their support for Nigeria following the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in the town of Chibok last year. However, Abuja has complained US authorities have not shared enough intelligence and been reluctant to sell weapons needed.
France has offered to help structure the taskforce after promises by regional leaders last May to share intelligence and work together were undermined by the lack of trust.
Chad on Wednesday offered to help Cameroon fight Boko Haram, days after it appealed for international help.
Chambas said outside help would be needed for some specific capabilities but the priority was for regional armies to identify what they could put forward.
"It shouldn't be a problem of numbers of troops. They should be able to mobilize the troops in the first instance."
Dakar - The four African nations most threatened by Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram must put aside mutual distrust and agree on a command structure and strategy for a fledgling regional force if they want to defeat the militants, a top UN official said.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, UN Special Representative for West Africa, said the international community could only help Nigeria and neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon once they clearly laid out the assets they lacked to fight Boko Haram.
A month before presidential elections in Nigeria, Boko Haram has seized swathes of new territory. It has killed hundreds of people in northern Nigeria, displaced several thousand more and seized the base of a regional military taskforce meant to fight it.
The fall of Baga this month, where as many as 2 000 people are reported to have been killed, led to increased calls for international support to halt an insurgency that has spread from northern Nigeria to threaten parts of Niger, Cameroon and Chad.
"It is clear now that ... the countries should not be left to tackle it individually. That has been the approach so far and it is not winning the fight," Chambas told Reuters.
He said it was up to the four states bordering Lake Chad to draw up better coordinated plans. He called for a clearer command structure and rules of engagement, amid resistance from some countries to see their troops deploy outside their borders under foreign command.
Hot pursuit
"They have not been able to agree the idea of joint operations and right of hot pursuit, which is very, very crucial in fighting a movement like Boko Haram which can engage in battle in one country and then run into another," he said.
Chambas said defence and foreign ministers due to meet in Niger on Tuesday will have to agree on tough issues such as the ground rules and leadership of the regional military response.
"The challenge is to have the political will to agree and come to an understanding," he said.
Foreign powers stepped up their support for Nigeria following the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in the town of Chibok last year. However, Abuja has complained US authorities have not shared enough intelligence and been reluctant to sell weapons needed.
France has offered to help structure the taskforce after promises by regional leaders last May to share intelligence and work together were undermined by the lack of trust.
Chad on Wednesday offered to help Cameroon fight Boko Haram, days after it appealed for international help.
Chambas said outside help would be needed for some specific capabilities but the priority was for regional armies to identify what they could put forward.
"It shouldn't be a problem of numbers of troops. They should be able to mobilize the troops in the first instance."
Red Cross nurse dies from Ebola in Sierra Leone
2015-01-16 08:07
Freetown - A nurse working for the Red Cross in Sierra Leone has died of Ebola in the eastern district of Kenema, where no new cases had been reported for 37 days, the organisation said on Thursday.
The man, who was working at the IFRC Ebola treatment centre in Kenema, "passed away on 13 January 2015 and was confirmed positive for Ebola virus disease later that day", the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said in a statement.
The Red Cross said it was carrying out an investigation to determine how and where he became infected, and 29 people who had contact with him were being monitored for symptoms of the disease.
Fight against Ebola
District medical officer Mohamed Vandy said "the family and co-workers of the deceased are now quarantined for 21 days", the maximum incubation period for the virus.
Prior to the nurse's death, Kenema district had been free of new cases of Ebola for 37 days, health ministry spokesperson Abass Mamara told AFP.
"There were no cases reported from 6 December 2014 until Monday, 12 January," he said.
In the neighbouring district of Kailahun, no new cases had been reported for at least 34 days, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which is leading the fight against Ebola in West Africa.
Kenema and Kailahun have been under quarantine since August. The Eastern Province, which includes both districts, was the first epicentre of the epidemic in the country.
Sierra Leone and neighbouring Liberia and Guinea are the three west African countries most affected by the epidemic.
They account for 99% of the estimated 8 500 Ebola deaths from more than 21 000 cases reported since December 2013, according to the latest World Health Organisation report.
