EAC membership for South Sudan?

My piece on whether South Sudan should be admitted to the East African Community

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=109316695

The business of oil in South Sudan

An interesting report on business-community relations in the oil sector in South Sudan. It was written by Integrity Research and Consultancy where I work as a consultant in their media development practice.

http://www.integrityresearch.co.uk/integrity-blog/business-community-relations-south-sudans-oil-sector

Journalists released

The journalists held without charge for insulting the president's daughter in a newspaper article have been released.

http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-releases-two,40769

Journalists Arrested in South Sudan

As some of you know I've been working in Juba, South Sudan on a variety of media development projects (read more about this at http://www.integrityresearch.co.uk/). I was lucky enough to be there on independence day, July 9, along with many colleagues from the local and international press so it is with concern I see that two journalists have been arrested for a story they wrote recently criticising president Salva Kiir.

It was a truly awful piece of journalism (nasty and racist) but absolute proof of 2 things - a) journalists are in danger in South Sudan and b) unethical reporting can get you into a huge amount of trouble. I'm a big believer in teaching journalists in conflict and post conflict countries to work in a more ethical way, for their own safety if nothing else. Here's a press release from the Committee to Protect Journalists.

http://www.cpj.org/2011/11/south-sudan-security-detains-two-journalists.php

Bujumbura, Burundi

Bosco Ntaganda: the Terminator's golden business

A murky deal involving millions of dollars in smuggled gold is the latest scandal engulfing the International Criminal Court indictee Bosco Ntaganda.

http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice/article/bosco-ntaganda-terminator%E2%80%99s-golden-business

Ploughing potential

Large amounts of land coupled with rising food prices and predictions of future shortages means African agribusiness has seldom been more active or tempting.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/73185875/Agribusinessstory

Open air justice in DR Congo

A military court in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo found nine soldiers guilty of rape and crimes against humanity, including the army colonel who ordered the attacks in the mountain top village of Fizi in South Kivu province. More than 50 women were sexually assaulted  here in early January.

http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice/article/open-air-justice-dr-congo

South Sudan's independence day

Should Bemba be bailed?

Jean-Pierre Bemba wants to be released on bail, but the prosecution is opposed and his legal team has so far been unable to win his release, despite numerous attempts. Lisa Clifford, a journalist and commentator specializing in issues of justice and human rights in central Africa, considers the issues.

http://www.bembatrial.org/2011/03/should-bemba-be-released-on-bail-2/

ICC Elections - political savvy required

Observers are urging ICC members to avoid the pitfall of politics when choosing a replacement for Luis Moreno Ocampo, with the December election date for a new International Criminal Court prosecutor drawing near.

http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice/article/icc-elections-%E2%80%93-political-savvy-required

"Command responsibility" underpins allegations against Bemba at ICC

A new story on the trial of Jean-Pierre Bemba who is charged with commanding troops who committed atrocities in the CAR.

IRIN Africa | CENTRAL AFRICA: "Command responsibility" underpins allegations against Bemba at ICC