State Department Report on Human Rights: an Exercise in Duplicity
As usual, the 2009 “Country Reports on Human Rights” issued by the US State Department is replete with unsubstantial, politically motivated, accusations and double standards. Factual inaccuracies aside, what finds one more intriguing is the omission in this annual report, as indeed was the case in previous years, of any “appraisal” of the human rights violations of the United States itself both domestically and in its foreign engagements. Apparently, the United Sates can take the liberty to judge other sovereign countries but shies away from even a nominal introspection of its own track record. Yes, the United States is a global power, but this does not endow it with special treatment or a blanket waiver against accountability.

Yet another but no different defamatory report scheduled to be presented to the Security Council this week in the name of the United Nations has been issued alleging that ‘Eritrea continues to extend support to Somali armed groups in violation of the sanctions against it’.

Somalia: Only Path Ahead Is An Inclusive Political Process

The overriding agenda of certain forces who wish to plunge Somalia into an intractable abyss in order to advance other ulterior objectives is becoming increasingly evident with time.

IGAD: A communiqué devoid of any legality

The IGAD Council of Ministers has issued a communiqué on Somalia and Eritrea following a meeting convened in Ethiopia this weekend. Apart from its ill-advised content which can only exacerbate the crisis in Somalia and hamper the objectives of peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the IGAD Communique is devoid of any legality for the following procedural and substantive reasons:

Eritrea Requests the AU to Respect its Membership Rights

The Government of Eritrea has urged the African Union to respect its membership rights and not to discuss any matter regarding Eritrea at AU Summits convened in Addis Ababa. Eritrea’s concerns are predicted on the following:

In the course of the interview President Isaias Afwerki was conducting with the national media outlets regarding the objective situation and future prospects, interference signal was effected with a view to blocking the live interview. Moreover, intensive satellite jamming was resorted to in a futile bid to muffle the fourth part of the interview which was conduced yesterday.