Africa

NEWS RELEASES

Nigeria: Woman Sentenced to Death Under Sharia
(New York, October 23, 2001) Human Rights Watch today condemned a recent ruling by an Islamic court in Northern Nigeria that sentenced Safiya Hussaini Tungar-Tudu to death by stoning. The court issued the death sentence after finding her guilty of having pre-marital sex.
Ethiopia: Government Attacks Women Lawyers
(October 17, 2001) -- We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the recent suspension from operation of the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA), a leading local nongovernmental women's rights organization. We call for an immediate and unconditional reinstatement of EWLA.
Rwanda: Elections May Speed Genocide Trials
(New York, October 4, 2001) The election today of more than 200,000 judges in Rwanda offers hope of speeding up trials resulting from the 1994 genocide, Human Rights Watch said today.
Uganda: Don’t Limit Space for Civil Society
(New York, October 2, 2001) The Ugandan Parliament should reject a proposed law threatening the legitimate activities of civil society, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today.
Escalating Crackdown in Eritrea
(New York, September 21, 2001) The government of Eritrea has intensified a major crackdown on its opponents in recent days, Human Rights Watch charged today.
Côte d'Ivoire: Politicians Incite Ethnic Conflict
(New York, August 28, 2001) Leading government officials in Côte D'Ivoire have incited a violent xenophobia that is threatening to destabilize the country, Human Rights Watch charged in a new report released today.
South Africa: Racism Plagues Response to Rural Crime
(August 22, 2001) The South African government is failing to adequately protect residents of commercial farming areas from violent crime, Human Rights Watch charged in a report released today. Black farm residents are most severely affected by this failure, and black women are most vulnerable of all, Human Rights Watch said.
Eastern Congo: Rebels' Persecution of Rights Activists
(New York, August 21, 2001) -- The Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD-Goma), a rebel group based in eastern Congo, has stepped up abuse of civil society activists, Human Rights Watch charged.
Funds Urged for Sierra Leone Court
(New York, July 24, 2001) Member states of the United Nations should pledge more funds to support the Special Court for Sierra Leone, Human Rights Watch said today.
Sierra Leone: Most Serious Attacks in Months
(New York, July 24, 2001) Recent atrocities against civilians in two districts of northern and eastern Sierra Leone are the most serious in several months, Human Rights Watch said today.
Guinea: Refugees Subject to Serious Abuse
(July 5, 2001) Refugees in Guinea are vulnerable to serious human rights abuse at the hands of Guinean authorities and civilian vigilantes, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
Kenya: Government Neglects AIDS Orphans
(New York, June 25, 2001) -- The government of Kenya is failing to care for millions of children who have been orphaned by AIDS or whose family members suffer from the disease, Human Rights Watch charged in a report released today.
Congo: Activist Held in Kinshasa
(New York, 22 June 2001) -- The Congolese government should immediately stop arbitrarily arresting human rights activists, Human Rights Watch said today.
Mauritania: Cease Harassment of Opposition
(New York, 22 June 2001) Human Rights Watch today condemned the ongoing harassment of opposition leaders and human rights activists in Mauritania. In a letter to President Ould Taya, Human Rights Watch called for the unconditional release from prison of three opposition activists.
Congo: Rebel Fighting Imperils Beni Residents
(New York, June 12, 2001) Residents of the eastern Congolese town of Beni are caught in the crossfire of week-long violent clashes between two competing rebel factions, with many civilians killed and injured, Human Rights Watch said today.
Rwanda: Rural Poor Forced to Leave their Homes
(New York, June 11, 2001) The Rwandan government has violated the basic rights of tens of thousands of people by forcing them to abandon their homes in rural areas and move to makeshift dwellings in government-designated sites, Human Rights Watch charged in a report released today.
Congo Ratifies Ban on Child Soldiers: Urged to Demobilize Children in it's Forces
Letter to Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila
(June 5, 2001)
Congo Rebel Group Forces Children into Army
(New York, May 29, 2001) The major rebel group in eastern Congo continues to recruit children to wage war against the Congolese government, Human Rights Watch charged in a report released today.
Congo: Hostage Situation Raises Concerns for Civilian Population
(New York, May 25, 2001) Deployments of Ugandan and local rebel forces in response to a hostage situation in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) pose a serious threat to the security of the civilian population, Human Rights Watch said today.
Ethiopia: Court Ruling Attacks Rights Defenders
(May 19, 2001) A court ruling in Ethiopia has highlighted the government's campaign to silence its critics, Human Rights Watch said today.
Powell: Focus on Human Rights in Africa
(May 18, 2001) -- The costs of ignoring human rights and accountability in Africa can be seen in terms of ongoing cycles of violence against civilians, huge refugee flows, destabilization of neighboring countries and economic devastation.
Rampant Human Rights Abuses and Occupation of the DRC by Foreign Armies
(May 17, 2001) -- The link between rampant human rights abuses and the obviously man-made humanitarian disaster is becoming all too familiar, in particular throughout the areas controlled by the foreign occupying armies of Rwandan, Uganda, and Burundi, and the Congolese rebel groups backed by these regional powers.
Nigeria: Military Must Account for Abuses
(Washington, May 11, 2001) The U.S. government should call on President Olusegun Obasanjo to ensure thorough and credible investigations and prosecutions for human rights abuses by the Nigerian armed forces, Human Rights Watch said today.
Ethiopia: Government Attacks Universities, Civil Society
(New York, May 10, 2001) Ethiopian security forces have used excessive force in dealing with student protests and are using the protests as an excuse for cracking down on all government critics, Human Rights Watch charged today.
Rwanda: Resolve Disappearances, Assassination
(New York, May 4, 2001) The Rwandan government should step up efforts to resolve recent cases of disappearances and an assassination, Human Rights Watch said today. Such cases, relatively common between 1995 and 1997, seem to be becoming more frequent in a context of growing tension between Rwanda and its neighbors.
Congo: Resource Exploitation Exacerbates Civilian Suffering
(New York, April 20, 2001) Human Rights Watch urged the United Nations Security Council today to take action against the looting of resources by foreign troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo and address the devastating human rights abuses being committed by the same troops.
Congo: Human Rights Activist in Kinshasa Detained
(New York, April 12, 2001) Golden Misabiko Baholelwa, leading member of the African association for the defense of human rights (ASADHO), was arrested on 5 February 2001 and has been detained since.
Rwanda: Belgian Genocide Trial
(New York, April 12, 2001) Next week four Rwandans will come before a Belgian court to answer charges of involvement in the 1994 genocide in their country. Their trial marks a major development in international justice, Human Rights Watch said today.
No "Safe Passage" Through Rebel-Held Sierra Leone
(Freetown, Sierra Leone, April 3, 2001) Rebel attacks on refugees returning home to Sierra Leone cast doubt on a new United Nations plan for "safe passage" through rebel-held territory, Human Rights Watch said today.
Rebel Abuses Against Sierra Leonean Refugees Returning from Guinea
Human Rights Watch Testimonies, April 2001
Ugandan Occupation Worsens Congo's Problems
(March 28, 2001) Ugandan authorities have fueled political and ethnic strife in eastern Congo with disastrous consequences for the local population, Human Rights Watch charged in a report released today. (in French)
South Africa: Sexual Violence Rampant in Schools
(Johannesburg, March 27, 2001) In schools across South Africa, thousands of girls of every race and economic group are encountering sexual violence and harassment that impede their access to education, Human Rights Watch charged in a report released today.
Senegal Bars Charges Against Ex Chad Dictator
(Dakar, Senegal - March 20, 2001) Senegal's highest court today ruled that Chad's exiled former president, Hissène Habré, could not stand trial on torture charges because his alleged crimes were not committed in Senegal.
Burundi: Arrests of Journalists Condemned
(New York, March 16, 2001) Two journalists arrested in Burundi for airing a brief interview with a rebel spokesman should be released promptly, Human Rights Watch said today.
No Contest in Rwandan Elections
(New York, March 9, 2001) Hundreds of thousands of Rwandans voted for local officials in nationwide balloting on March 6, but many had no meaningful choice at the polls, Human Rights Watch said today.
Uganda's Election Lead Up Marred by Violence, Intimidation
(New York, March 5, 2001) -- Serious human rights concerns in the lead-up to Uganda's March 12 presidential elections shed doubt on whether the election will be free and fair, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
U.S. Urged to Help Avert Famine in Sudan
(New York, March 3, 2001) -- The factional fighting in southern Sudan could widen into a devastating famine unless the U.S. intervenes diplomatically with rebel forces and others, Human Rights Watch said today.
Algeria: Halt Harassment of Rights Activist
(New York, March 1, 2001) Human Rights Watch today called on Algerian authorities to stop their harassment of human rights activist Mohamed Smain, and sought assurances that he would be allowed to continue his human rights activities and to travel.
Guinean Forces Kill, Wound Civilians in Sierra Leone
(New York, February 28, 2001) - The Guinean military has killed and wounded dozens of Sierra Leonean civilians in indiscriminate attacks against rebel-held areas of northern Sierra Leone, Human Rights Watch said today.
Africa: Human Rights "Commissions" Have Little Effect
(New York, February 22, 2001) -- A rapid growth in government-sponsored human rights commissions across Africa has not generally led to better human rights protection, Human Rights Watch charged in a major new study released today.
Senegal: Decision on Ex-Chad Dictator Due
(Dakar, Senegal, February 20, 2001) -- Senegal's highest court is to rule March 6 on whether Chad's exiled former president, Hissène Habré, should stand trial in Senegal on torture charges.
Congo, Rwanda Responsible for Severe Abuses
(Washington, February 1, 2001) The two African leaders at a Congressional prayer breakfast this morning are fighting a war that has caused massive civilian casualities, and U.S. officials meeting with them should make that the focus of their dialogue, Human Rights Watch said today.
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    BACKGROUNDERS

