Focus on Africa

ECCAS Approves Free Movement in the Region

The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) which seeks to promote regional economic co-operation in Central Africa will from 1 January 2014, allow free movement of citizens of its six members (Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon) within this region.

ECCAS has also decided to establish a common policy framework for the protection of trade within the region. This will include the harmonization of policies, the fight against counterfeiting and facilitating access to pharmaceutical companies in the regional market.

This is in line with its primary objective of achieving collective autonomy, raising the standard of living of its populations and maintaining economic stability through harmonious cooperation.

Zimbabwe: Presidential election to take place on 31 July 2013

The Constitution Court of Zimbabwe upheld the proclamation made by President Mugabe that the presidential election takes place on 31 July 2013. Nine judges led by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku dismissed applications made by the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa and others seeking for the delay of the elections in order to facilitate minimum reforms that will ensure free and fair elections.

MDC wanted some democratic reforms to be effected prior to the holding of the elections to reduce among other issues, the open partisanship from the media and security forces in favour of incumbent President Mugabe.

PM Tsvangirai and Prof Ncube's bid to have the Presidential Powers and Temporary Measures Act set aside for contravening the constitution also hit a snag as the court did not make an order in that respect.

MDC and their leader Tsvangirai have however accepted the court’s ruling and are ready to contest.

Senegal: Hissène Habré has been charged by the Extraordinary African Chamber

The Extraordinary African Chamber established in Senegal has charged Chad’s Ex-President Hissène Habré with war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and genocide over the killings of about 40,000 people. The charges against Habré date from 1982, when his reign started, until 1990, when he was deposed by President Idriss Déby Itno.

Chief Prosecutor Mbacke Fall declared that investigators had assembled strong evidence of the direct involvement of Habré in these crimes.

Habré is particularly accused of putting in place a machinery of repression in form of the political police called DDS. The DDS was created to secure the country against espionage and external attacks, but Habré used them against his political opponents and members of certain ethnic and racial groups.

Habré has denied all the charges against him. In 2008 a Chadian court condemned Habré to death in absentia.

The official investigations are expected take up to 15 months and the trial to last seven months. During this time Hissène Habré will remain in custody in Dakar.