20091228
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The construction of 2,556 health stations, at close to five billion Birr, is underway countrywide, the health minister told Parliament.

The construction was intended to achieve universal access to medical services. This intention was to fix a ratio of one health station for a population of 25,000 people by attaining 3,200 stations in the country.

There were 644 health stations in the country when the project was first undertaken 3.5 years back, Tedros Adhanom (PhD), health minister, told Parliament on Thursday, December 24, 2009.

"Including the cost of furniture covered by regional states, the total amount of capital spent on the construction of these health stations reaches close to five billion Birr," Tedros said.

The cost was covered by the federal and regional governments as well as donor organisations, the World Bank and Global Fund, the minister told Fortune.

In poorer regions, the federal government has undertaken Tedros Adhanom (PhD) 75pc of the construction while in the more developed regions it is undertaking half, Tedros said.

The federal government's share of the total number of health stations being built was 1,455 while the regions have been undertaking 1,101 health stations, according to the minister. He also stated that the German development cooperation (gtz) has constructed 500 of the health stations.

So far 908 of the new health stations have been finished, as the completion of remaining stations is anticipated over the next four to six months, maintained the minister, adding that the project was six months behind due to the cement shortage in the country during the previous fiscal year.

"Currently, we have achieved 86pc of the plan," he said, "but some of the work could take until the end of 2003."

The government has procured 620 million Br worth of equipment for the new facilities through 18 suppliers. Enough supplies for 2,299 stations have already been procured, the minister said.

20091228
allafrica

The average annual remittance of 700 million dollars over the past three years from Ethiopians in the Diaspora is less than what was expected but an improvement from earlier remittances, Seyoum Mesfin, Foreign Affairs minister, told Parliament on Thursday, December 25, 2009.

Ethiopia is getting lower remittance than other countries, such as Kenya and Egypt said Eyob Tesfaye (PhD), former head of the Public Financial Institutions Supervising Agency. Seyoum, however, did not give any comparative figures.

In 2007, Kenyans in the Diaspora had sent home nearly 1.6 billion dollars, achieving a per capita remittance of 42 dollars. Ethiopians on the other hand sent home only 359 million dollars, with a per capita remittance of only four dollars, according to a United Nations report for 2009.

However, 1.2 billion to 1.5 billion dollars was remitted to Ethiopia through non-banking systems, Eyob says.

The government needed to work aggressively to create awareness among the Diaspora who, according to him, were usually politically motivated and even strove to obstruct other people from sending money home.

Investments by the Diaspora are growing, Seyoum told the House, stressing that the investment capital by 1,884 such Ethiopians, as reported by regional investment bureaus, had reached 17 billion Br by 2007/08.

These people invested in agriculture, hotel and tourism, construction, real-estate, health and forestry all the while creating 90,000 new jobs, Seyoum said and added that 19,000 Ethiopian born foreign nationals had already taken the Yellow Card which guaranteed them same rights as Ethiopian citizens.

The privilege, Seyoum explained, given to the Diaspora to get local bank accounts in foreign currency has already been claimed by 1,000 people, which Eyob felt was a very small number as it was achieved in the course of 10 years.

"I think this does not present much interest to the Diaspora due to a number of factors; not the least of which is that the maximum amount one is allowed to reserve may not exceed 5,000 dollars," he said.

Factors including lack of interest to send money for investment and consumption purposes combined with the fact that many of the Ethiopians are engaged in casual employment making them subsistent resulted in small amounts of remittance, Eyob said.

20091228
allafrica

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) lifted duty fees from the importation of solar energy equipment beginning December 14, 2009.

This was an unprecedented, positive step in support of clean solar energy after it was dropped from the Ethiopian Energy Agency's (EEA) second draft of a bill that would allow private entities to sell power they produced from certain renewable sources to the Ethiopian Electric Power Cooperation (EEPCo) at specified rates.

The duty-free items include solar panels, and certain types of batteries, lamps, invertors, and regulators used in solar setups, according to Wasihun Abate, head of the legal department at MoFED.

