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All 24 individuals are relatives of Socialist Party without Borders (PSF) president Yaya Dillo Djerou and were detained after the military assault on PSF’s N’Djamena headquarters

The Chadian authorities must immediately release 10 relatives of killed opposition leader Yaya Dillo Djerou who are still detained in Koro Toro maximum security prison, despite their acquittal in July of charges following an attack by security forces on the headquarters of Djerou’s political party in February, Amnesty International said today. 

The organization also called for authorities to reveal the charges that led to the conviction of 14 other people in the same case, for their appeals to be processed in line with Chad’s national and international human rights obligations, and for them to be transferred in N’Djamena detention facilities according to national law.

All 24 individuals are relatives of Socialist Party without Borders (PSF) president Yaya Dillo Djerou and were detained after the military assault on PSF’s N’Djamena headquarters on 27 February 2024, in which Djerou was killed. They remain detained in inhuman or degrading conditions in Koro Toro, 600 km from the capital, as documented by Amnesty International. Among them are three minors aged 16 to 18, and several people affected by chronic diseases. They have had no contact with their family nor access to legal counsel until the first hearing of the case.

“To keep 10 people locked up in Koro Toro prison, despite their acquittal, is a clear case of arbitrary detention, and a violation of national and international human rights law.

This is part of a consistent pattern of repression against opposition supporters in Chad, in the continuity of the events of October 2022 when dozens of demonstrators were killed and hundreds of others arrested and detained in Koro Toro in violation of their human rights,” said Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “The Chadian authorities must end the crackdown on human rights and ensure respect for the human rights of everyone in the country.”

A relative of one of the 14 people convicted told Amnesty International: “The people who were sentenced are pupils, students, and sympathizers of the party without any operational role. They have appealed the decision, but no date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal.”

Amnesty International is calling for the Chadian authorities to ensure the rights of the defendants are respected.

“The authorities must guarantee the right to a fair trial and the rights of defence to those who have appealed their convictions and sentences. They must also be transferred to N’Djamena detention facilities, according to national law,” said Samira Daoud.

Another PSF leader also held incommunicado in N’Djamena

Other PSF members have also been targeted by the Chadian authorities. The Secretary-General of the PSF, Robert Gam, was arrested in September 2024, and has since been held incommunicado. A human rights defender told Amnesty International at the time of Robert Gam’s arrest: “We fear for his life. We are going back to methods we thought were outdated.”

Another PSF executive, Abakar Torabi, Deputy National Secretary for Finance, was released without any known charges against him on 20 November after nine months in secret detention in N’Djamena.

“The authorities should release Robert Gam unless he is promptly charged with an internationally recognizable offence and his rights to defence are guaranteed. The authorities must also put an end to the practice of incommunicado detention, as required by their national and international legal obligations,” said Samira Daoud.

Background

On 29 February 2024, the Public Prosecutor announced the death of PSF President Yaya Dillo Djerou during a large-scale military assault on the PSF headquarters on 27 February 2024, which was described by the authorities as a shoot-out and by Yaya Dillo Djerou’s supporters as an assassination.

The authorities had accused supporters of Yaya Dillo Djerou of having carried out an attack on the headquarters of the National Security Agency on 27 February, in a bid to secure the release of the PSF’s National Finance Secretary, Abakar Torabi. He had been arrested on suspicion of being involved in an attack against the headquarters of the Supreme Court on 19 February 2024. These accusations are rejected by Yaya Dillo Djerou’s supporters.

On 5 March, the then Prime Minister Succes Marsa stated that an “international” investigation would be carried out into the assault on the PSF headquarters. However, there is no public information on the details and status of any such investigation. In the meantime, the party’s headquarters was razed.

 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

A delegation from the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has commenced a five-day visit to Kenya, to engage with a range of stakeholders, focusing on advancing human rights, and ensuring accountability for the human rights violations in South Sudan.

According to a statement, the delegation is led by Yasmin Sooka, the Chair, and Barney Afako, a member of the Commission, and will meet with senior Kenyan government officials, representatives from international organizations, and civil society groups.

“Discussions will center on the importance of upholding human rights and preventing deterioration of the situation in South Sudan, as well as consolidating the role of justice and accountability in the peace process. The Commission will highlight the importance of regional support for South Sudan’s transition, particularly from Kenya, which plays a key role as a guarantor of the peace and transition process,” the statement reads in part.

“Additionally, the Commission will advocate for strong support of South Sudan’s efforts to establish a reliable and independent judicial system, in accordance with the recommendations of the Judicial Review Commission, including the establishment of effective and impartial institutions capable of upholding the rule of law and human rights across the country.”

The delegation intends to meet various stakeholders involved in the resumed mediation dialogue in Nairobi, known as the Tumaini Initiative, between the Government of South Sudan and hold-out groups to the Revitalized Agreement for Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), 2018.

“The Commission will encourage all involved in the Tumaini Initiative to incorporate transitional justice measures as an integral element of the ongoing talks, ensuring accountability, truth-telling, and redress for victims, which are essential for lasting peace in South Sudan,” the statement said.

The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan is an independent body mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council. First established in March 2016, it has been renewed annually since. Its three Commissioners are not UN staff, they are not renumerated for their work as Commissioners, and they serve independently in their capacity as experts. They are supported by a Secretariat based in Juba, South Sudan.

The Commission is mandated to investigate the situation of human rights in South Sudan and to make recommendations to prevent a deterioration of the situation, with a view to its improvement. The Commission is also mandated to determine and report the facts and circumstances of human rights violations and abuses, including by clarifying responsibility for crimes under national and or international law.

