Rights groups condemn plans for immunity of African leaders

A general view shows delegates attending the 50th African Union Anniversary Summit in Addis Ababa on May 25, 2013 (Photo Credit: Press TV).

African leaders through their justice ministers and attorney generals are creeping their feet towards considering a draft protocol that would give leaders immunity on grave crimes against humanity.

These justice ministers and attorney generals of the AU are scheduled to meet in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia May 15-16 to consider a draft protocol to expand the authority of the African Court on Justice and Human Rights to include criminal jurisdiction over genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Also, a proposal providing immunity for heads of state and senior government officials from prosecution for such crimes is being considered as part of the amended protocol.

But African human rights organisations from 19 countries and a host of international human rights organisations working in Africa have said the plan to give immunity to sitting government leaders before the Court would be a major setback for justice for grave crimes.

They said the plan would also harm the regional court in a letter to African governments on Monday. 

GPU condemns jailing of Ethiopian journalists and bloggers

Ethiopia is one of the worst countries for journalists in Africa under the leadership of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn - Ethiopia 2012 - World Economic Forum on Africa 2011 (Photo credit: World Economic Forum)

The Gambia Press Union, GPU, Saturday strongly condemns the Ethiopian government’s crackdown and jailing of nine journalists and bloggers and called for their immediate and unconditional release.

 

The message was part of coordinated efforts through the pan-African journalists’ body, the Federation of African Journalists, FAJ, in solidarity with colleagues in Ethiopia, one of the worst countries for journalists in Africa.

“Our hearts also beat in unison with the hearts of journalists experiencing unthinkable predicaments in Egypt, Somalia and Ukraine.

“…and journalists facing hard times and those who died in their duties in other parts of the world for doing their job and telling truth to power,” says Baboucarr Ceesay, GPU’s 1^st vice president.

The West is saying a ‘bunch of rubbish’

According to Jammeh, anywhere you should stand as an African all what the West think of is that you are either HIV positive, a drug dealer or a dictator.

African leaders have now realised they must work together

In Addis, Jammeh told the AU Assembly that without peace and stability, anything they desire will become an elusive dream (Photo credit: SEYLLOU/AFP).

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Swedish journalists Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye appear on state television. (ETV/YouTube)