AFRICOM Related News Clips 6 March 2012

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United States Africa Command

Public Affairs Office

6 March 2012

USAFRICOM - related news stories

Good morning. Please see today's news review for March 6, 2012. This format is best viewedin HTML.

Also, the transcript of General Carter Ham¶s testimony before the Senate Armed ServicesCommittee is now available on the AFRICOM website:http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=7682&lang=0

Of interest in today's report:-Government under fire after Congo arms blast.-UN Security Council backs results of London conference on Somalia.-Open Letter to President Obama.-Heavy fighting in North Somalia Kills 40 people.

U.S. Africa Command Public AffairsPlease send questions or comments to:[email protected] 421-2687 (+49-711-729-2687)

Headline Date Outlet

Government under fire after Congo arms blast 03/05/2012 Thomson Reuters -Africa - Online

BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) - Standing in the wreckage of the small bar he owned in the Mpila district of Brazzaville, Simplice Gaylolo knew wherehe put the blame for the arms dump blast that ripped a hole in the Congo Republic's capital.

UN Security Council backs results of London Conferenceon Somalia

03/05/2012 Xinhua News Agency

UNITED N ATIONS, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council issued a presidential statement here on Monday, showing its support for the

recent London Conference on Somalia and its outcomes.

South Sudan: Open Letter to President Obama - Now Is

the Time to Act to Prevent Starvation in the NubaMountains

03/05/2012 AllAfrica.com

In blatant contravention of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Government of Sudan (GoS) has carried out a brutal assault for thepast eight months against the people of the Nuba Mountains. Due to abject fear, an estimated 200,000 people have soug...

Nigeria: U.S. Under Secretary to Visit Nation, Four Others 03/05/2012 AllAfrica.com

New York -- The U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, has commenced a five-nation Africa tour with visits to Nigeria, Angola, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya.



Somalia: Heavy Fighting in North Kills 40 People 03/05/2012 AllAfrica.com

Bosaso -- At least forty people were confirmed killed and more than that number have been injured in a heavy battle between Puntland forcesand Gal-gala fighters loyal to Sheik Sa'ed Atom linked with Al-shabab militants, witnesses say on Saturday.

Illegal Trade Leads to Unrest in Border Town of BenGuerdane and Assaults On Libyans


A fight broke out this Thursday between Libyan travelers and local inhabitants near the town of Ben Guerdane in the southeast of Tunisia.

Nigeria threatens to retaliate deportation of 125 citizensby South Africa

03/04 /2012 World Stage News

Abuja (WorldStage Newsonline)-- The Federal Government of Nigeria on Monday warned that it may be forced to reciprocate the deportation of about 125 citizens on Sunday by South Africa at the airport on the excuse that they came into the country without app...

Kenya: Al Shabaab Will Be Wiped Out - Oguna 03/05/2012 AllAfrica.com

The Kenyan army incursion into Somalia will end only after the war-torn country becomes stable, Operation Linda Nchi spokesman Cyrus Ogunahas said.

Nigeria: Obama's Aide Meets Jonathan Over SecurityThis Week


The United States Government has expressed its unwillingness to put Nigeria on its terrorism watch list despite its recent travel advisory warninganyone visiting the country and its growing concerns for the safety of its citizens.

Congo farm law seen hurting foreign investment 03/05/2012 Thomson Reuters -Africa - Online

KINSHASA (Reuters) - A law meant to breathe new life into agriculture in Democratic Republic of Congo risks scaring off needed foreign

investment due to a clause calling for farms to be majority-owned by Congolese, according to investors and other sector p...

Ghana: Abuja to Grace Ghana's 55th Anniversary 03/05/2012 AllAfrica.com

A contingent from IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja will stake the Independence Match Play trophy between Nigeria and Ghana in Accra on, March 10-11.

United Nations News Centre - Africa Briefs 03/04 /2012 United Nations News

Service -Central African Republic relief efforts facing severe funding shortfall, UN warns-UN chief saddened at loss of life in Congo arms depot explosion

-Power of UN-sponsored school meals for girls to be highlighted in video series-UN mission will stay in ...

