United States Africa Command Public Affairs Office 18 April 2012 USAFRICOM - related news stories

Good morning. Please see today's news review for April 18, 2012. This e-mail is best viewed in HTML. Of interest in today's report: -Warplanes Strike Suspected Somali Pirate Base: Coast Guard -In Africa, U.S. Moving Slowly Against Joseph Koney and His Militia -New Oil Output Can Help Finance Conflict - Sudan -Nigeria: Resume Talks with Boko Haram, Northern Elders Urge Jonathan

U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs Please send questions or comments to: publicaffairs@usafricom.mil 421-2687 (+49-711-729-2687) Headline War planes strike suspected Somali pirate base: coastguard Date Outlet

04/18/2012 AFP

War planes fired several missiles at a suspected Somali pirate base in the north of the war-torn country, wounding two civilians, a coastguard official said Tuesday.

In Africa, U.S. troops moving slowly against Joseph Kony and his militia

04/17/2012 Washington Post

OBO, Central African Republic -- Behind razor wire and bamboo walls topped with security cameras sits one of the newest U.S. military outposts in Africa. U.S. Special Forces soldiers with tattooed forearms and sunglasses emerge daily in pickup trucks that ...

New oil output can help finance conflict - Sudan

04/17/2012

Thomson Reuters Africa - Online

NAIROBI/KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan said on Tuesday the cost of a full-blown conflict with South Sudan would not deter it from recapturing the disputed Heglig oilfield, and that newly tapped oilfields would help to sustain its struggling economy.

Nigeria: Resume Talks With Boko Haram, Northern Elders Urge Jonathan

04/17/2012 AllAfrica.com

Abuja -- NORTHERN leaders and elders, yesterday, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to resume talks with the Boko Haram sect and prosecute the issue to a logical conclusion if their activities must be brought to a halt.

Somalia: Suicide Bomber Kills Five

04/17/2012 AllAfrica.com

Mogadishu -- A suicide bomber killed 5 people, mostly Ethiopians in the southern Somali town of Baidoaon Tuesday, when he detonated an explosive vest as he tried to enter a government security building, officials said.

Regional bloc ECOWAS says near deal with Bissau 04/17/2012 Rueters Africa junta
BISSAU, April 17, Reuters - The African Union (AU) suspended Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday over last week's coup, adding to pressure on military chiefs who said they were ready to restore power to civilians after talks with regional mediators.

West Africa: Guinea Bissau - UN, AU, Ecowas Demand Restoration of Constitution

04/17/2012 AllAfrica.com

Abuja -- A high profile delegation comprising representatives from the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is scheduled to be at Bissau, capital city of Guinea Bissau, to collectively reiterate...

Ethiopia PM accuses Eritrea of kidnapping

04/17/2012 News24

Addis Ababa - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi accused Eritrea on Tuesday of abducting dozens of Ethiopian miners from the country's northwest, in a potential escalation of tension between the archenemies.

Nigeria: Agency Moves to Combat Terrorism, Money 04/17/2012 AllAfrica.com Laundering

The Inter Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA, has called on member states to strengthen their security apparatus to stem the tide of terrorism and money laundering across the continent.

South Sudan: Youth Calls UN to Protect Locals in 04/17/2012 AllAfrica.com Sudan From Mistreatment
South Sudanese youth yesterday in a press conference at Juba Raha launched an appeal to United nations (UN), African Union (AU) and the Red Cross among others to protect over 300,000 South Sudanese citizens still living in Sudan waiting to return South

Sudan: Activists in Massive Demo Against UN 04/17/2012 AllAfrica.com Chief's Remarks

Kuajok -- Hundreds of youth, civil society activists, women and students on Monday held huge demonstrations in South Sudan's Warrap and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states protesting against the United Nations' calls for the withdrawal of southern forces from t...

Libya: Country On Recovery Path but Faces Long Rebuilding Effort

04/17/2012 AllAfrica.com

Washington, DC -- Libyan oil production has recovered faster than expected following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, but the country faces the challenges of building modern institutions, repairing infrastructure, and diversifying the economy, a senior IM...

Moroccans join 24th MEU for Amphibious 'Day at the 24th Marine 04/18/2012 Beach' during African Lion Expeditionary Unit 12
Marines and Sailors of Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, landed on the shores of the Kingdom of Morocco, April 10, 2012, to participate in Exercise African Lion 12.

National GeospatialIntelligence Agency: Mapping Africa One Country at a Time

04/18/2012

Defense Media Agency

When the U.S. military wants to head into un-chartered, or minimally chartered territory, they call on the experts of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, or the NGA. By compiling the most current satellite imagery, existing maps, and layers of dat...

United Nations News Centre - Africa Briefs

04/18/2012

United Nations News Service

-Meeting with LRA victims, UN and African envoys pledge continued support -Urgent action needed to address 'cascading crisis' in Africa's Sahel region Ban -UN rights chief condemns Sudan's bombing of civilian areas in South Sudan -UN chief renews call...

News Headline: War planes strike suspected Somali pirate base: coastguard | News Date: 04/18/2012 Outlet Full Name: AFP News Text: War planes fired several missiles at a suspected Somali pirate base in the north of the war-torn country, wounding two civilians, a coastguard official said Tuesday. "Unknown military jets fired several missiles near the village of Gumah, elders told us at least two civilians were injured," said Mohamed Abdirahman, a coastguard. Witnesses said the aircraft struck the north-eastern coastal village, which lies some 220 kilometres (140 miles) east of Bossaso, the main port of Somalia's breakaway Puntland state. "Two aircraft attacked the village, which is between Hafun and Bargal towns...it came from the sea, and I think they were targeting pirates," said Muse Jama, an elder. Several other witnesses confirmed the bombardment, but could not give further details of the planes. "Officials in the area are investigating the incident," Abdirahman added, speaking from Bossaso. Kalashnikov-wielding pirates prowl far out across the Indian Ocean from their bases in northern Somalia, seizing foreign ships which they hold for several months demanding multi-million dollar ransoms. Last month the European Union authorised its navies to strike Somali pirate equipment on land, with a mandate for warships or helicopters to fire at fuel barrels, boats, trucks or other equipment stowed away on beaches. However, it was not possible to establish which nation the aircraft belonged to, and the EU

force have not yet said they have ever launched such an attack. A spokesman for Atalanta, the EU anti-piracy mission, said it was "not involved whatsoever" and declined comment on who might be behind the strike. The United States also operates unmanned drones flying over the Horn of Africa nation, and have reportedly struck suspected Al-Qaeda allied fighters in southern Somalia. Piracy has flourished off war-torn Somalia, outwitting international efforts -- including constant patrols by warships and tough sentencing of the pirates they capture. The EU's anti-piracy patrol has deployed between five and 10 warships off the Somali coast since 2008 to escort humanitarian aid shipments and thwart pirate raids on commercial vessels using vital shipping lanes. Several other nations, including Russia and China, also provide protection for their ships as they pass through the busy shipping route through the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The pirates are believed to be holding dozens of ships and hundreds of sailors for ransom, and have also branched out into land based kidnapping. In January, a daring US-led commando raid rescued two aid workers -- an American woman and a Danish man -- held hostage in central Somalia.
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News Headline: In Africa, U.S. troops moving slowly against Joseph Kony and his militia |

