Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 7 May 2009 — Page 16

Page 16 • The Muncie Times • May 7, 2009

AFRICAN BRIEFS

Opposition parties ponder future after ANC sores resounding victory GIN) —Opposition parties took stock of dismal vote totals after ballot counting for South Africa's fourth democratic elections gave a solid victory to the ruling African National Congress (ANC). "Why did we do so poorly?" asked Koos van der Merwe of the Inkatha Freedom Party, as ballot results showed the party's support dropped from more than 2 million votes in the first democratic elections in 1994, to just more than 540,000 by Friday morning, “We should ask ourselves, are we still needed?” The only "old" opposition party faring well was the Democratic Alliance which received 16.66 percent of votes with 2,945,829 South Africans backing the party. The newcomers the Congress of the People, a breakaway party from the ruling ANC, received 7.42 percent with 1,311,027 votes. South African writer William Gumede offered one explanation for the ANC triumph. Although little has changed for most black South Africans, who still contend with poverty, joblessness and homelessness, these conditions were blamed on the former president, Thabo Mbeki. The new ANC, insisted President-elect Jacob Zuma, is pro-poor, democratic and less corrupt.

“In fact,” says Gumede, “Zuma successfully tapped into a dramatic change in the mood of South Africa's poor black majority living in sprawling shantytowns across the country. This group, forgotten by the elite, has run out of patience, and is now demanding economic dividends of South Africa’s democracy.” Zuma is unlikely to have the same honeymoon period that previous ANC governments enjoyed. Likewise, if Zuma does not deliver, the poor will turn against him in the same way that Mbeki was ousted. The inauguration takes place May 9 at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Somali leader from 2-year self exile (GIN)—Another major Islamist leader has returned to Somalia, taking advantage of the political space that opened up since the U.S.-led war on this East African nation came to an end. Islamist opposition leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys spent 2 years in Eritrea after Ethiopian troops ousted his movement, the Union of Islamic Courts in 2007. Unlike his fellow Islamic Courts leader, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who assumed the presidency after taking part in U.N.-sponsored talks, Aweys is considered a terrorist. In Somalia, however, he is still considered the spir-

itual leader of all Islamist groups and is seen by many as being the country's real kingmaker. In a recent speech, Aweys attacked President Sharif as an appointee of the enemies of Somalia. African Union peacekeepers in Somalia were "bacteria" who should leave, he said, or he will fight them. Members of the radical Islamist group al-Shabab were said to have been at his welcoming rally and reliable sources say that Aweys is talking to its leadership and other Islamist groups, including the newly formed umbrella organization Hisbul Islam or Islamic Party. Meanwhile, the Somali parliament has changed the law so that anyone who fights against Sharif is guilty of fighting against Islam. Nigerian soldiers face life in prison (GIN)-A group of Nigerian peacekeeping troops were sentenced this week to life in jail over a non-violent protest for what they claimed was thousands owed in back pay. The 28 soldiers, including four women, claimed they were owed as much as $25,000 each by the army. Earlier this year, the same court found five officers guilty of stealing $68,000 meant for the peacekeepers. In the protest last July, the soldiers were observed waving leafy branches and

singing songs. But the court martial in Lagos said the protest breached military discipline. Peter Adonu, of the soldiers' legal team, said they would appeal the verdict. The protest was a pay dispute, not a mutiny and never posed a threat to state security, he said. Nigerian troops have been part of the peacekeeping forces in Liberia since 1990 when they were brought in by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to stop a civil war there. Human rights group urges Guinea to restrain soldiers

(GIN)—Guinea's new military junta must rein in soldiers who have carried out armed robbery, extortion and rape since the new government took power in a December coup, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report on Monday. Witnesses quoted in the report described heavily armed soldiers raiding offices, shops, clinics and homes in broad daylight. At night they stole cars, computers, cash and jewelry and threatened judges to try to influence rulings. Guinean army captain Moussa Dadis Camara seized power in the world's biggest bauxite exporter in December after the death of longstanding leader Lansana Conte. Camara's National Council for Development and Democracy junta,

which vowed to end corruption and restore the rule of law, was broadly welcomed at first but increasingly erratic behavior by its leaders have fomented concerns of instability. "The coup seems to have opened up a rash of abuses by the military; the impunity enjoyed by these soldiers must come to an end," said Corinne Dufka, HRW's senior West Africa researcher. "The coup leaders need to bring the rank and file under control, and ensure those responsible for these abuses are promptly investigated and prosecuted." she said. Global Information Network distributes news and feature articles on Africa and the developing world to mainstream, alternative, ethnic and minority-owned outlets in the U.S. and Canada. Our goal is to increase the perspectives available to readers in North America and to bring into their view information about global issues that are overlooked or underreported by mainstream media. For more information, contact Lisa Vives Executive Director Global Information Network 146 West 29th Street Suite 7E New York, NY 10001 www. globalinfo. org 212-244-3123 (voice) 212-244-3522 (fax)