News Headline: Government under fire after Congo arms blast |

News Date: 03/05/2012Outlet Full Name: Thomson Reuters - Africa - OnlineNews Text: BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) - Standing in the wreckage of the small bar he owned in the Mpila district of Brazzaville, Simplice Gaylolo knew where he put the blame for the arms dump blast that ripped a hole in the Congo

Republic's capital.

"We've lost absolutely everything ... it's the fault of the government for not taking precautions," Gaylolo complained as hegestured at the military base next door, surrounded by buildings flattened by the explosion in the early hours of Sunday.

Around 200 people were killed by the blast sparked by a fire at the Regiment Blinde arms dump, medical and localauthorities said. A similar number were seriously wounded and an unknown number of more bodies are still hidden under tons of wreckage.

Living cheek by jowl with left-over munitions has been a feature of life in Brazzaville since the 1997 civil war, when rival



factions of the army turned it into a battlefield for months.

Jammed up tight against the Blinde dump, neighbourhoods like Mpila stood little chance against a blast so fierce it blewout windows 4 km (2.5 miles) over the Congo river in Kinshasa, the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo.

"We shouldn't have been allowed to live so near the camp," said Victoire Ndzota, whose house was also wrecked.

"We've had no help, no assistance from the government, not even consolation. We'll just have to manage on our own,"she shrugged, adding she and her family hoped to be taken in by friends.

While the oil-producer has seen coups and civil war since 1960 independence from France, it has remained largelypeaceful since the 1999 ceasefire. President Denis Sassou-Nguesso's government has at various times since thenacknowledged that something must be done about the inner-city arms stocks.

But somehow the promise never made it to reality.Brazzaville on Monday was a city full of residents walking amid the destroyed houses with luggage balanced on their heads, with others searching debris for their belongings - or bodies.

"It is too hard to bear, this is a real catastrophe," said Christephane Ilich. "Look - if you start searching inside this bit hereyou will see bodies straight away," he said, pointing to a section of debris nearby.

The Congolese government was not available to comment on why it had not got around securing the Regiment Blindesite.

Lionel Cattanei, head of local operations for the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), an agency that works to alleviate theaftermath of conflict, said a project to destroy the munitions had been agreed but had not quite got off the ground.

"The problem was taken into account by the Congolese authorities," said Cattaneo. "The project has not been finalisedyet, but these were problems that the government was aware of."

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News Headline: UN Security Council backs results of London Conference on Somalia |

News Date: 03/05/2012Outlet Full Name: Xinhua News AgencyNews Text: UNITED N ATIONS, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council issued a presidential statement here onMonday, showing its support for the recent London Conference on Somalia and its outcomes.

"The Security Council supports the progress made at the London Conference on Somalia, which affirmed internationalsupport, progress on the political process, security, increasing stability, economic development and action to addressterrorism, piracy, and hostage taking," the presidential statement said.

The statement was adopted as the 15-member body on international peace and security met for an open debate onSomalia.

"The council emphasized the need to build on agreement in London and continue to pursue a comprehensive strategy for the establishment of peace and stability in Somalia through the collaborative effort of all stakeholders," said the statement.

On Feb. 23, representatives from governments and organizations from around the world met in London to discusssecurity, humanitarian, and political challenges facing Somalia, a country that has been troubled for many years by conflictbetween armed groups. The one-day conference resulted in a communique that outlines a plan for Somalia's future.

The presidential statement noted that the council "welcomes the conference" and "fully supports" the conferencecommunique as a display of the international community's political will to support the Somali people.



The communique presented an agreement by the international community that Somalia's current temporary TransitionalFederal Institutions (TFIs) should end in August as planned.

"The Security Council further welcomes the consensus in London that the mandate of the Transitional Federal Institutionswill end in August 2012 and that there will be no further extension of the transitional period," said the statement.

On the subject of security, the communique called for a continued strengthening of the African Union Mission in Somalia ( AMISOM), as well as the development of Somali security forces.

