NBC NEWS
"Gabon coup aims 'to restore democracy,' soldiers say"
By Associated Press
Jan. 7, 2019, 4:26 AM EST / Updated Jan. 7, 2019, 6:11 AM EST
LIBREVILLE, Gabon — Soldiers from Gabon's Republican Guard have appeared on state television saying they have launched a coup "to restore democracy" in the West African country.
Early Monday a soldier who identified himself as Lt. Kelly Ondo Obiang, commander of the Republican Guard, read out a statement saying the military has seized control of the government.
He was flanked by two others holding weapons and all were dressed in camouflage uniforms and green berets.
Ondo Obiang described himself as the leader of the self-declared Patriotic Movement of the Defense and Security Forces of Gabon.
A curfew has been imposed over the capital, Libreville, and the internet has been cut.
The city on the Atlantic Ocean coast is being patrolled by military tanks and armed vehicles.
President Ali Bongo, 59, has been out of the country since October amid reports that he had a stroke.
He recently addressed the country in a New Year's message that was filmed in Morocco, where he has been receiving medical treatment.
In that speech, Bongo acknowledged health problems but said he was recovering.
He slurred some of his words and did not move his right arm, but otherwise appeared in decent health.
Bongo has been in power since 2009.
The Bongo family has ruled the oil-producing country for nearly half a century.
Bongo has been president since succeeding his father, Omar.
His re-election in 2016 by fewer than 6,000 votes was marred by claims of fraud, sparking deadly clashes between protesters and police during which the parliament was torched.
Gabon has a population of around 2 million.
Ondo Obiang said the coup was being carried out against "those who, in a cowardly way, assassinated our young compatriots on the night of August 31, 2016," a reference to the violence that erupted after Bongo was declared the election's winner.
The European Union said it found anomalies during the election in Bongo’s stronghold province of Haut-Ogooue, where he won 95 percent of the vote on a 99.9 percent turnout.
Associated Press
Reuters contributed.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/gabo ... ay-n955561
AFRICA
Re: AFRICA
THE WASHINGTON POST
"Gabon government thwarts coup attempt, 2 plotters dead"
By Yves Laurent Goma | AP
January 7, 2019
LIBREVILLE, Gabon — Gabon’s government thwarted an attempted military coup on Monday, retaining control of the oil-rich West African nation after two plotters were killed and other army officers were arrested, the government said.
Authorities regained control of state broadcasting offices and a major thoroughfare in the capital, Libreville, which were the only areas taken over by the officers, government spokesman Guy-Betrand Mapangou told Radio France International.
He said five army officers who took over state radio were arrested.
Two other coup plotters were killed when security forces took over and freed some hostages, according to a presidential statement reported by RFI.
A curfew was imposed over the capital, Libreville, and the internet was cut.
The city on the Atlantic Ocean coast was being patrolled by military tanks and armed vehicles.
Earlier Monday a soldier who identified himself as Lt. Obiang Ondo Kelly, commander of the Republican Guard, read out a statement saying the military had seized control of Gabon’s government in order to “restore democracy.”
He was flanked by two other soldiers holding weapons; all were dressed in camouflage uniforms and green berets.
Those soldiers have been taken into custody and President Ali Bongo’s government remains in control, government spokesman Mapangou said.
Bongo, who has been in power since 2009, has been out of the country since October amid reports that he had a stroke.
He recently addressed the country in a New Year’s message that was filmed in Morocco, where he has been receiving medical treatment.
Gabon, sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest oil producer, has been ruled for more than half a century by Bongo and his father, Omar, who died in 2009.
Critics have accused the family of profiting from the country’s natural resources while not investing enough in basic services for the population of more than 2 million.
About one-third of the population lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.
As news of the coup reverberated through the international community, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attempted coup and called on all in the country to follow its constitutional laws, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
The African Union also affirmed its support for the Bongo government.
“The African Union strongly condemns the coup attempt this morning in Gabon,” the head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said on Twitter.
“I reaffirm the AU’s rejection of all anti-constitutional change.”
In his brief New Year’s address, the 59-year-old Bongo declared that the country was “indivisible” and acknowledged his health problems without giving details.
“A difficult period,” he called it, and a challenge that he surmounted “thanks to God.”
He promised to put all of his efforts into improving the daily quality of life for Gabon’s people.
The French-educated Bongo, who was the country’s defense minister before becoming president, narrowly won re-election in 2016 in a vote opposition rival Jean Ping claimed was plagued by irregularities, and he continues to call himself the country’s real president.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/af ... 2530f63087
"Gabon government thwarts coup attempt, 2 plotters dead"
By Yves Laurent Goma | AP
January 7, 2019
LIBREVILLE, Gabon — Gabon’s government thwarted an attempted military coup on Monday, retaining control of the oil-rich West African nation after two plotters were killed and other army officers were arrested, the government said.
Authorities regained control of state broadcasting offices and a major thoroughfare in the capital, Libreville, which were the only areas taken over by the officers, government spokesman Guy-Betrand Mapangou told Radio France International.
He said five army officers who took over state radio were arrested.
Two other coup plotters were killed when security forces took over and freed some hostages, according to a presidential statement reported by RFI.
A curfew was imposed over the capital, Libreville, and the internet was cut.
The city on the Atlantic Ocean coast was being patrolled by military tanks and armed vehicles.
Earlier Monday a soldier who identified himself as Lt. Obiang Ondo Kelly, commander of the Republican Guard, read out a statement saying the military had seized control of Gabon’s government in order to “restore democracy.”
He was flanked by two other soldiers holding weapons; all were dressed in camouflage uniforms and green berets.
Those soldiers have been taken into custody and President Ali Bongo’s government remains in control, government spokesman Mapangou said.
Bongo, who has been in power since 2009, has been out of the country since October amid reports that he had a stroke.
He recently addressed the country in a New Year’s message that was filmed in Morocco, where he has been receiving medical treatment.
Gabon, sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest oil producer, has been ruled for more than half a century by Bongo and his father, Omar, who died in 2009.
Critics have accused the family of profiting from the country’s natural resources while not investing enough in basic services for the population of more than 2 million.
About one-third of the population lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.
As news of the coup reverberated through the international community, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attempted coup and called on all in the country to follow its constitutional laws, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
The African Union also affirmed its support for the Bongo government.
“The African Union strongly condemns the coup attempt this morning in Gabon,” the head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said on Twitter.
