http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2013/09/21/au-moins-quatre-morts-dans-une-fusillade-a-nairobi_3482320_3212.html

L'attaque de Nairobi revendiquée par les islamistes shebab somaliens

Le Monde.fr avec AFP, AP et Reuters | 21.09.2013 à 13h50 • Mis à jour le 21.09.2013 à 23h08

Abonnez-vous
à partir de 1 € Réagir Classer Imprimer Envoyer

Partager facebook twitter google + linkedin

Fusillade à Nairobi : les images filmées à l... par lemondefr

Un commando d'islamistes somaliens shebab a pris d'assaut samedi 21 septembre un centre commercial de luxe à Nairobi, tuant au moins 39 personnes et faisant plus de 150 blessés d'après un dernier bilan communiqué par le président kényan Uhuru Kenyatta.

Une dizaine d'assaillants masqués, selon des sources policières, ont fait irruption à la mi-journée dans le centre commercial bondé à cette heure du "Westgate Mall", semant la mort et le chaos parmi les familles en train de faire leurs courses et les badauds attablés aux terrasses de cafés. Ils ont ouvert le feu à l'arme automatique et à la grenade sur la foule cosmopolite - Africains, Indiens et Occidentaux - des clients et les employés du centre, un imposant bâtiment rectangulaire de quatre étages, l'un des lieux de promenade préféré des classes aisées de Nairobi.

"JUSTICE PUNITIVE"

Les shebab somaliens, liés à Al-Qaida, ont revendiqué l'attaque en fin de journée, alors que les affrontements se poursuivaient encore au Westgate entre forces de sécurité et assaillants retranchés dans l'un des étages. "Les moujahidines ont pénétré aujourd'hui vers midi dans Westgate. Ils ont tué plus de 100 infidèles kényans et la bataille se poursuit", ont affirmé les islamistes sur leur compteTwitter, une revendication ensuite confirmée dans un communiqué.

Ils ont justifié l'attentat comme des représailles à l'intervention de l'armée kényane depuis deux ans dans le sud de la Somalie contre le groupe islamiste, rappelantavoir "prévenu le Kenya à de nombreuses reprises". "Ce que les Kényans voient à Westgate, c'est de la justice punitive pour les crimes commis par leurs soldats" en Somalie "contre les musulmans", ont-ils écrit. "Le message que nous envoyons au gouvernement et à la population kényane est et sera toujours le même : retirez toutes vos forces de notre pays", ajoutent les shebab.

L'armée kényane était entrée en Somalie en 2011 et se maintient depuis dans le sud du pays, dans le cadre d'une force africaine soutenant le gouvernement somalien qui a infligé de nombreuses défaites aux islamistes. L'attaque de ce samedi pourrait être l'attentat le plus meurtrier dans la capitale kényane depuis une attaque-suicide d'Al-Qaida en août 1998 contre l'ambassade américaine de Nairobi, qui avait fait plus de 200 morts. Le chef de l'Etat kényan, lors d'une allocution télévisée, a promis que les "terroristes" qui cherchent à diviser les Kényans seraient vaincus.

LES ASSAILLANTS TOUJOURS ENCERCLÉS

Un nombre indéterminé de ressortissants américains figure parmi les blessés, a annoncé le département d'Etat américain, condamnant un "acte de violence insensé". Des ressortissants britanniques figurent également "sans aucun doute"au nombre des victimes de l'attentat selon le ministre britannique des affaires étrangères, William Hague.

L'opération des forces de sécurité kényanes se poursuivaient en début de soirée dans le "Westgate Mall", où les assaillants sont "encerclés dans un secteur de l'un des étages", selon une source sécuritaire. "Le reste du centre semble sécurisé", mais "l'opération pourrait durer un long moment", a confié cette source alors que la nuit tombait sur la capitale kényane. "Nous sommes dans le processus de sécurisation du bâtiment, magasin après magasin, et d'évacuation des personnes"piégées à l'intérieur depuis le début de l'attaque, a-t-elle expliqué.

• 

›

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

 1 / 10

Un commando masqué et armé a attaqué samedi 21 septembre un centre commercial de luxe à Nairobi, tuant au moins 20 personnes. L'opération se poursuivait toujours en fin de journée.