    PUBLICATIONS BY COUNTRIES


    RECENT PUBLICATIONS

    CÔTE D'IVOIRE
    The New Racism: The Political Manipulation of Ethnicity in Côte d'Ivoire
    August 2001

    Unequal Protection: The State Response to Violent Crime on South African Farms
    August 2001

    Guinea: Refugees Still at Risk
    Continuing Refugee Protection Concerns in Guinea

    July 2001

    In the Shadow of Death: HIV/AIDS and Children's Rights in Kenya
    June 2001

    Uprooting the Rural Poor in Rwanda
    June 2001

    Democratic Republic of the Congo
    Reluctant Recruits: Children and Adults Forcibly Recruited for Military Service in North Kivu
    May 2001

    Uganda In Eastern DRC: Fueling Political And Ethnic Strife
    March 2001

    SCARED AT SCHOOL: Sexual Violence Against Girls in South African Schools
    March 2001

    Uganda -- Not a Level Playing Field: Government Violations in the Lead-Up to the Election
    February 2001

    Protectors or Pretenders: Government Human Rights Commissions in Africa
    February 2001

    South Africa -- Question of Principle: Arms Trade and Human Rights
    October 2000

    Seeking Protection": Addressing Sexual and Domestic Violence in Tanzania's Refugee Camps
    September 2000

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