News Round Up – 22/09/2017

Burma

• Buddhists throw petrol bombs to stop Rohingya aid shipment – The rohingya are facing huge difficulties in getting aid. As a policy, and as with other areas of Burma, the government is deliberately restricting international aid in an effort to force the Rohingya out. Around 422,000 have now left Burma.
• Women March in Karen State, Demanding End to Armed Conflict – Fighting has recently flared up again in Karen, Shan, and Kachin states, and more than 100,000 remain displaced in Karen state since 2011.

Nagorno-Karabakh

• Azerbaijan says US congressmen’s ‘illegal’ visit to Nagorno-Karabakh is being investigated – “These persons have long been funded by Armenia and the Armenian lobby in the US. They are completely depended on the US-based Armenian lobby.”

Nigeria

• Soldiers Kill Farmer for Violating Motorcycle Ban in Adamawa – An eyewitness account reported that the deceased was shot dead while he was driving to his farm together with his two younger brothers on Wednesday when a passing military convoy opened fire on him.
• UN condemns deadly Boko Haram attacks in Borno Read more – He said that four attacks in recent weeks, three of which were carried out by bombers, had claimed the lives of over 45 civilians and injured countless others.
• Terror Designation for Nigerian Separatists Risks Escalation – A court proscribed the Indigenous People of Biafra, known as Ipob, designating it as a terrorist organization. The move came as tensions escalated in southeastern Nigeria, with the group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu, threatening to disrupt state elections unless there’s a vote on secession and his supporters clashing with the security forces.

Sudan

• SPLM-N Agar reports new clashes with Sudanese army in Blue Nile state – “On 16 September, SPLA forces managed to repel again the (government) force that attacked our positions in Taga, Ingessana Hills area of the Blue Nile state, which is a strategic area, located about 40 miles from the state capital Ed Damazin.”
• Just two basic schools for 4,500+ students in North Darfur camp – Each student must pay SDG 150 ($22) a year, which is beyond the parents’ affordability. Sudan spends less than 1.5% of its GDP on education.

South Sudan

• Dozen killed as S. Sudan rival forces clash in Unity state – At least 19 people were killed in recent clashes between South Sudan rebels and government troops in Nhialdiu, an area southwest of the former Unity state capital, Bentiu.
• A South Sudan vote would heap disaster upon catastrophe, U.N. says – South Sudan’s hellish war will get worse if its neighbors let President Salva Kiir hold an election before he accepts peacekeepers, a ceasefire and political opposition, U.N. investigators said on Wednesday.
• Hundreds Killed, Displaced After Floods – floods have left over 300 people dead and some 119 000 displaced in the war-torn South Sudan. The deaths are linked to subsequent water-borne diseases such as cholera.

Timor Leste

• East Timor swears in Mari Alkatiri as new prime minister – Speaking to hundreds of party faithful, the 68-year-old pledged to maintain good ties with neighbors Australia and Indonesia and improve public services. “I will create a better economy, education and health in Timor-Leste,” said Alkatiri.

Uganda

• Ugandans Getting Poorer, States PWC Expert Report – More Ugandans have become poorer in the last five years despite the improvement in the size of the economy. Whereas government maintains that only 19.7 per cent (seven million) of Ugandans are below the poverty line, analysts claim that as many as 70 per cent of Ugandans are vulnerable and occasionally fall below the poverty line depending on the season.
• Protests, teargas in Uganda as Museveni seeks to extend rule – The move to amend the constitution has met widespread resistance from activists, civil society organisations, religious leaders and even some members of Museveni’s own ruling party.