Uganda: Kony Rebels Kill 400 Congo Villagers

Kampala — THE LRA rebels killed over 400 people in Congo during the Christmas period, fresh details have emerged.The simultaneous attacks on several villages in the Orientale province show a trail of bloody killings, looting, abductions and torching of villages, Caritas International, a Catholic charity operating in the province, said in a statement.”Caritas is shocked by reports of a series of massacres in the DR Congo carried out by Ugandan rebels on Christmas Day and the days following.”During the Juba peace talks, Caritas was mandated to supply food to the LRA. Its director, Dungu-Doruma, said the rebels attacked a Christmas Day concert organised by the Catholic church in Faradje city.

Benin: Violent Crime Threatens Markets, Livelihoods

Cotonou — A recent increase in violent crime threatens to further impoverish Benin by choking off small business, according to law enforcement and arms control officials.Police in Benin’s economic capital Cotonou link this year’s spike in armed robberies and violent crime to small arms trafficking, as well as the growing desperation of people who can no longer afford to cover their basic needs.In the past two months at least seven people have died and dozens more were seriously injured in a series of bank robberies, mostly in Cotonou. “People are looking for any means necessary to make ends meet,” the head of Cotonou’s police headquarters, Constant Sossou, told IRIN.

Ghana: No President-Elect Yet

Accra — Ghana’s test as a model democracy in coup-wracked West Africa will be stretched over a few more days as election officials investigate fraud allegations and conduct a missed poll in one district.Results from Ghana’s 28 December presidential run-off were expected on 30 December but the head of the electoral commission said the outcome will be delayed for audits of disputed polls and the fresh 2 January vote.Thousands of Ghanaians camped out overnight at the electoral commission headquarters in the capital Accra the eve of the expected announcement. Armed soldiers and police were out in force to control the crowds.

Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Kill 189 Civilians And Torch 120 Houses

During the Christmas celebrations, LRA rebels conducted simultaneous attacks in several localities of Haut Uélé, northeastern DRC.At least 189 civilians were killed in the attack, according to local and humanitarian officials, with 40 civilians reported killed in Faradje, 89 in Doruma and 60 in Gurba, between the 26 and 27 of December 2008.A situational report issued by humanitarian actors in Dungu indicates that several officials were killed in Faradje, including the chief doctor (partner of  UNFPA and Malteser International), two priests, one school inspector, a pharmacist, a head of the Fédération des Entreprises du Congo (FEC) and the Deputy Chief of the Immigration Office (DGM). 20 children were also abducted.

Ghana: After Elections Comes Waiting

Thousand of NDC supporters spent the night at the offices of the Electoral Commission (EC) headquarters in Accra. The crowd has made their intentions clear – that they are going to lay siege at the commission office until the final results are released.In order to maintain law and order at the EC’s office, a large group of army and police officers have condoned off the offices of the Electoral Commission and they have fired tear gas at certain times in the night to control the crowds. The situation is very fluid but calm. In a related development the NDC’s presidential candidate Atta Mills has urged his supporters to remain calm and wait for the Electoral Commission to declare the final results although he has indicated that his party has won the elections.

Somalia: Fresh Turmoil, Uncertainty as President Resigns

Nairobi — Fresh turmoil and uncertainty loom for the people of Somalia – already ravaged by displacement, conflict, drought and hyper-inflation – after the country’s interim president resigned on 29 December.Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed resigned after disagreements with parliament and his prime minister, as well as pressure from the international community.”President Abdullahi Yusuf resigned at around 1000am local time. The speaker of parliament, Sheikh Aden Madobe, is now the acting president until a new one is elected,” Abdi Haji Gobdon, the government spokesman told IRIN.

Ghana: Presidential Election Too Close to Call

With more than half the results counted in the second round of Ghana’s presidential election, the two candidates are running neck-and-neck.Provisional results released by the African Elections Project (AEP) in Accra show that with 162 of 230 constituencies reporting, the candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, had 3,216,096 votes, or 49.26 percent of the total, and John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of former ruler Jerry Rawlings had 3,313,337 votes, or 50.74 percent.

Somalia: Interim President Yusuf Resigns

Baidoa — The interim President of Somalia, Mr. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, has told the country’s federal parliament that he is stepping down as head of state after four years in power, Radio Garowe reports.President Yusuf told lawmakers on Monday that his resignation was “a personal decision,” but cited consultations with loyal lawmakers in Baidoa, the seat of parliament.”As I promised before, when you [parliament] elected me, I cannot do the job any longer and so I have returned the duty [back] to you,” said Mr. Yusuf, who offered a brief address declaring his resignation.

African Union Suspends Country Over Coup

The African Union (AU) has suspended Guinea from taking part in all AU activities until the country returns to civilian rule under the constitution.The AU’s Peace and Security Council said in a statement issued from its headquarters in Addis Ababa that a meeting of the council held on Monday had reiterated its “firm condemnation” of the coup, which was “a flagrant violation of the Constitution of Guinea and of the relevant AU instruments.”

Zimbabwe: Detainees Remain in Cells

Harare — THE State has launched an appeal at the Supreme Court against the High Court determination ordering the release of former ZBC newscaster Jestina Mukoko and 31 other co-suspects accused of recruiting people for military training in Botswana. The 32 are still in custody.On Wednesday, High Court judge Justice Yunus Omerjee ordered the immediate release of Mukoko and her co-defendants on the basis of a previous High Court order declaring their detention illegal because they had been held for more than the stipulated 48 hours before being brought to court.