News Date: 04/17/2012 Outlet Full Name: Washington Post News Text: OBO, Central African Republic Behind razor wire and bamboo walls topped with security cameras sits one of the newest U.S. military outposts in Africa. U.S. Special Forces soldiers with tattooed forearms and sunglasses emerge daily in pickup trucks that carry weapons, supplies and interpreters as well as the expectations of a vast region living in fear of a man and his brutal militia. The Americans have captured Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, said Bassiri Moke, a tribal chief. Surely they can catch Joseph Kony. A week ago, few Americans knew who Joseph Kony or the Lord's Resistance Army was. But now a video has gone viral raising awareness about Kony and his group's atrocities against humans. In this far-flung nook of central Africa, the United States has assumed a small but vital role in one of Africa's most vexing military challenges: to capture Kony and dismantle his Lord's Resistance Army. For nearly three decades, Kony's forces have eluded the region's militaries, abducting tens of thousands of children, turning them into killers and sex slaves, and operating brazenly across a swath of territory the size of Texas. But in the four months since the United States set up the outposts for the 100 soldiers dispatched to assist regional militaries, frustration has mounted, particularly in this sprawling, densely forested country, where Kony is thought to be hiding. Local and regional military officials had hoped that the United States would swiftly deploy its

satellites, surveillance drones and other sophisticated technology to track Kony's whereabouts. But that hasn't happened, the officials said. Instead, the LRA has continued to commit abuses. Although thought to be severely fractured, the militia has staged 11 attacks near Obo and 13 in neighboring Congo after a nearly yearlong lull in violence. The LRA has reappeared, said Martin Modove, the head of the Catholic diocese in Obo. The presence of the Americans has not changed anything. We just see the Americans driving or walking in town. We don't see what they are doing to catch Kony. The several dozen U.S. soldiers deployed to Obo are providing support not only to troops from the Central African Republic, but also to a contingent from neighboring Uganda, whose continued pursuit of the Ugandan warlord has spilled into the Central African Republic and other neighboring countries since the militia leader was driven out of Uganda several years ago. In addition to those posted in Obo, the U.S. soldiers dispatched to the Central African Republic include some in the town of Djema, to the north. Others in the region include small groups sent to Uganda, Congo and South Sudan. Hilary Renner, a State Department spokeswoman, said that the American forces were serving only as advisers and that obstacles to finding Kony remain significant despite the capabilities of the U.S. military. Since being pushed out of Uganda several years ago, the LRA has terrorized villages in the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Congo. The militia is now moving in small groups in dense jungle terrain in one of Africa's least developed regions, with no basic road and telecommunications infrastructure. These conditions help Joseph Kony and other top LRA commanders to evade military forces, Renner said in an e-mail. According to Human Rights Watch, Uganda's military has committed numerous abuses in its quest for Kony in the north of the country, including killings, routine beatings, rapes, and prolonged and arbitrary detention of civilians. Olara Otunnu, a former U.N. undersecretary general, has publicly described the Ugandan army's role as tantamount to genocide. A week ago, few Americans knew who Joseph Kony or the Lord's Resistance Army was. But now a video has gone viral raising awareness about Kony and his group's atrocities against humans. In Obo, a Ugandan officer reportedly killed a teen over a dispute involving a cellphone. Another soldier is said to have tried to force tribal chief Moke's daughter to marry him at gunpoint. In nearby areas, communities have ordered the Ugandans to leave. Nobody here trusts the Ugandans, said Clement Rutebol, the head of Jupedec, a local aid agency assisting LRA victims. I don't understand why the Americans are partners with them. Renner said the United States believes that the Ugandan government is committed to apprehending Joseph Kony and top LRA commanders and ending the LRA's atrocities.'' She said Uganda has responded publicly to recent allegations of abuses by its soldiers and has pledged to act against those responsible. Fears of LRA regrouping The arrival of the U.S. military contingent comes at a time when the LRA is at its weakest since Kony created it in the 1980s to overthrow Uganda's government. The United States has

designated the militia a terrorist organization; the International Criminal Court wants to put Kony on trial on charges of crimes against humanity. Today, the militia numbers no more than a few hundred fighters. The LRA has fragmented; many commanders and fighters have defected. It is no longer abducting children in large numbers and is staging attacks mostly to steal food and supplies. The LRA is in survival mode, said Jean Sebastien Munie, a senior U.N. humanitarian official in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. To refuel their insurgency with kids is not a target anymore of the movement. When asked why the United States wants to hunt down a severely weakened militia that poses no real threat to America, U.S. officials said the LRA remains a threat to regional peace and security and to their African partners. In the past, the LRA has exploited any reduction in military or diplomatic pressure to regroup and rebuild their forces, Renner said. To be sure, Kony and the LRA are uncontroversial targets. Unlike others wanted by the ICC, such as Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, Kony has virtually no allies because of his unique brand of brutality. In Washington, there is strong bipartisan support for the U.S. role in the hunt for Kony, and in recent weeks, that quest has gained new prominence with the release of videos by the advocacy group Invisible Children that have gone viral on the Internet. Some analysts say the main U.S. priority in the region is to maintain a vital counterterrorism partnership with Uganda and its president, Yoweri Museveni, whose forces form the bulk of an American-backed African Union force fighting al-Shabab, the Somali militia linked to al-Qaeda. Since 2008, the United States has provided nearly $50 million in logistical support and nonlethal equipment to Uganda's military to fight the LRA and nearly $500 million to support LRA victims in northern Uganda. Critics say such monetary support helps explain Uganda's failure to capture Kony despite many opportunities. Several official investigations in Uganda have showed that military officers profiteered from the protracted conflict. The Lord's Resistance Army:President Obama has deployed about 100 troops to target the leadership of the insurgent group from northern Uganda. Here's a look at some of the members, and victims, of the Lord's Resistance Army. Kony was a golden chicken for Museveni's UPDF. And he still is, said Munie, referring to the Ugandan military. Museveni is instrumental for the U.S. geopolitically in this part of the world. I am still afraid' When the U.S. Special Forces soldiers arrived in Obo, local officials said, the villagers sang welcome songs. Some lyrics spoke of how God had sent the Americans to free them of Kony. Today, the songs have stopped. Of the 100 soldiers sent to the region by the Obama administration, about 30 are thought to be in Obo. Every day, in a building steps away from their outpost, the soldiers hold meetings with local military, police and the Ugandans. The Americans have brought photos of Kony and intelligence on his whereabouts in the past, said officers from Uganda and the Central African Republic who have attended the meetings. But they have yet to provide satellite images or any real-time intelligence on which to mount an assault on Kony, the officers added. The Special Forces soldiers, they added, never enter the forests to track down Kony.

