Increasing violence between guerillas and government forces in Central African Republic (CAR) has displaced an estimated 220,000 people, including 150,000 “internally displaced persons” (IDPs) and 66,000 refugees who have fled to Chad and Cameroon. In December, France sent special forces… Read moreDisplacement crisis, French intervention in Central African Republic
The potential for Iraqi Kurdistan to be the flashpoint for a wider regional conflict is becoming increasingly clear. On March 1, a former member of the Turkish National Security Council (MGK) weighed in on the brewing crisis in Kirkuk, which… Read moreTurkey rattles sabre at Iraqi Kurds; Kurdish guerillas attack Iran
Pakistan’s daily Dawn reports March 2 that the country’s security forces have captured Mullah Obaidullah Akhund, deputy to the elusive Taliban chief, Mullah Mohammad Omar. The newspaper cited a government official in Quetta, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Mullah… Read morePakistan cracking down on Taliban —or backing them?
Authorities in Somalia’s autonomous Puntland region arrested four men Feb. 27 in connection with the Feb. 25 hijacking of a ship delivering relief food. But four other hijackers are still holding the ship and 12-member crew. World Food Program (WFP)… Read morePuntland pinches protein pirates
Morocco has announced it will present an autonomy plan for Western Sahara to the United Nations next month in hopes of ending the three-decade conflict. The plan would give the occupied territory a parliament, a chief of state, cabinet and… Read moreWestern Sahara: Morocco proposes autonomy
On Feb. 27, the Polisario Front’s special mine action team destroyed 3,321 anti-personnel mines in Tifariti, Western Sahara. This was the Polisario Front’s second stockpile destruction since it signed the “Deed of Commitment for Adherence to a Total Ban on… Read morePolisario Front destroys landmines; Morocco holds out
An Algerian army captain was killed Feb. 28 and another officer seriously injured in an attack near the village of Ain Rich, outside the city of Djelfa. Officials said the Mohadjrine Falange, a wing of the Salafist Group for Preaching… Read moreAlgeria: Salafists escalate attacks
Dear WW4 REPORT Readers: We hate to extend our winter fund drive into the first month of spring, but we really do have to at least make our first thousand before we call it off. We are $200 short. The… Read moreWW4 Report winter fund drive enters final month —we hope!
1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu, a defender of Guatemala’s Maya people during the genocide of the late 1970s and ’80s, will run in the nation’s September presidential election with the Juntos por Guatemala (Together for Guatemala) party and… Read moreGuatemala: Rigoberta Menchu announces presidential bid
Jorge Huenchullan, a Mapuche leader detained Feb. 17 in a violent police operation in Temucuicui, Chile, was transfered to Algol prison after a court in Collipulli declared him a fugitive from justice. The court cited an outstanding arrest order against… Read moreChile: Mapuche leader arrested
Ecuador’s Economy Minister Ricardo Patiño announced Feb. 28 that the previous day’s congressional vote to reduce debt service assignments in the $9.8 billion national budget by $283.4 million has spurred the government’s debt restructuring plans. Patiño said an auditing commission… Read moreEcuador to reduce debt payments; protests push constitutional reform
Our February issue featured the story “Presidents in the Dock: An End to Africa’s Reign of Impunity?” by Michael Fleshman, a reprint from the UN publication Africa Journal. Our February Exit Poll was: “Why are Africa’s ex-dictators Charles Taylor (Liberia)… Read moreThe vagaries of international justice: our readers write
