Human Rights Defender on the Situation In North Africa

By Annia Gaye

Saleh Ali Hussein, a human rights actor from Djibouti has said that the revolutions and mass protests around the region demanding the promotion of human rights values, dignity, democracy and the rule of law are consistently being challenged by factors that include decades-long legacies of oppression and corruption. He made this remark when he was reading a report on the situation of North African countries at the forum of the participation of NGOs in the 50th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on human and People’s Rights and also the 24 African Human Right Book fair which is currently undergoing at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Kololi.

He noted that the factors also include lack of political will by countries, direct violence and unprecedented brutality that are challenging the realization of the very reason behind the instigations of such uprisings.

He further noted that “The Arab Spring” that swept the region and instigated mass uprisings to almost most North African states, has now entered into a worrying phase that requires utmost attention.

He said Tunisia is one of the countries that witnessed uprisings and could be viewed to have some positive developments. He further highlighted that the fall of the former president Ben Ali’s authoritarian regime on the 14 January 2011, managed to decrease, but did not put an end to human rights violations in that country rather it continues to face several obstacles that are mainly attributed to deeply institutionalized and inherited repressive practices in different sectors. Based on the shortcomings, he said, the interim government has to fulfill its legal duty to protect and uphold the human right values that the revolution has embodied.

He added that escalating political rivalries between some factors in society have contributed to the insecurity that is surrounding the future of Tunisia’s transitional phase.

He mentioned the situation in Egypt, noting that is of grave concern and requires immediate international attention especially with regards to the continuing crackdown on peaceful protest referring civilians to military trials and passing more repressive laws.

He decried the military police crackdown on protesters that resulted in the killing of protesters through the usage of live ammunition.. He said up to date there have been over 12,000 civilians who faced military trials lacking due process after 27 January. Amongst them, he said, were arrested following their participation in protest and sit-ins. This, he noted, is in addition to several credible allegation of torture inside military prisons and by military police. He added that instead of fulfilling its promises to abolishing the long standing state of emergency in Egypt, the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) on September 11, issued decree 193/2011 amending Emergency Provisions to include activities such as blocking roads, publishing false information, thuggery, destruction of public property, attacks against working places and other provisions that are already stipulated in the penal code. He said attacks and threats against civil society organisations are increasing and ongoing.

Saleh Ali Hussein highlighted the issue of Libya, where he noted that horrific violations led by the Gaddafi militias include the reported use of rape. He said the increasing evidence of group executions conducted before and during the 17 February uprising is another concern. He however informed the forum that there has been recent reported denouncing of abuses of detainees who were believed to be supporters of the Gaddafi regime. The detainees, he noted, were being subjected to arbitrary arrests and beatings. He said Libya will face many challenges in the process of rebuilding and reconstructing the country and the respect and protection of human rights must be an integral part of this process.

He stated that in Algeria, the system of national reconciliation is already an infringement of the rights of victims prescribing on one hand, an amnesty for members of armed Islamic groups and prescribing the other hand with the immunity of state officials responsible of grave violations of human rights.

Saleh Ali pointed out that in Sudan, Southern Sudan and Western Sudan, the situations remain worrying concern, as in the period between May and November, violations of human rights ranged from extrajudicial killings, torture, forced displacements, violations of freedom of expression, and association and assembly remain a concern.


(2011-10-21/FOROYAA Online)