A Washington Post reporter requested an interview with the soldiers but was turned away. U.S. officials described the American role in hunting Kony as in its early stages. But the U.S. presence has brought one change here, community leaders say: The Ugandans appear to be showing more restraint. Eveline Nalayanga, a refugee who was driven from the nearby village of Nguili by an LRA attack two years ago, said it doesn't matter that Obo is home to soldiers from the world's most formidable military. I am still afraid to return to my village. The LRA can attack anytime, she said. Then she paused before adding: I am waiting for the Americans to catch Kony.
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News Headline: New oil output can help finance conflict - Sudan | News Date: 04/17/2012 Outlet Full Name: Thomson Reuters - Africa - Online News Text: NAIROBI/KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan said on Tuesday the cost of a full-blown conflict with South Sudan would not deter it from recapturing the disputed Heglig oilfield, and that newly tapped oilfields would help to sustain its struggling economy. South Sudan took control of the contested oil-producing Heglig region last week, prompting Sudan's parliament to brand its former civil war foe an "enemy" on Monday and to call for a swift recapture of the flat savannah region. Both countries' faltering economies are likely to be important factors in the conflict's outcome. "Despite the high cost of the war, despite the destruction that the war can cause ... our options are very limited. We can tolerate some sacrifice, until we can liberate our land," Sudan's ambassador to Kenya, Kamal Ismail Saeed, said. "So from our side, yes, it is expensive but that doesn't deter us or that doesn't stop us from exerting all effort to liberate our land," he told reporters in Nairobi. "We have been in war without oil for several years and we survived ... As a matter of fact ... the good news (is) we have developed other sources and fields of oil and that will really compensate our loss." Fighting over oil payments and territory has withered the combined crude output of both countries. The Heglig field is vital to Sudan's economy because it accounted for half the 115,000 barrels per day output that remained in its control when South Sudan seceded in July. The field's output has stopped due to the fighting, officials say. The landlocked South had already closed its 350,000 bpd output after failing to agree how much it should pay to export via Sudan's pipelines, a Red Sea port and other facilities. The latest clashes have also dampened hopes that Sudan and South Sudan can reach a deal soon on disputed issues such as demarcation of their 1,800-km (1,200-mile) border, division of debt and the status of citizens in each other's territory.

The loss of Heglig, a shock to many Sudanese, has also stirred tensions in the north. Sudan's interior minister said on Tuesday the police college had dismissed its South Sudanese students after "their violation of police regulations and their celebration of the occupation of Heglig". U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay said she was alarmed by the South's "unwarranted" occupation of Heglig and urged both sides to halt the violence, including the North's bombing campaign against the South. "I condemn the indiscriminate aerial bombing by Sudanese forces in civilian areas in South Sudan, including in Mayom and Bentiu in Unity State, resulting in the deaths of at least 8 civilians and many injuries since Saturday," she said in a statement. "In the past week we have seen an intensification of the use of Antonovs as well as jetfighters dropping bombs and launching rocket attacks, including in areas dangerously close to the offices of international organisations. Such deplorable attacks must stop immediately." South Sudan's military (SPLA) spokesman said its positions were bombed on Monday, but no clashes were reported on Tuesday. "We are aware they are trying to advance, and the SPLA is ready to receive them," spokesman Philip Aguer said, describing the conflict as a "limited war". Sudan's army spokesman was not immediately available to comment. NEW OILFIELDS Saeed insisted Khartoum could weather the latest conflict, which has sent food prices soaring and hit the currency as officials try to make up for the sudden loss in revenues. He said production from new fields in the west of the Kordofan region, in Darfur and in the states of White Nile and Blue Nile would offset much of the loss of Heglig's output. "We used to produce 115,000 barrels a day before the attack, we lost about 40,000, and now we'll get another 30,000." South Sudan insists Heglig is rightfully part of the South and says it will not withdraw its troops unless the United Nations deploys a neutral force to monitor a ceasefire. Saeed said that was unacceptable. "They have two options: either to withdraw very quickly or withdraw. We will reserve the right to use all means at our access to kick them out of there, and we will do it," he said. "They will be thrown out of there very soon." Pillay and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm over reports of a build-up of militia forces in the disputed Abyei border region. The U.N. statement did not say where the reports were from or give details but called it a violation of a June agreement in which both sides said they would withdraw forces from the area. Ban called on Khartoum to "ensure the full and immediate withdrawal of these elements from the area". Abyei, which is prized for its fertile grazing land and produces some oil, was a major battleground during Sudan's civil war and is symbolically potent for both sides. Both countries lay claim to it.

Khartoum seized Abyei in May last year after a southern attack on an army convoy, triggering an exodus of tens of thousands of civilians. The Security Council authorised the deployment of 3,800 U.N. peacekeepers in Abyei in June. Some 2 million people died in Sudan's civil war, waged for all but a few years between 1955 and 2005 over conflicts of ideology, ethnicity, oil and religion. (Additional reporting by Louis Charbonneau at the United Nations and Tom Miles in Geneva; Writing by Yara Bayoumy and Alexander Dziadosz; Editing by Jon Hemming)
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News Headline: Nigeria: Resume Talks With Boko Haram, Northern Elders Urge Jonathan |

News Date: 04/17/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: Abuja NORTHERN leaders and elders, yesterday, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to resume talks with the Boko Haram sect and prosecute the issue to a logical conclusion if their activities must be brought to a halt. The elders, however, expressed great concern on the deteriorating security situation in the country and the Northern region in particular, even as they noted that the spate of violence being witnessed has several facets and dimensions which have links and were interwoven with ethnicity, religion, politics, crime and economy. Rising from a meeting in Abuja, at Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre, the northern elders comprising elder statesmen, former ministers, former university administrators, exambassadors, business men also reiterated their stand for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference for a united Nigeria, just as they insisted that the North would ensure that the unity will be based on equity, respect, justice and fair play, in its relation with other parts of the country. Reading a statement at the end of the meeting, Second Republic Power and Steel Minister, Paul Unongo, the elders, who expressed concern and worry over the activities of members of the Boko Haram sect, however stressed that with the emerging scenario and circumstantial evidence, there may be more than just the original Boko Haram operating on governance at present. According to them, they premised their suspicion on the sophistication in the make of the bombs in their operation that have gone beyond local competence and raw materials available to the local Boko Haram insurgents, adding, "the sophistication in the professional way targets are chosen suggest a deliberate attempt to broaden the insurgence effects which a view to creating widespread disaffection within and outside Nigeria. "Mr. President himself suggested in a declaration that Boko Haram elements have infiltrated his government, including the security agencies of the nation. Our country and people deserve to know who these infiltrators are and the appropriate actions taken. "On the efforts to bring the Boko Haram saga to an end the elders support the talks which started between the sect and government a few weeks ago, and urge strongly a resumption of the talks and their prosecution to a successful conclusion. "The Northern elders noted that Boko Haram insurgency which started as a minor skirmish in

