Saturday, January 04, 2003

Nairobi's corruption busting new leader tries to undo Moi's years of misrule
NAIROBI, JAN 4, 2003--To mark Daniel arap Moi's many anniversaries in power, state companies used to clog national newspapers with advertisements. The fawning notices, paid for by taxpayers, celebrated the continuation of a rule most Kenyans despised. But when Mwai Kibaki became President, the backslapping was done by well-heeled men wearing Pringle sweaters.

World's Second Cloned Baby Is Born, Raelians Say
AMSTERDAM, JAN 4, 2003 (Reuters) - The world's second cloned baby was born on Friday to a Dutch woman, the head of the Raelian sect in the Netherlands said on Saturday.
"A baby girl was born yesterday evening. The baby is healthy and the mother, too," Bart Overvliet told Reuters by telephone.

Somali woman heads for Dutch parliament
HAGUE, JAN 3, 2003 (BBC)--A Somali refugee and former Muslim is a sure bet to become a Netherlands MP for a conservative party in the 22 January general elections.
South African delegation visiting Somaliland
Jan 04 2003 A South African delegation led by Weriyeh Ishlabo head of the general assistance in the Office of the President of South Africa arrived this evening at Egal International Airport, Hargeysa.
Somaliland Police confirmed arrest of Mr. Martin Jultzin killer.
Jan 04 2003 Hargeisa, Somaliland (Somaliland Net) - Somaliland Police commissioner Col. Abdiqadir Musse confirmed today that killer of the Swiss national Mr. Martin Jultzi who was killed last week while shopping at hargeisa market has been caught and in police custody

Friday, January 03, 2003

More Than 11 Million Face Severe Food Shortages
ADDIS ABABA, JAN 3, 2003--More than 11 million people in Ethiopia are facing serious food shortages and possible starvation following a prolonged dry spell that led to poor harvest in many parts of the country, according to a joint report released on Monday by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP).

Somali warlords swap blame as fighting simmers
NAIROBI, JAN 1, 2003 (Reuters) -- Somali factions who agreed to a truce only two months ago to try to end a decade of anarchy traded blame on Wednesday for fighting that killed at least six people in the northerly breakaway region of Puntland.

KENYA: Peace talks to resume as planned
NAIROBI, 3 Jan 2003 (IRIN) - The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) on Friday said it was expecting the next phase of talks aimed at ending their country's 19-year civil war to resume on schedule, despite the recent hiccups, with the two warring sides accusing each other of breaking the terms of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) they signed in November.
SOMALIA: Puntland says Somaliland supporting dissident forces
NAIROBI, 3 Jan 2003 (IRIN) - The authorities in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland have accused the neighbouring self-declared republic of Somaliland of supporting dissident forces, charges dismissed by Somaliland.
Somaliland leader congratulates new Kenyan president .
HARGEISA, JAN 2, 2003--The president of Somaliland, Dahir Riyale Kahin, has sent a written congratulatory message to the newly-elected Kenyan leader, President Mwai Kibaki.

Thursday, January 02, 2003

Jihad devolved from ancient religious decrees:NEWS ANALYSIS
WASHINGTON, JAN 2, 2003-- In a truly free election in Saudi Arabia, with the royal family on the sidelines bereft of the divine right of kings, and Osama Bin Laden as a candidate for prime minister, the world's most wanted terrorist would win hands down. So spoke, albeit privately, one of the most important non-royals, who manages a big chunk of the royal family's financial portfolio.
SUDAN: Sides accuse each other of violating peace deal
NAIROBI, 2 Jan 2003 (IRIN) - Recent claims by Sudanese rebels accusing the government of violating a peace agreement have raised fears of a resumption of hostilities between the two sides and cast a cloud over ongoing peace talks.
ERITREA: Deadline passes for ending refugee status
NAIROBI, 2 Jan 2003 (IRIN) - With the deadline for the cessation of refugee status for Eritreans expiring on 31 December, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says thousands are seeking continued refugee status, while others have asked to be taken home or have applied to remain as immigrants.
SOMALIA: About 30 killed in renewed fighting in Puntland
NAIROBI, 2 Jan 2003 (IRIN) - Fighting has again broken out around the villages of Jadid and Qararsoor in the Qardho area, some 260 km south of Bosaso, the commercial capital of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, according to local sources.
Swiss national shot dead in Somaliland
NAIROBI, 2 JAN 2003 (IRIN) - A Swiss national was killed by gunmen on Monday night in Hargeysa, the capital of self-declared republic of Somaliland, northwestern Somalia, according to local sources.

Wednesday, January 01, 2003

Fathers accused of out-eating children
NAIROBI, JAN 2, 2003--Wives are feeding husbands like kings, leaving left overs and thin porridge for children – a case that contributes to serious malnutrition in East Africa.

