Kent,+Isaac

11/6/09 In Mozambique, the unlawful killing of innocent citizens is "...rarely brought to justice...". Amnesty International says, "...46 [innocent people] have died at the hands of police since 2006." Officers convicted of this are often sentenced 20 years of prison with parole. Amnesty International provides this sad example: "...[In] the case of dancer and choreographer Augusto Cuivias. In December 2007 Mr Cuivias heard a noise while he was at home with his partner and son. He called the police, who said they had no transport. So he called his former wife, who drove the police to the home. When they arrived, the police opened fire indiscriminately, killing Mr Cuivias and his guard, Amnesty International says. His partner suffered a miscarriage." Ramuldine, a Muslim leader who speaks on human rights issues said "It is not the work of the police to torture and kill." The head of the Mozambican Independence Party, (MIP) said that "Criminals in Mozambique are ill-treated... they are tortured, beaten and in some cases killed by the police. This is unacceptable"
 * BBC News - "http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8361707.stm"**
 * Times Live - "http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/article195972.ece"**

Police killing innocents is not OK. I agree with Ramuldine and the acts that the head of the MIP states are indeed 'unacceptable'.

Both news sites covered the topic well although BBC news I felt had the better coverage. they both offered the same examples although Times Live had more quotes from public leaders.

11/13/09 In Nigeria, peace is the word on everyone's lips. The main militant force near the oil-producing in the Niger Delta has agreed to a ceasefire. The President of Nigeria, Umaru Yar'Adua is pleased with this ceasefire and already "Thousands of militants have given up their weapons under an amnesty." (BBC News). In turn, Mr Umaru Yar'Adua has agreed to give jobs to those of the militants who continued with the amnesty. The ceasefire occurred on Saturday 11/14/09 because the militant groups attacks had "...cost Nigeria near $1 billion a month in lost revenue."
 * BBC News - "http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8361330.stm"**

The militant group "Mend" has "...reduced oil production [in the Niger Delta] from 2.6 million barrels a day to 1.7 million [AFP]." (Al Jazeera) The group [Mend] launched a violent campaign about three months ago "...saying it wants a greater share of oil wealth for its communities."( Al Jazeera) Mend did not take part in the amnesty but declared an indefinite ceasefire on October 25th in order to talk things through with the Nigerian government.
 * Al Jazeera - "http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/11/2009111518144629789.html"**

Mend, I think is taking a rightful stand for its community and neighboring people. although violence might not be the best way to handle this issue, it definitely is the most prominent. I think that a ceasefire to talk things through and negotiate with the Nigerian government was the best thing both sides could do at the standpoint prior. Both news sites had information that the other did not. For instance, Al Jazeera explained more what Mend's cause was and gave prior insight while BBC news covered a more blatant side of the story that somewhat assumes that one knows who Mend is.

11/20/09 For months, two well-armed groups have been fighting over territory in Somalia. Al-Shabab, a Somalian Islamist group and Hisbul-Islam are the opposing militant groups. But the goodness in the matter is that according to the Al-shabab, Al-shabab successfully gained control over, "...the southern town of Afmadow without resistance from rival militants."
 * BBC News - "http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8373158.stm"**

I could not find a second reliable source on this topic

I think that it is good that Hisbul-Islam gave up town control without a fight because lives were saved in the process. Although I do now know much about Al-Shabab and Hisbul-Islam, anytime bloodshed can be prevented, it is a good thing.

I did not find another reliable source reporting on this issue but BBC News filled me in with all I feel i needed to know.

11/27/09 Recently in Darfur, Rwandan peacekeeping soldiers, rightly named "Peacekeepers" have been killed. "The soldiers were distributing water at a camp for the displaced on Saturday as gunmen in civilian clothes approached and opened fire." say officials. Three Rwandan soldiers have died and one has been injured. The soldiers were attacked while on a convoy serving as a UN-African Union peacekeeping force. Over the past two years, twenty- two soldiers have been killed while serving the peacekeeping force. Although the force is 18,000 men strong, Rwandan soldiers have had the most deaths.
 * BBC News - "http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8397199.stm"**

Two peacekeepers in Darfur were shot and killed leaving three wounded last Friday. According to The New York Times, "The attack was a reminder of the vulnerability of the under-equipped joint U.N./African Union UNAMID mission in Darfur and brought the number of its personnel killed by hostile action in two years to 19."
 * The New York Times - "http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/12/04/world/international-uk-sudan-darfur-peacekeepers.html"**

My opinion on this issue is that of comparison. I can relate this to Sierra Leone, and the attackers as RUF soldiers. The UN has already stationed over 18,000 troops in the Darfur region of Sudan, which is a great starting place for the repression.

Both sites were reliable, although the facts were skewed at some point. BBC News said that three soldiers died and one was injured while The New York Times stated that two soldiers were killed and three were injured. The collaboration between the two sources is incorrect on one end.]

12/4/09 In the South-African country Namibia, "...President Hifikepunye Pohamba has been re-elected for a second term after winning 76.4% of the vote in last week's poll, official results show." The governing Swapo Party (Mr. Pohamba's party), won the election, "...maintaining its two-thirds majority". Pohamba's opponent, Hidipo Hamutenya, "...won 11.3% of the vote, results showed." Hamutenya's party is the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP).
 * BBC News - "http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8396576.stm"**

Hifikepunye Pohamba, the President of Namibia has just been re-elected. However, the opposing party (RDP), has challenged the results of the election. They plan on taking Mr. Pohamba to court, "... "for contravening the electoral law of the country." Although African observers have stated that the election was fair and just, the RDP and others claim that "...[they were] not being adequately informed about the vote verification process. " Mr. Pohamba has been in office since 2005 while his party has been in office since 1990.
 * Al Jazeera - "http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/12/2009124204554749292.html"**

I think that it is good that Namibia has a President that they like well enough to re-elect. Even though the opposing parties have allegations against Mr. Pohamba for an unjust election, I personally think that their case will not make it to court.

Both sources were informational and reliable. I think that Al Jazeera had better coverage on the issue by providing a brief history of Pohamba's time in office. Also, it covered the fact that the RDP is planning on taking Mr. Pohamba to court while BBC News did not mention it.