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INSIDE AFRICA
Update on Humanitarian Crises in Africa
Aired May 17, 2008 - 12:30:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Isha Sesay. Welcome to INSIDE AFRICA, your weekly window to the continent. This week we examine developments in some high-profile humanitarian crises around the continent, including efforts to get internally displaced Kenyans to go home, Somalia on the brink of famine and a surprising rebel incursion in Sudan.
We'll also talk to the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe about his tour of hospitals and an alleged torture camp outside Harare.
We begin in Kenya, where the unity government is trying to restore normalcy following a spasm of political violence that broke out in the final days of last year. More than 1,000 people were killed and about 300,000 people were forced to flee their homes. Now, the government is promising them extra security if they go back, but as David McKenzie reports, many of the displaced no longer trust their leaders.
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DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Kenyan government promised to pull out all the stops to get them back home, and it certainly has impressive hardware. Operation Return Home is a military operation spanning much of the country. But those waiting at this camp in Moro (ph) aren't sure that they want to live.
SERIPHA NYAWIRA, DISPLACED PERSON (through interpreter): We are being hurried by the government to leave. Even some have left without knowing where they're going.
MCKENZIE: We heard the same story throughout this camp. People want to go home, but many don't have homes to go to. They want assurances from the Kenyan government that they will get shelter, safety and compensation.
KATEE MWANZA, DISTRIC COMMISSIONER: (inaudible) they feel uncomfortable going back to their farms. They're free to stay there until they feel it is safe.
MCKENZIE: But many of these displaced say they're being pushed out before they're ready.
ANDREW NYAMWAU, DISPLACED PERSON: I was given no tent because the ones who (inaudible) the tent knew that I had nowhere else to go. So if they want to take me out of here, they have to show me where to go, if really they care about their people.
MCKENZIE: The continuing bitterness (ph) between rival tribes makes their former homelands unsafe. Sarafina Nyambura says she doesn't trust the government. During the election, she was attacked and almost died.
SARAFINA NYAMBURA, DISPLACED PERSON (through interpreter): I'm not happy at all. Since we heard the people are going back home, I can't sleep because of what we saw.
MCKENZIE: She says she's staying put in this camp and will never return home.
The displaced are afraid to go home because they come into places like this. This road is a border region between two tribes. On this side, it's the Kalenjin, and they're afraid to go over to the other side of the road. The side over here is the Kikuyu tribe. Such is the mistrust of this election that people won't even cross the road.
"They can kill us when we go across", says this man, on the one side of the road. Walk across to the other side and you get the same story. "Exactly," he says, without talking to each other.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They must kill you.
MCKENZIE: The displaced farms, he says, are on this road, and if the displaced go back to their farms, at night they'll have to fear because they will remember the things that happened and could happen again. These are ugly reminders that the tribalism that exploded after election has yet to subside. At the camp, one truckload of people is convinced to leave, but the other three trucks stayed empty. They face an uncertain future as reports of displaced people in the area being attacked emerge, despite the government assurances. So many thousands still refuse to go home.
David McKenzie, CNN, Rift Valley, Kenya.
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SESAY: Relief workers say an already dire humanitarian crisis in Somalia is getting worse. Coming up, we'll examine the factors contributing to hunger in this failed state and prospects for peace.
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SESAY: Welcome back to INSIDE AFRICA. Somalia is the scene of what has been called the worst humanitarian crisis in Africa. Now, the U.N. says it's about to get worse. Escalated violence and a global food crisis have combined to put much of the country on the brink of famine. Our partner network ITN recently sent a videographer to a clinic for malnourished children on the edge of Mogadishu. John Sparks filed this report using those images, and we must warn you, some viewers may find them distressing.
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JOHN SPARKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just a few minutes past 8:00, the clinic in Afgoye. It hasn't been opened for long, but it's already full. Hundreds of young children and their anxious parents jostle for space and clamor for treatment. There are 80 beds here for the severely malnourished. Every one has an occupant. Dazed and immobile, these children are the product of prolonged starvation. Their condition worsened by fever, diarrhea and dysentery. This is Somalia, war-torn, ungovernable and on the edge.
