Peace Operations Update
Afrika
Burundi
Tensions high in run-up to Burundi elections (04.03.2010)
Quelle: Irinnews
As Burundi approaches elections designed to cap the country’s democratic transition after years of civil conflict, there is growing concern about worsening security and limits to political freedom.
Demokratische Republik Kongo
First set of UN troops could leave DR Congo by June, says peacekeeping chief (05.03.2010)
Quelle: UN News
The first group of United Nations troops could leave the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by the end of June, as requested by the Government, the world body’s top peacekeeping official said today following a visit to the country.
Somalia
Somali rebels say would repel government offensive (08.03.2010)
Quelle: Reliefweb
Somalia's Islamist al Shabaab rebel group vowed on Monday to defend itself against any government offensive and to subject the U.S. to a failure worse than one it suffered in 1992 should it back the attack. Unconfirmed media reports said over the weekend American military experts were advising Somali government troops ahead of their push to oust the rebels from the capital.
Sudan
Sudan’s electoral board welcomes 50 EU observers to monitor polls (10.03.2010)
Quelle: Sudan Tribune
The National Elections Commission (NEC) chief Abel Alier met today with Veronique De Keyser, the head of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Sudan. … On Thursday the EU EOM will officially launch the mission during a press conference in the Sudanese capital. Last month, the EU announced that the 130-strong mission will be the largest in the history of the European bloc.
IGAD renews commitment to support Sudan peace - Meles (10.03.2010)
Quelle: Sudan Tribune
Ethiopian prime minister, who last night returned home from IGAD summit in Nairobi, said on Thursday that member states have set new directions and agreed to extend full support to bring lasting solution to Sudan’s political problems.
Netherlands renews its participation in UNMIS for one year (07.03.2010)
Quelle: Sudan Tribune
The Dutch government decided to extend its participation in a 10,000 stronghold mission mostly deployed in southern Sudan for another year until April 2011. … This decision was made by a caretaker cabinet following a request from the UN just two weeks after the fall of the center-left government on Feb. 20.
Sudan (Darfur)
Sudan and JEM rebels to start talks for peace in Darfur on Tuesday (09.03.2010)
Quelle: Sudan Tribune
The Sudanese government and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) will start direct peace talks to end the seven year conflict in Doha, for the first time since the signing of the Doha framework agreement on February 23, a top rebel negotiator told Sudan Tribune.
Zentralafrikanische Republik
Rebels now terrorize Central African Republic (09.03.2010)
Quelle: allAfrica
The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), the rebel group whose bloody raids drove hundreds of thousands of civilians into refugee camps in northern Uganda, has now opened up operations in the Central African Republic, Bishop Juan José Aguirre Munos of Bangassou told the Fides news service.
Europa
Kosovo
U.S. pulling troops from Kosovo (10.03.2010)
Quelle: B92
The U.S. will be withdrawing 570 of its troops out of Kosovo in the next two months as part of a NATO restructuring, media in Priština have reported. The move coincides with similar reductions by other countries that are part of the NATO-led KFOR.
UN chief in Kosovo wishes to tackle "simple problems first" (09.03.2010)
Quelle: B92
UNMIK chief Lamberto Zannier says that even solving of simple problems in Kosovo is difficult "due to the differences within the UN Security Council". The head of the UN mission in the province, UNMIK, told Belgrade's Vecernje Novosti daily in an interview that "things should be depoliticized and big issues left aside".
Kaukasus
Naher und mittlerer Osten
Irak
After playing down election violence in Iraq, U.S. military reassesses (11.03.2010)
Quelle: Washington Post
After initially playing down the scope of the violence during Sunday's parliamentary elections in Iraq, the U.S. military has concluded in an internal assessment that at least 37 people were killed in 136 attacks.
Israel / Palästina
Palestinians hold to plan for new talks (10.03.2010)
Quelle: New York Times
Palestinian leaders meeting with Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. here on Wednesday harshly condemned Israel’s decision, announced a day earlier, to add 1,600 housing units for Jews in East Jerusalem, but they gave no indication that they would stay away from the approaching indirect peace negotiations with the Israelis.
Süd-Asien
Nepal
UN political chief arrives in Nepal as appeal for aid is launched (10.03.2010)
Quelle: UN News
The top United Nations political official arrived in Nepal today for a three-day visit to assess the state of the peace process which ended 10 years of fighting between the Government and Maoists. The visit comes as the peace process that ended the country’s civil war, which claimed some 13,000 lives, remains largely stalled, threatened by tensions and mistrust between Maoists, the Government and the army.
Süd-Ost-Asien
Südamerika und Karibik
Zentral-Asien
Afghanistan
British official urges Afghanistan to negotiate with Taliban, other insurgents (11.03.2010)
Quelle: Washington Post
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband called Wednesday for early and substantive political negotiations between the Afghanistan government and the Taliban and other insurgent groups, saying that military successes will never be enough to end the war.
U.S. House rejects pullout from Afghanistan (11.03.2010)
Quelle: RFE/RL
The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly rejected a measure calling for President Barack Obama to pull U.S. forces from Afghanistan, in an election-year test of his decision to escalate the war. But dozens of Obama's Democrats in the House did support the pullout resolution, indicating division over war policy ahead of November congressional elections in which Republicans are expected to make gains.
Extra UK funding for development in Helmand (08.03.2010)
Quelle: Reliefweb
International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander today launched a new growth programme for Helmand to provide jobs and help for farmers and local businesses. … The programme will initially focus on the five most peaceful of Helmand's 13 districts - Nahr-i-Saraj, Lashkar Gah, Nad e Ali, Garmsir and Nawa – covering 55% of the province's population, (around 800,000 people).
Kirgisistan
Petraeus visits Kyrgyzstan amid U.S. plans for counterterror center (10.03.2010)
Quelle: RFE/RL
The head of U.S. Central Command, General David Petraeus, has met with Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev in Bishkek to discuss bilateral cooperation and the situation in Afghanistan. The visit comes a day after U.S. diplomats confirmed Washington will provide $5.5 million to the Kyrgyz government toward the construction of a counterterrorism training center in southern Kyrgyzstan.
Usbekistan
Fergana Valley: relations cooling, Uzbek-Kyrgyz border growing increasingly violent (09.03.2010)
Quelle: Eurasianet
The deteriorating relationship between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan is giving rise to violence along the countries’ shared frontier. Adding to the tension, Tashkent has unilaterally closed one of the largest border crossings between the two countries.