"The ministry then sent a letter to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MoME), the Ethiopian Energy Agency (EEA), and the Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority on December 14, notifying them that the lift had become effective as of the same day," Wasihun told Fortune. The duty was dropped so that importers could offer the products to buyers at more affordable prices, he said.

The duty-free measure should benefit rural communities who do not have access to the national grid, according to Dereje Walelign, chairman of the Solar Energy Society - Ethiopia, which is awaiting registration. He welcomed the decision as support for access to solar equipment which is safer, healthier and in some cases more practical than other means of electricity generation for homes and small businesses.

"The decision will help the private sector ease access to individual consumers," he said.

He was astonished that while MoFED was lifting duty from solar-related equipment, the EEA had excluded it from the draft feed-in-tariff bill. This bill would have allowed the private sector to engage in small-scale electricity production for the national grid, selling it to EEPCo as is currently done in some countries.

An official at the agency admitted that solar energy, which was incorporated in the first draft, had been entirely excluded from the second draft because stakeholders in the solar energy business complained about the low tariff level, in comparison to other energy sources, listed in the first draft. Solar energy may find a place in the third draft after more comments have been received, but he did not explain why the process is moving forward in this manner. The official requested anonymity saying that he was not authorised to comment on bills in the drafting process.

The Solar Energy Society is working with pubic and private institutions to ensure that solar energy finds its way back into the bill, he said.

The bill is expected to be presented to the house during the current fiscal year for ratification.

20091228
allafrica

All indications are that the number of climate change investment projects in Kenya will multiply in 2010.

The projects are those which avoid the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

For example, constructing wind power plants rather than that using diesel generators.

Under a UN system, such projects qualify for funding under what is known as carbon development mechanism.

This mechanism essentially offers compensation for such projects based on the amount, in tonnes, of carbon dioxide they prevent emitting over a period of time.

The ethanol distillation plant announced by the Mumias Sugar Company is the latest highlight of climate change investment projects in Kenya.

The project will use sugar waste to manufacture ethanol.

Ethanol falls under the category of the clean fuel; those which emit very little if any carbon dioxide while performing the same role as the fossil fuels.

Ethanol for instance can run a petrol engine vehicle without modification.

The sugar miller and clean electricity generator has awarded a contract to an Indian firm, Avant-GARDE Engineers and Consultants Limited develop the Sh3.4 billion ethanol plant within two years.

"We expect the first products off the shelf by July 2011. We anticipate to produce a variety of products including neutral alcohol, anhydrous ethanol, food grades and ethanol to blend with premium fuel," Dr Evans Kidero, the company's CEO.

Mumias is already under the CDM registration because of electricity generation from bargasse, the sugar waste.

The announcement of its new clean energy project coincided with an announcement that a forestry project in Tsavo East National Park has also qualified for climate change financing but under the other non-UN window known as Voluntary Emission Reductions.

Wildlife Works Carbon, the United States-based company that manages the project announced that their Kasigau Corridor REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) Project in Kenya has been awarded the first gold level validation in Africa, under the Climate Community and Biodiversity (CCB) Alliance's REDD Standard.

Nedbank of South Africa will buy carbon emission reduction credits from the project.

The project was started in 1998 and has helped reduce human-wildlife conflict by removing snares set to trap wildlife.

The project also facilitated the removal of cattle from the wildlife land and also helped to relocate illegal squatters from the sanctuary to a farm land located outside of the wildlife corridor.

The project also has an EcoFactory where women from the community make gift articles that are sold in the United States.

Cooking stove

This window of selling carbon emission reductions in the voluntary market is also opening up for people like Lorna Omuodo, the head of Jatropa Vanillla Foundation and Issac Kalua, the CEO of Green Africa Foundation.

Both organisations are yet to make money from selling emission reductions, but their projects which involve working with farmers to grow and process Jatropha seeds into clean bio-diesel should pay off perhaps by the end of 2010.