“I reaffirm the AU’s rejection of all anti-constitutional change.”
In his brief New Year’s address, the 59-year-old Bongo declared that the country was “indivisible” and acknowledged his health problems without giving details.
“A difficult period,” he called it, and a challenge that he surmounted “thanks to God.”
He promised to put all of his efforts into improving the daily quality of life for Gabon’s people.
The French-educated Bongo, who was the country’s defense minister before becoming president, narrowly won re-election in 2016 in a vote opposition rival Jean Ping claimed was plagued by irregularities, and he continues to call himself the country’s real president.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/af ... 2530f63087
Re: AFRICA
VOICE OF AMERICA
"DR Congo Opposition Candidate Fayulu Challenges Election Results in Court"
VOA News
January 12, 2019 10:03 AM
Democratic Republic of Congo presidential runner-up Martin Fayulu has challenged the outcome of the country's election in court, claiming he defeated opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi by a wide margin.
Fayulu's opposition coalition said Friday he captured 61 percent of the vote, citing figures from the Catholic Church, which placed 40,000 election observers across the Central African country.
The coalition said Tshisekedi won 18 percent of the vote.
By law, only the electoral commission can announce election results in Congo.
Fayulu, who has members of the Republican Guard deployed outside his home, called for a manual recount of the election.
On Thursday, the United States demanded the Democratic Republic of Congo release "accurate" election results and warned of sanctions against anyone who tries to undermine Congo's democracy.
Election commission head Corneille Nangaa told reporters in Kinshasa that results of the Dec. 30 presidential vote may be delayed because of a slow vote-counting process.
Nangaa said only about 20 percent of ballots have been collected from polling stations across the vast central African country, which lacks a well-developed road network.
He also said the system of manually collecting and compiling vote totals is not helping the process.
The electoral commission had planned to use the internet to collect vote totals.
But it gave up those plans after the opposition alleged the system was vulnerable to fraud.
Election results are due to be published by Sunday, with the new president set to be inaugurated on Jan. 15.
Pre-election polls indicated that Fayulu was the favorite to replace outgoing President Joseph Kabila.
Kabila backed another candidate, his former interior minister, Emmanuel Shadary.
Congo has never seen a peaceful transfer of power since winning independence from Belgium in 1960.
Last week's election was originally scheduled for 2016 but was delayed as Kabila stayed in office past the end of his mandate, sparking protests that were crushed by security forces, leaving dozens dead.
https://www.voanews.com/a/democratic-re ... 40163.html
"DR Congo Opposition Candidate Fayulu Challenges Election Results in Court"
VOA News
January 12, 2019 10:03 AM
Democratic Republic of Congo presidential runner-up Martin Fayulu has challenged the outcome of the country's election in court, claiming he defeated opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi by a wide margin.
Fayulu's opposition coalition said Friday he captured 61 percent of the vote, citing figures from the Catholic Church, which placed 40,000 election observers across the Central African country.
The coalition said Tshisekedi won 18 percent of the vote.
By law, only the electoral commission can announce election results in Congo.
Fayulu, who has members of the Republican Guard deployed outside his home, called for a manual recount of the election.
On Thursday, the United States demanded the Democratic Republic of Congo release "accurate" election results and warned of sanctions against anyone who tries to undermine Congo's democracy.
Election commission head Corneille Nangaa told reporters in Kinshasa that results of the Dec. 30 presidential vote may be delayed because of a slow vote-counting process.
Nangaa said only about 20 percent of ballots have been collected from polling stations across the vast central African country, which lacks a well-developed road network.
He also said the system of manually collecting and compiling vote totals is not helping the process.
The electoral commission had planned to use the internet to collect vote totals.
But it gave up those plans after the opposition alleged the system was vulnerable to fraud.
Election results are due to be published by Sunday, with the new president set to be inaugurated on Jan. 15.
Pre-election polls indicated that Fayulu was the favorite to replace outgoing President Joseph Kabila.
Kabila backed another candidate, his former interior minister, Emmanuel Shadary.
Congo has never seen a peaceful transfer of power since winning independence from Belgium in 1960.
Last week's election was originally scheduled for 2016 but was delayed as Kabila stayed in office past the end of his mandate, sparking protests that were crushed by security forces, leaving dozens dead.
https://www.voanews.com/a/democratic-re ... 40163.html
Re: AFRICA
ALJAZEERA
"UN urges DR Congo to refrain from violence after election result - MONUSCO chief Leila Zerrougui appeals to people and security forces of DRC to exercise calm and restraint."
by James Bays
12 JANUARY 2019
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has called for calm in the Democratic Republic of the Congo following the announcement of the provisional results of the long-delayed presidential election.
DRC has been witnessing tensions after the country's electoral commission (CENI) declared Felix Tshisekedi the winner of the vote with over 38 percent, ahead of his closest rival Martin Fayulu.
The head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Leila Zerrougui, also appealed to the Congolese people and the security forces to "exercise calm and restraint in this critical period".
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/ ... 00398.html
"UN urges DR Congo to refrain from violence after election result - MONUSCO chief Leila Zerrougui appeals to people and security forces of DRC to exercise calm and restraint."
by James Bays
12 JANUARY 2019
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has called for calm in the Democratic Republic of the Congo following the announcement of the provisional results of the long-delayed presidential election.
DRC has been witnessing tensions after the country's electoral commission (CENI) declared Felix Tshisekedi the winner of the vote with over 38 percent, ahead of his closest rival Martin Fayulu.
The head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Leila Zerrougui, also appealed to the Congolese people and the security forces to "exercise calm and restraint in this critical period".
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/ ... 00398.html
Re: AFRICA
BBC NEWS
"How does Felix Tshisekedi's poll victory in DR Congo add up?"
11 January 2019
Felix Tshisekedi has been named as the provisional winner of presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a historic victory for an opposition leader.
But questions have been raised about the accuracy of the results amid accusations of a power-sharing deal with outgoing President Joseph Kabila.
The electoral commission said Mr Tshisekedi had received 38.5% of the vote on 30 December, compared to 34.7% for Martin Fayulu, another opposition figure.
Ruling coalition candidate Emmanuel Shadary took 23.8%.
Those raising doubts about the results include the French and Belgian governments and country's influential Catholic Church.
What's their evidence?
The Catholic Church, through the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (Cenco), reported that the results, announced in the early hours of Thursday morning, did not match its findings.
