Rwanda
Reconstruction and authority in Eritrea and Rwanda
In April, the Africa Research Institute in London released this short, but insightful Briefing Note.
Princes’ Progress: Reconstruction and authority in Eritrea and Rwanda provides an interesting comparison between two of Africa’s ‘smallest and poorest states’, which both also ‘exert disproportionate influence over regional security’. However, despite some similarieis, Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki has been far less successful in attracting international aid and support from donors, and often stands ‘accused of transforming Eritrea into a rogue, pariah state’. Comparatively, the leadership of Rwandan president Paul Kagame has been ‘championed as “visionary”’ by some.
To have a look at the description of the briefing note or sign up for updates, click here. You can also download the full document (PDF) here.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )News from the International Courts
Just moments ago, the international news feeds picked up the announcement that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued three warrants of arrest, “respectively for Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi, Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi for crimes against humanity (murder and persecution) allegedly committed across Libya from 15 February 2011 until at least 28 February 2011, through the State apparatus and Security Forces.” (full details here) I have just noted that the ICC also is on Twitter @IntlCrimCourt, if you are interested in up-to-date information as it is released.
Also, last week the United Nations announced that the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has found Pauline Nyiramasuhuko guilty of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, crimes against humanity (extermination, rape and persecution) and several serious violations of the Geneva conventions. According to the report, Nyiramasuhuko is the first woman ever charged with genocide by an international court, and has been “sentenced to life in prison by the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up in the wake of the mass killings in Rwanda in 1994.” (full report here)
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Fanie du Toit: Reconciliation and TJ in Rwanda
The IJR’s Transitional Justice in Africa programme has just released the second in its Occasional Paper series for 2011, entitled Reconciliation and Transitional Justice: The case of Rwanda’s Gacaca Courts and authored by Executive Director Fanie du Toit.
In the paper, du Toit explores of reconciliation as an outcome of transitional justice, and examines Rwanda’s gacaca system within this framework.
To download the full paper (pdf), click here.
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SA Reconciliation Barometer Blog 