Salem-News.com Africa articles Page 59

Fate of Ukrainian Ship Captured by Pirates Hangs in the Balance

Problems with Russia, the Ukraine's economy and heating sources are allowing the pirate occupied vessel to languish.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Over three and a half months have passed since Somali pirates overtook the Ukrainian vessel MV Faina off the coast of this African country.

The group ECOTERRA Intl., says information received from the Faina indicates that things are not going well and most communications are still coming from sideline negotiators and informers rather than from the real sources.

As the fate of the Ukrainian ship hangs in the balance, Russia has sent six warships to participate in a joint naval exercise with the Indian navy this month, the chief of the Russian General Staff said on Sunday. The Russian ships are led by the Pyotr Veliky, a nuclear-powered missile cruiser.

Sea Pirates Rampage Along Somali Coast on New Year`s Day

Five different pirate attacks and one sea-jacking incident are recorded by EcoTerra on the first day of the year.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The group Ecoterra reports that Somali pirates managed to sea-jack one vessel on the first day of the new year, and also attack two others. They sea-jacking occurred when pirates raided an Egyptian owned cargo ship with 28 Egyptian crew members near the coast of Somalia, the Egyptian foreign ministry confirmed. The vessel that was attacked in this incident is the MV Blue Star. She was flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Talks With Somali Pirates Over Hi-Jacked Ukrainian Weapons Ship Underway

The body of Russian Vladimir Kolobkov, who died after a heat-stroke-induced heart-failure, is still onboard.

(COAST OF AFRICA) - Efforts for a peaceful release continued, but the now over two months long stand-off concerning Ukrainian MV FAINA is not yet solved finally, though intensive negotiations have continued.

The Somali captors holding the arms-laden cargo ship yesterday accused the owners of stalling on a ransom payment and threatened to pull out of a deal for its release struck a week ago, Quatar sources and many news agencies reported.

A pirate spokesman said that the armed gang holding the Faina was unhappy about the delay in the ransom payment. "The ship's owners are taking too long to hand over the money," another spokesman, identifying himself only as Ahmed, said by telephone from Hobyo town, near the pirate lair of Harardheere.

Analysis From Jane’s Country Risk Daily Report on the Mumbai attacks

Comment from Jane’s South Asia Analyst, Urmila Venugopalan.

(LONDON) - “An unknown group, Deccan Mujahideen, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks via email, although this has yet to be verified.” Jane’s South Asia Analyst, Urmila Venugopalan, commented. “Nevertheless, it has triggered speculation that the group may be linked to the Indian Mujhaideen, which sent email manifestos claiming responsibility for four attacks it carried out between November 2007 and September 2008.”

Jane’s Country Risk Daily Report explained that an examination of the strategy and tactics employed by this new group suggest significant differences to the terrorist violence that has beset India over the past 15 years and specifically over the past year.

Attacking international and luxury hotels and other soft targets is not a new phenomenon in the region, particularly in light of the September 2008 Mariott bombing in Islamabad that killed more than 50 people, but the apparent focus on killing or capturing foreign businesspeople, specifically US and UK nationals, has never occurred before, suggesting a wider global anti-Western agenda.

Conference will Address Modern Day Piracy at Sea

The Tackling Piracy at Sea Conference takes place March 18th and 19th 2009 in London, UK.

(LONDON) - Somalia is now the backdrop against which increasing levels of piracy are seen. With both the frequency and violence of attacks thought to be growing, there is mounting pressure on governments, international agencies, and the shipping industry to tackle the problem.

Stoning Death of Somali Teen Rape Victim Sparks Outrage from UN

A 13-year old female rape victim was stoned to death in a stadium full of spectators on October 27th after authorities found her guilty of adultery.

(KISMAYO, Somalia) - The United Nations envoy tasked with advocating for children caught up in armed conflict today voiced her horror at last week’s stoning to death of a 13-year-old Somali girl who was a victim of rape.

Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, issued a statement condemning the killing and calling for better protection for children in Somalia, which remains beset by widespread fighting.

"The incident highlights the extreme nature of violence against children and women in Somalia, which has been heightened by the increasing lawlessness," she said.

Escalating Violence Threatens Civilians in DR Congo

Non governmental organizations are forced to evacuate staff from key towns.

(NEW YORK) - Concern Worldwide today warned of a looming humanitarian disaster in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reported yesterday that in the past few days, as many as 45,000 people have fled fresh fighting as rebels advanced toward the provincial capital of Goma, which they threatened to overtake.

More than 1.3 million people have already been displaced from their homes, and humanitarian agencies are struggling to maintain effective operations. Rebel CNDP forces continue their advance against government FARDC troops in the eastern province of North Kivu.

Concern has evacuated its staff from Masisi and Goma, and is calling on the international community to broker a ceasefire. Concern has approximately 300 local and international staff based in DRC.

Prohibition and the Popobawa

Research shows that a creature of the night in Zanzibar, the Popobawa, tends to only show up at election time. Closer to home, marketing fear is also a popular means of selling candidates and measures to the voters.

(SALEM, Ore.) - It’s that time again when the days become shorter, the shadows grow longer, and little ones all around make the final preparations for their annual masquerade. It seems like everywhere we look there are ghosts, goblins, and an endless assortment of other scary symbols for our entertainment. Movies and television shows are filled with spooky story lines that are tailored to feed our appetite for the macabre and urban legends seem just a little more believable on Halloween.

Since this is an election year, there’s also an endless assortment of political propaganda begging our attention, which is its own kind of scary. When urban legend and propaganda combine, the results can be even more disturbing.

Mugabe Denies Passport for Political Rival

Robert Mugabe uses political muscle to deny his rival's chance to attend important talks regarding Zimbabwe.

(JOHANNESBURG, South Africa) - The opposition leader of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, has missed important scheduled talks in Swaziland over the crisis in his country. But as it turns out, Tsvangirai only missed the talks because his political rival, Robert Megabe, refused to grant his passport.

The talks were rescheduled and will now take place next week. Mugabe's attempt to block Tsvangirai has not missed the attention of other nations like Botswana, which called Zimbabwe's failure to issue the passport "totally unacceptable and an indication of bad faith."

This leaves the government of the Republic of Botswana expressing concern over developments in Zimbabwe which have stalled the process of operationalizing a Government in that country.

Peacekeeper from UN-African Union Force in Darfur Killed

Humanitarian activities are also ongoing and a Chinese engineering company is due to join the mission tomorrow.

(FOROBARANGA, Darfur) - A peacekeeper serving with the joint African Union-United Nations force in Darfur (UNAMID) was killed today while on patrol in the strife-torn region, just one week after seven blue helmets with the mission were slain.

The peacekeeper was killed in Forobaranga in West Darfur state, according to preliminary information received by UNAMID, the mission said in a press statement.

"UNAMID condemns all acts of violence against its peacekeepers," the statement added, noting that an investigation has begun into today’s killing.