But Cenco, which said it had 40,000 election observers who had visited all 75,000 polling stations, has not released its data.
Three diplomats speaking anonymously to the Reuters news agency said the Church's tallies showed that Mr Fayulu had won.
Opinion polls always need to be treated with caution - even more so in a country where the political climate is volatile.
But African politics expert Pierre Englebert says data from opinion polls conducted before the 30 December election show the official results were "highly implausible".
"The probability Tshisekedi could have scored 38% in a free election is less than 0.0000," he wrote in an article for online magazine African Arguments, pointing to polling data by Berci and Ipsos for the Congo Research Group.
He said the data predicted:
◾A 95% chance that Mr Tshisekedi would get somewhere between 21.3% and 25% of the vote
◾Mr Fayulu would have obtained between 39% and 43% of the vote
◾Mr Shadary would get between 14% and 17.4%.
Mr Englebert acknowledged that opinion polls could be wrong, saying the official results could be correct if turnout was as high as 90% in Mr Tshisekedi's strongholds and really low, around 30%, in Mr Fayulu's strongholds.
But he argued that this was extremely unlikely.
So how would fraud be possible?
There are many ways to rig an election.
Academic Nic Cheeseman, who has written a book on how to do just this, told the BBC that if the election was rigged it probably happened during the collation of the results.
He said very few people would have to be involved in this.
"It's very easy."
"You can have a small number of people in a central office who release the result."
"You can have one person just adding a 1,000 votes to one candidate and subtracting 1,000 from another on an Excel spreadsheet."
He said the risk of fraud was normally avoided by observers tabulating the results in parallel.
That did take place, but we do not have the data.
Throughout the election campaign, the use of electronic voting machines was a major source of contention.
Voters used the tablet-like devices to select candidates, and then it printed their ballot paper with their choices.
The machines were also meant to keep an electronic tally to help verify the results.
But Mr Englebert says that in the days following the vote, election observers reported that some of these machines went missing.
Why is the Church not announcing who it thinks won?
The Catholic Church organised one of the main election observer missions
The observers were prohibited by law from releasing their findings before the electoral commission had announced the official results.
It is not clear whether the law applies after the official announcement.
But the Catholic Church knows from the experience of past crackdowns that leading people on to the streets can have tragic consequences - and the ruling coalition has warned against "preparing the population for insurrection".
Séverine Autesserre, author of the book The Trouble with Congo, says the Congolese police have been brutal in their dealings with protesters in the past.
She told the BBC that if the Church, whose followers make up about 40% of the country's 80 million population, were to announce that Mr Fayulu had won - the consequences could be dire.
"You would have huge, violent protests."
"You would have riots," she told the BBC.
"The police would crackdown on the protesters and that would result in a lot of deaths."
On Friday, Catholic bishops urged the UN Security Council to put pressure on the Congolese electoral commission to publish the full results from each polling station.
Could the 'missing million' have made a difference?
Yes, according Mr Englebert.
The election has been postponed until March in three areas: Beni and Butembo in eastern North Kivu province and Yumbi in the west of the country.
An Ebola outbreak and insecurity were given as the reasons for the delay.
That amounted to more than 1.7 million voters, more than the number of votes separating the leading candidates.
Some of the those disenfranchised were in Mr Fayulu's strongholds, he says.
What happens next?
Mr Fayulu has vowed to challenge the result in the Constitutional Court.
Candidates must file an appeal within 48 hours of the announcement of the provisional results.
Judges then have seven days to deliberate.
Constitutional expert Jacques Ndjoli told the BBC that there were three possible outcomes:
◾The court could confirm Mr Tshisekedi's victory
◾It could order a recount
◾Or cancel the results altogether and call fresh elections.
International pressure to resolve the dispute may play a role but members of the UN Security Council are split.
Countries like Belgium and France believe there has been fraud but Chinese and Russian diplomats have stressed that DR Congo's sovereignty and the authority of the electoral commission must be respected.
Corneille Nangaa, head of the electoral commission, has defended the results and accused Cenco of bias.
He told the Security Council about the difficulties the commission had overcome to register 40 million voters for the vote that had taken place amid relative calm, and noted the huge achievement made by those resisting attempts to allow Mr Kabila to run for a third term.
He urged the international community to support the new leader, reminding the Council that for first time in nearly 60 years there would now be a transfer of power at the highest level.
A full breakdown of votes would be released if the Constitutional Court requested it, he said.
The court has never overturned results before, and some think most of its judges are close to the ruling party.
Mr Tshisekedi, the leader of largest opposition party which had faced repression at the hands of the Kabila regime, has denied the allegations of rigging.
If he is confirmed as the winner, he can be expected to be inaugurated within 10 days.
The inauguration is reportedly scheduled for 18 January.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46839291
"How does Felix Tshisekedi's poll victory in DR Congo add up?"
11 January 2019
Felix Tshisekedi has been named as the provisional winner of presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a historic victory for an opposition leader.
But questions have been raised about the accuracy of the results amid accusations of a power-sharing deal with outgoing President Joseph Kabila.
The electoral commission said Mr Tshisekedi had received 38.5% of the vote on 30 December, compared to 34.7% for Martin Fayulu, another opposition figure.
Ruling coalition candidate Emmanuel Shadary took 23.8%.
Those raising doubts about the results include the French and Belgian governments and country's influential Catholic Church.
What's their evidence?
The Catholic Church, through the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (Cenco), reported that the results, announced in the early hours of Thursday morning, did not match its findings.
But Cenco, which said it had 40,000 election observers who had visited all 75,000 polling stations, has not released its data.
Three diplomats speaking anonymously to the Reuters news agency said the Church's tallies showed that Mr Fayulu had won.
Opinion polls always need to be treated with caution - even more so in a country where the political climate is volatile.
But African politics expert Pierre Englebert says data from opinion polls conducted before the 30 December election show the official results were "highly implausible".
"The probability Tshisekedi could have scored 38% in a free election is less than 0.0000," he wrote in an article for online magazine African Arguments, pointing to polling data by Berci and Ipsos for the Congo Research Group.
He said the data predicted:
◾A 95% chance that Mr Tshisekedi would get somewhere between 21.3% and 25% of the vote
◾Mr Fayulu would have obtained between 39% and 43% of the vote
◾Mr Shadary would get between 14% and 17.4%.