The fact that projects like that the one spearheaded by Ms Omuondo have inspired the manufacture of bio-diesel equipment such as a cooking stove and lighting lamp developed together with the University of Nairobi, should make the projects more attractive to carbon emission reduction buyers.

When villagers use the stove for cooking instead of firewood, they not only reduce the number of trees they cut down but also reduce the carbon that is emitted from burning firewood.

Major clean energy investments are likely to come from wind power projects.

Already two such projects, one by the Lake Turkana Wind Power consortium and the other by Giston Energy are sourcing for funds and partners.

Both projects have the capacity to provide peak electricity of 650MW, about half of Kenya's current installed capacity.

All these projects qualify for funding under either CDM or voluntary emission reductions.

20091228
allafrica

Nairobi — Smallholder cocoa farmers in the southern highlands of Tanzania have adopted an ambitious programme that is expected to raise incomes by 60 per cent, through improved farming techniques.

The programme, commonly known as Q1 2009, has kicked off in Kyela District, a marginalised rural set up in the Mbeya region.

Project owners, TechnoServe-Tanzania said farmers will be trained in good agricultural practices, including post-harvest processing and marketing, as well as be linked directly to buyers abroad.

TechnoServe's country director, Hillary Miller-Wise told The EastAfrican that the two-year programme will raise the profile of Tanzanian cocoa in the world market by promoting it among American and European chocolate manufacturers.

In Mbeya, cocoa is the number one source of income for families.

"Increased incomes translates to improved food security and quality of life including ability to send children to school," said Ms Miller-Wise.

TechnoServe expects farmers who are not directly participating in the programme to learn from their neighbours and emulate them.

Tanzania exports about 6,500 metric tonnes of cocoa each year.

In recent years, improved quality and the distinctive flavours have attracted speciality niche buyers, who produce single origin chocolates for wholesale or retail.

This new demand, driven partly by an increase in global demand, creates a tremendous opportunity for smallholder farmers in Tanzania to dramatically increase their incomes.

In order to capitalise on this market opportunity, more Tanzanian farmers need to improve quality and productivity and develop their reputation as a reliable supplier of fine flavour cocoa.

The farmers-focused programme comprises three core components: strengthening the capacity of farmers, especially women; increasing market access and incentives for quality; and capturing and disseminating knowledge on the lessons learnt.

The cornerstone of the Q1 2009 will be to target the high-value speciality markets for high quality organic, single-origin and/or Fair Trade certified cocoa by building on Tanzania's distinctive flavour profile and its organic production system.

Through this strategy, farmers will realise higher prices for quality and compliance with international voluntary standards, and additional revenue through increased yields.

Other benefits of the programme include the formation of 70 farmer business groups; 5,000 farmers producing cocoa using good agricultural practices (GAP) and increased quality measured by improved fermentation and reduced pest damage.

The prices will also increase by 19 per cent resulting from organic and quality premiums; yields will increase by at least 15 per cent after three harvest seasons; and at least $2.2 million revenue will be generated.

The programme holds the potential of completely reforming the cocoa sector in Tanzania by achieving yields and quality levels that have never been achieved in the country.

But while the genetic material for higher quality and yields exists, virtually no investment in the sector has been made to organise the farmers and to provide them with inputs and technical capacity to realise this potential.

To date, the cocoa industry in Tanzania has received little support from the government and the donor community.

With the support of an undisclosed amount Irish Aid, TechnoServe has vowed to transform the cocoa industry in order to improve the lives of smallholder cocoa farmers.

20091228
allafrica

Mogadishu — The authority in Southern Somalia's Juba region that is controlled by al-Shabaab, the Islamist group opposing the Transitional Federal Government has rejected the possibility of pro-government groups forming a semi-autonomous state in Southern Somalia.

Sheikh Hassan Yakoub Ali, the Information Officer of al-Shabaab Administration in Juba region, spoke on the pro-Islamist Radio, Al-Andalus, in Kismayu town, 500 kilometres south of Mogadishu, telling the listeners that no other group can form a state in Southern Somalia.