KENNETH LAVELLE, DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS: The situation in Somalia today is verging on the catastrophic. During the last three to four weeks, we have seen a 200 percent increase in the number of children admitted to our nutrition projects, and these children are coming from further and further away.
SPARKS: More than 1,000 children now journey to this modest facility every week, their diet supplemented with the high-protein peanut paste. There are only a handful of clinics to do the job, though, and their responsibilities are growing.
LAVELLE: There is a perfect storm building. We're talking about the increases in the prices of the basic food commodities, some of which have increased by 150 to 200 percent, partly brought on because of the drought that is being experienced in certain parts of the country at the moment, and on top of that, we have a deteriorating security situation.
SPARKS: For 15 years, Somalia was a battleground, populated by powerful warlords, yet the worst fighting has come in the last 24 months. As Islamic regime was overthrown by neighboring Ethiopia, with American support, a bloody civil war rages largely on the streets of Mogadishu. Residents now call it "Baghdad on Sea (ph)." But there aren't many left. Some 700,000 have fled for their lives.
While torn from within, Somalia is not immune from global pressures. Rising food prices brought people out onto the streets last week. The main staples, if available, are out of reach for many now. Five were killed in the ensuing riots.
The man charged by the international community to bring stability to Somalia, the nominal president, Abdullahi Yusuf was in Paris, and he seemed far removed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You had riots this morning in your country. Two people were killed because of the famine.
ABDULLAHI YUSUF, INTERIM SOMALI PRESIDENT: What's happening today in Somalia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You had some .
YUSUF: I don't know what happened.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You had some riots.
SPARKS: Well, this is what's happening. We've obtained this U.N. analysis. Over the last three months, a huge swathe of the country turns red, designating a humanitarian emergency; 2.5 million people now at risk of starvation. A country close to famine, a clinic trying to cope -- images like this triggered a massive U.S. backed response 16 years ago, but that was then. This time Somalia is on its own.
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SESAY: That was ITN's John Sparks reporting.
The situation in Somalia is obviously dire. So, what if anything can be done to turn this around? I spoke with Colin Thomas-Jensen, a policy adviser with the Enough Project, about peace talks that have been going on in Djibouti.
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COLIN THOMAS-JENSEN, ENOUGH PROJECT: This is the United Nations new special representative, Mr. Ould Abdallah, Ambassador Ould Abdallah's first attempt at some sort of a mediation and a dialogue, and I think the parties are at this point waiting to see what's going to shake out on each side, very early.
The opposition right now is -- is a mix. It's a mix of, on the one hand, disaffected clans, those Somali clans who have been excluded from the TFG, and on the other hand the Islamist opposition, the makeup of the Islamic Courts which briefly has control of southern Somalia, as well as militias and clans that join the struggle. You have to deal with multiple factions with varying degrees of power, and quite often there is no obvious leaders to deal with.
SESAY: In the last couple of weeks, we have seen dreadful scenes emerge from Somalia of widespread bloodshed, and also hearing reports that Ethiopian troops have in their way played their part in perpetrating crimes. What are you hearing about Ethiopia's part in this?
THOMAS-JENSEN: Well, all parties to this conflict are guilty of crimes against humanity, and what we've seen from Ethiopians is widespread human rights abuses, including the indiscriminate bombings of neighborhoods in Mogadishu, and it's these policies that I think are contributing to -- one, a massive humanitarian crisis in the country; and two, a rising and growing opposition against the Ethiopian occupation that could ultimately lead to some very -- even more serious fighting across the country.
SESAY: When you look at this, and you put it in context that Ethiopia and Somalia have long had a troubled relationship, why do you think they're involved in this conflict?
THOMAS-JENSEN: Yeah, Ethiopia and Somalia are traditional enemies, and in this case Ethiopia saw the rise of the Islamic Courts, the irredentist claims that they were making on annexing parts of Ethiopia that are inhabited by ethnic Somalis as a threat. And as well as the threat of terrorism that could emanate from an Islamist government.