Mr Englebert acknowledged that opinion polls could be wrong, saying the official results could be correct if turnout was as high as 90% in Mr Tshisekedi's strongholds and really low, around 30%, in Mr Fayulu's strongholds.
But he argued that this was extremely unlikely.
So how would fraud be possible?
There are many ways to rig an election.
Academic Nic Cheeseman, who has written a book on how to do just this, told the BBC that if the election was rigged it probably happened during the collation of the results.
He said very few people would have to be involved in this.
"It's very easy."
"You can have a small number of people in a central office who release the result."
"You can have one person just adding a 1,000 votes to one candidate and subtracting 1,000 from another on an Excel spreadsheet."
He said the risk of fraud was normally avoided by observers tabulating the results in parallel.
That did take place, but we do not have the data.
Throughout the election campaign, the use of electronic voting machines was a major source of contention.
Voters used the tablet-like devices to select candidates, and then it printed their ballot paper with their choices.
The machines were also meant to keep an electronic tally to help verify the results.
But Mr Englebert says that in the days following the vote, election observers reported that some of these machines went missing.
Why is the Church not announcing who it thinks won?
The Catholic Church organised one of the main election observer missions
The observers were prohibited by law from releasing their findings before the electoral commission had announced the official results.
It is not clear whether the law applies after the official announcement.
But the Catholic Church knows from the experience of past crackdowns that leading people on to the streets can have tragic consequences - and the ruling coalition has warned against "preparing the population for insurrection".
Séverine Autesserre, author of the book The Trouble with Congo, says the Congolese police have been brutal in their dealings with protesters in the past.
She told the BBC that if the Church, whose followers make up about 40% of the country's 80 million population, were to announce that Mr Fayulu had won - the consequences could be dire.
"You would have huge, violent protests."
"You would have riots," she told the BBC.
"The police would crackdown on the protesters and that would result in a lot of deaths."
On Friday, Catholic bishops urged the UN Security Council to put pressure on the Congolese electoral commission to publish the full results from each polling station.
Could the 'missing million' have made a difference?
Yes, according Mr Englebert.
The election has been postponed until March in three areas: Beni and Butembo in eastern North Kivu province and Yumbi in the west of the country.
An Ebola outbreak and insecurity were given as the reasons for the delay.
That amounted to more than 1.7 million voters, more than the number of votes separating the leading candidates.
Some of the those disenfranchised were in Mr Fayulu's strongholds, he says.
What happens next?
Mr Fayulu has vowed to challenge the result in the Constitutional Court.
Candidates must file an appeal within 48 hours of the announcement of the provisional results.
Judges then have seven days to deliberate.
Constitutional expert Jacques Ndjoli told the BBC that there were three possible outcomes:
◾The court could confirm Mr Tshisekedi's victory
◾It could order a recount
◾Or cancel the results altogether and call fresh elections.
International pressure to resolve the dispute may play a role but members of the UN Security Council are split.
Countries like Belgium and France believe there has been fraud but Chinese and Russian diplomats have stressed that DR Congo's sovereignty and the authority of the electoral commission must be respected.
Corneille Nangaa, head of the electoral commission, has defended the results and accused Cenco of bias.
He told the Security Council about the difficulties the commission had overcome to register 40 million voters for the vote that had taken place amid relative calm, and noted the huge achievement made by those resisting attempts to allow Mr Kabila to run for a third term.
He urged the international community to support the new leader, reminding the Council that for first time in nearly 60 years there would now be a transfer of power at the highest level.
A full breakdown of votes would be released if the Constitutional Court requested it, he said.
The court has never overturned results before, and some think most of its judges are close to the ruling party.
Mr Tshisekedi, the leader of largest opposition party which had faced repression at the hands of the Kabila regime, has denied the allegations of rigging.
If he is confirmed as the winner, he can be expected to be inaugurated within 10 days.
The inauguration is reportedly scheduled for 18 January.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46839291
Re: AFRICA
ALJAZEERA
"Fears of violence in Nigeria ahead of Saturday vote - With the presidential and legislative elections just days away, political watchers and voters fear spike in violence."
by Fidelis Mbah
12 Feb 2019
Lagos, Nigeria - Fears of violence have gripped many in Nigeria days before the presidential and legislative elections on February 16 with at least five deaths reported so far in pre-poll clashes.
On Sunday, five members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were shot and killed near the oil hub of Warri city in southeast Nigeria, with authorities calling it a revenge attack by people suspected to be from the opposition.
Clashes between APC supporters and rival contenders from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) have been reported from various places in Africa's largest democracy.
Nigeria has a history of election violence, with analysts warning that the forthcoming vote might be one of the bloodiest in the country's history.
In 2011, election violence claimed nearly 1,000 lives in the country's north following the defeat of Muhammadu Buhari by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The presidential contest will see incumbent Buhari seek to win a second four-year term against former vice president Atiku Abubakar in what is expected to be a close race.
'No different from previous polls'
"Nigerian elections have often been characterised by violence and with political tensions now further aggravated by current conflicts and deepening insecurity, there are fears that this election would be no different from the ones in the past," Nnamdi Obasi, International Crisis Group's senior Nigeria researcher, told Al Jazeera.
"The intensely acrimonious exchanges between the two major political parties have already resulted in many clashes, risking further violence during and after the polls," Obasi said.
The election campaign has been dominated by politicians accusing their rivals of inciting violence.
"The highly desperate and increasingly intolerant dispositions of both the parties signal fierce disputes over results, with protests possibly leading to further violence," said Obasi.
A key ally of Buhari and governor of the northern state of Kaduna, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, recently warned Nigerians who were living abroad to not intervene in the elections.
"We are waiting for the person who will come and intervene."
"They will go back in body bags because nobody will come to Nigeria and tell us how to run our country," said El-Rufai.
El-Rufai's comments drew criticism from international organisations and the opposition, heightening tensions further.
Two top officials of the PDP in Kaduna have also been arrested by security officials after they made provocative comments in their campaign rallies.
Security analyst Don Okereke told Al Jazeera that election violence would not go away soon.
"In 2015, nearly 58 Nigerians lost their lives in pre-election violence."
"This is a result of the do-or-die brand of politics played in Nigeria," Okereke said.
Political infighting
The top political parties have witnessed defections of some of their leaders.
The switching of party allegiance has not gone down well with their supporters, often resulting in attacks and killings.
On Monday, it took the intervention of security operatives to save President Buhari from objects hurled at the podium during his campaign rally in Abeokuta in southern Ogun state.