Sheikh Yakoub was responding to claims by Mr Aden Mohamed Nur alias Saransour, an influential politician in southern Somalia, who announced on Saturday, that a meeting was held on the issue in Dolo town, 370 kilometres southwest of Mogadishu.

Mr Saransour had stated that the objective of the conference was to plan ways of establishing a semi-autonomous state for six regions in Southern Somalia.

The town of Dolo is at the strategic border junction between Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

According to Mr Saransour, 200 delegates participated in the meeting representing the inhabitants of Gedo, Bay, Bakol, Lower Juba, Middle Juba and Lower Shabelle regions, all of them lying southwest of Mogadishu, the capital. "What the 200 delegates discussed is how to liberate the south-western regions from Islamist radical groups opposing the TFG," said Mr Saransour.

Mr Saransour indicated that a technical committee was formed to work on the way forward. He also stated that pro-government officials that participated in the talks included three legislators, namely Barre Aden Shire Hirale, Abdullahi Sheikh Ismael, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, and Mohamud Sayid Aden.

If realised, the proposed state will join other states like Galmudug and Puntland that were respectively formed over the years in the central and north-eastern regions of Somalia. Somaliland in north-western Somalia, however, declared its independence from the rest of Somalia in May 1991, but remains without international recognition.

20091228
allafrica
Kampala — THE Government has welcomed the UN sanctions slapped on Eritrea for supporting Somali insurgents and destabilising its neighbour, Djibouti.

The Minister for Regional Cooperation, Isaac Musumba, said yesterday that Uganda played an important role through IGAD to ensure that sanctions were imposed.

Eritrea facilitated insurgents against the legally constituted government of Somalia which had fueled the violence, he noted.

He said the Eritrean government recruited, armed, and financed militants and harboured people listed as wanted over the Somalia violence.

"They provided sanctuary to international criminals. It is a rogue state. We petitioned for sanctions on behalf of IGAD and it is gratifying that members of the UN Security Council adopted the resolution."

The minister observed that Eritrea tried to attack an IGAD member state, Djibouti, and recruited rebels to destabilise it. The two countries have a border dispute.

"We are going to demand for more stringent sanctions from the international community against that country. It's a spoiler."

The resolution said Eritrea's actions undermined peace and reconciliation in Somalia. It called the dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea a threat to international peace and security.

The Security Council demanded that Eritrea makes available information on Djiboutian combatants missing in action since the clashes in June 2008. This, the UN said, would enable those concerned to ascertain the presence and condition of the prisoners of war.

The UN sanctions imposed last week constitute an arms embargo, travel bans on key leaders and freezes of their assets and businesses.

The resolution was backed by 13 votes out of 15. China abstained while Libya voted against. The resolution directs Eritrea to "cease arming, training and equipping armed groups and their members, including al Shabaab". The latter is accused of having links with al Qaeda.

The asset freeze is expected to curb the finances of the individuals and businesses that fund the Eritrean regime, while the travel ban is aimed at the military and political leaders.

The African Union, during its summit in Sirte, Libya last July, asked the UN to impose sanctions on Eritrea.

Eritrea has repeatedly denied that it supports Al Shabaab militants fighting to topple the Somali government.

"The Security Council has decided to impose sanctions on Eritrea on fabricated lies, mainly concocted by the Ethiopian regime and the US administration," said Eritrea's ambassador to the UN Araya Desta.

However, the UN monitoring group found that the Eritrean government secretly shipped arms, including missiles and explosives, to Islamic insurgents in Somalia.

20091228
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Kampala — BUSINESS in Africa will remain profitable and growing throughout 2010, a survey has shown. According to Africa Practice's annual business survey, business leaders predicted a positive outlook for 2010, with 95% of the respondents expecting to expand their businesses over the coming year.

Africa practice is a strategic communications consultancy with a network of branches across Africa.

The survey findings support the growing belief that Africa is beginning to recover from the effects of financial crisis.

"All the respondents (100%) said they anticipated foreign direct investment (FDI) to increase in 2010, with the majority expected to come from China," the report indicated.

