United States Africa Command

Public Affairs Office

18 March 2010

USAFRICOM -related news stories

From the Beltway/ From and About Africa

US CIA director says al-Qaeda in Pakistan "seriously disrupted

U.S. drone attacks in Pakistans autonomous tribal area are "seriously disrupting al-Qaeda", the
top U.S. Intelligence official said late Wednesday. Central Intelligence Director (CIA) Leon
Panetta, in an interview with the Washington Post published late today, said the 22 U.S. drone
attacks this year in Waziristan on-going operations have driven al-Qaeda leaders Osama bin
Laden and others into deeper hiding. "Its pretty clear from all the intelligence we are getting that
they are having a very difficult time putting together any kind of command and control, that they
are scrambling," Panetta said.

US Yemen-American imam calls for US Muslim revolt

A Yemeni-American Muslim preacher known for his ties to extremists operating in the U.S.
called on American Muslims in a new audio message to turn against their government because of
its actions against Muslims around the world. Anwar al-Awlaki's latest message, excerpts of
which were aired on CNN Wednesday.

Diego Garcia US to strike Iran N-plants?

LONDON: Stepping up its preparations for a possible strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, the
United States is transporting hundreds of 387 'bunker-buster' bombs to its air base on the British
island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, a media report claimed on Wednesday. The US
government signed a contract in January with Superior Maritime Services to transport 10
ammunition containers to Diego Garcia from Concord, California, the Sunday Herald reported.

China steps up efforts to enhance relations with Africa

HARARE - China respects the sovereignty of African countries and will never interfere in their
internal politics, says a senior Chinese official. Speaking at a briefing on China-Africa relations,
Chinese foreign policy advisory group member Ji Peiding said Beijing respected the independent
choice of development path of African countries and never imposed its will on them. "China and
African countries have diversified, pragmatic and fruitful co-operation with 900 projects so far
undertaken and 310 amounts of debts for 35 counties having been cancelled in the last 10 years,"
he said. "We are helping Africa build financing capacity, opening up China’s market to African
products and enhancing co-operation in agriculture,” he said. China would provide medical
equipment and anti-malaria materials worth 500 million Renminbi to 30 hospitals and malaria
prevention and treatment centers it had built in Africa, he added. It would also train 3 00doctors
and nurses for Africa, he said. Ji said China would extend support towards human resources
development and education through building 50 China-Africa friendship schools as well as train
1,500 school principals and teachers from African countries. He said his country would also by
2012 increase the number of Chinese government scholarships for Africa to 5,500 as well as
train a total of 20,000 professionals in various fields over the next three years.
Nigerian Acting President dissolved divided Federal Cabinet
Abuja - Nigeria's acting president Goodluck Jonathan has dissolved this West African nation's
cabinet, a month after assuming the young democracy's highest office.

Nigeria: Ghadaffi is a Mad Man, Says senate leader

The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark Wednesday described the Libyan President,
Muammar Ghaddafi as a mad man who should not be taken seriously for making inflammatory
comments on Nigeria.

Nigeria let’s convoke confab on Ghadaffi’s proposal—Group

ABAKALIKI—THE Igbo Youth Movement, IYM, has called for the convocation of a
constitutional conference in view of the recent call by Libyan leader, Mammur Ghadaffi, that
Nigeria should split along religious lines. In a statement, yesterday, IYM President, Mr. Elliot
Ukoh, said that the call by Ghadaffi was instructive and reflective of global opinion on the future
of Nigeria in chat rooms all over the world, adding that Ghadaffi’s courage to say it out does not
mean that he was alone and that shouting him down won’t help Nigeria either.
Gabon opposition warns of coup
LIBREVILLE - The runner-up to Gabon's 2009 presidential polls this week warned that the
"general discontent" with President Ali Bongo within the year could lead to "Niger-like coup."
Government officials see the statement as a serious threat.

Madagascar AU Imposes Sanctions

Addis Ababa — The African Union peace and Security Council has imposed sanctions against
the Madagascar government on travel ban and diplomatic isolation. The AU hinted that
economic sanctions were on the pipeline.

Madagascar security forces block anti-govt protests

Madagascar's security forces fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse protesters opposed to the
regime of the country's strongman, Andry Rajoelina.

Somalia Dutch disarm Somali pirates

The Hague - Dutch marines disarmed 13 suspected Somali pirates at sea on Wednesday after
nabbing nine earlier this week, the defence ministry said.

Somalia al-shabab arrests journalists

In a statement received here Thursday, the global press freedom body said Mohamed Salad
Abdulle, of Somali Broadcasting Corporation and correspondent of Markabley radio in Kismayo
and Mohamed Abdikarim, a correspondent with Hornafrik and Markabley radio station were
arrested on Tuesday by the Al Shabaab Administration in Jubba and Gedo regions.

Uganda Trouble looming?

