South Africa To Quite International Criminal Court – The Guardian

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21/10/2016

Justice Minister says court’s obligations are inconsistent with domestic laws giving sitting leaders diplomatic immunity

South Africa says it is pulling out of the international criminal court, making the country the second this week, after Burundi, to move to leave the tribunal that pursues the world’s worst atrocities.

The ICC’s obligations are inconsistent with domestic laws giving sitting leaders diplomatic immunity, the country’s justice minister, Michael Masutha, said.

Pretoria said last year it planned to leave the ICC after receiving criticism for ignoring a court order to arrest the visiting Sudanese President, Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, who is accused of genocide and war crimes. Bashir has denied the accusations.

On Friday at a press conference in the capital, Masutha said: “The implementation of the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court Act 2002 is in conflict and inconsistent with the provisions of the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act 2001.”

Under the Rome statute, countries have a legal obligation to arrest anyone sought by the tribunal. Any move to leave would take effect one year after notice is formally received by the United Nations secretary general, currently Ban Ki-moon.

Earlier on Friday, the public broadcaster SABC published a document outlining the withdrawal plan.

The document was signed by South Africa’s minister of international relations and cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and dated 19 October.

“The Republic of South Africa has found that its obligations with respect to the peaceful resolution of conflicts at times are incompatible with the interpretation given by the international criminal court,” the document states.

The international criminal court opened in July 2002 and has 124 member states. It was the first legal body with permanent international jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Burundi appeared set to become first state to withdraw from the Rome statute, the 1998 treaty establishing the global court, after its parliament voted last week to leave. The president, Pierre Nkurunziza, signed a decree on Tuesday, but the UN has not yet been officially notified.

Several African countries have expressed concern that the focus of the Hague-based court has been on Africa rather than elsewhere in the world.

Human Rights Watch said: “South Africa’s proposed withdrawal from the international criminal court shows startling disregard for justice from a country long seen as a global leader on accountability for victims of the gravest crimes.”

Culled from The Guardian

Nigeria Super Eagles Steps Up In FIFA Rankings

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21/10/2016

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles have moved four places up in the October world football rankings released by FIFA on Thursday.

The Super Eagles has stepped up from the 64th spot to 60th after the two straight wins against Tanzania in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier and Zambia in the FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Nigeria occupies the 11th position on the African rankings, where Cote’d Ivoire still maintains its number one position. Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, Egypt, Congo, Congo DR, Mali and Cameroon make up the Africa top ten.

According to a report by Vanguard, the Super Eagles will host Algeria next month in the FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, South-south Nigeria.

In the world rankings, Germany and Brazil moved closer Argentina who remains number one side on FIFA’s latest world rankings as Belgium dropped out of the top three for the first time in 19 months.

Following the latest international action in the qualifying stages for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, further changes to the top 10 saw France leapfrog Euro 2016 winners Portugal into seventh place and Spain replace Wales in 10th spot.

Colombia dropped down to fifth while Chile remains sixth and Uruguay stayed in ninth to complete the top 10.

Kenya: 7, 000 Inmates Released To Free Space For The Corrupt

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20/10/2016

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Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday announced that he was pardoning more than 7,000 convicts, in the process making space for people convicted of crimes of corruption.

According to him, “Today I have pardoned more than 7,000 convicts, including some who were being held for petty crimes and those who were about to finish their prison sentences,” Kenyatta announced at celebrations of Mashujaa Day (Heroes Day), a day honoring those who fought for the country’s independence.

“The chief justice now has enough room to jail the ‘big fish’ who are involved in the theft of public funds through corruption, we now have enough space so he should hurry and deal with those people properly,” he added.

Kenyatta explained that some of the petty offenders had been arrested for being involved in the theft of livestock, among other offenses, and were crowding prisons.

The Kenyan Constitution gives the president the power of granting a free or conditional pardon to a person convicted of an offense and also substituting a less severe form of punishment.

Kenyatta called on every Kenyan to honor those who spilled their blood for the independence of their country.

