Human Rights Watch writes to Chairman of the African Union (AU), H.E. Jean Ping, preceeding the AU summit. We urge more attention to be paid to the countries of Somalia, Guinea, Chad, the DRC, and Zimbabwe. A call for action is also included asking to assist Senegal in moving forward with proceedings for former President of Chad, Hissène Habré.

Human Rights Watch writes to Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, leader of a coup in Guinea that took power on December 23, 2008, urging him to take concrete and meaningful steps to resolve the acute constitutional crisis generated by the recent death of former President Lansana Conté, and to address some of the chronic human rights problems and attendant weaknesses in rule of law that characterized Conté's 24-year administration.

Human Rights Watch writes to Mr. Ahmed Tidiane Souaré, leader of Guinea’s newly formed government, in order to express deep concern about the Guinean government's continuing inaction in the face of severe and ongoing human rights abuses in Guinea.

Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, the OIC should consider two amendments to the Convention to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications.

Human Rights Watch writes to Sir Emyr Jones Parry, United Kingdom ambassador to the United Nations and leader of a U.N. Security Council trip to West Africa later this month, identifying key concerns and suggesting steps that the Security Council could take to address them, including the consideration of an arms embargo against all parties to the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire; promoting the rule of law by ending impunity for the horrific crimes committed during the conflicts in Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia; addressing bad governance in Sierra Leone; and stopping the use of child soldiers.