"This represents a much-improved outlook when compared to last year's survey in which 69% of respondents predicted a reduction in FDI in-flows."

When asked what they thought would be the biggest challenges to their businesses in 2010, the executives were split between access to credit and availability of talent, polling 35% and 30% respectively.

This echoed last year's findings in which 31% of the respondents cited talent as the biggest concern.

Physical infrastructure and legislative environments were also cited as potential growth limitations.

The majority of the respondents also cited advancements in technological infrastructure as being more significant for business opportunity than politics, thus reaffirming the assertion that ICTs were key enablers of productive business.

"An improvement in communication around the continent, especially in Internet and mobile phone access, will increase opportunities to reach more people on the continent," Salim Amin, the A24 Media chairman, said.

"The interest in Africa because of events like the World Cup will also throw a larger spotlight on the continent." "The Internet is the world's biggest marketplace, with more than 1.5 billion users. In most countries it is trivial for a teenager to start trading online using a PayPal account and eBay as a marketplace," said Henk Kleynhans, the Skyrove Wifi Hotspots boss.

Increased intra-African business and moving away from a reliance on international exports was cited as key in Africa's private sector development with Alasdair Munn, the director of Rebuild Zimbabwe commenting: "The biggest market for Africa is Africa herself. Growth in private investment and empowering communities has greater potential for Africa than just exports."

However, there was a consensus of optimism about the impact of the FIFA World Cup in Africa, even with most (54%) of those polled believing that its benefits would be felt only in South Africa.

The future role of the US prompted a mixed reaction. Only 17% of the business leaders expect the Obama administration to have a positive influence in Africa.

20091228
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Kigali — Members of the East Africa Community Students' Union (EACSU) have recommended that partner states harmonize tuition fees charged by universities to students within the bloc.

The students made the call at the end of their three day general assembly held at the School of Finance and Banking in Kigali.

Quite often interests on trade and commerce overshadow other areas that are pertinent to the process of regional integration.

That's why protocols on opening up trade links that include customs union and common market take precedent as we have seen within the EAC.

However, there are equally some other sectors that need due attention and to move at the same pace as those around which the economies of the region revolve, if the citizens are to benefit from the true fruits of integration.

One such sector is education. That's why the call made by EACSU students to harmonize tuitions fees deserves attention from the member states, as well as the EAC secretariat.

Since the standards of education within the region vary, there should be a move to tap from the different experiences as a strategy to build a region, not only dependent on natural resources, but also a skilled human capital base.

One strategy of attaining this, is a formula to make the tuition fee uniform within member states.

The region could kick start this process with simple initiatives like student exchange programs in high institutions of learning.

Otherwise, if we are talking free movement of people and labour, we can only achieve the desired goals if this labourforce is sufficiently skilled to compete on the global labour market.

20091228
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Kigali — The Mayor of Musanze District Celestin Karabayinga has been arrested for allegedly embezzling up to Rwf12 million, The NewTimes has learnt.

Sources in Musanze told this newspaper yesterday that the mayor was arrested following a tip-off from a district official on the disappearance of the money.

Karabayinga was picked up along with former District Executive Secretary Oswald Habumuremyi and an official in charge of culture and Sports.

By press time, the trio was being detained at Muhoza police station. When contacted yesterday, Police spokesperson Supt. Eric Kayiranga confirmed the development.

"They were arrested because they are suspected to have embezzled about Rwf12million. They will be produced before court any time soon," Kayiranga said.

Sources say the trio forged documents to justify the expenditure of money that was meant to finance activities of civic training (Ingando) in the district.

According to available information from the district, the three conspired to embezzle the Frw12 m which was allocated to the district in 2007.

They then signed documents to dupe the accounting authorities that the money was spent.

Karabayinga's case adds to the growing number of district mayors arrested, as government escalates the fight against corruption.

Karabayinga has been the vice president of Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities-RALGA.

20091228
allafrica

Kigali — The Rwandan agent for the multi-level marketing company of world renowned health and beauty products, Forever Living Products, has been arrested for diverting $16,000.