Crédits : AFP/SIMON MAINA

Des clients et employés du centre commercial, traumatisés, continuaient d'en émerger par petits groupes dans la soirée. Les forces de sécurité, policiers et forces spéciales de l'armée, ont progressé magasin après magasin pour évacuer les personnes prises au piège et tenter de déloger les hommes armés, masqués et vêtus de noir selon des témoins. Un policier sur place a parlé de "sept otages"aux mains du commando, mais ce nombre pourrait être plus élevé, vu la fréquentation au moment de l'attaque et l'étendue des lieux, un labyrinthe de boutiques en tout genre où il est aisé de se cacher ou de se retrancher.

Expatriés de toutes nationalités, riches Kényans et Indiens aiment à venir au"Westgate Mall" pendant les week-ends pour y faire du shopping, flâner en familleou se restaurer. Ce centre commercial, ouvert en 2007 et proche du siège local des Nations unies, compte des restaurants, des cafés, des banques, un grand supermarché et un cinéma multiplexe qui attirent des milliers de personnes chaque jour. Une cliente sortie du centre a indiqué y avoir passé six heures à secacher avant d'être secourue. "J'étais dans un café lorsque j'ai entendu des coups de feu et des explosions. Ensuite j'ai couru pour me cacher dans un magasin. J'ai passé six heures là-dedans", a raconté la femme.

DES CLIENTS "EXÉCUTÉS"

Selon un témoin, les assaillants, parlant l'arabe ou le somali, ont "exécuté" des clients. Le patron d'un magasin a témoigné qu'à un moment, "il semblait que les tireurs avaient pris le contrôle de l'ensemble du centre commercial". Sudjar Singh, qui travaille dans le centre, en a réchappé de justesse. "Les hommes armés ont tenté de me tirer dans la tête mais ils m'ont manqué. Au moins 50 personnes ont été touchées" par des balles, a-t-il raconté à l'AFP. "J'ai vu un petit garçon évacué sur un caddie, il devait avoir cinq ou six ans. Il avait l'air mort", a-t-il ajouté.

Annette, une autre survivante en sanglots, raconte avoir "vu trois des attaquants vêtus de noir, les visages masqués, et ils avaient de gros fusils". Kenneth Kerich faisait ses courses tranquillement lorsque l'attaque a commencé. "Soudain j'ai entendu des coups de feu et tout le monde s'est mis à courir. Je me suis allongé au sol. J'ai vu deux personnes tomber et saigner, je pense qu'elles ont été touchées par des balles", a-t-il dit. "Au départ nous pensions que c'était la policequi affrontait des voleurs. Mais nous n'avons pas pu nous enfuir avant que les policiers n'entrent [dans le centre commercial], tirent en l'air et nous disent de sortir", d'après M. Kerich.

Abonnez-vous
à partir de 1 € Réagir Classer Imprimer Envoyer

Partager facebook twitter google + linkedin

Kenya

• Kenya : tuerie dans un centre commercialPORTFOLIO
• Fusillade à Nairobi : les images filmées à l'intérieur du centre commercialVIDÉO
• Trente-sept morts dans un accident de car au Kenya

Édition abonnés Contenu exclusif

• Le Kenya se fait le porte-parole des Etats africains opposés à la CPI
• Le nouveau président kényan embarrasse la CPI et les pays occidentaux
• Le nouveau président du Kenya promet de réconcilier un pays divisé

French investors eye banknotes printing facility in Dar es Salaam

French investors eye banknotes printing facility in Dar es Salaam

By David Kisanga

French Ambassador to Tanzania, Marcel Escure ( L ) leads French business people in a meeting with board members of the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Second right is the TPSF board chaiman, Dr Reginald Mengi. Photo: Tryphone Mweji

Tanzania may soon become the first country in East and Central Africa to have a banknotes printing machine, if the government gives a nod to the move by French investors to invest in the money printing industry.

Money printing is one of the no-go areas in Tanzania, which has not featured in areas meant for local or international investors since independence.

The French ambassador to Tanzania, Marcel Escure who led investors from his country, disclosed the planned investment project at a meeting with the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) in Dar es Salaam yesterday, led by its board chairman, Dr Reginald Mengi.

Ambassador Escure said money printing was among six areas where investors from France have shown interest to invest in Tanzania.