The Commission’s findings are informed by independent interviews conducted with victims and survivors of human rights violations, as well as witnesses, service providers, and related experts and stakeholders. Radio Tamazuj

Businessman Kamlesh Pattni

British-Kenyan businessman Kamlesh Pattni was on Monday dealt a blow after the United Kingdom imposed financial sanctions on him over involvement in corruption.

Through the International Corruption Unit (ICU), an agency that investigates international bribery, and corruption, UK sanctioned Pattni for using bribes to export gold from South Africa. 

“Today’s sanctions consist of three individuals designated under the UK’s Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021. Kamlesh Pattni, a British-Kenyan businessman who has used bribery to export gold from southern Africa as a means of laundering dirty money,” read the statement in part.

Pattni was sanctioned alongside his wife and brother-in-law, whom the ICU stated have a long history of involvement in his network of companies.

British officials said they would freeze assets belonging to Pattni and other associates.

In a statement, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the sanctions aimed to disrupt the business dealings of Pattni, whom it accused of smuggling illegal gold from South Africa. 

The businessman has been associated with various scandals in the past, including the Goldenberg scandal which rocked the country during the 1990s.

It involved the fraudulent export of gold and other commodities, leading to significant financial losses for the Kenyan government.

Pattni has been implicated in using bribery and corrupt practices to facilitate the export of gold from southern Africa, which has raised concerns about money laundering activities linked to his operations.

The tycoon was sanctioned under the UK’s Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021, which allows the UK government to impose asset freezes and travel bans on individuals involved in serious corruption and related offences. 

The sanctions against Pattni are part of broader efforts by the UK authorities to combat international bribery and corruption that have implications for both national and international security.

The British Graft body noted Pattni’s activities not only undermine economic stability but also contribute to organized crime networks that exploit natural resources in conflict zones. By Joe Macharia, Kenyans.co.ke 

President William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta. PHOTO/ Uhuru Kenyatta.

President William Ruto on Monday, December 9, visited his former boss Uhuru Kenyatta at his Gatundu home. This was the second time the two leaders were meeting in less than a month after their initial meeting in Embu during the consecration and installation of Bishop Peter Kimani Ndung’u. 

According to State House, Ruto took the time to appreciate his predecessor during the meeting for the smooth transition of power after the 2022 Presidential elections.

"President Ruto thanked Uhuru Kenyatta for laying a strong foundation that enabled the government to implement key programs under the Bottom-Up Economic transformation agenda," the statement from State House read.

Among the issues that also came up during the two leaders' meeting was the prompt resolution of the court matters, which was the main obstacle hindering the reconstitution of the IEBC.

Further, Uhuru and Ruto also came together to urge Kenyans to stand behind their former adversary Raila Odinga's candidature for the African Union Chair bid. 

The timing of Uhuru and Ruto's meeting was interesting since it came at a time when the battle for supremacy in the Mount Kenya region was intensifying.

Notably, Uhuru Kenyatta has been active with public appearances in recent weeks, a stark contrast to the silence he subjected Kenyans to in the months prior.

On Saturday, December 7, 2024, the former Head of State, was present during the wedding of Kalonzo Musyoka's daughter Damarie Saada Kalonzo.

Kalonzo, a fierce critic of President Ruto's regime, later reiterated his cordial relationship with Uhuru by issuing a public statement thanking the Jubilee party boss for his presence. 

The meeting also came amid a looming cabinet reshuffle, with several cabinet secretaries potentially on the chopping board.

The bigger picture: From a political standpoint, it is easy to see why political leaders are intent on having Uhuru Kenyatta in their corner, three years to the general election.

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has openly expressed his intention to rival Ruto for the presidency in 2027, and the key battleground between the two leaders appears to be the Mount Kenya region.

Since the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo has publicly backed the embattled former DP by openly calling out the state for allegedly frustrating Gachagua in different forms.

More recently, Gachagua and Kalonzo have collectively criticised the government over delays in the reconstitution of the IEBC.  By Rene Otinga, Kenyans.co.ke

The government of Russia has announced that Kenyans can now visit the country with a single electronic visa 

In a statement, the Russian Embassy in Kenya said Kenya, Eswatini and Zimbabwe have joined the list of countries that can use single electronic visas to visit  Moscow.

"The government of Russia has expanded the list of countries whose citizens can visit the Russian Federation with a single electronic visa," the Russian Embassy said in a statement on X.

"The list now includes the following African countries: Kenya, Eswatini and Zimbabwe."

The single electronic visa gives the right to a single entry to Russia and stay on a guest or business visit as a tourist.

It also grants the privilege to travellers visiting to participate in scientific, cultural socio-political, economic and sporting events and to carry out relevant connections and contacts.

The validity period of a single electronic visa is 60 days from the date of its registration with the permitted period of stay of a foreign citizen in the Russian Federation no more than 16 days from the date of entry into the territory.

Unified electronic visas are valid for entry and exit from the Russian Federation by air, road, rail and water transport.

It also grants entry and exit without the use of vehicles, only through checkpoints across the state border of the Russian Federation, the list of which was approved by order of the Government of the Russian Federation.

An electronic visa is issued on the basis of an application from a foreign citizen, filled out electronically on the specialised website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru or through a mobile application posted for download on the specified website

A single electronic visa is paid for and done on the specialised website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The application for a single electronic visa must be submitted not later than four calendar days before the expected date of entry into the Russian Federation. 

A digital photograph of the person and a scan of the page with the data of the foreign citizen’s machine-readable passport is attached to the application.

No other documents are required to obtain a single e-visa. By PERPETUA ETYANG, The Star

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