The representative, Peruse Biryabarema, was detained for a week at Remera police station on charges of abuse of trust.

Biryabarema is accused by a number of the company's clients for diverting the money meant for bonuses of other partners.

Prosecution spokesman, Augustine Nkusi confirmed the arrest, saying that the charges against Biryabarema are based on abuse of trust and investigations have already been launched from the company's regional office in Nairobi, Kenya.

"We have agreed with her to report every week at the prosecution, as investigations continue," Nkusi said.

Sources at the Ombudsman Office told The New Times, that the suspect had also been summoned earlier to the office but denied all the charges against her.

Nkusi said that Biryabarema promised full cooperation in the investigations.

20091228
allafrica

Kigali — Cattle traders in the Eastern province have been severely affected by a ban on transportation of livestock to DR Congo.

The ban that was issued by the Rwanda Livestock Authority was put in place to allow cattle traders export cattle products especially meat other than the animals themselves.

Dr. Justin Zimurinda, the representative of Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority (RARDA) in Eastern Province acknowledged the losses.

"A cow that used to fetch Rwf 300,000 is now sold at Rwf 120,000," Zimurinda said. "Farmers are encountering terrible losses."

According to Zimurinda, exporting beef is more profitable than selling an animal that is alive. Farmers can also benefit from the animal's by-products like horns and skins which they can sell and earn more money.

Charles Rutinduka, of Karangazi sector, Nyagatare district argued that while the idea was great, its implementation is hurting them hard.

"It is good that we think about processing the cows' by-products, but let it come gradually," Rutinduka said.

"In the mean time, people should be allowed to sell their cows to avoid unnecessary losses."

20091228
allafrica

Medical staff at a major referral hospital in the DRC which is taking part in the health insurance programme

28 December 2009 - A $6,000-per-month United Nations investment in a pioneering health care scheme is paying significant dividends for nearly 1,500 refugees living in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who fled neighbouring countries.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spends just $30 a month for each refugee family, up to seven or eight people, on a life-saving medical insurance plan administered by the Bureau Diocésain des Ouvres Médicales.

Under that plan, which was established in 1978 and covers 2 million people in Kinshasa, refugees in the Congolese capital are assigned to a health centre close to home for primary care and can be referred to a major hospital, for more complicated treatment.

UNHCR joined the BDOM system this year after an extensive evaluation of refugees' complaints about the quality of medical services they received.

"Now that half of all refugees are living in cities, we are having to look at more innovative ways of delivering services to them," said Paul Spiegel, head of UNHCR Public Health and HIV Section.

"The health insurance programme in Kinshasa may be one example we will want to consider duplicating for refugees in other major cities," he added.

Local health care experts say the system is more efficient, with less bureaucracy and more focus on the health of the patients, and refugees are not only assured medical treatment but are free from discrimination when they arrive at the hospital.

20091228
allafrica

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) upholds the human rights of thousands of people every day, the top UN envoy to the African nation said today, rejecting criticism from a non-governmental organization that blue helmets are “complicit” in abuses committed by the Congolese army.

In its report on the mission, Human Rights Watch “brushes aside the crucial role that MONUC plays in protecting tens of thousands of civilians every single day, often in very remote areas,” Alan Doss, the Secretary-General’s Special-Representative, wrote in an op-ed in today’s The Washington Times.

The mission has been aiding the national army, known as FARDC, with logistics and firepower to keep rebels from reclaiming areas previously under their control.

Faced with widespread reports of massacres and other serious human rights abuses by Government soldiers and rebels, the Security Council last week reiterated its call on MONUC to “use all necessary means” to protect civilians from threats from any party.DR Congo -

The Human Rights Watch report, Mr. Doss said today, “alleges that UN support makes its peacekeepers complicit in atrocities committed against the population by FARDC elements that are undisciplined or exacting revenge.”

Earlier this month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that MONUC has suspended its logistical and other support for FARDC units when there are sufficient grounds to believe their operations would violate human rights.

MONUC’s human rights office – which also reports to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – has investigated and publicly reported on incidents of FARDC wrongdoings and criticizes deficiencies of command and control.