And so Ethiopia, acting on its own, but with support from -- from the U.S. and others, invaded Somalia to prop up a proxy government, the TFG, transitional federal government. We`re unlikely to see a change in Ethiopian support for the TFG in the near future, largely because the U.S., which is a huge player and has tremendous influence with Ethiopia, is not going to change its position in this administration.
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SESAY: Thomas-Jensen says that many Somalis consider the transitional federal government illegitimate.
We turn now to stunning news from Khartoum. When INSIDE AFRICA continues, rebels from Darfur reached the edge of the Sudanese capital. And still ahead, the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe has a run-in with Zimbabwean police during a fact-finding tour.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Making business news in Africa this week.
The U.S. Supreme Court says it will not intervene in a $400 billion anti- apartheid lawsuit. The suit filed on behalf of victims of South Africa's apartheid seeks damages from more than 50 multinational companies, including Ford, IBM and Deutsche Bank. They stand accused of doing business in South Africa before 1994, the year apartheid ended. Four of the nine justices recused themselves because they or family members hold stock in some of the companies. At least six justices are required to hear any case.
An investment continues to grow in Africa's already booming mobile phone industry. The U.N. says it expects mobile phone companies to increase their investment by 57 percent, to $55 billion over the next five years.
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SESAY: You're watching INSIDE AFRICA. Welcome back.
The conflict behind the humanitarian crisis in Darfur has taken a new discouraging turn with the surprise rebel attack on Khartoum. The Sudanese government says its forces quickly routed the rebels, but not before more than 200 people were killed. Security forces have been rounding up political opponents, including Islamist political leader Hassan Turabi (ph), a former associate of Osama bin Laden, and former backer of Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir. He's accused of aiding the rebels in their weekend offensive. As Richard Roth reports, prospects for ending this five-year old conflict anytime soon appear rather dim.
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RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Gun fire on the edge of Khartoum. Civilians run for their lives, as hundreds of rebel fighters from Darfur reach the outskirts of the capital, a stunning development and a first in this conflict. An angry Sudanese president announces a reward for the capture of the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement and breaks off relations with neighboring Chad.
OMAR AL-BASHIR, SUDANESE PRESIDENT (through translator): These forces came from Chad. They're trained and supported by Chad, they moved in from Chad, led by Khalil Ibrahim, who is nothing more than an agent of the Chadian regime. Therefore, we hold the Chadian regime fully responsible for what happened.
ROTH: The U.N. Security Council voiced its disapproval of the rebel incursion, and called on Sudan and Chad to honor a non-aggression deal signed earlier this year.
JOHN SAWERS, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: The Security Council strongly condemns the attacks of 10 May, perpetrated by the Justice and Equality Movement against the Sudanese government in Omdurman and urges all parties to cease violence immediately, respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, and commit to a peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues.
ROTH: This latest rebel offensive has a familiar ring to it. In February, rebels attacked Chad's capital and attempted to oust its president. Tens of thousands of Chadians were forced to flee to neighboring Cameroon before the assault was put down. Chad immediately pointed the finger at Sudan.
The U.N.'s Undersecretary for Peacekeeping Operation is calling for political solution in Darfur, but he doesn't sound optimistic.
JEAN-MARIE GU HENNO, U.N. UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL: The parties are not demonstrating the political will abandon the military option and engage in negotiations, or fully cooperate with the international (ph) humanitarian community.
ROTH: For months, the U.N. has tried to get Darfur rebel groups to sit down for new peace talks with the Sudanese governments. Most, including the JEM, have refused. At a government-organized protest in Khartoum this week, Sudan's president also ruled it out.
So now, after five years of fighting, with more than 200,000 people dead, and at least 2.5 million displaced, the warring sides appear to be as far apart as ever. Richard Roth, CNN, New York.
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SESAY: Zimbabwean police confront the U.S. ambassador and the convoy of diplomats. After a short break, ambassador James McGee tells us what he found when investigating alleged human rights abuses, and describes that run-in with police. Stay with INSIDE AFRICA.
