Latest news
8 June 2012
EU home affairs ministers voted unanimously yesterday (7 June 2012) for the re-introduction of internal border controls in the Schengen area for six months, renewable for another six,”when the control of an external border is no longer ensured due to exceptional circumstances”. The measure has be seen against the background of uncontrolled flows of migrants into the EU. The decision was criticized by the European Commission and several members of the European Parliament have announced to reject the draft legislation.
Source: Euractiv.com | Inter-institutional row brews on Schengen
8 June 2012
President Hamid Karzai has condemned an air strike on 6 June 2012 by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) where 18 Afghan civilians allegedly died, calling the attack ‘unjustifiable.’
The air strike against a house were Taliban commanders gathered was called for by NATO forces, after Afghan and NATO ground forces that had surrounded the house came under fire.
However, according to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF – NATO’s operation in Afghanistan), no civilians were killed and merely two women were injured as a result of the attack. The incident will be investigated.
Source: BBC News | Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemns NATO air strike
Source: ISAF | Joint Command morning operational update - 6 June 2012
6 June 2012
Rwandan military officials have recruited hundreds of men (and children) and sent them to support general Bosco Ntaganda, who is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC), in his mutiny against the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A report issued by Human Rights Watch reveals that, besides sending fighters, Rwanda is also providing weapons and ammunition, and has allowed general Ntaganda to enter Rwanda.
Source: Rwandan military 'aiding war crimes suspect' in Congo
31 May 2012
On 30 May, the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) sentenced Charles Taylor, former president of Liberia, to 50 years in prison for planning and aiding and abetting crimes that were committed by rebel forces in Sierra Leone during the civil war (1991-2002). (more…)
Source: BBC | Charles Taylor: Preacher, warlord, president
27 May 2012
Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) agreed at the recent summit in Chicago on the security transition for Afghanistan, starting in 2013.
President Obama stated at the summit that NATO member states are ‘unified behind a plan to responsibly wind down the war in Afghanistan’. The plan of withdrawing 130.000 NATO troops by 2014 is ‘irreversible’. He however also stated that Afghanistan will not be abandoned, at least some troops will stay after 2014.
France will withdraw its combat troops from Afghanistan already at the end of this year.
Source: New York Times | NATO Agrees on Afghan Security Transition in 2013