Mr. Doss noted that DRC President Joseph Kabila has declared a zero-tolerance policy for human rights abuses committed by security forces, adding that MONUC has been supporting FARDC and Government efforts to hold offenders accountable.

“Like much else that the international community is trying to fix by helping the DRC Government, this is a work in early gestation,” the envoy emphasized.

The FARDC, he said, “with all their failings, are the only instrument the democratically-elected Government has to neutralize the FDLR. In the absence of any other international actor able or willing to take on the task, MONUC has the job of helping government forces perform to a much higher standard.”

The “attack” by Human Rights Watch is shortsighted and jeopardizes the very ‘leverage’ the group wants MONUC to use with the Congolese,” Mr. Doss wrote. “It undermines the goals that Human Rights Watch and the UN both seek to attain.”

In a related development, MONUC reported today that its troops have helped carry out patrols in the far west of the DRC, the scene of recent tribal clashes that have sent 100,000 people fleeing from their homes, to ensure that civilians were able to celebrate Christmas in peace.

Blue helmets, the FARDC and the Congolese police have been carrying out joint patrols to reassure people in Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur Province, that they are safe.

Inter-ethnic clashes between the Enyele and Munzaya tribes erupted in Equateur in November over farming and fishing rights. The UN refugee agency reported earlier this month that 84,000 people have crossed the border into the Republic of the Congo to escape the violence.

MONUC’s military presence in the area has been growing, with 700 troops situated in South Ubangui district and more blue helmets expected to arrive in the coming days.

The UN mission is also stepping up its protection for civilians from possible attacks by armed groups, including the mainly Rwandan Hutu rebel group know as FDLR and the Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), in the DRC’s volatile far east.

In South Kivu province, blue helmets focused on guarding major churches, with quick reaction forces and helicopters on standby in several locations.

In nearby Province Orientale, MONUC and FARDC have established a plan to expand their patrols following two LRA attacks last week. Civilians have been advised to restrict their movements after 10 p.m. to ensure that they are not mistaken for rebels.

NOUAKCHOTT, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The abduction of two Italian nationals Sergio Seguella and Filoman Kabore on Dec. 20 in the east of Mauritania was carried out by the Islamic Maghreb Al Qaedagroup (AQMI), which claimed responsibility on Monday in a video shown on "Al- Arabiya" television.

In this video dated Dec. 27, a person calling himself "Salah Abou Mohamed who is in charge of information for AQMI," explained that this abduction was done as a revenge "for the crimes committed by the Italian government in Iraq and Afghanistan."

The video shows the kidnapped Italian couple surrounded with armed turbaned men in a desert zone, probably north of Mali.

The Ivorian driver who was kidnapped at the same time with the Italians, a man and his Italian wife of Burkinabe origin, was not featured in the video. They were intercepted on their way to Burkina Faso.

The abduction of Italian nationals came in less than one month after the kidnapping of Spanish humanitarian workers in Mauritaniaon Nov. 29, for which AQMI also claimed responsibility.

The security services have declared "significant progress" in talks launched in Mali to seek the release of the Italian nationals.

LAGOS, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police said it is curtailing a violence that broke out on Monday in some part of northern Nigeria's Bauchi State.

"We are curtailing its spread," Emmanuel Ojokwu, the country's police spokesman, told Xinhua on phone.

He said the state command has ordered its armed policemen to curtail it spread.

"For now, we are studying the situation before making any further comment," he added.

Sources in Bauchi said they woke up into the pandemonium, as sporadic gunshots were heard across the city.

The cause of the crisis could not be ascertained as at the time of filling this report.

In July, the state witnessed a sectarian unrest that erupted in northern Nigeria's Bauchi State that spread to neighboring Adamawa, Kano, Bornoand Yobe States where about 600 people were reportedly killed.

Nigeria is a secular country with the population evenly divided between Christians and Muslims.

The northern region with 19 out of the country' s 36 states is predominantly Muslim, while Christians dominate the south.