Other areas include golf courses, bread factories in every region of the country, airport facilities, oil and gas as well as sewerage purification that would be used to recycle waste water to produce manure.

Tanzania expects its gas resources to increase fivefold within the next two years if new finds in East Africa's second-biggest economy proves productive. "It is expected that Tanzania's known natural gas resources will rise to 200 trillion cubic feet by the end of 2014,” the envoy noted.

Discoveries offshore of Tanzania and Mozambique's waters have led to predictions the region could become the world's third-largest exporter of natural gas, with the country strategically located for exports to Asia.

The Ambassador didn’t give details on how much it would cost to invest in the money printing industry or when the project would take off.

Currently, East African countries print their banknotes abroad especially in Germany, the United States and Switzerland. The move indicates that there is potential in the money printing industry within the region.

The envoy further stated that French investors were in final preparations, meeting key government institutions before embarking on massive investments in the six key areas.

The TPSF Director of Policy and Advocacy, Dr Gideon Kaunda underscored that French investors are ready to invest in six projects likely to be of considerable benefit to the country.

He said the major objective of the meeting was to discuss areas of investment in the country for French investors, citing the fact that local participation would be needed for their sustainability.

Dr Kaunda described the move to invest in money printing machines as ‘amazing and crucial,’ saying that this will be a relief to the government.

Tanzania will be the third African country to have its only minting machine after Egypt and South Africa.

Dr Mengi, speaking at the meeting, made it clear that there should be local participation if the country wants to achieve sustainability in foreign investments.

“Sustainable investment must include local participation for the benefit of both parties,” Dr Mengi who is also Executive Chairman of IPP said.

He said that it is sad for foreign investors to sideline local investors, clarifying that local participation wasn’t meant to discourage foreign investors but that partnership with locals improves the climate in which foreign investment is made.

There is a need for foreign and local investors to cooperate so that the business runs smoothly and be a win-win situation.

“I hope that the French investors would like to engage locals in their investments,’ the noted entrepreneur intoned.

Ambassador Escure underlined that French investors were still doing their plans as to when and where they would start and locate their investments.

He also applauded TPSF for the work they have been doing in emphasizing foreign investors to come and invest in the country.

“We are here to support TPSF and the local community at large,” he stated.
One of many companies that have shown readiness to invest in the country is Air Liquide, which has major operations in South Africa.

The company has invested in eight countries abroad and 17 African countries in different areas of investments, he added.

 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=59524

Ntaganda Asks to be Released From ICC Detention « Thomas Lubanga Trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC)

http://www.lubangatrial.org/2013/09/19/ntaganda-asks-to-be-released-from-icc-detention/

Ntaganda Asks to be Released From ICC Detention

By Wairagala Wakabi

Bosco Ntaganda, the Congolese militia commander who voluntarily surrendered to the International Criminal Court (ICC) last March, has asked judges to release him from the court's detention.

His lawyer, Marc Desalliers, said Mr. Ntaganda's willingness to cooperate could not be disputed at this stage of the proceedings because he voluntarily surrendered to the court and on numerous occasions stated his desire to appear before a judge.

In the August 20, 2013 application, the lawyer said the war crimes accused would not leave Dutch territory for the duration of the proceedings against him. Furthermore, Mr. Ntaganda would comply with any conditions judges attached to his release, including appearing at hearings and not obstructing investigations and court proceedings.

Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova has asked the Dutch government to comment on any conditions that would have to be met to enable the Netherlands to accept Mr. Ntaganda on its territory. Prosecutors were also asked to file a response to the release request.

On March 18, 2013, Mr. Ntaganda turned up at the American embassy in the Rwandan capital Kigali and asked to be transferred to The Hague, where there were two arrest warrants on his head.

The first warrant – issued in 2006 – alleged that Mr. Ntaganda, along with Thomas Lubanga, recruited, enlisted, and used child soldiers in armed conflict during 2002 and 2003.

Whereas the Congolese government handed Mr. Lubanga to the world court, his co-accused remained at large until this year, oscillating between service with the national army and command of anti-government militia groups. The Lubanga trial was the first conducted by the court and resulted in a March 2012 conviction. Mr. Lubanga is currently appealing his 14 year jail sentence.

The second arrest warrant for Mr. Ntaganda, issued in July last year, accused him of the crimes against humanity of murder, rape, and sexual slavery, and war crimes of murder, attacks against a civilian population, pillaging, rape, and sexual slavery.

