United States Africa Command

Public Affairs Office

21 April 2010

USAFRICOM -related news stories

From and About Africa

Somalia Pirates Hijack Vessels 1,200 Miles Offshore

Somali pirates hijacked three Thai fishing boats and captured 77 sailors in an attack
more than 1,200 miles offshore in the Indian Ocean, the European Union naval force
said on Tuesday. The attack on Sunday was closer to India than Somalia, said John
Harbour, a European Union spokesman, and was “the furthest east we are aware of
since we started operations” in December 2008.

Somalia pirates seize ship with 21 Filipinos aboard

Four suspected Somali pirates carrying AK-47s and a rocket-propelled grenade seized a
bulk carrier with 21 crew on board Wednesday, the fourth ship pirates have seized in
less than a week, officials said. The Panamanian-flagged, Liberian-owned Voc Daisy
was taken about 200 miles (300 kilometers) outside the corridor where international
warships guard convoys of merchant vessels, said Cmdr. John Harbour, a spokesman
for the EU Naval Force.

Pirate suspects to be prosecuted in US

Washington — At least five pirate suspects are being brought to the United States for
prosecution, a federal law enforcement official said Tuesday.The suspects will arrive in
the United States by the end of the week, the official told The Associated Press. The
official spoke on condition of anonymity because the transfer is still under way. U.S.
officials had said last week that about 20 suspected pirates held on U.S. ships off the
coast of Somalia might soon be headed to the U.S. for prosecution. A senior U.S. official
said Tuesday that five alleged pirates en route to the U.S. were captured March 31, after
the frigate USS Nicholas exchanged fire with a suspected pirate vessel west of the
Seychelles, sinking their skiff and confiscating a mother ship.

Somalia Al-Shabab, Ahlu Sunna Claim Victory Over Fighting in Central Region
Somalia — Officials of Harakata Al-shabab Mujahideen and Ahlu Sunna Waljama' have
Tuesday claimed victory over fighting between the two sides that broke out in parts of
Galgudud region in central Somalia. Both fighters of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen
and Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a fought in Godon, a village about 30 kilometers east of
Mazagawa town in central Somalia.

Somalia Kenya Warns Collapse of TFG Over Parliament Dispute

Somalia — The Kenyan government has warned a collapse of the transitional
government of Somalia over bitter the dispute between the parliamentarians, official
said on Tuesday.
Somalia Kenyan Official Warns over Political Infighting in Somalia
Kenyan assistant minister warns that the current political squabbling in Somalia
parliament would lead to collapse of the fragile UN-backed Somali government if not
addressed urgently.Aden Barre Duale, Kenya's assistant minister for livestock, has
called on the top leadership of the Somali TFG to take control of the situation and help
mediate between the feuding political opponents in the parliament."The TFG leaders
should urgently intervene between lawmakers to stop the dispute, if they fail to do so,
then the government would certainly collapse," he said. "The lawmakers should go back
to the law, because arguing about the expiry of the term of the parliament would not be
a good idea. It is best for them to go back to the law that they set, and follow it," he
added.

Turkey to host conference on Somalia

Turkey plans to hold an international conference on the political situation in Somalia in
which measures to fight piracy off the coast of the African country will be discussed.
According to Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Angel Losada, the
international conference on Somalia is scheduled to be held in Istanbul in mid-May. The
Spanish foreign minister said on Tuesday that the conference would also be examining
the effects of international assistance to the interim government of Somalia, the Anatolia
news agency reported.

Angola Rights activist held in Angola

Luanda - Angolan police have arrested a man for "hostile propaganda" allegedly
supporting human rights activists imprisoned after the attack on Togo's football team in
January, his lawyer said Monday.

Rwanda arrests top army generals

Two of Rwanda’s senior-ranking army officials have been arrested, a week after
President Paul Kagame announced major changes in the military. Lt. Gen. Charles
Muhire and Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Karenzi Karake were suspended and arrested on
Monday, the country’s military spokesperson said. “Lt. Gen Muhire was suspended
due to charges of corruption and misuse of office while Maj. Gen. Karenzi was
suspended on serious charges of immoral conduct,” Maj. Jill Rutaremara said yesterday.

CAR leader sacks 2 ministers

Bangui - Central African Republic President Francois Bozize sacked Tuesday two
ministers considered close to him as well as his spokesperson, national radio
announced in the run-up to next month's elections. Presidential decrees announcing the
dismissals of communication minister Cyriaque Gonda and territorial administration
minister Elie Ouefio were read out on Radio Bangui but no reasons for their firing were
given.

Sahel countries establish JTF-CT

Algeria, Mauritania, Mali and Niger are creating a joint special military command to
fight terrorism across their vast desert territories. The remarkable deal especially targets
al Qaeda activities in the Sahara, including in Libya, Burkina Faso and Chad. The little
publicized deal was already outlined at a meeting of the four Saharan nation's military
commanders in Tamanrasset in August 2009.

Algeria Cost-cutting Denmark closes embassies

Copenhagen - Denmark will shut its embassies in Algeria, Jordan, Bosnia and
Nicaragua to save money after security costs have risen to prevent terrorism, the
foreign ministry said Wednesday.The embassies in Amman and Algiers will close
during 2010, whilst the embassy in Sarajevo will shut next year. No date has been set for
the closure of the Managua embassy.

