Human Rights Watch met today with Central Africa Republic’s (CAR) interim president, Michel Djotodia, to discuss the abuses of the Seleka, a coalition of rebel groups that Djotodia helped lead which took power in CAR in March. A Human Rights Watch report released evidence that the Seleka had killed scores of unarmed civilians and destroyed more than 1,000 homes.
Djotodia was sworn in as interim president earlier this month. He had a copy of the Human Rights Watch report on his table. Human Rights Watch UN Director Philippe Bolopion live-tweeted the meeting.
The popular TV show of Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef has been canceled by Egyptian broadcaster CBC after the newly re-launched show’s first episode mocked both ousted President Mohammad Morsi and Egypt’s current military-backed government.
Youssef, a heart surgeon turned professional satirist, was inspired by the US comedian Jon Stewart and appeared on his show, the Daily Show.
Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is in Washington this week to ask President Obama for warplanes, drones, and other assistance for Iraq’s counterterrorism efforts. The president should send a clear message that the kind of assistance Maliki seeks is not possible as long as his security forces continue their widespread torture – often in the name of counterterrorism.
M23 rebels, who have been terrorizing eastern Congo, may be close to defeat. Human Rights Watch has frequently reported on Rwanda’s support of the rebels. Last Friday, US Secretary of State John Kerry and UK Foreign Secretary William Hague both called on Rwanda to stop aiding the armed group.
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