He said that the struggle that Kenyans and other Africans went through had forged a generation of men and women of noble character and honor, driven by courage, a deep hatred of injustice, and a fierce desire for freedom.

“Some bore arms, some fought with the pen. These men and women came from every part of the country, they set aside their differences, and endured the lash of the whip; the squalor of jail and the concentration camp; and the brutality of the emergency. They won our freedom for us; it is they who define heroism for us,” he said.

Kenyatta called on all Kenyans to aspire to be better citizens as they remember their heroes.

The previous record in Kenya for granting clemency was President Mwai Kibaki, who freed 6,700 prisoners in 2102.

Culled from Anadolu Agency

Spanish Companies Coming To Boost Trade Relations With Nigeria

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20/10/2016

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By Akpandem James

Abuja (Nigeria) – The Government of Spain has indicated intention to bring in Spanish companies to explore economic potentials and build business relations in a further effort to improve trade relations with Nigeria.

The trip which is billed for May 2017 will see the delegation having discussions with government agencies and familiarizing itself with the business environment in Abuja between May 8 and 9, and meeting with private sector operators in Lagos on May 10, before leaving for their home country.

Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Alfonso Barnuevo Sebastian De Erico, who dropped the hint while on a visit to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, in Abuja, said Nigeria and Spain have enjoyed long lasting political and economic relations; and his home country would like to deepen the relationship with further investments in some sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Acknowledging that the balance of trade between the two countries has been lopsided, De Erico said it was time the two countries looked into the future to find more ways of being mutually beneficial to each other, particularly now that the country has a government that is sold to good governance principles.

“We appreciate the effort of Nigeria in the area of transparency and fighting corruption. We appreciate also its economic policies; and these will take the country forward. We are very supportive of Nigeria and its policies”, he added.

The Ambassador said Spain has been investing in Europe over time and now needs to move its focus to Africa, with Nigeria as a preferred destination because of the country’s huge market potentials. “That is why we are bringing in Spanish companies to know the country and also explore investment opportunities available”, he explained.

He said though the number of Spanish companies doing business in Nigeria is increasing, the planned trip is very special as the focus would be on some very specific areas, including Construction, Energy and Environment and Water and Sanitation.

De Erico told the Minister that he would appreciate the full involvement of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and other relevant Federal Government agencies in facilitating the realization of the planned visit as it has enormous potentials of enhancing trade relations and economic growth between the two countries.

The Minister, while acknowledging the contributions of Spain to Nigeria’s economy over the years, particularly in patronage of products from Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, said the Nigerian government is excited about the planned visit and assured it will be fully involved in ensuring its success.

“On the visit of Spanish companies to Nigeria, this is something that we will welcome. It is something we have been looking forward to; something that we are encouraging. We believe you have a lot to offer us and the Spanish companies will find Nigeria a convenient place to do business. We are improving our ease of doing business template and making sure that anybody who wants to do business in Nigeria has a much easier time.

“We are improving on our Visa system, to make it faster to get Visa. We are giving extra support to our Export Processing Zones in terms of infrastructure, to upgrade them so that they will be suitable and convenient places for companies in Spain that would want to go into manufacturing in Nigeria,” he stated.

He pledged the readiness of the Ministry not only to support the proposal of bringing in the companies to Nigeria but to liaise with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Nigeria Investments Promotion Council (NIPC) and other relevant agencies of government to facilitate the project.

The Minister told Ambassador De Erico that Nigeria is very interested in expanding its agricultural potentials, solid mineral exploitation and infrastructure development, particularly in the area of roads, rail and power. Concerning infrastructure, he informed that Nigeria is exploring the option of partnership with the private sector to speed up the realization of a massive infrastructure upgrade within the shortest possible time. He also added Airports’ concessioning to the list of areas government is seriously considering in its economic agenda.

Spanish companies, he pointed out, could also look into these areas since they have great potentials for huge and sustainable returns.

Akpandem James is the Media Adviser to the Honourable Minister.

Four Teens Shot Outside U.S Schools

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19/10/2016

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Four teenage students were shot in the shared parking lot of two San Francisco high schools on Tuesday, and one of the students is in critical condition, authorities in San Francisco said.

