civil society groups - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

Malian parties reject junta’s suspension of political activities

MALIAN political parties and civil society groups jointly rejected the ruling junta's order to suspend political activities and vowed to mount a legal challenge to what one opposition politician called the "dictatorial" move. The West African country has been under military rule since a coup in 2020. Tensions have risen in recent weeks, leading major parties and other organisations jointly to call out the junta on March 31 for not scheduling elections within the promised time frame. The authorities issued a decree on Wednesday suspending until further notice all activities by political parties and groups on the grounds of maintaining public order. Joining forces…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

Liberia senate approves war crimes court’s creation

NEWS

LIBERIA'S Senate backed the establishment of a war crimes court meant to bring overdue justice to victims of serious abuses committed during the West African country's two civil wars. President Joseph Boakai proposed the resolution, which lawmakers backed during a vote in Liberia's lower house last month. It passed a second vote in the Senate on Tuesday with the backing of 27 out of 29 senators. Boakai now needs to give his own final approval. The move has been welcomed by activists and civil society groups that have called for more accountability for crimes committed during two civil wars between 1989 and…

Sep

2023

By The African Mirror

Britain urged to swiftly return politician’s loot to Nigeria

NEWS

BRITISH and Nigerian civil society groups have urged the British government to return funds confiscated from Nigerian politician James Ibori, a convicted fraudster, to his country in a swift and transparent way so the money can benefit ordinary Nigerians. In a letter to Britain's home and foreign affairs ministers, a coalition of close to 50 NGOs said the long-delayed confiscation process had undermined the strong anti-corruption message sent by Ibori's conviction over a decade ago. "The years of disruption and delay in recovering and returning these stolen assets means this message has so far rung hollow for the Nigerian people,"…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Tunisian groups denounce minister for calling journalists, unions, businessmen ‘traitors’

NEWS

TUNISIAN civil society groups accused the interior minister of incitement after he said some journalists, activists, politicians, business people and union members were traitors. The organisations include Tunisia's main labour union, the UGTT, and the Journalists Syndicate, as well as the Human Rights League, the transparency group iWatch and the Social and the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights. Interior Minister Toufik Charfeddine said on Tuesday that "journalists are mercenaries and traitors ... businessmen, trade unionists and parties have sold the country and allied themselves against the Tunisian people ... they are traitors". The civil society groups said in…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Some 200 rights groups push for U.N. arms embargo on Myanmar

WORLD

MICHELLE NICHOLS MORE than 200 civil society groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have called on the U.N. Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Myanmar to help protect civilians peacefully protesting a military coup. Since the military seized power on February 1 and ousted an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar has seen daily protests and a surge of violence with security forces killing hundreds of civilians. "Imposing a global arms embargo on Myanmar is the minimum necessary step the Security Council should take in response to the military's escalating violence,"…