Sudan news update – Reactions to Bin Laden death expose ‘terror links’

KHARTOUM REACTION ON BIN LADEN DEATH ‘EXPOSES TERROR FRIENDS’

The news from Khartoum, that senior officials and members of parliament of the ruling NCP described Osama Bin Laden as a ‘martyr’ and a ‘holy fighter’ brought about instant condemnation by a wide section of the Southern Sudanese leadership. The soon to be independent South Sudan has fought a long war against oppression and slavery but also against the unilateral imposition of Sharia Law on the mostly Christian Southern population, and forced the regime in Khartoum to concede their losses when they had to sign the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in January 2005 in Kenya.

Since then an uneasy relationship, marked by ups and downs, had the two erstwhile enemies ‘co-exist’ but while Khartoum hang on to its old and devious ways, the South progressively parted with the North’s failed policies, amongst them their firm stand against global terrorism.

The South, committed to fight this evil, aligned itself with a broad anti terror coalition, leading to assurances that all sanctions would be lifted when the new country is born on the 09^th of July, while the regime of ICC wanted Bashir continued to blow hot and cold on the issue.

The hysteric outbursts in Khartoum, following the breaking news that Osama was finally brought to justice, and chants in parliament, amongst other places of ‘Martyr Martyr’ are a dead giveaway now of the mindset of the Khartoum regime and one regular source in Juba said in an email message: ‘whereas there is no doubt on our commitment to stand with our allies and fight terrorism, the regime in Khartoum can again only be described as a partner in that global crime. How can senior officials be overheard to say Osama is a ‘holy fighter and martyr’ and they are not immediately sacked by Bashir. But that is the true Northern Sudan, and we here think that many allegations against the regime about supporting terror are true. That is why sanctions against them remain in place as state sponsor of terrorism’.

Only recently did the Israeli air force target a car inside Sudan, with terrorists planning attacks against Israel being eliminated when the car was struck by a guided missile launched from an Israeli fighter plane, and previously convoys carrying arms and ammunition for Gaza based terrorist organizations were likewise hit and eliminated as part of a forward defense against global terror activities.

Bin Laden was enjoying a glorious exile period in Khartoum between 1991 and 1996, courtesy of the Bashir regime, before being asked to leave by the regime. After the cruise missile attack on a Bin Laden factory fears also grew that this could be repeated against other, including regime targets, eventually compelling the Khartoum regime to publicly soften their stand on terrorism while behind the scenes their support allegedly continued to this day.

Said another source from Juba: ‘we cannot wait for independence to break with this regime in Khartoum. These outbursts are disgraceful, considering the mass murders Al Qaida committed under Bin Laden, and we in the South are better than that. We know Khartoum will try to punish us for being better than them, but our alliances are growing strong and we are no longer alone’.

Watch this space for future updates on South Sudan and the march towards full independence.

Kenya news update – Petrol shortage bites deep and hard

CRIPPLING FUEL SHORTAGE ATTRIBUTED TO HORDING AND PROFITEERING

A major fuel crisis has once again made life in Kenya even more difficult, as besides record prizes motorists now have to drive from station to station to find the precious liquid and then often queue for hours before eventually reaching the pumps.

Nairobi was particularly hard hit again, but other locations across the country reported difficulties too in getting fresh supplies. Safari operators, at least the leading companies, have for a while now stocked fuel, in their main depots and at strategic places across the safari circuit, to prevent any sudden ‘halt’ when taking tourists around the country, but a key source has expressed concern over the recurring shortages. He said in a message sent overnight: ‘for one it is our procurement process where new rules and regulations introduced last year seem to have had a negative effect on the free flow of petroleum products into the country. Secondly there is now strong suspicion of hoarding in hope of making unnaturally high profits on the commodity. Government should review their rules and regulations to cut out bureaucracy and red tape but also find and prosecute those causing artificial shortages. We in the sector are concerned because it can impact severely on tourism operations, and just imagine it were not the low season right now, imagine all our fleet were deployed on safari, it could be bad’.

Across the border in Uganda and other hinterland nations the market is bracing itself too for shortages, as when it happens in Kenya the effects are quick to spill over to neighbouring countries too.

Watch this space.

 

Kenya conservation news update – Poachers now target collared elephant

ELEPHANT POACHERS TARGET ‘COLLARED’ ANIMALS

Shocking news have emerged overnight from Kenya, where – as in many other African countries – poaching is again on the increase. In the dense forests of Mt. Kenya National Park, but even outside the official park boundaries, elephant have for times immemorial migrated through established ‘corridors’ to follow available food, although human population growth makes the ‘long migrations’ between Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains, or further up North through Samburu as far as Marsabit, ever more difficult now.

NGO’s dedicated to the protection of the elephant, and keen to study their now much restricted migration patterns, had last year fitted as many as 7 animals in the Mt. Kenya area with collars, to allow researchers gather data and increase the knowledge of where the elephant go, and when.

News therefore that the collared animals are now specifically targeted by poachers came as a shock to the conservation fraternity in Kenya and beyond, and it was confirmed yesterday that 4 out of the 7 are now dead. Reports from sources closely involved in the park and its protection have also confirmed that snares and traps are now common in the dense forests, where even well trained KWS rangers and wardens patrolling the park are finding it difficult to hunt down poachers.

Besides the loss of the animals, the loss of the expensive collars and subsequent loss of data collection is hurting conservation efforts and suspicion has grown that the targeted elimination of collared animals is only the tip of the iceberg, undertaken to conceal to the ‘watchers’ the true extent of poaching presently underway.

Efforts are being made to fit more elephant with electronic tags which can be monitored through satellite
GPS but for now all hands are on deck to determine how best to bring the poachers to book and stop the killings. Every source contacted in Kenya has also pointed fingers to the rocketing demand for blood ivory from China, and blamed the Chinese government for failing the international conservation community by sitting on their hands instead of introducing legislation with stiff fines and long prison terms for anyone found in the possession of ivory, processing ivory and illegally smuggling ivory into the country. That however, as and when the Chinese government yields to growing pressure and finally faces up to their international responsibilities, needs to be accompanied by making possession of ivory a social ill, unacceptable by the population and as shunned as wearing a coat made of Panda skins, something surely the Chinese will understand.

Meanwhile though are KWS and other Kenyan security organs faced with containing the gangs of poachers and eliminating them, lest the wildlife based tourism industry should suffer lasting damage, from loss of animals and the loss of reputation.

Watch this space.