In its statement, the council "underlines that the development of the Somali security force and institutions is vital to ensureSomalia's long-term security and stability and calls upon the international community in coordination with the UN and AMISOM to provide increased support to the Somali security and justice sectors."

Combating the scourge of piracy off the coast Somalia, said the statement, is also a high priority in the country'sdevelopment and security.

The statement added that although famine is over in Somalia, humanitarian problems still exist in the country, includingthe existence of many internally displaced persons (IDPs) who need urgent assistance.

"The council emphasizes the need for the international community to provide well-coordinated, timely, and sustainedhumanitarian assistance to the Somali people, and to help build their resistance to future shocks, and stresses theimportance of upholding and respecting the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, andindependence," the statement said.

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News Headline: South Sudan: Open Letter to President Obama - Now Is the Time to Act to Prevent Starvation in the

Nuba Mountains |

News Date: 03/05/2012Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.comNews Text: In blatant contravention of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Government of Sudan (GoS) hascarried out a brutal assault for the past eight months against the people of the Nuba Mountains. Due to abject fear, anestimated 200,000 people have sought sanctuary in mountain caves where they are attempting to eke out an existencewithout food. Many are already suffering from malnutrition.

As the GoS indiscriminately bombs farms, villages, churches, and schools, it disingenuously claims that it is solelytargeting members of the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement/Army-North, the latter of which is intent on freeing theNuba Mountains from the iron fist of Khartoum. The fact of the lie is seen in the stony eyes of the dead -- babies, children,women and the elderly -- in the gory photos now coming out of the Nuba Mountains.

Equally grave is the fact that the GoS has prevented the international community from providing humanitarian aid to thosein dire need of food in the Nuba Mountains and the Blue Nile State. The ongoing attacks in the Nuba Mountains haveprevented many farmers from planting seasonal crops, thus disrupting the agricultural cycle and leaving many peoplewithout adequate sources of food. Food insecurity has been exacerbated by restrictions on access to markets and the

destruction of food stores.

This is not the first time that the GoS has resorted to starving theNuba people; it did so in the late 1980s and 1990s. Thepeople were so desperate they "ate" leaves, grass, and roots. The international community did virtually nothing to addressthe mass starvation, and as a result an untold number of people died miserable deaths in a classic case of genocide byattrition. Such inattention and lack of action must not be repeated.

Only once in the past eight months (August 30th) has the GoS authorized any outside agencies (in this case, UNICEF) tooffload emergency health supplies, vaccines, and nutrition assistance into the Nuba Mountains. International humanitarian



actors continue to advocate strongly for access to conflict-affected populations in both Government- and SPLM-N controlled areas, but the GoS continues to deny them permission to do so.

Over a month ago, on January 21st, your administration suggested that it was considering the possibility of opening up ahumanitarian corridor in South Kordofan in order to provide desperately needed aid. To date, your administration has notacted and neither has the United Nations. It seems as if you and your fellow world leaders do not understand that each

and every day that goes by, an ever-increasing number of people are bound to face malnutrition and its ill effects,including death by starvation. The time to act is now, not a month or two from now when lives will have already been lostto abject hunger. As U.S. Permanent Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice recently noted: "If there is not a substantial newinflow of aid by March," the situation in Southern Kordofan will be "one step short of full-scale famine."

While we understand that at this point in time neither the U.S. government nor the U.N. are willing to intervene militarily toprotect civilians in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile, as they did in Libya, we believe that it is imperative that action betaken immediately to provide food to the region. Indeed, we beseech you and your administration to place pressure on theUnited Nations to act now to open a humanitarian corridor in order to provide humanitarian aid to those in the NubaMountains who have faced horrific and ongoing atrocities and a near-famine at the hands of a murderous regime whosepresident (Omar al Bashir) is already wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide, crimes againsthumanity and war crimes for the atrocities perpetrated in Darfur.

As a presidential candidate, you promised you would be proactive, versus reactive, in addressing potential and actualgenocide. It is time to honor that commitment and press the international community to open a humanitarian corridor. If the U.S. and the rest of the international community continue to dither there is a very real possibility that many of the200,000 people may end up victims of genocide by attrition.