Maiduguru has today escalated into a major civil disturbance posing a high threat not only to peace in the affected areas but to the corporate existence of Nigeria if not properly and expeditiously resolved. "The escalation of Boko Haram crisis has unfortunately provided a convenient cover for all manner of criminal elements to perpetrate other forms of atrocities in society such as armed robbery, kidnapping, assassinations etc."
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News Headline: Somalia: Suicide Bomber Kills Five | News Date: 04/17/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: Mogadishu A suicide bomber killed 5 people, mostly Ethiopians in the southern Somali town of Baidoaon Tuesday, when he detonated an explosive vest as he tried to enter a government security building, officials said. Reports said the bomber detonated his explosives in front of UN headquarters in the town, killing 5, three of them were confirmed to be Ethiopian spy while the two others were TFG troops officials. Baidoa, located 250 kilometres (155 miles) northwest ofMogadishu, was the seat of Somalia's transitional parliament until the hardline Shebab captured it three years ago. Ethiopian soldiers fighting alongside Somali government forces took control of Baidoa in February. African Union troops deployed in the town earlier this month, the first time the force has dispatched troops outside the capitalMogadishusince the 10,000-strong force was set up five years ago. Al-Qaeda allied Shebab insurgents who launched a series of guerrilla attacks and vowed to topple the Western-backed government have immediately claimed responsibility for Tuesday's bombing. Earlier this month a bomb blast in Baidoa's market killed at least 11 people and wounded several, an attack claimed by the Shebab.
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News Headline: Regional bloc ECOWAS says near deal with Bissau junta | News Date: 04/17/2012 Outlet Full Name: Rueters Africa News Text: BISSAU, April 17, Reuters - The African Union (AU) suspended Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday over last week's coup, adding to pressure on military chiefs who said they were ready to restore power to civilians after talks with regional mediators. A high-level delegation from the West African regional grouping ECOWAS, which has branded the coup as "unacceptable", met Guinea-Bissau's military overnight and ECOWAS Commission head Desire Kadre Ouedraogo told reporters there was an agreement "on the return to constitutional order". Foreign governments and international organisations have condemned Guinea-Bissau's

military after soldiers cut short a presidential election in the impoverished West African state, detaining election front-runner and former Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior as well as interim President Raimundo Pereira. "The (AU's) Peace and Security Council decides to suspend with immediate effect Guinea Bissau from all activities...until restoration of constitutional order," AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Ramtane Lamamra said after a meeting at the bloc's headquarters in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. Suspension is the African Union's normal response to any interruption of constitutional rule in one of its members. Guinea-Bissau's Catholic bishops added their voice to the condemnation, while Amnesty International accused the army of clamping down on protests, the media and freedom of movement. With uncertainty gripping the crumbling coastal capital Bissau, which has been tense since the coup, many residents have fled to find safter locations in the interior. "Increasingly repressive measures are being employed by the military as they try to stifle mounting criticism within the country and internationally," Marise Castro, Amnesty International's Guinea Bissau expert, said in a statement. The London-based rights group called for the release of Gomes Junior and Pereira, saying they were being held at Mansoa Barracks, 60 km (37 miles) northeast of Bissau. "Reportedly, both men are being held incommunicado in a mosquito-infested small cell with no water or toilet facilities," it said, adding that Gomes Junior suffered from diabetes. The former Portuguese colony has seen several coups and army revolts since independence in 1974 and the latest is a setback for efforts by Western donors to reduce military meddling in politics and counter the influence of Latin American drug-trafficking cartels using the country as a transhipment point. Lieutenant-Colonel Daha Bana na Walna, spokesman for the Guinea-Bissau army leadership, said ECOWAS would send a technical team to assist in restoring civilian rule. "It was agreed that ECOWAS would help with the restoration of civilian government," he told Reuters. Na Walna said the country was calm and there was no disorder. ECOWAS had also insisted in the talks that Gomes Junior and Pereira be freed. "As soon as the conditions of security exist for this," they will be freed," na Walna said. But he did not specify when or whether Gomes Junior would be allowed to stand again for fresh elections, which the military has said it wants to be held. SHADOWY COUP LEADERSHIP It was the second coup in West Africa in less than a month. A March 22 military takeover in Mali saw that Sahel country split in two with Tuareg and Islamist rebels holding the north. Guinea-Bissau's military has announced the formation of a "national transition council" tasked with leading the nation to fresh elections. But a refusal to participate by the main political party, PAIGC, has robbed this of any credibility. Gomes Junior and Pereira are PAIGC members.

The former was the expected winner of a scheduled April 29 presidential election run-off, interrupted by the coup. Gomes Junior was unpopular with military chiefs because he backed plans to reform the bloated army, which is accused by Western security agencies of involvement in drug-trafficking. Confusion persists over exactly who masterminded the coup. A shadowy self-styled "Military Command" said it acted to head off what it alleged was a secret pact between Gomes Junior and Angola to "annihilate Guinea-Bissau's armed forces". Angola had been providing military trainers and advisers to the smaller state in a military cooperation mission. But it announced earlier this month that it was ending the mission. Guinea-Bissau military spokesmen have declined to confirm rumours that armed forces Chief of Staff General Antonio Indjai also was removed in the coup, saying only that he was "safe". Many believe Indjai, the nation's most influential military figure, was the architect. "The question has been whether Indjai is in detention or behind the coup but the consensus now is that it is the latter," one Bissau-based diplomat said.
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News Headline: West Africa: Guinea Bissau - UN, AU, Ecowas Demand Restoration of Constitution | News Date: 04/17/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: Abuja A high profile delegation comprising representatives from the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is scheduled to be at Bissau, capital city of Guinea Bissau, to collectively reiterate their stance against the military takeover of political power in the country. The delegation which will be led by the President of ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, will deliver a special message from the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, President Alassana Quatara, to the military junta, reiterating the principled position of ECOWAS rejecting the military take-over of power on April 12. Consisting of Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cote d'Ivoire, and the Chiefs of Defence Staff of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Nigeria and Senegal; the delegation will also insist on the immediate restoration of constitutional order in the country. According to a statement from the ECOWAS Commission yesterday in Abuja, the delegation is expected to reaffirm ECOWAS' rejection of the coup which has been widely condemned by the international community, and impress it on the junta to restore constitutional rule immediately. The statement also warned that the coup makers would be held responsible for the safety and security of political leaders, the population, institutions, and property in the country, reminding them of ECOWAS' zero tolerance for unconstitutional attainment of political power by any means, as enshrined in its Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. In its strong reaction to the military coup, the ECOWAS Commission particularly expressed