Kampala - The Coordinator of Intelligence Agencies, Gen. David Tinyefuza, has warned newly-
elected Uganda People’s Congress president Olara Otunnu that he risks being “crushed” if he
continues to incite the public on the Luweero killings. Gen. Tinyefuza hinted that the former UN
diplomat might also have to explain alleged links to the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels that
terrorised northern Uganda for about two decades. Debate has been raging on how many people
died as a result of the Luweero war that brought Museveni to power in January 1986.
Government estimates have put it at 300, 000 though some critics have questioned it.

Uganda army wounds seven as fire destroys royal tombs

Kampala - Ugandan security forces shot and wounded at least seven
people today after fire destroyed a royal tomb, heightening tensions
between the government and the powerful Bugandan kingdom. The
cause of the blaze which destroyed the thatched-roof mausoleum and
many centuries-old royal artefacts at the UNESCO World Heritage
Site has not been identified, but some angry protesters suspected foul play.

Uganda 3 dead in Uganda riots

Kampala - Ugandan security forces fatally shot three people in the capital during clashes with
rioters angry after the tombs of five traditional kings were destroyed overnight by fire, a tribal
government official said.

Rwanda U.S. Military Delegation Visits

Kigali — A fifteen- member delegation of military officers from the US Air Force arrived in the
country yesterday on a mission aimed at learning from Rwanda's institutional development. The
Commander of US Air Force College, Major General Robert Kane, told The New Times
yesterday, that the students would get first-hand information on the many success stories they
have heard about Rwanda.

DRC 600 Rwanda rebels nabbed in DRC

Kinshasa - More than 600 Rwandan Hutu rebels have been killed or captured since January in an
operation backed by the UN mission to the country, the DRC army said on Wednesday.

DRC LRA attacks kill 19

Kinshasa - At least 11 civilians and eight troops have died in attacks by Ugandan LRA rebels in
the northeast of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a local association said on Wednesday.
The attacks by the Lord's Resistance Army rebels took place between March 11 and 14 in
Bangadi, Duru and Dungu in Orientale province about 100 kilometres south of the border with
the Central African Republic.

Sudan 10 additional political parties sign electoral

ADDIS ABABA - Ten more Sudan's political parties as well as one grouping of political
organizations have adopted Tuesday the Sudan electoral code of conduct at a ceremony held in
Khartoum, the African Union (AU) told ENA in a statement on Wednesday. The parties join 16
other political parties including Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the National
Congress Party (NCP) as well as nine independents gubernatorial, 10 candidates of Southern
Sudan, who have already signed the code.

Western Sahara Film Exposes Slavery in Polisario governed Camps

One of the most controversial films shown at the recent Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival
(PAFF) was “Stolen,” which had its U.S. premier at the festival. The film tells the story of
slavery in the Polisario-governed refugee camps in Algeria. Polisario (Popular Front for the
Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Río de Oro), the nationalist movement fighting for the
independence of the Western Sahara from Morocco, has operated out of Tindouf, Algeria, since
the 1970s. The refugee camps at Tindouf now house an estimated 100,000 refugees.

Western Sahara UN envoy travels to region for talks

The envoy spearheading United Nations efforts to help resolve the dispute over the status of
Western Sahara is scheduled to arrive in Rabat, Morocco wednesday on the first leg of a nine-
day visit to the region. Mr. Ross will also visit Tindouf, the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott and
Algiers, wrapping up his mission on 25 March.

Morocco Princess Hasna meets Hillary Clinton

WASHIGNTON - Princess Lalla Hasna, the sister of Morocco's King Mohammed VI, was
received here Tuesday by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.The two discussed
mainly the celebration next month in Morocco of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

Kenya report exposes rot in Parliament

Kenya’s MPs have been accused of widespread abuse of powers and privileges in a new anti-
graft watchdog report.The report titled, Kenya Parliamentary Integrity Study also says
Parliament’s investigatory committees had abused their powers. MPs had also used motions,
including censure ones and questions in a questionable manner. Corruption is alleged to be
rampant during the vetting of executive appointees which was introduced in Kenya for the first
time when the Constitution of Kenya Review Act of 2001 was enacted. This law allowed MPs to
interview and shortlist prospective candidates for appointment by the President.

Cameroon Chinese fishermen released

YAOUNDE - Kidnappers have released seven Chinese fishermen hijacked last week in their
boat off the coast of Cameroon, a Chinese embassy official said on Thursday.

TANZANIA ELECTION LAW HERALDS NEW POLITICAL ERA

DAR ES SALAAM - IT was a historic moment in Tanzania’s politics when President Jakaya
Kikwete assented the Election Expenses Bill into law at a brief but colourful ceremony at State
House in Dar es Salaam. The well attended function on Wednesday which was also beamed live
on a number of local TV stations, marks the start of the new law whose bill passed through a
bumpy process in the parliament before it was finally endorsed on Feb 11, this year.

Libya welcomes Swiss offer

Tunis - A top Libyan official on Wednesday welcomed as a "step forward" a call by Swiss
officials for damages to be paid to a son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi who was arrested in
Geneva in 2008. Libya has been demanding compensation for the leaked photos of Hannibal
Gaddafi for months. Libyan Public Security Minister Abdel Fattah Younes al Abidi welcomed
the comments but said Switzerland must meet other Libyan demands if ties between the two
countries were to improve.