04 June 2021
Namibia: Even if Germany’s recognition of the 1904-08 genocide is “the first time a former colonial power has officially offered an apology to another country for state sponsored mass crimes”, the compromise declaration negotiated amongst the two governments “displays glaring shortcomings in being overly cautious to avoid any legal implications for Germany that may create a precedent.” There cannot be reconciliation if representatives of affected communities are excluded. The German government is afraid of “opening the door for reparations”: besides possible claims from other former colonies, there are “pending claims by Greece, Italy and Poland for compensation for mass atrocities committed by German soldiers from World War II.” Promising just 37m euros annually in development aid for the next 30 years only means adding insult to injury, as Ovaherero paramount chief Vekuii Rukoro put it. And finally: more important than coming to Namibia, as planned, the German president should rather go the Bundestag and tell people there loud and clear that he apologises for the genocide in Namibia in 1904-08.
https://theconversation.com/namibian-genocide-why-germanys-bid-to-make-amends-isnt-enough-161820
Kenya: The battle between the judiciary and the country’s president continues. Yesterday Thursday, Mr Kenyatta confirmed the appointment of only 34 out of 41 judges recommended by the Judicial Service Commission two years ago. Two court orders had in the meantime required him to accept eh commission’s recommendations. “(L)egal experts say the president can’t change the list of nominees or reject the recommendations, and has no choice but to confirm all the JSC's appointments.” But disobeying court orders seems among his habits.
BBC Africa Live 04 June 2021. 7:35
Chad/Central African Republic: Fresh clashes between the two countries’ armies have been reported only six days after the death of 6 Chadians and 3 Russians in fighting at a Chadian border post. The situation remains tense. Chad is reinforcing its positions at the Borders with CAR.
BBC Africa Live 04 June 2021. 5:31
Chad/African Union: Not to suspend Chad from the African Union will not help Chadians and may harm the African Union, its reputation of dealing with undemocratic changes of government.
The second ISS article (second link) gives a list of the 14 countries suspended by the African Union between 2003 (Central African Republic) and 2020 (Mali) whenever soldiers seized power. “In fact, the PSC (the African Union’s Peace and Security Council) has suspended any state where the military or armed groups have clearly grabbed power over the past 20 years”.
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/au-balancing-act-on-chads-coup-sets-a-disturbing-precedent
https://issafrica.org/pscreport/psc-insights/the-au-reneges-on-its-stance-against-coups-detat
Sudan: An ISS “report reveals that the current transition has followed a similar trajectory to the 1964-1965 and 1985-1986 power transfers.” Maybe lessons could be learnt from these past experiences. Both of these led to the election of civilian governments – but both of these were ousted within four years by other coups. The mistakes made in both cases included insufficient attention to economic crises that had prompted masses to protest, then peace deals with armed groups weren’t honoured, then there is “the lack of a shared vision for Sudan among political elites” (presently discord in the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) alliance), and finally that “major concessions made with the military ultimately disempower civilian actors.”
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/without-unity-of-purpose-sudan-faces-another-failed-transition
Download the report on: https://issafrica.org/research/east-africa-report/sudanundefineds-transition-what-are-the-chances-of-success
03 June 2021
South Africa: In connection with a USD1.8m fraud scheme, South Africa has asked Interpol for help to arrest Atul Gupta plus wife (Chetali) and Rajesh Gupta plus wife (Arti), who are at the centre of the Zuma state capture scandal.
BBC Africa Live 03 June 2021. 17:06
Namibia: At the beginning of the 20th century, German colonisers killed about 80% of the Ovaherero and over 40% of the Nama. Germany has last week recognised that this was genocide and has promised 1.1bn euros in development aid over the next 30 years. In a new statement, Germany now “apologises and bows before the descendants of the victims” and “says some of the development projects will benefit the ‘descendants of the particularly affected communities, in line with their identified needs’ and will be implemented in consultation with them.” This is obviously a reaction to criticism that Ovaherero and Nama had not been consulted and the rejection of the deal between the two states by Ovaherero and Nama.
BBC Africa Live 03 June 2021. 13:13