Factions in his party were angry over the president's support for another candidate, as intra-party bickering exacerbates the tense political environment.
Several warnings have been issued by local and international organisations, which say they are worried about security during the elections.
Security experts are calling for measures by the government to preempt poll violence.
"Granted some analysts believe that deployment of soldiers for election is an aberration, but if the motive is good and the soldiers won't be overzealous or be used to intimidate voters, especially in the opposition strongholds, then the measure could be extenuating," Okereke said.
The Nigerian army has announced that its troops will be engaged in ensuring the security of voters and electoral officials.
The opposition has questioned the plan, alleging that the armed forces could be used in elections rigging.
Compromised security force
Nigerian leaders in the past have been accused of using the country's security apparatus for their political goals.
The loyalists in the security service have often played a key role in safeguarding votes in areas considered to be the ruling party’s stronghold.
Experts are calling for caution in the handling of the deployment of security forces during the elections.
"The government must deploy police and other security agencies in the most vulnerable states, but in a manner that inspires confidence rather than intimidate the voters," said Obasi.
SOURCE: Al Jazeera News
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/ ... 27472.html
"Fears of violence in Nigeria ahead of Saturday vote - With the presidential and legislative elections just days away, political watchers and voters fear spike in violence."
by Fidelis Mbah
12 Feb 2019
Lagos, Nigeria - Fears of violence have gripped many in Nigeria days before the presidential and legislative elections on February 16 with at least five deaths reported so far in pre-poll clashes.
On Sunday, five members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were shot and killed near the oil hub of Warri city in southeast Nigeria, with authorities calling it a revenge attack by people suspected to be from the opposition.
Clashes between APC supporters and rival contenders from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) have been reported from various places in Africa's largest democracy.
Nigeria has a history of election violence, with analysts warning that the forthcoming vote might be one of the bloodiest in the country's history.
In 2011, election violence claimed nearly 1,000 lives in the country's north following the defeat of Muhammadu Buhari by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The presidential contest will see incumbent Buhari seek to win a second four-year term against former vice president Atiku Abubakar in what is expected to be a close race.
'No different from previous polls'
"Nigerian elections have often been characterised by violence and with political tensions now further aggravated by current conflicts and deepening insecurity, there are fears that this election would be no different from the ones in the past," Nnamdi Obasi, International Crisis Group's senior Nigeria researcher, told Al Jazeera.
"The intensely acrimonious exchanges between the two major political parties have already resulted in many clashes, risking further violence during and after the polls," Obasi said.
The election campaign has been dominated by politicians accusing their rivals of inciting violence.
"The highly desperate and increasingly intolerant dispositions of both the parties signal fierce disputes over results, with protests possibly leading to further violence," said Obasi.
A key ally of Buhari and governor of the northern state of Kaduna, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, recently warned Nigerians who were living abroad to not intervene in the elections.
"We are waiting for the person who will come and intervene."
"They will go back in body bags because nobody will come to Nigeria and tell us how to run our country," said El-Rufai.
El-Rufai's comments drew criticism from international organisations and the opposition, heightening tensions further.
Two top officials of the PDP in Kaduna have also been arrested by security officials after they made provocative comments in their campaign rallies.
Security analyst Don Okereke told Al Jazeera that election violence would not go away soon.
"In 2015, nearly 58 Nigerians lost their lives in pre-election violence."
"This is a result of the do-or-die brand of politics played in Nigeria," Okereke said.
Political infighting
The top political parties have witnessed defections of some of their leaders.
The switching of party allegiance has not gone down well with their supporters, often resulting in attacks and killings.
On Monday, it took the intervention of security operatives to save President Buhari from objects hurled at the podium during his campaign rally in Abeokuta in southern Ogun state.
Factions in his party were angry over the president's support for another candidate, as intra-party bickering exacerbates the tense political environment.
Several warnings have been issued by local and international organisations, which say they are worried about security during the elections.
Security experts are calling for measures by the government to preempt poll violence.
"Granted some analysts believe that deployment of soldiers for election is an aberration, but if the motive is good and the soldiers won't be overzealous or be used to intimidate voters, especially in the opposition strongholds, then the measure could be extenuating," Okereke said.
The Nigerian army has announced that its troops will be engaged in ensuring the security of voters and electoral officials.
The opposition has questioned the plan, alleging that the armed forces could be used in elections rigging.
Compromised security force
Nigerian leaders in the past have been accused of using the country's security apparatus for their political goals.
The loyalists in the security service have often played a key role in safeguarding votes in areas considered to be the ruling party’s stronghold.
Experts are calling for caution in the handling of the deployment of security forces during the elections.
"The government must deploy police and other security agencies in the most vulnerable states, but in a manner that inspires confidence rather than intimidate the voters," said Obasi.
SOURCE: Al Jazeera News
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/ ... 27472.html
Re: AFRICA
THIS IS THE LEGACY OF THE ARROGANCE AND SHEER STUPIDITY OF BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA AND HILLARY RODMAN CLINTON …
WHAT ABSOLUTE FOOLS THE PAIR OF THOSE IDIOTS WERE …
THE HILL
"US pulls troops out of Libya amid rise in violence"
Chris Mills Rodrigo
8 APRIL 2019
The U.S. pulled a contingent of troops from Libya over the weekend amid rising violence in the capital city of Tripoli, America's top commander for Africa said.
"The security realities on the ground in Libya are growing increasingly complex and unpredictable," Marine Corps Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said in a statement.
"Even with an adjustment of the force, we will continue to remain agile in support of existing U.S. strategy."
Africom further clarified that the repositioning was in response to security concerns.
"A contingent of U.S. forces supporting Africom temporarily relocated from Libya in response to security conditions," the combatant command tweeted.
"We will continue to monitor conditions on the ground and assess the feasibility for renewed U.S. military presence, as appropriate."
Tensions in the country have risen since rogue Libyan military commander, Gen. Khalifa Haftar, ordered his forces to attack the government in Tripoli.
Fighting, including airstrikes, has continued throughout the weekend.
Haftar's attempt to seize power come as the nation continues to be in disarray since former dictator Muammar Qaddafi was deposed in 2011.
The general's Libyan National Army are seeking to take over from the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).
Colonel Mohamed Gnounou of the forces loyal to the GNA said on Sunday his forces will engage in a counteroffensive called "Volcano of Anger" with the goal of "purging all Libyan cities of aggressor and illegitimate forces."