'Blood diamond' scheme begins'
LONDON, JAN 1, 2003 (BBC)--An international scheme has been launched to try to stop the proliferation of "blood diamonds". The Kimberley Process aims at cracking down on the multi-billion dollar trade in the gemstones which have been mined in war zones.
Sudan Rebels Report Big Government Attack
KHARTOUM, JAN 1, 2003-- (Reuters) - Sudanese rebels said on Wednesday government forces had launched a large-scale attack with tanks and helicopters on rebel-held positions in oil-producing areas and had also bombed civilians
Gunmen kill Swiss man in Somaliland
DEC. 31, 2002--Three unidentified gunmen have shot and killed a Swiss businessman in the breakaway republic of Somaliland.
Witnesses said the men were draped in bed-sheets as they approached their victim outside a restaurant in the city of Hargeisa, where they pulled out assault rifles and opened fire.
The man has been identified as 29-year-old Yuti Martin, who was working in the poultry business with several Somali partners.
Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, but has never been internationally recognised.
The man's wife and two children have taken up contact with the Swiss embassy in Nairobi.
swissinfo

Tuesday, December 31, 2002

Heavy fighting flares up in Somalia's Puntland region
MOGADISHU, DEC. 30, 2002 (Xinhuanet) -- A largely anticipated heavy fighting has flared up early morning on Monday between the supporters of Colonel Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed, the president of the semi-autonomous administration of Puntland, and his rival Jama AliJama, the ousted leader of Puntland in the remote villages of Jidad and Qaararsor, about 150 East of Qardho town.
Timeline: Somalia
LONDON, BBC--A chronology of key events:
600s - Arab tribes establish the sultanate of Adel on the Gulf of Aden coast.
Thursday, 28 November, 2002, 14:45 GMT

Monday, December 30, 2002

New broom for graft-ridden Kenya
DEC 31, 2002, BBC--Kenya's new government is sweeping into power on a tide of popular anger at 24 years of rule by soon to be ex-President Daniel arap Moi.
Appeal: Africa needs 'civil society' as defence against tyranny
LONDON, DEC 31, 2002--When people in the West talk of "underdeveloped" countries, it is the basics they have in mind. Africans need clean water, more food and better health care. They also need a reliable income, the ability to borrow to invest, a sounder overall economy – things we know are more difficult to provide.

But what requires a greater leap of imagination is to see that for Africa to develop properly it must nurture "civil society" bodies to act as natural checks and balances on government.

As 'cloned baby' flies into US, row erupts over verification
LONDON, DEC 31, 2002--The sect that claims to have produced the world's first human clone said the newborn girl was due to arrive in the United States with her American mother late last night - but the announcement was greeted by a chorus of scepticism from scientists. There were also growing doubts about the validity of tests that the group says will vindicate its claims.

Yemen Arrests Man in Slaying of Americans
JIBLA, Yemen, DEC 30, 2002 (AP) -- A gunman slipped past guards at a Southern Baptist hospital and opened fire Monday, killing three American missionaries with shots to the head and wounding another. Officials said he may be part of an Islamic militant cell targeting foreigners and secular-minded politicians in Yemen.

Welcome President Kibaki
NAIROBI, DEC 31, 2002--Holding the Bible in his right hand, Emilio Mwai Kibaki takes the Oath of Office to become third President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. More in Daily Nation.
Local democracy in action in Somaliland
DEC.31, 2002--The ICD/CIIR monitoring team (for composition of the team, please see below) together with other observers of the elections in Somaliland, have issued the following statement:

"We witnessed the Somaliland local elections of 15 December 2002 and wish to make the following statement. Our presence as informal observers was undertaken with the knowledge of the National Electoral Commission. We witnessed voting at 81 polling stations in Woqoi Galbeed, Awdal, Saaxil, Togdheer and Sanaag regions, and the counting of votes at some polling stations and district centres. (CIIR)




Ministry of Foreign Affairs Reacts to Reports that Ethiopia Could Not Accommodate Gadaffi’s Entourage Coming for AU Summit
ADDIS ABABA, DEC. 30, 2002--Diplomatic sources told Addis Tribune that if Libyan President Moamar Gadaffi was coming to attend the summit, expected to take place in early February, he might bring an excessive number of bodyguards and officials as he had unexpectedly done when he attended the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Durban, South Africa last August and the African union Summit in Togo.

The Libyan leader had an entourage of 750 people and 60 cars when he went to Durban for the WSSD summit. And hundreds of cars and guards followed him at the AU summit in Togo.



Sunday, December 29, 2002

Multiparty elections In Somaliland – another positive development for Somaliland’s quest for recognised statehood.
DEC, 30, 2002--The much-awaited and most contested municipal election in Somaliland has just been concluded peacefully. The election results declared by the election commission on 22 December depict a wide margin won of the ruling party - UDUB. The Allied People’s Democratic Party (UDUB)[i] was formed as a new political party by the late president Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, in July 2001.


West African leaders 'in al-Qaida plot'
AFRICA, DEC.30, 2002--The governments of Liberia and Burkina Faso facilitated an al-Qaida plot to funnel diamonds and weapons through west Africa before and after the September 11 attacks, it was reported yesterday.
Guardian.
"Most Women Go To Hell" - Mohammed
LONDON, DEC. 30, 2002--Mohammed said, "I was shown the Hell-fire and that the majority of its dwellers are women."
Read more- Independent
New era for Kenya as opposition obliterates ruling party
NAIROBI, DEC.30, 2002--Good Days are rare in African politics, a dirty and sometimes violent arena, but yesterday was one of them.

Over a momentous weekend, millions of Kenyans swept from power the corrupt elite that made them poor and miserable. But the revolution was a peaceful one. There was no violence and no mass marches – just the slip of ballots falling into boxes.
Read more-Independent

New leader promises all-inclusive government
NAIROBI, DEC.30, 2002 (WAM)--Kenya's new President yesterday pledged to fight corruption, increase efficiency by reducing the size of his Government and form an all-inclusive administration. Read Daily Nation

Kibaki declared president of KenyaNAIROBI, DEC. 29, 2002 (CNN) -- Opposition leader Mwai Kibaki has been elected Kenyan's new president following presidential and parliamentary elections, the country's electoral commission has declared.