Weekly News Round-Up (30/10/15)

News From HART

• Thank you all who attended the HART Volunteers’ Reception. It was a pleasure for us to meet so many dedicated and interested individuals!
• Clear your diary for the evening of December the 9th and share the christmas spirit with us at HART’s fabolous Carol Concert. This year we are kindly hosted by St Cuthberts Church at Earls Court.
• We received a message from PAORINHER:

“Please join us in offering special thanksgiving prayers this Sunday 01/11/15 for our pioneer candidates in PAORINHER that will be sitting for their first National Primary leaving examinations next week. There are 6 girls and 14 boys who will for the first time be counted among the thousands of pupils countrywide. We are very proud of these children, most of whom have been with us since the foundation of the centre in 2007. There is very high expectations and hope among the local community in Agago District that God’s willing, they will all pass with high grades to join secondary education next year. Please pray for their future and what we can do to fulfil their dreams knowing very well the tough situations and life battle they have to face every day.”

Burma

• Security is tightened in Arakan state as elections draw nearer.
• DVB Multimedia has presented an excellent vote monitoring website.
• More than 40,000 new police officers have been brought in and trained ahead of elections.
• Months of instability will follow the elections, economist predicts.
• The UN special rapporteur on rights in Burma has expressed doubts whether the elections can be free and fair, considering the number of candidates prevented from voting.

India

• India has held one of the largest bilateral summits in history with African nations this week, in an attempt to increase India’s influence on the continent.

Nigeria

• The Nigerian military reports having ‘dislodged Boko Haram fighters from their enclaves within some communities of Borno State’.
• Those in the north east are urged to stock up on water supplies and other necessary commodities following warnings of a Boko Haram plot to poison water sources.
• Buhari arrives in New Delhi for the third India-Africa Forum. Areas of discussion will include terrorism, climate change and poverty alleviation as well as meeting business executives interested in investing in Nigeria.
• Eight farmers were shot dead whilst fleeing Jakana Village in Borno State, which had been attacked by Boko Haram militants.
• The Nigerian military claimed to have rescued 338 captives from Boko Haram militants, mostly women and children who were being held near the Sambisa forest stronghold in the north-east. They have been moved to a camp for displaced people in Mubi. At the same time, 30 suspected Boko Haram militants were killed and arms and ammunition was seized.
• The Nigerian military release a list of 100 most wanted Boko Haram suspects. The army plans to circulate the banner, with hotlines numbers on it. Pictures of wanted individuals are sourced from various Boko Haram propaganda materials.
• The Nigerian military will no longer issue out a warning to Boko Haram militants to surrender before carrying out raids.

Sudan

• Bashir arrived in India on Wednesday for the third India-Africa summit. The summit is for African leaders to build relationships and attract investment from India. The ICC has said that India should arrest to al-Bashir, who was indicted in 2009.
• The National Consensus Forces (the opposition alliance) has called for a popular uprising and the Sudanese people to overthrow the regime.
• The meeting between the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N on the discussion of ceasefire has been delayed for mid-November, according to the UN.
• A UNICEF spokesperson has warned that there may be a polio outbreak in Blue Nile, Nuba Mountains and Jebel Mara, as 200,000 children have not had vaccination in past four years.

South Sudan

• The African Union report on South Sudan has finally been released and has accused the warring parties of committing war crimes.
• Rival parties are set to sign minuters on the security arrangements. This breakthrough means the forces deployed in Juba will be shared by the joint command.
• Kiir has gone to South Africa, to brief President Zuma on the progress of the peace agreement.
• 76 suspected members of Al-Shabab have been arrested attempting to cross in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state. The passage of Islamist fighters passing through South Sudan to Sudan has been indicated as a new security risk.
• An alliance of South Sudanese opposition parties have begun a nationwide campaign against the creation of 28 states.  
• Civilians of the Dok Community have condemned an apparent massacre of more than 140 civilians in Leer County by government forces last month.

Uganda

• Uganda is to host the United Nations Development Cooperation Forum symposium in November.
• The confirmation of charges hearing for LRA commander Dominic Ongwen is to be held at The Hague on January 21st.
• Uganda is still failing maternal health indicators, due to slow progression on decreasing maternal mortality rates.