disappointment with the timing; coming just days after a joint ECOWAS-AU-UN mission had met with the military hierarchy to warn against any temptation to disrupt the on-going electoral process in the country. ECOWAS mediation and security council, which met at the ministerial level just before the announcement of the coup, had also recommended the dispatch of a military contingent to Guinea Bissau to replace the departing Angolan mission to ensure the effective implementation of the regional road map for the country's defence and security sector reform programme; secure persons and property during the scheduled April 29, 2012 presidential run-off election and ensure the sanctity of the electoral process. The council also agreed on the dispatch of a mixed civilian-military delegation to Guinea Bissau under the auspices of the regional mediator, President Alpha Conde of Guinea, to meet with key stakeholders within the political class and the military so as to douse the political tension arising from the inconclusive first round presidential election of March 18 in the country.
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News Headline: Ethiopia PM accuses Eritrea of kidnapping | News Date: 04/17/2012 Outlet Full Name: News24 News Text: Addis Ababa - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi accused Eritrea on Tuesday of abducting dozens of Ethiopian miners from the country's northwest, in a potential escalation of tension between the arch-enemies. Ethiopian troops crossed into the Red Sea state last month and attacked what they said were military bases used by rebels to stage raids, including a January attack that killed five Western tourists in Ethiopia's remote Afar region. These attacks were the first on Eritrean soil that Ethiopia has admitted to since the end of a devastating 1998-2000 border war, sparking concern that their unresolved frontier spat could escalate into a full-scale war. "They [Eritrean government] recently kidnapped more than 100 young miners who were mining gold in our country's northwest. And in the northeast, they killed some tourists and kidnapped others," Meles said, the latter referring to the January raid. "We have taken proportional measures in both locations," he told lawmakers in response to a question on relations with Eritrea. Meles did not specify when and exactly where the abductions in the country's northwest Tigray region took place, nor the measures his country had subsequently taken. Eritrean officials were not immediately available for comment, but they often dismiss their rivals' allegations as a ploy to harm Eritrea's reputation. Ethiopia routinely accuses Asmara of supporting Ethiopian separatist groups. It blamed an Afar rebel movement for the kidnapping of Westerners in its northern Afar region in 2007, and again for the attack in the same area earlier this year. Afar rebels Gunmen killed two Germans, two Hungarians and an Austrian in a dawn attack on a group of tourists in the remote Afar region on January 17, and seized two Germans and two Ethiopians.

A rebel group in the Afar region said in February it had freed the two Germans, although there has been no official confirmation of the release. After the border war, the Hague-based Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission ruled that the flashpoint town of Badme belonged to Eritrea but the village remains in the hands of its neighbour, which is calling for negotiations to implement the ruling. Asmara blames the international community for the impasse, and President Isaias Afewerki last month accused the United States of plotting the Ethiopian raids. Ethiopia is Washington's biggest ally in the Horn of Africa region and has deployed troops in lawless Somalia to fight al Qaeda-linked insurgents in Somalia. "The military incursions were plotted by Washington with the aim of diverting attention from implementing the boundary commission's decision," Isaias said in an interview with state television.
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News Headline: Nigeria: Agency Moves to Combat Terrorism, Money Laundering | News Date: 04/17/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: The Inter Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA, has called on member states to strengthen their security apparatus to stem the tide of terrorism and money laundering across the continent. Director General of the agency, Dr. Abdullahi Shehu, who made the call in Lagos last weekend, urged governments of member states to reprimand those who finance, plan, support and commit terrorism and ensure that terrorist acts were established as serious criminal offences in domestic laws and regulations. According to Shehu, such punishment should reflect the seriousness of the terrorist acts, to the extent that any person who participates in financing, planning or perpetrating terrorist acts should be brought to justice. He noted that resolution 1373 of the UN compelled member states to take certain specific measures to combat terrorism within their jurisdictions as well as their regions. Dr. Shehu also called on member states to prevent the movement of terrorist groups through effective border control while exchanging information and cooperation through bilateral and multilateral agreements in order to prevent the ugly acts. He said most of the weaknesses and gaps identified during the mutual evaluation process were related to deficiencies in the national legal framework and inadequate national coordination and collaboration between competent authorities. It would be recalled that the law requires states to freeze without delay the funds or other assets of persons who commit or attempt to commit terrorist acts.
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News Headline: South Sudan: Youth Calls UN to Protect Locals in Sudan From Mistreatment |