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us- ... P17#page=2
WHAT ABSOLUTE FOOLS THE PAIR OF THOSE IDIOTS WERE …
THE HILL
"US pulls troops out of Libya amid rise in violence"
Chris Mills Rodrigo
8 APRIL 2019
The U.S. pulled a contingent of troops from Libya over the weekend amid rising violence in the capital city of Tripoli, America's top commander for Africa said.
"The security realities on the ground in Libya are growing increasingly complex and unpredictable," Marine Corps Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said in a statement.
"Even with an adjustment of the force, we will continue to remain agile in support of existing U.S. strategy."
Africom further clarified that the repositioning was in response to security concerns.
"A contingent of U.S. forces supporting Africom temporarily relocated from Libya in response to security conditions," the combatant command tweeted.
"We will continue to monitor conditions on the ground and assess the feasibility for renewed U.S. military presence, as appropriate."
Tensions in the country have risen since rogue Libyan military commander, Gen. Khalifa Haftar, ordered his forces to attack the government in Tripoli.
Fighting, including airstrikes, has continued throughout the weekend.
Haftar's attempt to seize power come as the nation continues to be in disarray since former dictator Muammar Qaddafi was deposed in 2011.
The general's Libyan National Army are seeking to take over from the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).
Colonel Mohamed Gnounou of the forces loyal to the GNA said on Sunday his forces will engage in a counteroffensive called "Volcano of Anger" with the goal of "purging all Libyan cities of aggressor and illegitimate forces."
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us- ... P17#page=2
Re: AFRICA
FOX NEWS
"US military vehicle hit by roadside bomb in Niger, officials say"
Frank Miles
9 JUNE 2019
A roadside bomb exploded damaging a U.S. military vehicle struck in the West African country of Niger, but no one was killed, U.S. Africa Command told Fox News on Sunday.
U.S. officials confirmed a tactical vehicle was damaged in Saturday's explosion but said the cause was “undetermined at this time.”
U.S. Africa Command told Fox News: “A U.S. Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle (MAT-V) activated an improvised explosive device (IED) while entering a firing range in the vicinity of Ouallam, Niger.”
Its statement added: “U.S. and Nigerien partner forces were conducting a training exercise when the explosion occurred.”
Ouallam, in western Niger, is not far from where four U.S. soldiers died during an October 2017 ambush.
The attack by Islamic militants also killed four Nigerien soldiers in the joint patrol force.
The ambush drew attention to the U.S. military’s role in training troops in Niger.
The Pentagon said in November that it planned to reduce its counterterrorism forces in Africa over the next several years.
The move would be in line with the Trump administration's belief that the main challenge to U.S. security and prosperity is strategic competition with China and Russia rather than threats from extremist groups like the Islamic State group.
U.S. Africa Command told Fox News: “Niger is a vital partner in the fight against violent extremist organizations."
"U.S. forces are in Niger to work by, with, and through Nigerien partners to promote stability and security while enabling them to address their security threats.”
Fox News’ Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us- ... P17#page=2
"US military vehicle hit by roadside bomb in Niger, officials say"
Frank Miles
9 JUNE 2019
A roadside bomb exploded damaging a U.S. military vehicle struck in the West African country of Niger, but no one was killed, U.S. Africa Command told Fox News on Sunday.
U.S. officials confirmed a tactical vehicle was damaged in Saturday's explosion but said the cause was “undetermined at this time.”
U.S. Africa Command told Fox News: “A U.S. Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle (MAT-V) activated an improvised explosive device (IED) while entering a firing range in the vicinity of Ouallam, Niger.”
Its statement added: “U.S. and Nigerien partner forces were conducting a training exercise when the explosion occurred.”
Ouallam, in western Niger, is not far from where four U.S. soldiers died during an October 2017 ambush.
The attack by Islamic militants also killed four Nigerien soldiers in the joint patrol force.
The ambush drew attention to the U.S. military’s role in training troops in Niger.
The Pentagon said in November that it planned to reduce its counterterrorism forces in Africa over the next several years.
The move would be in line with the Trump administration's belief that the main challenge to U.S. security and prosperity is strategic competition with China and Russia rather than threats from extremist groups like the Islamic State group.
U.S. Africa Command told Fox News: “Niger is a vital partner in the fight against violent extremist organizations."
"U.S. forces are in Niger to work by, with, and through Nigerien partners to promote stability and security while enabling them to address their security threats.”
Fox News’ Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us- ... P17#page=2
Re: AFRICA
REUTERS
"Zimbabwe fires 211 striking doctors as economy worsens"
November 8, 2019 / 11:07 AM
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe on Friday fired more than 200 public sector doctors who have been on strike for more than two months demanding better pay to protect them from soaring inflation.
The doctors were dismissed after disciplinary hearings held in their absence, as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government takes a hard line against a restive labor force.
Other public workers say they cannot go to work because they have no money.
Police on Wednesday blocked a handful of public sector workers from marching to government offices with a petition demanding better pay.
Junior and middle level doctors from state hospitals have been on strike since Sept. 3.
They want their pay indexed to the U.S. dollar to stop their earnings being eroded by triple-digit inflation.
The doctors defied a court ruling last month that their action was illegal and they should return to work.
Patients are being turned away from hospitals because there are no doctors to treat them.
The Health Service Board said in a statement it had conducted hearings for 213 doctors and 211 were found guilty of being absent from work without proper cause.
Only two doctors attended the hearings.
The board plans to call in 516 of the government’s 1,601 doctors for disciplinary hearings.
Tawanda Zvakada, spokesman for Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, said he could not immediately comment.
The association has previously accused the government of intimidation.
The government said last month it had doubled doctors’ salaries.
They said that was inadequate, as it would only increase their monthly salary to about 2,000 Zimbabwe dollars ($130).
Zimbabweans are bearing the brunt of the worst economic crisis in a decade, with shortages of foreign currency, fuel, power and medicines.
The crisis has been worsened by a drought that has left more than half of the population in need of food aid and forced the government to scramble for scarce dollars to import grain.
Mnangagwa has asked for patience while his government tries to fix the economy.
But hope has dimmed that he can end years of economic troubles that were a hallmark of the rule of the late Robert Mugabe, who was ousted in an army coup two years ago.
Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Giles Elgood
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimb ... SKBN1XI1Y7
"Zimbabwe fires 211 striking doctors as economy worsens"
November 8, 2019 / 11:07 AM
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe on Friday fired more than 200 public sector doctors who have been on strike for more than two months demanding better pay to protect them from soaring inflation.
The doctors were dismissed after disciplinary hearings held in their absence, as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government takes a hard line against a restive labor force.
Other public workers say they cannot go to work because they have no money.
Police on Wednesday blocked a handful of public sector workers from marching to government offices with a petition demanding better pay.
Junior and middle level doctors from state hospitals have been on strike since Sept. 3.
They want their pay indexed to the U.S. dollar to stop their earnings being eroded by triple-digit inflation.
The doctors defied a court ruling last month that their action was illegal and they should return to work.
Patients are being turned away from hospitals because there are no doctors to treat them.
The Health Service Board said in a statement it had conducted hearings for 213 doctors and 211 were found guilty of being absent from work without proper cause.
Only two doctors attended the hearings.
The board plans to call in 516 of the government’s 1,601 doctors for disciplinary hearings.
Tawanda Zvakada, spokesman for Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, said he could not immediately comment.
The association has previously accused the government of intimidation.
The government said last month it had doubled doctors’ salaries.
They said that was inadequate, as it would only increase their monthly salary to about 2,000 Zimbabwe dollars ($130).
Zimbabweans are bearing the brunt of the worst economic crisis in a decade, with shortages of foreign currency, fuel, power and medicines.
The crisis has been worsened by a drought that has left more than half of the population in need of food aid and forced the government to scramble for scarce dollars to import grain.
Mnangagwa has asked for patience while his government tries to fix the economy.
But hope has dimmed that he can end years of economic troubles that were a hallmark of the rule of the late Robert Mugabe, who was ousted in an army coup two years ago.
Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Giles Elgood
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimb ... SKBN1XI1Y7
Re: AFRICA
POLITICO
"‘A very dangerous precedent’: Democrats take aim at Biden’s Somalia airstrikes"
By Andrew Desiderio and Lara Seligman
28 JULY 2021
Top Democratic lawmakers took aim this week at the Biden administration’s recent airstrikes in Somalia, disputing the legal rationale for the operations and arguing that it undercuts the president’s stated desire to replace outdated war authorizations.
“I think President [Joe] Biden should submit a new authorization for the use of military force and should recognize that the 2001 AUMF should be terminated,” Sen. Ben Cardin said.
The Pentagon justified the strikes, which targeted al Qaeda affiliates in the war-torn country, by invoking the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force against the terrorist groups that attacked the U.S. on 9/11.
Democrats, who have long maintained that the 2001 authorization is irrelevant 20 years after the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, said the Biden administration did not have the authority to strike in Somalia.
“What the Biden team is doing is consistent with what we’ve seen now in three prior administrations, but it’s, to me, inconsistent with the intent of Congress,” said Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“I think President [Joe] Biden should submit a new authorization for the use of military force and should recognize that the 2001 AUMF should be terminated,” Cardin added.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who has been working with the White House on a replacement for the 2001 AUMF that better aligns with the current terror threats, called on the Biden administration to brief Congress “expeditiously” on its “counterterrorism goals and the current threats.”
“I have received no information suggesting that these strikes are necessary to protect any U.S. personnel and would need to understand, if this is so, why they are occurring,” Kaine added.
Biden has backed efforts to repeal some war authorizations, such as the 2002 AUMF for Iraq, and replace others, like the 2001 measure.
Yet like his predecessors he has cited a range of legal justifications, including outdated war authorizations, following military action.
That includes twice invoking his Article II constitutional “self-defense” authority when he ordered airstrikes against Iran-backed militant groups in Iraq and Syria that attacked American troops.
“If you’re taking strikes in Somalia, come to Congress and get an authorization for it."
"If you want to be involved in hostilities in Somalia for the next five years, come and explain why that’s necessary and come and get an explicit authorization,” added Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), another top Foreign Relations Committee member.
“This idea that that’s too much trouble, that that’s too much to ask, is a very dangerous precedent for Congress to set.”
The criticism comes days after the Pentagon struck al-Shabab in Somalia on Friday, marking the second such operation in less than a week and the Biden administration’s second in the country since taking office.
In both cases, Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of U.S. Africa Command — not Biden — authorized the strike.
The mission was conducted to support an American-trained Somali force known as the Danab after they came under fire from al-Shabab militants in the Galmudug area of Somalia, defense officials said.
Murphy said the strike approval process raised questions about the chain of command.
“Any time you’re taking strikes in countries that have no clear authorization for hostilities passed by Congress, the chief executive needs to be involved.”
The U.S. resumed operations in the country after a six-month hiatus despite new limits the Biden administration placed on drone strikes outside active combat zones.
While the Trump administration gave regional commanders broad authority to green-light such operations, proposals for airstrikes are now generally routed through the White House.
Prior to last week’s actions, the U.S. had not conducted a strike in Somalia since Jan. 19, the day before Biden took office.
Biden’s invocation of the 2001 AUMF comes as his administration is conferring with lawmakers about a replacement for that authorization — one that includes specific geographic designations, mandates a cut-off date, and names specific terrorist groups covered under the AUMF.
“It illustrates that we need to come up with some sort of mechanism where we can approve geographies,” Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who has long advocated for war powers reforms, said of the Somalia strikes.
“We don’t want to hamstring the president’s Article II powers — which we don’t have the power to do anyway.”
Cardin said citing the 2001 AUMF “makes it more difficult” to get a new authorization through Congress, adding: “It undercuts our ability to see an urgency for action.”
The Foreign Relations Committee has asked the Biden administration for more information about the airstrikes.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who chairs the panel, said his main focus was on repealing the AUMFs that no longer have functional value.
But the committee is scheduled to hold a hearing next week with top State Department officials on AUMFs more broadly, allowing senators to question administration officials directly about the invocation of the 2001 AUMF as well as Biden’s Article II powers.
After that hearing, the committee will vote on a bipartisan measure to repeal the 2002 and 1991 AUMFs, both of which authorized military force in Iraq for different conflicts.
But the 2001 AUMF is still on lawmakers’ minds as a future target.
“It’s just more evidence of how badly the 2001 AUMF is in need of reform,” Murphy added.
“I think the administration is struggling a little bit to find the legal authorization for these strikes.”
Pentagon spokesperson Cindi King declined to give additional details about the dual attacks, including why the Biden administration had conducted two in a row after a six-month hiatus, citing operational security.