JAHANNESBURG, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- South African President JacobZuma will tie the knot with his fifth wife, Thobeka Madiba, next Monday, local media reported, with no official confirmation.

Zuma's spokesman Zizi Kodwa on Monday said he was not aware of the president's reported wedding after the allegation released by the Sowetan newspaper.

"I don't know anything about the wedding. I am in Cape Town and Zuma is in Nkandla. I don't know what is happening in Nkandla," Kodwa said, adding he would be in a position to know whether the wedding would take place later on Monday.

Zuma tied the knot with his fourth wife Nompumelelo Ntuli-Zuma two years ago during a traditional wedding at his Nkandla home. Madiba has attended many official events with the president.

If the wedding takes place as reported, Zuma will have three current wives.

The president was legally married to Kate Zuma who died in 2000and Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Dlamini-Zuma and the president divorced in 1998.

20091228

DETROIT (Reuters) - The first federal court hearing for the Nigerian man charged with attempting to blow up a Delta Airlines plane flying to Detroit has been canceled, a spokeswoman for prosecutors said on Monday.

U.S. Attorneys had been expected to seek a search warrant to collect a swab of DNA from Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who is being held in a federal prison in Michigan.

No reason given for the cancellation of the hearing before U.S. District Judge Paul Borman.

"The hearing has been canceled," said U.S. Attorney's spokeswoman Gina Balaya. "I was not given a reason for the cancellation."

Bail for Abdulmutallab is scheduled to be set at a January 8 hearing in Detroit.

20091228

ABUJA (Reuters) - The family of a Nigerian man who tried to blow up a U.S. passenger airliner said on Monday they had lost contact with him while he was studying abroad and reported his disappearance to security agencies two months ago.

In the United States, authorities tightened airline security and questions were raised about how a man suspected of ties to militants was able to smuggle explosives aboard a transatlantic flight.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, was charged on Saturday in the United States with trying to blow up Northwest Airlines flight 253 as it approached Detroit from Amsterdam on Christmas Day with almost 300 people on board.

In a statement to Nigerian media, the Mutallab family said: "His father, having become concerned about his disappearance and stoppage of communication while schooling abroad, reported the matter to Nigerian security agencies about two months ago and to some foreign security agencies about a month and a half ago."

It said the fact that he had ended communication with his family was "completely out of character and a very recent development".

Nigerian media had quoted family members as saying the father had been uncomfortable with his son's "extreme religious views" and had reported him to the U.S. embassy.

Dutch military police said they were investigating the possibility that Abdulmutallab might have had help from an accomplice before boarding the flight at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.

A U.S. couple on the flight, Kurt and Lori Haskell, told Reuters and other news agencies they saw a tall, well-dressed man aged about 50 with Abdulmutallab on Friday morning.

CAIRO (Reuters) - The next leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood will have to heal divisions between moderates and conservatives if the opposition group is to have any political role, a senior member of the group said.

Internal elections for the Brotherhood's 16-member governing body, known as the guidance bureau, were held last week for the first time in 14 years, with members of the old guard securing the bulk of the seats.

Ideological differences within the group, officially banned but tolerated, have been aggravated by the inflexibility of a number of senior members, Abdel-Moneim Abul-Futuh told Reuters in an interview on Saturday.

"The Brotherhood is more active politically now than previously, but has grown more conservative in thought," following years of state oppression and curtailment of its freedom of assembly and participation, said Abul-Futuh, a prominent reformist member.

"There is agreement between me and many leaders, but the performance of some of them can be characterised as strict and rigid," he said.

The group, which won a fifth of the seats in Egypt's parliament in 2005 with members standing as independents, is divided along generational lines, with alienated younger members finding little representation in the new governing body of men mostly well over 50.

It is also divided over questions such the rights of women and religious minorities, how strict Islamic practice should be and how the Brotherhood should deal with state oppression.

Abul-Futuh and deputy leader Mohamed Habib, whom analysts consider moderates, did not win a seat on the governing body. The result of who will lead the Brotherhood will be announced sometime before January 13.