News Date: 04/17/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: South Sudanese youth yesterday in a press conference at Juba Raha launched an appeal to United nations (UN), African Union (AU) and the Red Cross among others to protect over 300,000 South Sudanese citizens still living in Sudan waiting to return South The Youth urged the UN and AU to protect South Sudanese in Khartoum from arrest, intimidation and wide spread harassments. On weekend the alleged Sudan security raid the residence of South Sudan president Dr.Riek Machar Teny arresting family members in unknown location among severely ill Young boy of 15 years old and rape a girl. South Sudanese civilians are daily facing problem of arrest, detention and harassment by Sudan security personals" said Yai Joseph and Agok Makur in unison. Both Juba and Khartoum early this month declared citizens from both country nationals' foreigners what was seem to be tit for tat war as tension mounted at the un demarcated borders. They accused Sudan president Bashir and elites surrounding him in National Congress party as violators of human rights of their citizens. "Bashir days are being numbered in The Hague and these are his last days," call out the youth that he has been charged of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with atrocities committed in Western Darfur since war broke out in 2003. "About 1,000 South Sudanese youth has disappeared between Kosti and Renk on the way to South Sudan," said Yai uncertain about their whereabouts. He continues to urge the government to hold firmed their position of "not withdrawing from Panthou (Heglig) until contested areas by Juba and Khartoum are demarcated. They also reported killing of nearly ten South Sudanese in Senar, Khartoum and other towns in Sudan. Youth also promised to writes a letter to UN, AU and IGAD in condemnation of Sudan to stop aerial bombardment of civilians and vowed to fight in self defend to expel Sudan encroachment into South Sudan territory and claimed it resources. Joseph claimed that South Sudan Embassy in Khartoum was stoned by Sudan security personnel injuring some. He added that the youth in South Sudan are in support of the continuation of on going talk in Addis Ababa for both sides to amicably resolve the underlines outstanding issues than resorting to war. Youth in their awareness call to the world international organization said they are not interested in Senseless war with Sudan they are only drag to what was in response to Sudan provocations. And declared their position in support of no withdrawal of forces from the contested areas under occupation by southern forces last week.
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News Headline: Sudan: Activists in Massive Demo Against UN Chief's Remarks | News Date: 04/17/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: Kuajok Hundreds of youth, civil society activists, women and students on Monday held huge demonstrations in South Sudan's Warrap and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states protesting against the United Nations' calls for the withdrawal of southern forces from the disputed Heglig oil region. South Sudan's army (SPLA) say that it has held the region for nearly a week, although the Sudan Armed Forces have claimed to have retaken part if the area. Neither claim has been independently verified as fierce clashes continue. In Kuajok, the Warrap State capital, protestors chanted slogans in support of South Sudan president, Salva Kiir, while strongly condemning UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and Sudanese leader, Omar Hassan Al-Bashir. "The UN Secretary General must apologise for his unpolished statement," read one of the placards, while another urged the international community to be fair to both Sudan and South Sudan. Speaking in the South Sudanese parliament on Thursday Kiir said that Ban had given him an "order" to withdraw from the region. Protests have been organised in the capital Juba, Jonglei and Lakes State against the international community's call for the SPLA to leave the area. The protestors also handed over a strongly-worded petition to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) state coordination office, in which they expressed firm support towards the SPLA's occupation of Panthou - as the Heglig region is known in Dinka. The army's actions, they argued in the petition, was in retaliation for SAF's alleged killing of innocent civilians in South Sudan through a series of aerial bombardments in several parts of Unity State. "We the youth, civil society organisations and the entire public of Warrap State are deeply saddened by the recent statement made by Ban Ki-Moon in which he ordered President Kiir to withdraw in Panthou," partly reads the petition. It added, "Such a statement shows the limited knowledge of the UN Secretary General to address the issues that are still outstanding between the North and South Sudan since the time the CPA [Comprehensive Peace Agreement] and after the referendum period." The protestors draw parallels with SAF's occupation of the Abyei area in May last year, which displaced thousand of people and ask why Khartoum was not put under as much pressure to withdraw its forces. Saaman Dau Chan, a protestor in Warrap State told Sudan Tribune he fully supports the SPLA's occupation of Panthou/Helglig, which he claimed is part of South Sudan as per the border as it was at Sudan's independence from Britain in 1956. "We need to refer back to the 1956 [agreements] in order to resolve this matter," he said, as another chanted, "Yes, Yes Panthou! No, No Heglig". The protestors urged the UN, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the European Union and the Arab League, among others to seek immediate remedies to resolve all

outstanding issues between Sudan and South Sudan. In the run up to the Heglig clashes both Juba and Khartoum expressed dissatisfaction with the African Union's role chairing the post-independence talks in Addis Ababa. Upon receiving the petition, Fergus Boyle, the UNMISS civil affair officers in Warrap State lauded the activists for their peaceful stand on the contentious issues at hand. Although he did not elaborate on the detail of the petition, Boyle pledged to ensure that the document reaches the office of the UN Secretary General. He however reiterated the UN and African Union's earlier calls for both countries' troops to pull out of the disputed region for "the sake of peace". Later on, the protestors marched to the council of ministers to deliver a similar petition to Warrap's deputy governor, Yel Mareng. NORTHERN BAHR EL GHAZAL PROTESTS A group of activists on Monday paralysed business in Aweil, the Northern Bahr el Ghazal capital, with a similar demonstration in support of the SPLA's occupation of Heglig. They too submitted a petition to UNMISS. "We will never withdraw from Heglig since it is part of South Sudan," said the group in a press release extended to Sudan Tribune. Angok Arthur Akuein, an activist from Northern Bahr el Ghazal said the peaceful demonstration was not only in support of the SPLA but to further condemn the Sudanese government for its provocative military aggression towards South Sudan. "The Sudan government has been waging war against the south through ground attacks and aerial bombardments since, before and after secession," Akuein remarked, while condemning recent calls from UN Secretary General and the African Union demanding withdrawal of southern forces. Paul Malong Awan, the governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal praised the activists for their peaceful demonstration and willingness to defend South Sudan's territorial integrity against external aggressors. "Today you have shown the spirit of togetherness and I urge you to continue with the same spirit. We are ready to support you as [a] government," Awan told the activists gathered at the state council of ministers. BAN KI-MOON REACTS Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General on Monday reiterated his deep concern over continued hostilities between Sudan and South Sudan, including its impact on innocent civilians. In a statement the UN chief called on both parties to end the fighting immediately and to respect international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians. The UN chief urged the Government of Sudan to cease immediately all aerial bombardment of South Sudanese territory, while echoing earlier calls on the Government of South Sudan to withdraw immediately from Heglig. He asked that the two sides use legal and diplomatic instruments to address the status of oil-rich area, which until last week supplied Khartoum with half its oil production.

"The Secretary-General is alarmed over reports received this weekend of the build-up of armed militia in the Abyei Area, which is in violation of the 20 June Agreement in which the parties committed themselves to the immediate withdrawal of all armed elements from the Abyei Area," the statement said. The Secretary-General, it added, calls on the Government of Sudan to ensure the full and immediate withdrawal of these elements from the Area.
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News Headline: Libya: Country On Recovery Path but Faces Long Rebuilding Effort | News Date: 04/17/2012 Outlet Full Name: AllAfrica.com News Text: Washington, DC Libyan oil production has recovered faster than expected following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, but the country faces the challenges of building modern institutions, repairing infrastructure, and diversifying the economy, a senior IMF official said. With the lifting of most United Nations sanctions, the bulk of frozen assets abroad have been released and normalization of the banking system is under way. But, in an interview, the head of the IMF's team on Libya, mission chief Ralph Chami, said the North African country faces many immediate and longer-term challenges that need to be addressed. He added: "Libya could realize its great potential if the right institutions and policies are put in place." A staff team from the IMF's Middle-East and Central Asia Department, led by Chami, prepared a report entitled "Libya beyond the Revolution: Challenges and Opportunities". Speaking to IMF Survey--the IMF's online magazine--Chami discusses recent developments and looks at what it will take for the Libyan government to overcome the steep challenges ahead, rebuild the economy, and address the people's aspirations. IMF Survey online: How is Libya faring after the revolution? Is the economy getting back on its feet? Chami: The conflict had a severe impact on the economy and especially on the hydrocarbon sector, which is the main source of public revenues and foreign exchange. During the uprising, oil production dropped precipitously from 1.8 million barrels a day to only 22,000 in July of 2011. Since the conflict ended, the production of oil has recuperated faster than expected. Reconstruction efforts should boost nonhydrocarbon output in the coming years. In addition, the assets that were frozen during the revolution have been largely unfrozen as most UN sanctions were lifted. So there is no longer a shortage of foreign exchange, and normal imports have resumed. IMF Survey online: What are the challenges facing the Libyan economy in the near term? Chami: In the short term, the country faces complex and costly tasks. Coming out of the conflict, Libya needs to rebuild infrastructure and address the humanitarian needs of its people. There is a need to restore the functioning of the banking system and to consider medium-term implications when making decisions about public spending. Safety and security are also important because these would facilitate investment and the return of expatriate workers. Many well-educated Libyans live abroad and, as in other Arab Spring