Morocco Two Spanish police detained for assisting drug trafficking form Morocco
Guardia Civil policemen are suspected of having helped drug smugglers bring hashish
ashore from Morocco. Two Guardia Civil policemen have been arrested in Spain as part
of an investigation into drugs trafficking in which four tonnes of hashish were seized,
public radio RNE reported Wednesday. The officers are suspected of having tipped off
drug smugglers as to when the best time would be to bring the hashish ashore from
boats transporting it from Morocco, the radio station said, citing local investigators. The
policeman were stationed in the coastal towns of Chipiona and Isla Cristina in the
southwestern region of Andalusia.

Egypt Protesters demand freedom

Cairo - Protesters gathered in central Cairo on Tuesday, condemning calls by politicians
and officials loyal to President Hosni Mubarak for security forces to open fire on pro-
democracy demonstrations. Though small, the demonstrations could gain traction
ahead of a parliamentary poll later this year and a 2011 presidential vote that might
mark an end to Mubarak's 29-year rule.

Libya Gadhafi urges support for 'wise', 'peaceful' President Barack Obama
Sirte - Libyan leader urged Washington to change its policies towards Palestinians so as
to garner support in Arab world. Libyan leader Moamer Gathafi has urged global
support for the "peaceful" policies of "wise" US President Barack Obama in his pursuit
of a world without nuclear weapons. "I appeal to everyone to give Obama time and to
support his policies, as long as his programme remains peaceful," Gathafi told a
gathering late Thursday in a huge tent erected in the desert near the eastern coastal city
of Sirte.

Comoros Libyan troops join Comoros presidential guard

Moroni - Comoros’ opposition groups say Libyan troops are mercenaries for president
Sambi. Libyan soldiers have taken up duty within the Comoros' presidential guard,
whom they will train, the coup-plagued Indian Ocean archipelago's President Ahmed
Abdallah Mohamed Sambi said.
Uganda to tap oil rigging experience from Iran
Kampala - Uganda is leaving no stone un-turned in forging partnerships for its newly
found oil riches. Iran is invited to become a major partner. This week the Ugandan
leadership is expected to seek fresher investment partnerships in Iran, when President
Yoweri Museveni hosts Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ugandan Foreign
Affairs officials have confirmed that the Iranian leader will arrive in Kampala on Friday
on a two-day state visit, during which he will hold bilateral talks with President
Museveni on Iran's interest to invest in the country's oil sector.

Uganda Opposition parties should brace for more repression

Kampala - This being an election year, more and more opposition leaders and
supporters are going to be arrested, harassed, threatened and hounded by police and
other authorities for their political beliefs and activities. The stakes are high, the regime
has never been weaker than it is. Internally it is faction-ridden, it has no centre, it has no
periphery, it is more than ever a one man show. The regime and party are held together
by one man control of power, political patronage, control of the electoral machinery and
the security services. For a regime that has come to rely on money and force to keep its
hold on power, it is important to appreciate that the expected revenues from oil
production are a big incentive to cling onto power.

Uganda UK to ban Uganda MP if anti gay legislation passes

The British government will ban a Ugandan MP from travelling to the UK if he is
successful in passing a law that would impose the death penalty in Uganda for being
gay.

Sudan NCP, SPLM parties vow to respect decisions of National Election Commission
Khartoum - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party and former southern rebels agreed
Tuesday to accept the results of last week's elections. Second Vice President Ali Osman
Taha, of President Omar al-Beshir's NCP, consented to abide by electoral commission
decisions at talks with Salva Kiir, head of the southern former rebel Sudan People's
Liberation Movement (SPLM).

Sudan welcomes Washington's offer for cooperation but insists polls 'free and fair'
KHARTOUM - President Omar al-Beshir's ruling party on Tuesday rejected US
accusations that last week's landmark polls in Sudan were not free and fair but
welcomed an overture for cooperation with Washington. "One of the most important
criteria to meet the international standards is 'free and fair,' and we have met this
criteria," Ibrahim Ghandoor, a senior official of the National Congress Party (NCP),
said.

Sudan SA hostages to be freed after election

Khartoum - Four South African peacekeepers from the joint UN-African Union mission
who were kidnapped in Darfur over a week ago will be released after election results
are out, their captors said on Tuesday.
SA Rev. Jesse Jackson calls for United States of Africa
Zululand - American Civil Rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson says it would be ideal for
the continent to form a United States of Africa. Jackson was addressing students and
academics at the University of Zululand. Jackson says a common currency will fight
inequalities among African states. He said this would prevent the influx of people from
poorer countries to those with stronger economies. Referring to South Africa, Jackson
said although the country was politically free, the majority are still trapped in what he
called ''Economic Apartheid".

Burundi protest turns violent

Bujumbura - Former Burundi rebels clashed with riot police when a protest in the
capital Bujumbura turned violent and eight people were arrested, police said on
Tuesday.

Kenya New UAE visa regulation for Kenyans

A new visa regulation set by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) requires citizens from
Kenya to have at least a bachelor's degree to travel into the Arab country. The exact
reasons for the new move are still unknown. However, Mr. Keynan said it was in
response to the deportation of UAE nationals touring Kenya. About 36,000 Kenyans are
currently in Dubai for work and business purposes while others use the Arab state as a
transit route to other Middle East countries.

UN Humanitarian Chief to Visit Senegal, Niger and DR Congo

United Nations emergency relief coordinator John Holmes heads later this week to
West Africa where the combined effects of poverty, food shortages and rapid
population growth have put millions of people in a state of chronic vulnerability. Mr.
Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and the UN Emergency
Relief Coordinator, will first visit Senegal and Niger during the trip starting on 23 April,
the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported today.