Kenyan ambassador to Sudan denies calling Bashir judge “incompetent” - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan

February 25, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The outgoing Kenyan ambassador to Sudan Robert Ngesu has distanced himself from remarks attributed to him by a pro-government newspaper last week in which he said that president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir is welcome to visit his country “at any time”.

Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir (L) and Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki (R)

According to the Khartoum-based Arabic newspaper al-Rayaam, Ngesu reaffirmed his government’s solidarity with the Sudanese leader, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

However, in a letter sent to Sudan Tribune, Ngesu said he never gave an interview to al-Rayaam.

“I wish to categorically state that I did not hold any interview with the said newspaper, and in this regard, I am expressing my objection to the said newspaper,” he said in the letter dated 25 February.

“On the issue of the ICC arrest warrant against the president of Sudan the position of the African Union is in the public domain. Kenya, as a member of the AU, therefore ascribes to the same position,” he continued.

Bashir has been indicted by the ICC over allegations he is responsible for the deaths of up to 300,000 people in Darfur since 2003.

In 2009 and 2010 the Hague-based court issued two arrest warrants for Bashir on 10 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. He has denied the charges calling it politically motivated.

Despite being a signatory to the ICC statute, Kenya ignored its legal obligations, choosing to receive Bashir on a visit in 2010 without making an arrest.

Kenya has defended its position saying it is bound by AU resolutions, instructing member states not to act on the ICC warrants.

However, the last AU summit which took place last January in the Ethiopian capital omitted this clause about ignoring Bashir’s warrant.

In a move that infuriated Khartoum, former Kenyan judge Nicholas Ombija in November 2011 ordered the government to arrest Bashir “should he set foot in Kenya in future”.

In its article, al-Rayaam quotes the ambassador as saying Ombija was later dismissed due to his “incompetence and involvement in non-legal affairs.”

Ngesu vehemently denied making comments to that effect, saying “at no time did I utter the words out of ‘incompetence and involvement in non-legal affairs’”.

The Kenyan ambassador confirmed to Sudan Tribune that the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board in Kenya had relieved Ombija of his position and that the matter of the arrest warrant was currently being handled in Kenya’s Court of Appeal.

The issue sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries, with Bashir expelling the Kenyan envoy at the time and threatening Nairobi with sanctions unless the decision was reversed.

Ironically, the Sudanese president last week awarded Ngesu the Al-Nilain medal at the conclusion of his five years tenure in the country.

The Kenyan government has since appealed Ombija’s decision, however, the appellate court refused its request to suspend the warrant against Bashir, ordering that it stays in effect until the appeal is fully heard.

It is not clear when a decision might be made on the case.

There have been renewed calls for Sudan’s African neighbours to fulfil their obligations under international law, with Chad’s decision to receive Bashir on a visit earlier this month despite the outstanding arrest warrant, drawing a strong rebuke from rights groups.

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Kenya, Ethiopia deploy police | The Star

Kenya and Ethiopia have deployed security along the common border following the killing of seven suspected bandits in Turkana North.Turkana North police boss Benson Nyakwaka said security has been tightened along the border to avert revenge attacks.

He said a security meeting between officials of the two countries resolved to deploy police officers to man the border.The seven bandits were shot dead by villagers when they raided an area near the border.

Two youths die in attack on refugee camp for Somalis in Kenya- AFP

DADAAB REFUGEE CAMP, Kenya — Two youths died and several people were wounded during a grenade attack at a refugee camp in eastern Kenya near Somalia on Friday, an AFP journalist and police said.

The AFP journalist viewed two bodies, while the Red Cross said on its Twitter account that seven people had also been wounded in an attack on a restaurant in the Dadaab refugee camp complex, the world's biggest, which lies about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the border with Somalia.

"We lost two people and others have been injured," regional police chief Philip Tuimur said.

A police source who requested anonymity said the grenade was thrown from a moving vehicle.

Dadaab has sheltered Somalians fleeing violence and drought for more than 20 years, and their numbers currently stand at nearly half a million.

Attacks have increased within Kenya since Nairobi sent army soldiers into southern Sudan to fight Somalia's Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents in late 2011.

Similar attacks and cross-border raids in the region have been blamed on the insurgents or their Kenyan supporters, who have vowed revenge.

The Shebab still control large parts of southern Somalia, despite African Union troops, allied Somali forces and Ethiopian soldiers having wrested control of several key towns.

Kenyan troops, now integrated into the African Union force, seized the Shebab bastion of Kismayo, a key southern Somali port, in September. That led to warnings of retaliation from both the Islamist insurgents and their Kenyan supporters.

But the Shebab have denied involvement in previous similar bombings.

Violence in Kenya -- ranging from attacks blamed on Islamists, inter-communal clashes and a police crackdown on a coastal separatist movement -- have raised concerns over security ahead of elections due in March 2013.

Five years ago, elections descended into deadly post-poll killings that shattered Kenya's image as a beacon of regional stability.

In Somalia in 2011, famine caused by extreme drought exacerbated by conflict claimed tens of thousands of lives and affected more than four million people, according to the United Nations.

Over a million Somalis are displaced inside the country, while over a million are refugees in neighbouring nations, according to UN figures.

Somalia has been in political chaos and deprived of an effective central government since the fall of President Siad Barre in 1991.

However, a new administration took office last September, ending eight years of transitional rule by a corruption-riddled government.

In recent months, the 17,000-strong African Union force, fighting alongside government troops and Ethiopian soldiers, have wrested a string of key towns off the extremist Shebab.

The United Nations in December appealed for $1.3 billion (one billion euros) to support 3.8 million people -- about half the population of the war-torn country -- it said are in need.