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SESAY: Welcome back to INSIDE AFRICA. Here is a quick look at some other stories making headlines around the continent.
At The Hague, the highest ranking witness to date has taken the stand in the war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor. Former Liberian Vice President Moses Blah says he was among dozens of rebels recruited by Taylor for training in Libya in the late `80s. Taylor has pleaded not guilty to charges including rape, torture and enlisting child soldiers.
And in South Africa, immigrants in one of Johannesburg's largest townships sought protection at a police station after being targeted in several nights of clashes. Authorities say at least two people were killed and about 60 injured in mob violence, mostly aimed at Zimbabweans.
The United Nations says violence inside Zimbabwe is reaching crisis levels ahead of a presidential runoff. And U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee says he has witnessed evidence of that firsthand. McGee was part of a convoy of diplomats that visited an alleged torture camp, as well as hospitals treating victims of recent post-election violence. The group ran afoul of Zimbabwean authorities. They were detained not once but twice. We have some exclusive CNN video from the outing.
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SESAY: On the outskirts of Harare, hospital beds filled with the injured. Battered and bruised, they lie in plain view as a group of diplomats investigate allegations of torture in the Zimbabwean countryside.
JAMES MCGEE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ZIMBABWE: We do now have concrete prove of what's happening out in the countryside in Zimbabwe. And I think that the government will have to listen to that.
SESAY: Among the diplomats in the convoy, U.S. Ambassador James McGee. He says he's received reports of at least 20 deaths and more than 700 separate incidents of political violence in the past month and a half. All this as Zimbabwe prepares for a presidential runoff.
MCGEE: The election will take care of itself. We'll take a look at that when it does happen. Right now, the key issue is stopping the violence, making sure that people of Zimbabwe are safe.
SESAY: McGee says the main source of the violence and political intimidation is Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party. But a top U.N. official in the country says both sides are at fault, and that the number of attacks is nearing crisis level.
AGUSTINO ZACARIAS, U.N. REPRESENTATIVE TO ZIMBABWE: There is an emerging pattern of the political violence, inflicted mainly but not exclusively on rural supporters of the opposition MDC party. However, there are also some reports indicating that MDC supporters are also resorting to violence and intimidation.
SESAY: McGee says he experienced intimidation by Zimbabwean police firsthand during the convoy's tour. The group says it was stopped twice by police officers and threatened before leaving without incident. Asked about McGee's comments, the Zimbabwean government would only tell CNN that it was, quote, "not concerned with the matter."
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SESAY: Shortly before going to air, I had a chance to talk to the ambassador by phone from Harare. I asked him specifically what he found during his fact-finding tour.
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MCGEE: We went to an alleged torture camp for our first stop. At that camp, we found several documents listing people who had been tortured, confessions that were taken from these people. Also, a list of people that the -- that these folks were looking for.
The victims were not there. Our indication was that the torture camp operates at night. We arrived about 8:00 o'clock in the morning, were able to find these notebooks and talk to three of the people who worked at the torture camp. They of course denied knowing anything, but one colleague of mine and myself were able to go around the back, while others were engaging these folks in conversation, and found these incriminating notebooks.
SESAY: Have you presented you findings to the Zimbabwean government and what's been their response?
MCGEE: I tried to present the finding to the Zimbabwean government yesterday. They refused to accept it.
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SESAY: Ambassador McGee says he found no evidence of violence perpetrated by the main opposition party. Zimbabwean state-run newspaper says Ambassador McGee is just trying to demonize the government of President Robert Mugabe.
Now, it might be an understatement to call our next story a meeting of the minds. British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking met former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg. Hawking praised Mandela for helping to end apartheid peacefully, calling the accomplishment, quote, "one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century."
Hawking is in South Africa to launch an initiative called the Next Einstein. Its goal is to find and train promising scientists and mathematicians around Africa.
And there, we must leave this week's show. I`ll be back next week with a brand-new edition of INSIDE AFRICA. Thanks for watching.
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