Freetown - A nurse working for the Red Cross in Sierra Leone has died of Ebola in the eastern district of Kenema, where no new cases had been reported for 37 days, the organisation said on Thursday.
The man, who was working at the IFRC Ebola treatment centre in Kenema, "passed away on 13 January 2015 and was confirmed positive for Ebola virus disease later that day", the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said in a statement.
The Red Cross said it was carrying out an investigation to determine how and where he became infected, and 29 people who had contact with him were being monitored for symptoms of the disease.
Fight against Ebola
District medical officer Mohamed Vandy said "the family and co-workers of the deceased are now quarantined for 21 days", the maximum incubation period for the virus.
Prior to the nurse's death, Kenema district had been free of new cases of Ebola for 37 days, health ministry spokesperson Abass Mamara told AFP.
"There were no cases reported from 6 December 2014 until Monday, 12 January," he said.
In the neighbouring district of Kailahun, no new cases had been reported for at least 34 days, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which is leading the fight against Ebola in West Africa.
Kenema and Kailahun have been under quarantine since August. The Eastern Province, which includes both districts, was the first epicentre of the epidemic in the country.
Sierra Leone and neighbouring Liberia and Guinea are the three west African countries most affected by the epidemic.
They account for 99% of the estimated 8 500 Ebola deaths from more than 21 000 cases reported since December 2013, according to the latest World Health Organisation report.
South-East traders support Jonathan
Awka - following controversial preparation of the upcoming
general election, President Goodluck Jonathan was finally handed some
good news after traders in the South–East declared their support for the
ruling party’s president, reports Nan.
The traders of the South-East Association claimed that only the current president would ensure a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria, and fight against any form of discrimination.
Although former head of state, Obasanjo has openly showed his support for Muhammadu Buhari, this will be consider to be a major boost for the current president, reports suggests.
General election will take place on the 14th of February
Read more at Nan
The traders of the South-East Association claimed that only the current president would ensure a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria, and fight against any form of discrimination.
Although former head of state, Obasanjo has openly showed his support for Muhammadu Buhari, this will be consider to be a major boost for the current president, reports suggests.
General election will take place on the 14th of February
Read more at Nan
- NAN
APC presidential rally deploys 16 police trucks for security
The APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, will be supported by other APC chieftans at the rally to unveil the party's programmes.
The Police Command Spokesperson, John Bako, stated that due to the large crowds they are expecting, they want to make sure no violence occurs at the venue. The police will be there to protect all people as well as property at the rally.
The public has been advised to withstand from violent acts that will jeopardise security and those who fail to abide the law will be heavily dealt with.
For more on this story visit Vanguard
Nigerians in diaspora should be allowed to vote - Soyode
Lagos - Mr Alistair Soyode, the Chairman
of BEN Television, UK, has urged the Federal Government to allow Nigerians in
the Diaspora to vote in subsequent elections after 2015.
Soyode told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the authorities would have to take the necessary steps to make the demand a reality through a constitutional amendment.
"I think it is very important for Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote.
"Since the advent of the present administration they have always been trying to promise that the Nigerians in Diaspora should be able to vote from that 2011.
"But now as we know, this is a new era, Nigeria is celebrating her centenary year as well - 2014 from 1914.
"There’s no better time as much as we have been than to actually move into a new century season which starts again from 2015 for Nigerians.
"So, we are hoping that whoever is going to come in, if it is the same government, would absolutely deliver the promise they have been making for Nigerians that they should be able to vote.
"And if it is a new government that is coming in, then we want them to make it a priority that they remember that other African countries are actually doing the same allowing their Diaspora community and citizens to vote.
"There’s no any other impediment that should not allow Nigerians who have contributed massively towards national development.
"And have contributed immensely in their host countries to be able to vote, especially, bearing in mind that they want to vote.’’
Soyode, however, admitted that it might not be possible to allow all Nigerians in Diaspora to vote because of their scanty presence in those countries.
He said that countries like the UK, U.S., Germany, Brazil, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore could be used as a springboard for Nigerians in the Diaspora to exercise their civil rights.
NAN reports that Soyode is a founding member of Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) and the former the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the organisation.