Prosecutors charge that Mr. Lubanga was the head of the Patriotic Force for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC), a group that used children under the age of fifteen in armed conflict, while Mr. Ntaganda was the group's deputy chief of staff.

In the application for the second warrant of arrest, prosecutors said the circumstances that led to issuing the first warrant still subsisted, including Mr. Ntaganda's "potential, continued commission" of crimes and intimidation of potential witnesses.

In the application for interim release, the defense said arguments made years earlier could not "satisfy the requisite threshold" to warrant pre-trial detention, particularly given more recent developments.

Mr. Desalliers stated that Mr. Ntaganda surrendered to the court eight months after the July 6, 2012 order by Congolese president Joseph Kabila for his dismissal from the country's army. The surrender was made "once he had planned his voluntary surrender to ensure that it took place in conditions guaranteeing its effectiveness and security."

He added that Mr. Ntaganda never sought to evade justice and surrendered when he was in a position to do so. Furthermore, Mr. Desalliers said, the prosecution had confirmed to the court that it had been informed of Mr. Ntaganda's place of residence, "which, in any case, he had never sought to conceal."

The defense lawyer also submitted that because Mr. Ntaganda was considered indigent by the court and was a subject of United Nations resolutions that imposed a travel ban and an asset freeze, he could not abscond from justice. He also said the accused did not hold a passport or other travel document that could make him a flight risk.

Mr. Desalliers stated that Mr. Ntaganda wanted to make "an active contribution to the preparation of his defense," and if released he would be able to communicate readily with his defense team.

The defense argued that the conditions for Mr. Ntaganda's detention were not justified at this stage in the proceedings. "It rests with the prosecution to establish the necessity for detention and the defense must be afforded the opportunity to respond to the prosecution arguments," said Mr. Desalliers.

A request by the public counsel for victims, Paolina Massidda, to make comments to the release application, was rejected by Judge Trendafilova. The judge said no victims had been permitted yet to participate in the proceedings.

The confirmation of charges hearing for Mr. Ntaganda is scheduled for February 2014.

 

Tags: flight risk, indigent, interim release,Joseph Kabila, Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova,Marc Desalliers, passport, Rwanda embassy,voluntary surrender

Ntaganda Asks to be Released From ICC Detention « Thomas Lubanga Trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC)

http://www.lubangatrial.org/2013/09/19/ntaganda-asks-to-be-released-from-icc-detention/

Ntaganda Asks to be Released From ICC Detention

By Wairagala Wakabi

Bosco Ntaganda, the Congolese militia commander who voluntarily surrendered to the International Criminal Court (ICC) last March, has asked judges to release him from the court's detention.

His lawyer, Marc Desalliers, said Mr. Ntaganda's willingness to cooperate could not be disputed at this stage of the proceedings because he voluntarily surrendered to the court and on numerous occasions stated his desire to appear before a judge.

In the August 20, 2013 application, the lawyer said the war crimes accused would not leave Dutch territory for the duration of the proceedings against him. Furthermore, Mr. Ntaganda would comply with any conditions judges attached to his release, including appearing at hearings and not obstructing investigations and court proceedings.

Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova has asked the Dutch government to comment on any conditions that would have to be met to enable the Netherlands to accept Mr. Ntaganda on its territory. Prosecutors were also asked to file a response to the release request.

On March 18, 2013, Mr. Ntaganda turned up at the American embassy in the Rwandan capital Kigali and asked to be transferred to The Hague, where there were two arrest warrants on his head.

The first warrant – issued in 2006 – alleged that Mr. Ntaganda, along with Thomas Lubanga, recruited, enlisted, and used child soldiers in armed conflict during 2002 and 2003.

Whereas the Congolese government handed Mr. Lubanga to the world court, his co-accused remained at large until this year, oscillating between service with the national army and command of anti-government militia groups. The Lubanga trial was the first conducted by the court and resulted in a March 2012 conviction. Mr. Lubanga is currently appealing his 14 year jail sentence.

The second arrest warrant for Mr. Ntaganda, issued in July last year, accused him of the crimes against humanity of murder, rape, and sexual slavery, and war crimes of murder, attacks against a civilian population, pillaging, rape, and sexual slavery.