At the least, the international community should honor its commitment to the "Responsibility to Protect," and demand animmediate end to the violence in Sudan and unimpeded access to civilian populations by human rights monitors andhumanitarian aid personnel. If the United Nations fails in this responsibility, then we urge you, President Obama, to acceptthe moral responsibility and to act now, along with the European Union and our African allies, to avert mass starvation inthe Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile regions.

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News Headline: Nigeria: U.S. Under Secretary to Visit Nation, Four Others |

News Date: 03/05/2012Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.comNews Text: New York ² The U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, has commenced a five-nation Africa tour with visits to Nigeria, Angola, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya.

The tour which begins on March 3 is to end on March 11.

This was contained in a statement issued by the U. S. Department of State in New York.

It stated that the Under Secretary would hold discussions with national leaders to underscore U. S. interests andstrengthen collaborative efforts that promote good governance, economic growth, regional security, social developmentand human rights.

According to the statement, the visit will also highlight the long-term American commitment to Africa and strengthen itsstrategic partnerships with Nigeria and Angola.

The statement said that during Sherman's visit to Nigeria, she would discuss political, security and economic issues withsenior government officials and civil society leaders.

"In Angola, the Under Secretary will meet with senior officials and civil society, youths and opposition parties.



"In Zambia, Sherman will be the highest ranking U. S. official to visit newly-elected President Michael Sata after Zambia'speaceful democratic transition in September 2011.

"She will meet with senior government officials, civil society leaders and journalists to discuss issues, including reform, theeconomy and elections."

The statement noted that the visit to Malawi would allow Sherman to review the progress of U.S. development assistanceefforts and the government of Malawi's programmes in addressing the country's multiple economic and social challenges.

Sherman would also encourage Malawian leaders to strengthen good governance practices and human rights for allcitizens.

It explained that the visit would conclude in Kenya where the Under Secretary would stress U. S. interest in peaceful andtransparent elections as well as the continued implementation of the new constitution.

"The Under Secretary will express support for broad-based reforms advocated by Kenya that build investor confidence,social development and prosperity.

"Importantly, the visit will demonstrate U.S. recognition of the challenges Kenya faces, due to the conflict in Somalia," itsaid, noting that the visit was coming shortly after an international conference on the conflict in Somalia.

It also said that the Under Secretary would visit Somali leaders and other stakeholders in Nairobi to reinforce the urgencyfor Somalia's Transitional Federal Government to lay the foundation of good governance

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News Headline: Somalia: Heavy Fighting in North Kills 40 People |

News Date: 03/05/2012Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.comNews Text: Bosaso ² At least forty people were confirmed killed and more than that number have been injured in aheavy battle between Puntland forces and Gal-gala fighters loyal to Sheik Sa'ed Atom linked with Al-shabab militants,witnesses say on Saturday.

The fighting is said to have broken out late on Friday night after Gal-gala fighters targeted a landmine blast on convoybelonging to Puntland forces passing at a small village,40 Km away south of the port and commercial city of Bosaso,killing 40 people- most of them Puntland forces.

Sheik Abdiazaiz Abu Musab, the spokesman of Al-shabab militants for the military operations told a pro-radio station inElasha-Biyah, south of Mogadishu claimed victory over the battle with Puntland forces, saying they killed 32 soldiers andtook over the control of a village nearby Bosaso town after the attack.

He admitted that three militants were killed during the combat, Abu Musab urged people in Puntland regions to stand with Al-shabab fighters shoulder by shoulder to overthrow the administration led by Abdirahman Farole.

Puntland has not made any comments about the battle and Al-shabab claim.

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News Headline: Illegal Trade Leads to Unrest in Border Town of Ben Guerdane and Assaults On Libyans |

News Date: 03/05/2012Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.comNews Text: A fight broke out this Thursday between Libyan travelers and local inhabitants near the town of BenGuerdane in the southeast of Tunisia.



Libyan cars' fronts were smashed by Tunisians protesting a decision by Libyan authorities to stop and unload Tunisiancars carrying gas and fuel tanks.

