Violence and conflict Archives:
Is Kenya’s coalition doomed?
Recent reports that militia groups - armed, funded, trained and supported by leading politicians - are growing in strength in Kenya is a major blow to the country’s political stability. During the December 2007 and January 2008 election violence, ethnic militias terrorized opponents in the Rift Valley. Rift Valley province is really the open sore [...]
Will the economic downturn push Sierra Leone back to war?
Recent news reports from Sierra Leone, a country where I’ve worked since 2004, aren’t looking good. Youth unemployment is sky high, at 60 percent. And these aren’t just any old youth. Many are former soldiers in the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) or the Sierra Leone Army (SLA), groups that terrorized civilians during the country’s brutal [...]
Will the ICC’s indictment bring peace to Sudan?
The International Criminal Court in The Hague today ordered the arrest of Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir, the first time they’ve brought such charges against an acting head of state, for his active backing of violence against civilians in the Darfur region.
This is huge step forward for international justice, and may make future tyrants think twice [...]
Guinea Bissau’s President assassinated
A violent day in African politics: President Vieira of Guinea Bissau was assassinated today, only months after a near fatal attack. The country has long been home ground to economic gangsters - including drug traffickers and rapacious army leaders. I wonder whether violent attacks of this kind, as well as coups, civil wars, and election [...]
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