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Kenyan among 10 convicted in Ethiopia over Qaeda links - News - nation.co.ke

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Somali Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab members ride a truck in Mogadishu on November 16. 2010. A Kenyan is among 10 people convicted by an Ethiopian court of having links to the Al-Qaeda terrorist group and of money laundering. 

By AFP
Posted  Tuesday, January 1  2013 at  15:40

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NAIROBI

A Kenyan is among 10 people convicted by an Ethiopian court of having links to the Al-Qaeda terrorist group and of money laundering.

This is the first trial in Ethiopia for Al-Qaeda suspects and all but the Kenyan pleaded not guilty.

The convicts who were found guilty by Judge Bahru Darcha were charged in April under Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism legislation.

While the crimes carry a maximum penalty of death, prosecutors requested a sentence of life in prison with defence lawyers saying that they would appeal.

The court will hand the convicts their sentence on January 15.

Rights groups have criticized Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism law for being vague and used to stifle peaceful dissent.

Since introduced in 2009, all people accused under the legislation have been found guilty, including two Swedish journalists who were jailed last year and pardoned in September.

Prominent blogger Eskinder Nega and leading opposition member Andualem Arage were among 24 people convicted on terrorism-related charges last year.

Both are appealing the ruling.

Barriers for Kenyan firms to invest in Ethiopia removed

NAIROBI; KENYA: Ethiopia has reviewed its foreign policy with the Kenya to include trade between the two economies.

Previously, the relationship focused on politics and security leaving out trade — which is a key component in economic development.

Visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on Thursday said his government had signed up a special status agreement with Kenya as commitment to ease trade between the two countries.

“Our relationship with Kenya was purely based on politics and security matters at the exclusion of trade, which is a key component of our economies,” Desalegn noted.

“The reforms we are championing will address various bottlenecks to allow private sector easily invest in the two countries and improve on the bi-lateral trade,” he said, while calling on Kenyan government to also re-work its investment policies to encourage Ethiopian investors.

Ethiopia is looking to tap into hospitality, manufacturing, input, metal and engineering sectors to grow its economy, which has been on an upward growth of 11 per cent over the last nine years.

Last year, Kenya’s exports to Ethiopia stood at $56.4 million while imports from Ethiopia were worth $4.3 million. Kenya’s Foreign Minister Prof Sam Ongeri said the agreement is expected to see local institutions venture into Ethiopia.

“The agreement is critical because it facilitates Kenyan investors to access the over 130 million people within the two countries to grow their businesses,” Ongeri said.

“The special status agreement will provide a framework for engagement with bilateral investors particularly in the development of areas such as agri-processing, financial services, distributive trade, science technology and innovation, and the higher education,” Ongeri said.

State banks

However, even as they inked the deal, the Ethiopia Prime Minister let out what will keep some sections of the private sector waiting before planning any expansions in the region’s most populous nation.

Specifically, local banks seeking to expand to other countries in the region might have to wait a little longer before venturing into Ethiopia.

Ethiopia runs several State banks offering affordable credit against no collateral at all – necessarily making the business of lending unattractive to private banks.

According to Desalegn, this position is not about to change. “Africa has lagged behind in development by allowing private sector to dominate its financial services. They often restrict access to credit through unrealistic procedures,” he said.

 “The policy of State banks offering loans at no collateral with borrowers only footing certain percentage of credit makes it difficult for private financial institutional to operate,” he acknowledged.

Security tops agenda as Ethiopia PM visits Kenya Capital News »

Security tops agenda as Ethiopia PM visits Kenya

Posted by OLIVE BURROWS on November 22, 2012

Kenya is among the first countries that Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has visited since his inauguration two months ago/MIKE KARIUKI

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 22 – The men in black keep their eyes peeled for any suspicious activity.

The safety of not one but two regional leaders lies in their hands.

It has not been the most secure of times in the East Africa region and it is to this that President Kibaki and the Ethiopian Prime Minister Desalegn directed their statements Wednesday at State House.

“During our discussions, we also reaffirmed our commitment to work closely in addressing challenges to security and peace in the region and especially in tackling terrorism, piracy, human trafficking and other organised crimes,” President Kibaki said.

Kenya is among the first countries that Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has visited since his inauguration two months ago taking over from the late Meles Zenawi who had been in office for 21 years.

Desalegn had served as Zenawi’s Deputy Prime Minister.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister shared President Kibaki’s sentiments saying, “Kenya and Ethiopia can lead the IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] region. Joining hands so that we can secure peace and stability in this sub-region which all of you know is a troublesome area.”

Both leaders agreed that the Kenyan led military incursion into Somalia was an important step in securing the region.

“We see the light at the end of the tunnel where Somali is now being stabilised by the joint effort of Ethiopia and Kenya along with our brothers from the region,” Desalegn continued.

President Kibaki was also optimistic that the appointment of a Prime Minister and Cabinet in Somalia last month, would bode well for the region.

“We welcomed the election of a new government in Somalia as an important step towards the realisation of peace and stability in the country.”

Prime Minister Desalegn acknowledged Kenya’s role in restoring order to the former Al Shabaab strong hold Somalia.

“We thank the government and people of Kenya for sacrificing their beloved children in Somalia for the peace and stability in that country.”

In the face of increased terror activity in the country; the bombing of a mini-bus in Eastleigh Sunday and the shooting of three soldiers in Garissa Monday, the statesmen’s statements come as no surprise.

President Kibaki also expressed concern over the hostile relations between Sudan and the newly independent South Sudan.

“We exchanged views on the recent conflict between these two countries. We underscored the need for these neighbours to stay the course of the agreements signed following recent negotiations and urge them to resolve all outstanding issues within the timeframe given by the African Union Peace and Security Council.”

The two nations came out of the longest running civil war in 2005 with South Sudan becoming independent of Sudan in July of 2011.

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