Following that incident, the nearby Ras Jedir border crossing between Tunisia and Libya was closed and did not reopenuntil today. A decrease in the number of Tunisians crossing into Libya has been noticeable whereas Libyans continue to

enter Tunisia at the normal rate.

Such incidents have become commonplace in the border town of Ben Guerdane and have intensified since the outbreakof the Libyan revolution and the ouster of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

During the months of November and December 2011, some Libyans passing through Ben Guerdane were subject tophysical attacks, had their cars smashed and their money taken. What left them irate was "the inaction of Tunisianauthorities in the face of such attacks," said an eyewitness from Tripoli.

Only 30 kilometers from the Ras Jedir border crossing, Ben Guerdane is naturally regarded as Tunisia's southeasterngateway to Libya. The town has traditionally been one of the biggest trading points between Tunisia and Libya. Before therevolution, Ben Guerdane's main market, Al Magharebia, attracted 45,000 visitors each week from all over Tunisia andhas 200 stores that sell different types of products imported from neighboring Libya.

Trade is so important for Ben Guerdane residents, yet not all that passes through this frontier region is done so legally.

In August 2010, violent clashes occurred between locals and Tunisian police, resulting in the burning of the local townhall, after Libyan authorities had decided to close the Ras Jedir crossing in an attempt to curb the illicit trade of certaingoods. The sad truth is that the livelihoods of many local families depend on this illegal trade, given the high rate of unemployment among Ben Guerdane's youth in particular. Many locals resort to the illegal trade of cheap counterfeitproducts from Asia as their only source of income.

Illegal trade remains a subject of concern for both Tunisian and Libyan authorities. It has continued after the revolution,albeit less intensely than before the Libyan revolution.

Ennhadha Constituent Assembly representative for Ben Guerdane, Nafti Mahdhi said that this illicit activity is deplorableand should be addressed. "The government must present alternatives for the development in the Tataouine and Medenine

regions and particularly the town of Ben Guerdane," he stressed.

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News Headline: Nigeria threatens to retaliate deportation of 125 citizens by South Africa |

News Date: 03/04/2012Outlet Full Name: World Stage NewsNews Text: Abuja (WorldStage Newsonline)-- The Federal Government of Nigeria on Monday warned that it may beforced to reciprocate the deportation of about 125 citizens on Sunday by South Africa at the airport on the excuse thatthey came into the country without appropriate travel document, particularly, the Yellow Fever Card.

The country's Interior Minister, Abba Moro on Monday assured that the country was going to appropriately react.

Moro who spoke to newsmen said if it was found out that South Africa deliberately frustrated Nigerians that wanted totravel to the country, certainlyNigeria will reciprocate appropriately.

He noted that for now the government would want to believe that South Africa acted in good faith.

³We don't want to speculate, I want to say that if South Africa have every reason to believe that the document that someNigerians were carrying are fake, it is incumbent upon us to find out the authenticity of the situation. I can assure you thatwe are going to appropriately react. But for the time being, I want to say that the Nigeria immigration service has the



mandate to allow persons into Nigeria and people who are not qualified certainly will not be allowed to enter Nigeria, butlet's not hasten by jumping into conclusion the possible reasons why South Africa has repatriated Nigerians.

³I want to assure you on one thing that Federal Government has the capacity to reciprocate appropriately if it is find outthat it is not done in good faith.´

The minister who also reacted on the invasion of Nigerian embassy in South Africa said, ³I want to state that the JointCommission of Nigeria and South Africa is working. Let me also say that we should not forget very easily the roleNigerians played in the liberation of SA and I want to believe that the sacrifice and contributions of Nigeria is not lost.

³At the moment Nigeria maintains a very cordial diplomatic relations. With SA and I can assure you that we will reactappropriately if it is found that SA has taken unfriendly action against Nigeria.´

On the issue of porous border, Moro said ³It is unfair to say that we don't know the category of persons that enter Nigeria.Nigeria like any other big countries has this problem of border porosity. I agree with you that Nigeria border as vast as it is,is porous to some extent, but that is not to say that we don't know the category of people that enter Nigeria.

