Africa

In several countries including Burundi, Malawi, Rwanda and Uganda, legislative restrictions also affected the defence of the rights of LGBTI people. In Uganda in particular, the government and religious groups engaged in a vast and coordinated campaign that has put HRDs at high risk.

The campaign culminated with the tabling of a bill which would in practice ban the work of LGBTI human rights groups. Generalist human rights organisations have come together with LGBTI groups in fighting against the bill, a positive step forward for a group which is traditionally marginalised within the broader human rights community.

In several countries including Cameroon, Congo, DRC, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Somalia, and Uganda, journalists continued to be targeted for reporting on human rights abuses. Violations ranged from the closure of media outlets, intimidation and malicious prosecution to physical attacks and killings.

In The Gambia in particular, the prevailing climate of fear resulted in a weak and silent civil society, and journalists remained the only actor that continued to speak out. The authorities seem to operate by targeting people as an example to others and reminding what can happen to critical voices. The trial of seven journalists and Gambian Press Union’s executives in June 2009 for publishing a statement on the unsolved murder of a colleague in 2004, must be read as such a reminder.

In September, an outrageous televised statement was made by Gambian President Jammeh threatening all human rights defenders with death should they criticise the government. HRDs working on ESC rights, including trade unionists, those monitoring corruption and the management of natural resources, have faced harassment and attacks in several countries throughout the continent, including Congo, DRC, Gabon, and Burundi.

In DRC, the high-profile case of the president of ASADHO/Katanga Golden Misabiko, detained arbitrarily and charged after publishing a report on the illegal exploitation of uranium mines, was just the tip of the iceberg. The situation in DRC remained precarious throughout 2009 and is such that any human rights defender may be at risk, as they operate in an atmosphere of violence and hostility, absence of the rule of law and a prevailing climate of impunity. Most of the cases reported involved armed groups and government agents, in particular the national intelligence agency (ANR). Front Line assisted several HRDs in going into hiding or exile.

In the Eastern region, the January peace agreement between the government and rebel groups did not result in an improvement of the situation of HRDs, who were exposed to retaliation from former rebel groups –now integrated into the government ranks– for having exposed their abuses.

In Kenya, the visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings in March was followed by a dramatic increase in violence against human rights defenders. At least two were killed and many others had to go into hiding or flee the country. This has shown yet again the lack of, and need for a system at the UN level to deal with cases of retaliation for collaboration with international mechanisms. While the number of attacks decreased in the second half of 2009, impunity remained pervasive and harassment and intimidation continued. Those who were more exposed remained abroad.

Arbitrary arrest, unfounded prosecutions, surveillance, restrictions on freedom of association and assembly continued to mark the situation in Zimbabwe.

Compared to a very violent 2008, 2009 witnessed a lower number of attacks against human rights defenders. The implementation of the Global Political Agreement in January was followed by a period of relative openness. In the high-profile case of abducted defender Jestina Mukoko, the Supreme Court’s order of permanent stay of prosecution showed the judicial institutions’ potential for effective functioning. However, the more open environment did not hold and in October the overt targeting of HRDs resumed with the arrest of several civil society activists. The government rhetoric which accuses NGOs of being subversive or pro-Western also continued, increasing the risk of attack from militias or other groups – in particular against HRDs working on the constitutional reform process.

The constitution was also at the centre of much of the insecurity for HRDs in Niger, when human rights organisations spoke out against President Tandja Mamadou’s plan to change the constitution in order to secure a third mandate.

In Sudan, the space available to political activists and HRDs has drastically diminished following the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against the Sudanese President in March. The authorities revoked the registration and seized the assets of three human rights organisations. Senior members of these organisations were harassed and arrested and trumped-up charges brought against them.

In 2009 Front Line issued 48 urgent appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk from 15 African countries, namely Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, DRC, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Kenya, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. 2