The shooting occurred as students were being let out of school for the day from the June Jordan School for Equity and City Arts and Technology High School, which share a campus, San Francisco Police Officer Carlos Manfredi said.

Three of the victims ran inside the school, and police initially ordered students to stay in place until police searched each room and determined it was not an active shooter situation. A fourth victim hurt in the shooting went to a hospital, Manfredi said.

“One female victim has life-threatening injuries to her upper torso,” he said.

Four male suspects wearing dark hoodies and jeans were seen running away from the area, Manfredi said.

The shooters seemed to have targeted the female student, said Karwin Sui, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Unified School District.

Culled from News24

Women In Kaduna Community Decries Absent Of Secondary School In Area, Says Wards Exposed To Dangers

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19/10/2016

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Kaduna (Nigeria) – Women in Kutugare Afaka (Mando Area) community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna state have decried the absent of secondary school as well as school uniforms, desk and books for their primary school pupils, calling on government and well meaning Nigerians for a timely intervention.

They also call for the rebuilding of the primary six classroom block which has collapsed for years without any attempt by government to rebuild.

Women Leader of the community, Adama Mohammed made the call on Monday when Tamar Love Foundation (Non-Governmental Organization) visited the community to celebrate the International Day of Rural Women observed on fifteenth of October every year.

The essence of the visitation was to teach women on personal hygiene, nutrition, empower as well as to distribute some items to them.

According to the women leader, “What we are worried about is the lack of secondary school and we feel the state government is not worried about us. We don’t have secondary school for our children to attend, there is lack of school uniforms, and the children don’t have chairs and desks while our primary six classroom building has collapsed.”

She however noted that, their wards trek long distance for about 1000 miles from their area to Mando to attend secondary school saying the roads are not very safe for them. She said, “now that there is high rate of road accidents, kidnapping, and raping, if the state Governor, Mallam Naris El-Rufai will build secondary school for us, our children will not be expose to unnecessary hardship and dangers.

She however appealed to the Kaduna state government and other NGOs to come to their aid by erecting secondary schools for the community to avoid their children from been expose to social vices.

While making her remarks, President of Tamar Love Foundation, Mrs. Tessy Dibal said in this current dispensation and as small-scale farmers in charge of ensuring adequate nutrition for families, rural women are at the centre of the challenge.

She said rural women play a critical role in the rural economies of both developed and developing countries as this Day directs attention to both the contribution that women make in rural areas and the many challenges they are face with.

“We are here to in Kutugare community to empower you women and to teach you on how to take care of your home, children and on how to use the little resources or products from your farms to make nutrition foods.

“Women always participate in crop production, livestock care, provide food, water for their families and engage in off-farm activities to diversify their families’ livelihoods and even carry out vital functions in caring for children, older persons and the sick.

According to her, Women in the cities easily get access to information through Television, social media among others than women in the rural communities, hence the need to take the enlightenment campaign to them; noting that, if the women in rural area learns about hygiene and how to keep their body and environment clean, there will be less outbreak of diseases and infections.

She also added that, “You can see, the women do not have enough money to buy much things they need but they can use the little they have to cover more area on diet. Some of the women have these goods but they do not know how to make use of them to bring a good nitrite food.

She further called on other NGOs to visit rural communities and sensitized them on the basic things of life which could improve their living standard.

Items distributed to the women include cartons of Maggi, bags of salts, detergents and tooth paste among others.

National Human Rights Commission, Group Takes Gender Based Violence Campaign To Schools

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19/10/2016

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By Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with Fansarwa Care Foundation (a Non-governmental Organization), has embarked on a sensitization campaign to enlighten girls in secondary schools on the need to break the silence and speak out against gender-based violence.

Speaking during the flagged-off campaign tagged, ‘Break the Silence’ at the Kabala costain Government Girls Secondary School, Kaduna, Public Affairs Officer of the Kaduna State NHRC office, Abdulganiyi Abdullahi Bala, explained that the essence of the campaign was to encourage students, especially the girl-child to speak out against any form of gender based violence, ranging from rape to domestic violence among others.