³What we have done recently against the backdrop of the conclusion that we have terrorism in Nigerian against thebackdrop of the fact that we have people coming from outside the country perpetrate terrorism in this country is for us tofortify our borders which we are doing.

³At the moment we signed several joint agreements with our neighbouring countries, the recent one last week we signedwith Cameroon, we have such arrangement with Niger and Chad. Jointly we have all agreed to step up our activities at our borders to ensure that people who have nothing to do with Nigeria or any other country for that matter will not enter. If youdon't have any legitimate business doing in Nigeria, the immigration service within the level of their own capacity will notallow you to enter Nigeria. As you have heard recently, those who find their way through to Nigeria one way or the other have also been eased out of Nigeria. The immigration service is topping up its activities to discharge its mandate of securing our borders.´

On the series of complaint of deportation against ECOWAS Protocols, the minister said,Nigeria as a big brother hadalways abide by agreements and protocol arrangements entered into.

³The fact is that I keep insisting that ECOWAS protocol which provides for free movement does not provide for free lunch

in the sense that you can just wake up from your bed and say you want to go to any African country. You must also comewith appropriate document. There is ECOWAS travel document that the member nations issue out to their citizens. If youcome to Nigeria without those travel documents, then certainly you have not followed the ECOWA protocol, then you areillegal alien,´ the minister said.

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News Headline: Kenya: Al Shabaab Will Be Wiped Out - Oguna |

News Date: 03/05/2012Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.comNews Text: The Kenyan army incursion into Somalia will end only after the war-torn country becomes stable, OperationLinda Nchi spokesman Cyrus Oguna has said.

Oguna said the forces may withdraw from Somalia on October 31 alongside African troops, Amisom, only if the alShabaab terror thugs will have been defeated. He said this on Saturday during the weekly briefing on the status of the war on al shabaab. Oguna reiterated that KDF's exit from Somalia will depend on the two countries' security and ability toresume normal life devoid of fear from the militia.

KDF has joined Amisom in an international move that is aimed at strengthening effort to restore calm and bring order inthe Horn of Africa state. Addis Ababa will this week host a meeting of the four nations whose troops are fighting alShabaab in Somalia. The meeting will among other issues discuss the transition phase based on the timeline that will



follow the expiry date of Amisom mandate.

While affirming KDF's commitment to safely guard its territorial borders and repulse threats from the terror group, Ogunaassured Kenyans that the war is on course. "We will not relent on our quest for the national security, and our efficiency willnot go down," Oguna said. He exuded confidence that al Shabaab will soon be wiped out, as the soldiers' combine effortswith the Transitional Federal Governmentss.

Last week the forces destroyed 15 al Shabaab technicals following three airstrikes in Bahare and Tabda, where moremilitiamen were eliminated. "Our intention is to degrade the Al shabaab by destroying their sources of funding," Ogunasaid, adding that KDF was targeting infrastructure and equipment owned by the militia.

One of the raids was conducted on the Western side of Somalia in what was perceived as efforts by the Al shabaab to fleeinto Kenya, while aiming to gain access to the refugee camps. "The killings have left the Al shabaab extremely damagedand weakened," he said, and appealed for vigilance. The militia is reported to be rooting for exit points from south andwest.

Kenya has lost 10 soldiers since the invasion into Somalia five months ago, while two others whose whereabouts isunknown have been reported as "missing in action". Two government officials who were captured by the insurgents areyet to be released, even as Oguna appealed for calm as local leaders continue to negotiate for their freedom.

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News Headline: Nigeria: Obama's Aide Meets Jonathan Over Security This Week |

News Date: 03/05/2012Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.comNews Text: The United States Government has expressed its unwillingness to put Nigeria on its terrorism watch listdespite its recent travel advisory warning anyone visiting the country and its growing concerns for the safety of its citizens.

This is coming just as a top aide of President Barrack Obama, the Under Secretary for Political Affairs; Wendy Shermanwill be heading to Nigeria to discuss security and terrorism issues with PresidentGoodluck Jonathan this week.

It would be recalled that the Department of State had last week warned U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Nigeria,recommending that its citizens should avoid all but essential travel to the Niger Delta.

