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African Media Coverage
November 1-15, 2009
Rwanda: The New Times
Gen. Nyamvumba Decries Logistical Mismatches Within Darfur Mission
Published: 13 November 2009
Lt. Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba is the current overall Commander of the United Nations/African Union Mission in Darfur, a peace keeping force overseeing a shaky ceasefire in the war torn Sudanese region.
He was recently in Kigali for a short holiday and The New Times Arthur Asiimwe caught up with him to discuss about his new job in one of the most troubled regions of the world.
In the interview, he talks about his plans, his hopes and expectations during his initial one year tour of duty. Below are the excerpts.
You have been in Darfur probably for the last 2 to 3 months if am right, what has been your experience so far?
To be precise, 73 days, before I came for leave it was 66 days. It's a very interesting job in the sense that we have a considerable number of troop and police contributing countries. So there's quite some diversity and a rich experience to pick from. The experience that comes with working in a multinational environment is always enriching.
Definitely, there are some difficulties but these are challenges that come along with such a job. I could say the challenges are manageable.
Read the article here.
Nigeria: Daily Champian
Seadogs Want Al-Basir Handed Over to ICJ
Published: 2 November 2009
National Association of Seadogs (NAS) aka Pirates Confraternity, Cross River State chapter has called on the African Union (AU) to hand-over Al-Bashir of Sudan to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in The Hague, Switzerland, for trial over his war-crime records and murderous disposition to the helpless people of Darfur.
NAS said the call became necessary as Al-Bashir has rebuffed the apex court's invitation, even several months after it declared him wanted.
The President of NAS International, Calabar chapter, Mr. Emmanuel Dada, in a press briefing, in Calabar, the state capital, noted that the association had since 1952 been involved in the struggle for the enthronement of a just and egalitarian society where no one would be a victim of oppression on account of his race, belief, language, colour and affiliation, the reason he said the association got affiliated with the United Nations (UN) and incorporated to do business in all parts of the world.
Read the article here.
Kenya: The East African
Obama adopts carrot and stick on Sudan, Kenya
Published: 2 November 2009
The Obama administration’s new “incentives and pressure” policy toward S Sudan confirms that it will resort to punishing errant African governments only after diplomatic engagement has failed.</
In announcing the results of a lengthy policy review, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last month that Washington is rejecting the option of isolating Khartoum.
Instead, the US is offering to bestow unspecified rewards on the Sudanese government if it makes progress toward settling the Darfur conflict and if it abides by the terms of a peace agreement that could result in the secession of the South.
Punishments — also unspecified — will be imposed if Sudan does not respond positively to these offers, Mrs Clinton said.
This relationship is being supported by activist groups that had earlier been critical of a more conciliatory approach advocated by Scott Gration, the Obama administration’s special envoy for Sudan.
Read the article here. | 