He is also the founder and initiator of Africa Diaspora Investment Forum, an NGO mobilising the Diaspora to invest in Africa, through organising forums and seminars between African businesses in Africa and the Diaspora since 2004.
Soyode told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the authorities would have to take the necessary steps to make the demand a reality through a constitutional amendment.
"I think it is very important for Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote.
"Since the advent of the present administration they have always been trying to promise that the Nigerians in Diaspora should be able to vote from that 2011.
"But now as we know, this is a new era, Nigeria is celebrating her centenary year as well - 2014 from 1914.
"There’s no better time as much as we have been than to actually move into a new century season which starts again from 2015 for Nigerians.
"So, we are hoping that whoever is going to come in, if it is the same government, would absolutely deliver the promise they have been making for Nigerians that they should be able to vote.
"And if it is a new government that is coming in, then we want them to make it a priority that they remember that other African countries are actually doing the same allowing their Diaspora community and citizens to vote.
"There’s no any other impediment that should not allow Nigerians who have contributed massively towards national development.
"And have contributed immensely in their host countries to be able to vote, especially, bearing in mind that they want to vote.’’
Soyode, however, admitted that it might not be possible to allow all Nigerians in Diaspora to vote because of their scanty presence in those countries.
He said that countries like the UK, U.S., Germany, Brazil, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore could be used as a springboard for Nigerians in the Diaspora to exercise their civil rights.
NAN reports that Soyode is a founding member of Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) and the former the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the organisation.
He is also the founder and initiator of Africa Diaspora Investment Forum, an NGO mobilising the Diaspora to invest in Africa, through organising forums and seminars between African businesses in Africa and the Diaspora since 2004.
- NAN
Nigerians made homeless by Boko Haram seen losing vote too
Former
vice-president and presidential aspirant of the opposition All
Progressives Congress (APC) Atiku Abubakar (L) casts his vote during the
presidential primary of the party in Lagos. ~ PIUS UTOMI EKPEI
Malkohi - Nigerians fleeing a wave of killings by Boko Haram
have already lost loved ones, livelihoods and most of their possessions.
Now they seem likely to lose their vote.
A closely fought presidential election is to be held in a month's time and the law states people must go home if they want to participate, posing a risk to the credibility of the poll in Africa's biggest economy.
The electoral commission says it is rushing to distribute voter ID cards to the 1.5 million people who have been displaced, according to an Oxfam estimate, by the insurgents fighting for an Islamic state in religiously mixed Nigeria.
But for many voters the idea of going back to their home constituencies, as they legally must in order to cast their ballots, is too harrowing to contemplate.
President Goodluck Jonathan faces ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari in the Feb. 14 election, and there are grave doubts over whether voting can happen in swathes of the northeast overrun by rebels. As they are mostly opposition strongholds, Buhari stands to lose out the most.
ARMED MEN
The first time Boko Haram attacked Daniel Dunya's village, dozens of heavily armed men stole all the cattle and kidnapped several women. The second time they burned down churches and many houses. By the time they came back for a third go, abducting girls and killing the men, he was ready to leave.
"Most of my documents have been lost, including my voter's card, because I was running away," he told Reuters at Makholi displaced persons camp in Adamawa state, where chickens, goats and lizards darted among piles of trash.
Dunya's home lies near the town of Gwoza, in mountains controlled by Boko Haram near the Cameroon border, an area over which the militants have declared an Islamic state.
"As a Christian, they will kill me if I go back to my local government area. Boko Haram are still running around there," he said. He remains optimistic that somehow he will be able to vote.
"I'd vote for someone who will bring back peace," he says, perhaps unsurprisingly, when asked which candidate he prefers.
As he spoke, a boy also called Daniel ran around in the dirt, between rubbish and animal faeces, the large open wound on his right foot a testimony to his trauma: the motor-bike he and his mother used to escape Boko Haram crashed before they got here.
VOTER CARDS
The independent electoral commission (INEC) hopes it can find a away around the law, which parliament at the end of last year ruled out modifying. Giving out ID cards in refugee camps was itself a departure from the normal rules.