This is even as the authorities in Niger Republic have expressed concerns about thousands of its citizens who flednorthern Nigeria fearing military attacks and arrest.

BoubeYaye, an official of Niger Republic's government was reported to have said: "according to statistics, we've seenfrom the police, we have 10,000 Nigeriens that have returned on their own since the start of violence inNigeria."

Yaye also said some Nigerian security forces had arrested 13 innocent Nigeriens, noting that the insecurity posed byBoko Haram cannot be solved with such acts.

A top official of the United States Department of State, who confirmed this to our correspondent yesterday, added that theUnited States government would find all the ways to assist theNigerian government to get out of the problem, rather than

putting the country on a watch list.

Saying that these acts of terrorism from Boko Haram had caused a lot of embarrassments for Nigeria before theinternational community, the US official who said she preferred anonymity indicated that some security officials of the American government are billed to visit the affected parts in Nigeria in the coming weeks.

She said that it is one of the major priorities of President Barack Obama and the United States government to ensure thatterrorism is flushed out of the African continent, most especially,Nigeria which is assumed to be the giant in the region.



Our correspondent further learnt from the US top official that the Nigerian government under President GoodluckJonathan had earlier demanded the assistance of the United States on the way to curb the activities of the Boko Haramsect.

However, she confirmed that some bomb technicians from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI havebeen sent to Nigeria in order to work with the Nigerian government on the ongoing investigations of the recent bombings

in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta states and some other parts of the country.

Also, a statement made available to our correspondent by the office of the spokesperson of the Department of Stateconfirmed that the US under secretary for political affairs Wendy Sherman would visit Nigeria in the coming week.

The under secretary is to hold discussions with the Nigerian government to exchange views, underscore U.S. interests,and strengthen collaborative efforts that promote good governance, economic growth, regional security, socialdevelopment, and human rights.

The visit, which will be extended to Angola, Malawi, Zambia, and Kenya will highlight the long-term U.S. commitment to Africa and strengthen the Obama-led government's strategic partnerships with Nigeria and Angola.

"During Under Secretary Sherman's visit to Nigeria, she will discuss political, security, and economic issues with senior government officials and civil society leaders," the media note stated.

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News Headline: Congo farm law seen hurting foreign investment |

News Date: 03/05/2012Outlet Full Name: Thomson Reuters - Africa - OnlineNews Text: KINSHASA (Reuters) - A law meant to breathe new life into agriculture in Democratic Republic of Congo risksscaring off needed foreign investment due to a clause calling for farms to be majority-owned by Congolese, according toinvestors and other sector players.

The Congolese Federation of Enterprises has written a letter to the government calling the law, which is set to go intoeffect in June, "discriminatory" and a "catastrophe" and appealing for it to be amended.

"Everyone says to themselves, today they start with semi-nationalisation, and then one day we'll move to totalnationalisation," said Paulin Mbandala, a Congolese lawyer specialising in agriculture.

"Look at Zimbabwe, that's the problem," he said, referring to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's seizure of white-owned farms in the 1990s.

The Congo law, passed in December shortly after a chaotic presidential poll, aims to use tax breaks and other incentivesto boost agricultural output in a country with enough cultivable land to cover Germany twice.

Only 10 percent of the land is in use and the country has been a net food importer since the 1960s due to decades of neglect, conflict and corruption.

Farmers and activists alike had been pushing for years for the government to pass the first ever agricultural law to revivethe sector.

Since the law's passage, however, agribusiness companies have expressed concern over an article that says farms mustbe owned by "a person of Congolese nationality or a Congolese legal entity whose shares, if applicable, are majority-owned by the Congolese state or by nationals".

The risk is that the law could deepen Congo's investment woes, already suffering a setback from a drawn-out miningcontract review that ended in 2010.



INVESTOR WORRIES

Several of Congo's existing agricultural investors, including a unit of Canada's Feronia, said the law has createduncertainty over their projects and would likely stifle new investment.

New investments are unlikely if the law is not amended, said Agnes Kasongo, managing director of PHC, an oil palmoperation majority-owned by Feronia.