Prosecutors charge that Mr. Lubanga was the head of the Patriotic Force for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC), a group that used children under the age of fifteen in armed conflict, while Mr. Ntaganda was the group's deputy chief of staff.

In the application for the second warrant of arrest, prosecutors said the circumstances that led to issuing the first warrant still subsisted, including Mr. Ntaganda's "potential, continued commission" of crimes and intimidation of potential witnesses.

In the application for interim release, the defense said arguments made years earlier could not "satisfy the requisite threshold" to warrant pre-trial detention, particularly given more recent developments.

Mr. Desalliers stated that Mr. Ntaganda surrendered to the court eight months after the July 6, 2012 order by Congolese president Joseph Kabila for his dismissal from the country's army. The surrender was made "once he had planned his voluntary surrender to ensure that it took place in conditions guaranteeing its effectiveness and security."

He added that Mr. Ntaganda never sought to evade justice and surrendered when he was in a position to do so. Furthermore, Mr. Desalliers said, the prosecution had confirmed to the court that it had been informed of Mr. Ntaganda's place of residence, "which, in any case, he had never sought to conceal."

The defense lawyer also submitted that because Mr. Ntaganda was considered indigent by the court and was a subject of United Nations resolutions that imposed a travel ban and an asset freeze, he could not abscond from justice. He also said the accused did not hold a passport or other travel document that could make him a flight risk.

Mr. Desalliers stated that Mr. Ntaganda wanted to make "an active contribution to the preparation of his defense," and if released he would be able to communicate readily with his defense team.

The defense argued that the conditions for Mr. Ntaganda's detention were not justified at this stage in the proceedings. "It rests with the prosecution to establish the necessity for detention and the defense must be afforded the opportunity to respond to the prosecution arguments," said Mr. Desalliers.

A request by the public counsel for victims, Paolina Massidda, to make comments to the release application, was rejected by Judge Trendafilova. The judge said no victims had been permitted yet to participate in the proceedings.

The confirmation of charges hearing for Mr. Ntaganda is scheduled for February 2014.

 

Tags: flight risk, indigent, interim release,Joseph Kabila, Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova,Marc Desalliers, passport, Rwanda embassy,voluntary surrender

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUKBRE98I0RI20130919?irpc=932

Congo rules out amnesty for top M23 rebels

By Pete Jones

KINSHASA | Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:23pm EDT

• SHARE THIS ARTICLE

• Email
• Facebook
• Twitter

By Pete Jones

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo has ruled out granting amnesty to some 100 senior M23 rebels, it said on Thursday, leaving open the possibility that these commanders could be pursued even after peace talks are concluded.

Talks began in Uganda last week, after the army, backed by U.N. troops, scored rare military successes in August, forcing M23 into negotiations which could lead to the majority of rebels being reintegrated into the army which they deserted in 2012.

"We have a list of around 100 M23 commanders who will not be eligible for amnesty or for reintegration into the national army," government spokesman Lambert Mende told a news conference in the capital Kinshasa.

Rebels ineligible for any amnesty were those who had taken part in multiple rebellions, were on international sanctions lists or had committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, Mende told journalists.

"To reintegrate these individuals would legitimate recourse to armed violence and insurrection," Mende said. The rest of the estimated 1,700 M23 rebels would be considered on a case by case basis, he added.

M23's reaction was muted. Spokesman Amani Kabashi said the government's decision would not jeopardise the negotiations.

"The dialogues will continue," Kabasha told Reuters by telephone from M23's base in its heartland North Kivu province.

"We don't even want to reintegrate. If the talks can bring security, then we are all happy to do something else: farm, or teach, to help our population," he said.

The M23 insurgency is the latest incarnation of a Tutsi-dominated rebellion that has repeatedly tried to integrate into the Congolese army, only to withdraw. Its fighters deserted en masse 18 months ago, accusing the government of reneging on a 2009 peace deal.

U.N. investigators and the Congolese government have accused Rwanda of sponsoring the rebellion, a charge Rwanda denies.

The government stance against a blanket amnesty is supported by Mary Robinson, U.N. special envoy to the region.

"We believe that there should not be amnesty for those accused of having committed serious crimes, nor should they be integrated in the armed forces of the DRC," she said this month.

(Writing Bate Felix; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)