countries, the diaspora could come back to help rebuild the country. IMF Survey online: How did the government respond to the peoples' demands after the uprising? Chami: Before the revolution, growth was not inclusive. Like in other Arab Spring countries, economic opportunities were not shared fairly among different segments of the population. Unemployment rates and the incidence of poverty have been surprisingly high for such a resource-rich country. Those reasons, combined with a lack of representation, contributed to the revolution. To respond to the needs and aspirations of the people, the government has started to increase subsidies and provide public-sector employment, especially, for young people. IMF Survey online: What is your assessment of the measures that the government has introduced in responding to those demands? Chami: Spending on wages and subsidies is truly needed to ease the social pressures in the near term. But, to ensure that these social protections can continue to be provided over time, the priority should be to design a well-targeted social safety net. Increasing wages and public sector employment have resulted in a 60 percent increase of the wage bill in 2011. The cost of subsidies has also gone up significantly. While we understand the need to provide employment, we think it should be productive employment. We also understand the need to provide subsidies, but untargeted subsidies do not necessarily help the people they are supposed to help. In contrast to generalized subsidies that benefit everyone, well-targeted schemes provide assistance only to those most needy. So, fiscal discipline is needed in the coming years. The government should make sure that the short term does not trump the long term. My advice is: in addressing temporary problems, policymakers should come up with measures that are not inconsistent with long-term overarching developmental needs. For example, we do not want to solve the problem of unemployment by providing employment for everybody in the public sector, because that would not be the most desirable permanent solution. IMF Survey online: What are the medium-term challenges that Libya has to deal with? Chami: Libya faces many structural problems including a lack of institutions, weak governance, and chronic structural unemployment. Over the medium term, Libya will need to build its institutions and respond to the demands and aspirations of its population. To achieve this, Libya needs to diversify its economy away from oil dependence. There is also a need to create an enabling business environment that will facilitate private sector-led growth and job creation. Areas where the business environment needs improvement include governance, transparency, accountability, rule of law, property rights, and access to finance. In addition, there will be a need to put in place an efficient social safety net to protect the most vulnerable groups of the population. IMF Survey online: What are Libya's economic prospects now? Chami: Despite the challenges in the period ahead, the revolution could unleash Libya's huge economic potential by promoting greater inclusiveness and transparency, and enhanced governance. Combined with sound management of resources, these positive factors can leverage the country's inherent strengths: a dynamic and young population, an abundant wealth, a beautiful coastal line, access to key markets, and a privileged geographic position. Libya has a great potential to diversify meaningfully by having vibrant tourism and service sectors. An undesirable path would be to continue to have an oil-dependent economy in which

the government is the main employer and the private sector employs mostly expatriates. IMF Survey online: How is the IMF helping Libya during the transition period? Chami: Given the abundant resources Libya possesses, there will be no need for financial assistance from the IMF. What Libya needs in the coming years is technical assistance to build capacity and better manage its wealth. With a mission in late 2011, we have already provided the new government with advice on measures to improve governance at the sovereign wealth fund and, in January 2012, the IMF and World Bank started work with the authorities to strengthen public financial management. In addition, we are resuming technical assistance activities at the central bank. When the Prime Minister met with the IMF's Managing Director a few months ago, he explicitly asked for the Fund's help in capacity building. To this end, the government has requested assistance in reforming the system of untargeted subsidies and an IMF Fiscal Affairs Department expert is to arrive in Tripoli in April. The view is to develop a comprehensive safety net, in an effort to make growth more inclusive. The Fund will continue to help in the area of public financial management. This includes assessing the financial management of all Libyan funds run by the central bank and the sovereign wealth fund, with the aim of providing recommendations on how to enhance accountability and transparency. The attitude of the new government in this particular area is incredibly positive, and we commend them for that.
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News Headline: Moroccans join 24th MEU for Amphibious 'Day at the Beach' during African Lion 12 | News Date: 04/18/2012 Outlet Full Name: 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit News Text: Marines and Sailors of Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, landed on the shores of the Kingdom of Morocco, April 10, 2012, to participate in Exercise African Lion 12. Alpha Company discussed Marine infantry weapon systems, amphibious assaults and American culture with their Moroccan counterparts. The Moroccans don't have Assault Amphibious Vehicles so they work primarily with fast boats," said 1st Lieutenant Alexander George, Alpha Company's executive officer. "These kinds of assaults are what they'd like to do, so this training is perfect for them." Alpha Company is designed specifically for amphibious assaults and owns all the BLT's AAVs, which allow them to tactically move from ship to shore and engage enemy positions, if necessary. Often, an amphibious assault resembles infantry squad maneuvers, but with vehicles. Marines and Moroccans shared the tight quarters of Alpha Company's AAVs and stormed the beaches together during every amphibious assault drill; it was a joint exercise from the start. Executing amphibious landings alongside the Moroccans showed them what they could be capable of, said George. Morocco has a diverse culture; the Moroccans speak Arabic but also French, Spanish and English, among other languages. The Marines found that many Moroccans' English is limited but despite the language barrier, the Moroccans embraced their warrior brethren as soon as