Nearly half of all registered voters nationwide have yet to receive new voter identification cards, the commission said on Tuesday, raising questions about preparations for the vote with just a month to go.
On Monday, INEC set up tents on a large sandy field just inside the entrance of Modibbo Adama University of Technology in Yola to hand out voter cards for the insurgent-controlled area of Madagali. Each tent represented a different ward. For another insurgent-controlled area, Michika, five schools were designated for card retrieval. The hand-out will last until Saturday night.
To illustrate the size of the problem, in Adamawa state, five Boko Haram-controlled local authorities account for 356,680 voters.
At a table piled up with voter cards bound together, volunteers sorted them and read out names to those waiting.
But INEC has yet to figure out what to do on polling day.
"I don't know how they will vote yet. We are waiting to hear," an electoral commissioner said bluntly.
Hajaratu Tumba, a farmer, looks puzzled when asked about the coming election. She hadn't given it much thought, she said.
"When they attacked my village, they killed the men and told the women they are going to convert us. I ran and ran and ran. I stayed in the bush for three days with no food or water," she told Reuters.
"I came here with nothing. Just myself."
A closely fought presidential election is to be held in a month's time and the law states people must go home if they want to participate, posing a risk to the credibility of the poll in Africa's biggest economy.
The electoral commission says it is rushing to distribute voter ID cards to the 1.5 million people who have been displaced, according to an Oxfam estimate, by the insurgents fighting for an Islamic state in religiously mixed Nigeria.
But for many voters the idea of going back to their home constituencies, as they legally must in order to cast their ballots, is too harrowing to contemplate.
President Goodluck Jonathan faces ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari in the Feb. 14 election, and there are grave doubts over whether voting can happen in swathes of the northeast overrun by rebels. As they are mostly opposition strongholds, Buhari stands to lose out the most.
ARMED MEN
The first time Boko Haram attacked Daniel Dunya's village, dozens of heavily armed men stole all the cattle and kidnapped several women. The second time they burned down churches and many houses. By the time they came back for a third go, abducting girls and killing the men, he was ready to leave.
"Most of my documents have been lost, including my voter's card, because I was running away," he told Reuters at Makholi displaced persons camp in Adamawa state, where chickens, goats and lizards darted among piles of trash.
Dunya's home lies near the town of Gwoza, in mountains controlled by Boko Haram near the Cameroon border, an area over which the militants have declared an Islamic state.
"As a Christian, they will kill me if I go back to my local government area. Boko Haram are still running around there," he said. He remains optimistic that somehow he will be able to vote.
"I'd vote for someone who will bring back peace," he says, perhaps unsurprisingly, when asked which candidate he prefers.
As he spoke, a boy also called Daniel ran around in the dirt, between rubbish and animal faeces, the large open wound on his right foot a testimony to his trauma: the motor-bike he and his mother used to escape Boko Haram crashed before they got here.
VOTER CARDS
The independent electoral commission (INEC) hopes it can find a away around the law, which parliament at the end of last year ruled out modifying. Giving out ID cards in refugee camps was itself a departure from the normal rules.
Nearly half of all registered voters nationwide have yet to receive new voter identification cards, the commission said on Tuesday, raising questions about preparations for the vote with just a month to go.
On Monday, INEC set up tents on a large sandy field just inside the entrance of Modibbo Adama University of Technology in Yola to hand out voter cards for the insurgent-controlled area of Madagali. Each tent represented a different ward. For another insurgent-controlled area, Michika, five schools were designated for card retrieval. The hand-out will last until Saturday night.
To illustrate the size of the problem, in Adamawa state, five Boko Haram-controlled local authorities account for 356,680 voters.
At a table piled up with voter cards bound together, volunteers sorted them and read out names to those waiting.
But INEC has yet to figure out what to do on polling day.
"I don't know how they will vote yet. We are waiting to hear," an electoral commissioner said bluntly.
Hajaratu Tumba, a farmer, looks puzzled when asked about the coming election. She hadn't given it much thought, she said.
"When they attacked my village, they killed the men and told the women they are going to convert us. I ran and ran and ran. I stayed in the bush for three days with no food or water," she told Reuters.
"I came here with nothing. Just myself."
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