The company produced more than 6,500 metric tonnes of palm oil last year and had plans to double the amount of land itcultivates.

"I don't think that Feronia will invest further if the law is not amended," Kasongo told Reuters from her office in Kinshasa'sdilapidated port area, where farmed produce used to arrive by river from the interior of the country before war during the1990s and corruption saw the sector collapse.

"I don't understand the law (article 16), the Congolese do not have money to acquire the land," she said.

Officials from several other companies told Reuters they would reconsider investment, but asked not to be identified for fear of running into problems with the government.

A Western diplomat, who also asked not to be named, said three potential investors have abandoned investment planssince the law was passed.

LAND SOVEREIGNTYCongo's government has defended the law - which offers tax breaks and preferential rates on water and electricity for agricultural enterprises - as broadly positive for the sector, but admits the Article 16 clause on ownership could poseproblems for foreign investors.

"The Congo could feed the whole of Africa, that's certain, but we must have investment", said Marcel Kapambwe Nyombo,an agriculture ministry adviser. "(Article 16) poses a problem. Among new investors there is a certain reticence."

Around a third of the country's food was imported in 2010 from as far away as Brazil, and more than two thirds of the

country's 70 million inhabitants are living in poverty, the World Bank says.

A letter written by President Joseph Kabila last August and seen by Reuters shows that the president himself backs therules limiting foreign ownership, arguing it is necessary to protect the sovereignty of Congolese land.

"I ask that the imperative is made clear that nationals control the shareholdings of Congolese-registered businesseseligible to be attributed land in Democratic Republic of Congo," it read.

In one of the biggest deals in Congo's agriculture sector, China's ZTE won rights in 2008 to farm 100,000 hectares of landin Equateur province.

But the three-year deal was not renewed in 2011 as nothing had been done to launch the project, agriculture adviser Kapambwe told Reuters. He said ZTE now holds just 600 hectares of land. The firm did not respond to requests for

comment.

Singapore commodities giant Olam is also negotiating with the government over possible farming ventures. The companydeclined comment on the law.

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News Headline: Ghana: Abuja to Grace Ghana's 55th Anniversary |



News Date: 03/05/2012Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.comNews Text: A contingent from IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja will stake the Independence Match Playtrophy between Nigeria and Ghana in Accra on, March 10-11.

IBB Club and Achimota Club 1928 exchange visits and engage in match play annually, each time either of the West

African nations is celebrating its Independence Day.

The 55th independence anniversary of Ghana on Tuesday, March 6 will be followed by single and double matchesinvolving players from the clubs at the Achimota Golf Club in Accra.

IBB turned the light off a weakened Achimota in October last year when the Ghanaians visited Abuja to mark Nigeria's51st Independence Day.

The matches will be played over two days and would be payback time for Achimota to exact for their defeat in Nigeria andretain the trophy till the next event.

Nigeria's prevailing security challenges almost took the steam out of the matches last year, when majority of theGhanaians opted to stay at home.

Boko Haram has been carrying out deadly terrorist attacks and assassinations across northern parts of the country inrecent months.

Achimota captain, Rene Gameli-Kwame attributed the low attendance of last year to the poor publicity Nigeria was gettingon its security situation which he said bothered most of the Ghanaians.

"It has been a long way with Nigeria as we exchange visits during Independence Day. It should continue irrespective of what happened this year (2011) where bad press about the recent developments in Abuja affected our participation. Someof us decided we had to make it by honouring the 51st anniversary of Nigeria. We are hoping that in future such anincident will not deter people from travelling," Gameli-Kwame then told us.

Despite the discouraging Ghanaian presence where they only came to Abuja with 16 players as against the expected 50-man team, it appears there will be no backlash from IBB Club as members have started to indicate their interest to travel

to Ghana.

IBB team will have a practice round in Accra on March 9 and will depart for Nigeria on March 12.

Three years ago, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan personally welcomed the Ghanaian delegation at IBB Club aspart of activities to mark the Golden Jubilee celebration of Nigeria.

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AFRICOM Related News Clips 6 March 2012

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