the Marines hit the shore and spent a good portion of the early part of training taking pictures with Marines and Sailors. Coming to America The exercise also included taking the Moroccans to the heart of America or at least the next closest thing. The Royal Moroccan Soldiers hitched rides on AAVs to the amphibious ship USS New York, parked more than a mile off the coast. The Moroccans were very excited to board the ship. Many of them expressed their appreciation of Americans and Western culture, especially classic icons like Michael Jordan. They broke into smaller groups and Marine noncommissioned officers guided them throughout the ship, showing them the gym, living spaces, mess hall, flight deck, and bow. Throughout the trip, the Moroccans quizzed the Marines on various aspects of Western popular culture, especially sports and music. "I spoke to one guy who said he always loved America, but now he finally got to meet one and come onto their ship," said Cpl. Robert A. Dahlhausen, an Arabic cryptologic linguist who served as an interpreter for the tour. "I talked to a lot of them, and they said the tour was great. It was big, the food was good, and everything was nice considering we live on a ship." In the mess hall, Marines and Moroccans discussed differences in local cuisine. Falafel, couscous and kufta are staples of the Moroccan diet, but the Moroccans accepted the full American tour and filled up on burgers, chicken fingers and fries what most would consider typical American fare and said they loved it. "They love American culture and love the opportunity to meet Americans and train with us," said Dahlhausen. Adapting Tactics Back on shore, a group of Moroccan Soldiers was selected to train with Alpha Company's Marines, and they spent a lot of time focused on small-unit tactics for an amphibious landing. The beach assault gave them an opportunity to try a different tactical approach to a shared threat. They paired into different AAVs, hit the water, and then turned around to assault the beach Marines and Moroccans storming ashore together. "The Moroccans looked good out there," said Capt. Robert May, Alpha Company commanding officer. "The Marines looked good too. It was a successful beach landing with our two forces working together." The Marines and Sailors of the 24th MEU and Soldiers of the Royal Moroccan Army shared training tactics and cultures, but most importantly, they shared experiences. Both militaries learned important aspects about each other's military that will undoubtedly benefit both Americans and Moroccans for future operations in any clime and place. Exercise African Lion 12 is scheduled through the middle of April. U.S. forces involved in the exercise include Marines and Sailors from the 24th MEU and the 14th Marine Regiment, a reserve unit based out of Fort Worth, Texas, and Soldiers from the Utah National Guard.
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News Headline: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency: Mapping Africa One Country at a Time | News Date: 04/18/2012 Outlet Full Name: Defense Media Agency News Text: Agadir, MOROCCO, Apr 17, 2012 When the U.S. military wants to head into un-chartered, or minimally chartered territory, they call on the experts of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, or the NGA. By compiling the most current satellite imagery, existing maps, and layers of data like roads, rivers, and towns they are able to create custom maps and imagery for specific locations or events. Currently, two Geospatial Analysts from Stuttgart, Germany are mapping out the terrain for African Lion 2012 in southern Morocco. AL-12 is a bi-lateral exercise between U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Africa, the Utah National Guard, and the Kingdom of Morocco. It's the 8th annual African Lion exercise in the country. The 10-day exercise includes ground, amphibious and aerial training for approximately 800 Marines, 400 Army Reservists and 900 Moroccan military. It's spread across four geographically varied locations, to include flat deserts, vast mountain ranges, and miles and miles of coastline. It was during January's AL-12 planning conference when the needs and overall scope of the exercise were drawn out. Jacquie Snyder, one of the two analysts from Stuttgart, attended the conference and came away with a solid foundation of what her team would need to create. "Since the exercise is spread across a variety of locations with a variety of terrains, we had to create maps which would show the players how to get their equipment in place," Snyder said. What they created are dozens of overhead maps for air and ground, annotating specific routes and locations. One such map enabled the advance convoy team to pre-plan for a bridge with a limited weight allowance. Our 70-ton Abrams tanks couldn't cross the bridge because it has a 30-ton limit, said Chief Warrant Officer 3 James Clark, assistant strategic mobility officer for MARFORAF. Our only solution was to off-load the tanks and drive them through the dry river bed. Preknowledge of the bridge enabled them to check on its limits before the convoy hit the dirt. But terrain maps are only one part of the mapping mission. Aside from range maps needed for live fire training, pilots also benefit with aeronautical charts displaying elevation levels and restricted zones. In addition, they've also created overview maps of ports for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The MEU consists of three US Navy ships; the USS Iwo Jima, the USS New York and the USS Gunston Hall. This is the MEU's first stop as they embark on a 7-month deployment in Southwest Asia to support operations in Afghanistan. "It's the first time a MEU has ever taken part in an African Lion exercise," says Jason Davis, GEO spatial analyst, "and it's a very unique opportunity." Unique because a decision was made early in the planning stages to embed a Marine Geospatial Analyst from the Iwo Jima with the NGA team at the African Lion 12 Joint Command Center.

For Cpl. Michael Cox, 24th MEU Command Element topographical chief, he sees it as a once in a lifetime opportunity. "To be able to work in this environment is just awesome. We've got civilians and military working together, we're supporting the needs of the Marines and Army Reservists in the field, and during all of that we're in Morocco working with the Moroccan military. I've learned so much during this experience." It's also been an eye opening experience for Cox. "I never knew just how incredibly similar the civilian counterpart of our job actually is. It's interesting, too, both sides get the same results, but during this I've learned shortcuts, or tricks of the trade from them, and I think I have showed them a few, too. But ultimately, we all get the same outcome." The analysts did face a few challenges along the way. "Limited imagery is probably the biggest challenge when working in Africa," said Davis. "Some countries are covered better than others, and satellite imagery for the overall continent, that's always good, but if someone wants to pinpoint specific buildings and streets, well that's going to be harder to see. That's where we come in." Surprisingly, the team relies on some commercial products any of us can buy. According to Snyder, "we use a lot of tourist maps for research to incorporate into our other sources and build up products in order to provide complete mission communication." And with upcoming exercises in Senegal and Botswana, the geospatial team, who are part of AFRICOM, is able to create some of the first fully detailed maps ever produced over training areas in these countries. "We've got a motto in our career field," said Cox. "'Know the earth, show the way.'" The team is actually able to create any size map, though most are 3x4 feet, Davis commented. "Our only limitation is the size of the wall it hangs on." And the maps can get quite detailed too, down to doors and entrances into specific buildings. "Sometimes the customer doesn't really know what we can do," said Davis, "so we educate them. We guide them toward a solution by asking questions like, what are you going to use this for, and what is it you want to see? Lots of military members don't even know about us. "We've definitely become more visible over the past 10 years though," Davis added. "We've been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and now we're here in an exercise scenario with a combatant command. We never did that before, so we are more visible now." African Lion 12 wraps up April 17, with a FINEX, a final exercise review and demonstration. It will be an opportunity for all participants to formally display their newly acquired training. And for the NGA team, they'll be leaving with some highly detailed maps of Morocco's southern coast, mountain ranges and desert landscape.
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News Headline: United Nations News Centre - Africa Briefs | News Date: 04/18/2012 Outlet Full Name: United Nations News Service News Text: Meeting with LRA victims, UN and African envoys pledge continued support 17 April Senior United Nations and African Union officials met last week with victims of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Dungu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to reassure them of their mobilization to put an end to the atrocities perpetrated by the armed group. Urgent action needed to address cascading crisis' in Africa's Sahel region Ban 17 April Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the global community to act quickly to address what he described as a cascading crisis sweeping the Sahel region of West Africa, where 15 million people have been affected by the drought and conflict-related crisis in the area. UN rights chief condemns Sudan's bombing of civilian areas in South Sudan 17 April The top United Nations human rights official today condemned Sudan's indiscriminate bombing raids that resulted in civilian casualties in South Sudan and urged the two countries' governments to halt the escalating violence along their border areas. UN chief renews call for immediate end to Sudan-South Sudan hostilities 16 April Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated his deep concern over continuing hostilities between Sudan and South Sudan, including the impact of the conflict on civilians, and urged both sides to cease fighting and ensure the safety of the population. Ban voices concern over deepening political crisis in Guinea-Bissau 16 April Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced grave concern over the fact that, despite calls by the international community for the immediate restoration of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau, the leaders of last week's coup have continued to deepen the political crisis through their declared plans to establish a transitional government.
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