But a defense official said the end of Somalia’s rainy season has allowed operations to resume on both sides and anticipated a resumption of active fighting.
The defense official defended the airstrike, drawing a distinction between “deliberate” strikes against a particular threat developed in advance by military planners, and close-air-support or self-defense operations based on an imminent threat."
"In the latter cases, commanders must be able to authorize a strike quickly in life-threatening situations."
"All strikes go through rigorous approval processes including assessments of civilian casualties and collateral damage, the official said.
Republicans defended and applauded the administration’s airstrikes, as they have often done since Biden became president.
On the issue of war powers, GOP lawmakers have generally backed expanded presidential authority to conduct military operations.
“I don’t think the president needs a law passed by Congress in order to target terrorists who are posing a threat to the United States, no matter where they are in the world,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
“Especially if it’s a one-off, targeted engagement, not a full-scale military situation.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... d=msedgntp
"‘A very dangerous precedent’: Democrats take aim at Biden’s Somalia airstrikes"
By Andrew Desiderio and Lara Seligman
28 JULY 2021
Top Democratic lawmakers took aim this week at the Biden administration’s recent airstrikes in Somalia, disputing the legal rationale for the operations and arguing that it undercuts the president’s stated desire to replace outdated war authorizations.
“I think President [Joe] Biden should submit a new authorization for the use of military force and should recognize that the 2001 AUMF should be terminated,” Sen. Ben Cardin said.
The Pentagon justified the strikes, which targeted al Qaeda affiliates in the war-torn country, by invoking the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force against the terrorist groups that attacked the U.S. on 9/11.
Democrats, who have long maintained that the 2001 authorization is irrelevant 20 years after the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, said the Biden administration did not have the authority to strike in Somalia.
“What the Biden team is doing is consistent with what we’ve seen now in three prior administrations, but it’s, to me, inconsistent with the intent of Congress,” said Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“I think President [Joe] Biden should submit a new authorization for the use of military force and should recognize that the 2001 AUMF should be terminated,” Cardin added.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who has been working with the White House on a replacement for the 2001 AUMF that better aligns with the current terror threats, called on the Biden administration to brief Congress “expeditiously” on its “counterterrorism goals and the current threats.”
“I have received no information suggesting that these strikes are necessary to protect any U.S. personnel and would need to understand, if this is so, why they are occurring,” Kaine added.
Biden has backed efforts to repeal some war authorizations, such as the 2002 AUMF for Iraq, and replace others, like the 2001 measure.
Yet like his predecessors he has cited a range of legal justifications, including outdated war authorizations, following military action.
That includes twice invoking his Article II constitutional “self-defense” authority when he ordered airstrikes against Iran-backed militant groups in Iraq and Syria that attacked American troops.
“If you’re taking strikes in Somalia, come to Congress and get an authorization for it."
"If you want to be involved in hostilities in Somalia for the next five years, come and explain why that’s necessary and come and get an explicit authorization,” added Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), another top Foreign Relations Committee member.
“This idea that that’s too much trouble, that that’s too much to ask, is a very dangerous precedent for Congress to set.”
The criticism comes days after the Pentagon struck al-Shabab in Somalia on Friday, marking the second such operation in less than a week and the Biden administration’s second in the country since taking office.
In both cases, Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of U.S. Africa Command — not Biden — authorized the strike.
The mission was conducted to support an American-trained Somali force known as the Danab after they came under fire from al-Shabab militants in the Galmudug area of Somalia, defense officials said.
Murphy said the strike approval process raised questions about the chain of command.
“Any time you’re taking strikes in countries that have no clear authorization for hostilities passed by Congress, the chief executive needs to be involved.”
The U.S. resumed operations in the country after a six-month hiatus despite new limits the Biden administration placed on drone strikes outside active combat zones.
While the Trump administration gave regional commanders broad authority to green-light such operations, proposals for airstrikes are now generally routed through the White House.
Prior to last week’s actions, the U.S. had not conducted a strike in Somalia since Jan. 19, the day before Biden took office.
Biden’s invocation of the 2001 AUMF comes as his administration is conferring with lawmakers about a replacement for that authorization — one that includes specific geographic designations, mandates a cut-off date, and names specific terrorist groups covered under the AUMF.
“It illustrates that we need to come up with some sort of mechanism where we can approve geographies,” Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who has long advocated for war powers reforms, said of the Somalia strikes.
“We don’t want to hamstring the president’s Article II powers — which we don’t have the power to do anyway.”
Cardin said citing the 2001 AUMF “makes it more difficult” to get a new authorization through Congress, adding: “It undercuts our ability to see an urgency for action.”
The Foreign Relations Committee has asked the Biden administration for more information about the airstrikes.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who chairs the panel, said his main focus was on repealing the AUMFs that no longer have functional value.
But the committee is scheduled to hold a hearing next week with top State Department officials on AUMFs more broadly, allowing senators to question administration officials directly about the invocation of the 2001 AUMF as well as Biden’s Article II powers.
After that hearing, the committee will vote on a bipartisan measure to repeal the 2002 and 1991 AUMFs, both of which authorized military force in Iraq for different conflicts.
But the 2001 AUMF is still on lawmakers’ minds as a future target.
“It’s just more evidence of how badly the 2001 AUMF is in need of reform,” Murphy added.
“I think the administration is struggling a little bit to find the legal authorization for these strikes.”
Pentagon spokesperson Cindi King declined to give additional details about the dual attacks, including why the Biden administration had conducted two in a row after a six-month hiatus, citing operational security.
But a defense official said the end of Somalia’s rainy season has allowed operations to resume on both sides and anticipated a resumption of active fighting.
The defense official defended the airstrike, drawing a distinction between “deliberate” strikes against a particular threat developed in advance by military planners, and close-air-support or self-defense operations based on an imminent threat."
"In the latter cases, commanders must be able to authorize a strike quickly in life-threatening situations."
"All strikes go through rigorous approval processes including assessments of civilian casualties and collateral damage, the official said.
Republicans defended and applauded the administration’s airstrikes, as they have often done since Biden became president.
On the issue of war powers, GOP lawmakers have generally backed expanded presidential authority to conduct military operations.
“I don’t think the president needs a law passed by Congress in order to target terrorists who are posing a threat to the United States, no matter where they are in the world,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
“Especially if it’s a one-off, targeted engagement, not a full-scale military situation.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... d=msedgntp