He noted that the campaign also intends to enlighten them on rights issues such as rights to liberty; how to protect themselves from falling victims of rape and also the right channel to follow whenever they are molested, adding that, when reports are made, perpetrator can be identified and punished which can serve as deterrents to others.

“While establishing a rape case if eventually it happens, the first point of call is to report to a police station and ensure that the police takes the victim to a government recognized hospital where medical examination would be carried out for evidence to be established,” he added.

In a remark, the Kaduna state coordinator of Fansarwa Care Foundation, Mrs. Laura Bismarck noted that the workshop was necessitated looking at the issue of rape which is very alarming. She said almost on daily basis, issues of rape are been reported as such there is the need to break the silence because the more such cases are not reported, the more the crime will be committed.

She said, “But if we are able to talk, we can make example of people convicted of this offences and things would get better because it can serve as deterrent to others and the menace of rape will be broken.”

Mrs. Bismarck however advised the students to be careful of who and where they always visit; noting that, in any instance they are been molested or raped, they shouldn’t feel threaten but confide in their teachers or report to the Police, NHRC office or the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

“It is said that prevention is better than cure, but when eventually it happens, you should always speak out. We shouldn’t allow stigma to bring us down.

“You should not be found in the habit of arranging your fellow girls for men but concentrate on your studies and be contented with whatever is been provided to you by your parent,” she emphasized.

She further explained that the sensitization campaign would further be carried out in three other public schools, centered on female students – GGSS Kabala Doki, GGSS Kawo, GGSS Sabon Tasha, and GGSS Barnawa.

“We choose public schools because they are more in number and the women are the most vulnerable members of the society. They are still young and we need to sensitize them so that they can speak out on issues of gender based violence,” she said.

In a remark, Principal of the school, Adama Balarabe while commending the organization for organizing such a program pointed out that it would go a long way in building confidence of the students, noting that, when they are able to speak out at an adolescent age, they would grow up and have great self esteem.

Elizabeth Adeleye, a student of the school while making a remark said she has been encourage to speak out on any kind of molestation or gender-based violence. She posited that many children are use to keeping silence whenever they are molested at home and even within their peers but with activities of this nature in schools, it can build their confidence to speak out where necessary.

Nigeria: Southern Kaduna Youths Block Road, Deny Deputy Governor Passage

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18/10/2016

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By Iliya Kure
Kaduna (Nigeria) — Youth in Southern Kaduna, central Nigeria on Monday barricaded road leading to Kafanchan and sent away Deputy Governor of the State, Barnabas Bantex, who was visiting the area to sympathise with them over attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The aggrieved youths who gathered were chanting and refused attempts by security forces to pacify them.

Mr. Bantex who patiently waited for about 30 minutes in his car decided to leave when the youth refused to clear the road for him to pass through.

Reports say, no fewer than 40 people were killed on Saturday by suspected attackers who invaded villages in Godogodo Chiefdom, killing people and burning houses.

In the last two months several people have been killed and property worth thousands of dollars destroyed.

A youth in the area told journalists, “On Sunday, we were able to get 20 corpse. But today, after the attacker were chased out this morning, we went into the town and picked badly damaged corpses,” said a youth leader who does not want his name mentioned.

“We retrieved corpse that were so badly burnt you would not know if it was a male or female. We now have at least 40 people dead. There could be more, because we are still searching,” he said.

The Police Spokesman in Kaduna, ASP Usman Aliyu, confirmed the attack but said the figure of the casualty was 20 people.

A 24-hour curfew had been imposed in the area after youths mounted road blocks and burnt vehicles on Kafanchan-Kagoro road, in retaliation of the saturday attack.

Interim Chairman of Jema’a Local Government, Dr. Bege Katuka told journalists the curfew would remain in force until nomalcy return to the area.

“We have received reports that youths had barricaded Kafanchan-Kagoro road along Garaje area and have burnt cars belonging to innocent persons,’’ he said.

Katuka who called for calm explained that the gunmen attacked the village and shot at innocent persons, but were repelled by Joint Military Task Force deployed to the area..

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