Nigéria: Chade bombardeou Boko Haram

L'aviation tchadienne a bombardé samedi la ville nigériane de Gamboru, située à la frontière camerounaise et tenue depuis plusieurs mois par le groupe islamiste Boko Haram, a-t-on appris de sources sécuritaires tchadiennes et camerounaises. Gamboru est séparée d'un pont d'à peine 500 mètres de la ville camerounaise de Fotokol où des combats ont opposé vendredi islamistes nigérians et soldats tchadiens. Un premier raid a été mené par l'armée tchadienne samedi à la mi-journée par deux chasseurs qui ont largué leurs bombes sur la ville, selon ces sources s'exprimant sous couvert d'anonymat. Un premier raid a été mené par l'armée tchadienne samedi à la mi-journée par deux chasseurs qui ont largué leurs bombes sur la ville, selon ces sources s'exprimant sous couvert d'anonymat. Selon des sources tchadiennes, ce premier raid a été suivi d'autres bombardements autour de la zone de Gamboru. "Les avions de chasse agissent pour permettre aux soldats tchadiens d'entrer à Gamboru", a expliqué à l'AFP une source sécuritaire camerounaise établie dans la région de Fotokol. "Des officiers supérieurs de l'armée camerounaise sont présents à Fotokol. Les armées camerounaise et tchadienne sont réunies pour l'opération de Gamboru contre Boko Haram", a-t-elle poursuivi. Le Tchad a dépêché un important contingent au Cameroun voisin, pour aider l'armée camerounaise à contrer les raid meurtriers de Boko Haram sur son sol. L'Union africaine a appelé vendredi et samedi à la mobilisation en Afrique contre les islamistes nigérians lors d'un sommet à Addis Abeba et a demandé la mise en place d'une force régionale de 7.500 hommes. Jeudi et vendredi, des combats avaient opposé les soldats tchadiens aux islamistes à Fotokol et dans ses environs. Le bilan de ces combats est de trois morts et 12 blessés au sein de l'armée tchadienne et de 123 islamistes tués, avait indiqué vendredi soir l'état-major, précisant que les militaires avaient été tués par des engins explosifs de fabrication artisanale. Selon l'hôpital militaire de N'Djamena, un soldat blessé lors de ces attaques est décédé samedi. Lire l'article sur Jeuneafrique.com : Terrorisme | Nigeria : l'aviation tchadienne bombarde la ville de Gamboru, tenue par Boko Haram | Jeuneafrique.com - le premier site d'information et d'actualité sur l'Afrique Follow us: @jeune_afrique on Twitter | jeuneafrique1 on Facebook

Um travão no sonho angolano

The crash in the price of crude oil may not have worked through the economy yet but it has already trashed all spending plans 'Angola has seen nothing yet,' is a common comment in Luanda business circles about the impact of the oil price crash on the country. The government is seeking to plug financial gaps. 'They are out scrambling, trying to find dollars,' said a financial source in the capital. 'International banks are offering Angolan debt deals to raise dollar financing for the government.' Angola has secured US$250 million from the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and the same amount again from Gemcorp Capital LLP, according to agency reports, while China Development Bank has loaned $2 billion loan to the state-owned oil company, Sonangol. Negotiations are also under way with the World Bank for more aid. Africa Confidential

Mugabe, presidente da União Africana!!!

Le président zimbabwéen Robert Mugabe, 90 ans, a été désigné vendredi par ses pairs pour prendre la présidence tournante de l'Union africaine, lors du 24e sommet de l'organisation panafricaine à Addis-Abeba. Robert Mugabe est le nouveau président en exercice de l'Union africaine (UA). Le chef de l'État zimbabwéen a été désigné vendredi 30 janvier par ses homologues du continent en ouverture du sommet de l'organisation à Addis-Abeba. Il succède au Mauritanien Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz et prend la tête de la présidence tournante de l'UA pour un an. "J'accepte humblement votre décision collective, pleinement conscient de la lourde responsabilité qu'elle implique", a-t-il déclaré, après avoir serré la main de son prédécesseur sous les applaudissements. Youyous et tonnerre d'applaudissement S’exprimant à la tribune du hall Nelson Mandela, Robert Mugabe a une nouvelle fois démontré qu’à 90 ans, son art de la formule était toujours intact. Comme d’habitude, il a ciblé les intérêts étrangers et le colonialisme, rappelant que les "ressources africaines doivent appartenir aux Africains et à personne d’autre". Le nouveau président de l’UA a suscité de nombreux éclats de rire dans la salle et déclenché une salve de youyous lorsqu’il a souligné le rôle clé de la femme africaine dans le développement du continent. Autre tonnerre d'applaudissement lorsqu'il a remercié la Guinée équatoriale pour avoir organisé au pied-levé ce "super évènement" qu'est la Coupe d'Afrique des nations. Sorties anti-occidentales Plutôt populaire en Afrique, où beaucoup voient encore en lui le héros de l'indépendance zimbabwéenne et savourent chacune de ses – fréquentes - sorties anti-occidentales, Robert Mugabe a mauvaise presse auprès des Occidentaux. Les États-Unis et les Européens, dont le président zimbabwéen aime tant vilipender "l'impérialisme", l'accusent de museler l'opposition, d'avoir ruiné l'économie de son pays avec une réforme agraire désastreuse et le traitent comme un paria. Ils ne cachent pas non plus qu'ils souhaitent le voir quitter le pouvoir. Surtout, Robert Mugabe est sous le coup de sanctions américaines et européennes – des sanctions prises après une vague de répression de l'opposition, en 2002. En février 2014, Bruxelles a suspendu la plupart des mesures restrictives qui frappaient le pays, mais a maintenu celles visant spécifiquement le chef de l'État et son clan. Y compris l'interdiction de voyager. Or dans les réunions du G8 ou du G20, quand l'Union africaine se fait représenter, c'est généralement par son président. Voilà qui promet de belles acrobaties diplomatiques. ___ Anne Kappès-Grangé et Benjamin Roger, envoyés spéciaux à Addis-Abeba

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Timor-Leste: O desastroso desempenho de Xanana

Em entrevista para a Lusa apercebi-me que todos nós fomos ludibriados e continuaremos a correr esse risco se votarmos em força no recém anunciado partido xananista que usa e abusa de algo com grande significado para a história de Timor, refiro-me ao CNRT. Fiquei estupefacta ao aperceber-me que afinal Xanana Gusmão ainda consegue falar verdade, por vezes, e confessou-se “desapontado com o seu desempenho como líder do país”. Quem fala assim e teima continuar na política certamente que não o faz por bem e está-se nas tintas para os prejuízos que possa causar a toda a nação. É quase o mundo inteiro a confessar-se desapontado com o desempenho de Xanana Gusmão, questionando-se sobre se na realidade as capacidades desempenhadas durante a luta de libertação foram de sua autoria ou se não existiria outro mentor em zona pardacenta. Xanana Gusmão afirma na entrevista concedida á Lusa que “a crise ainda não acabou” e que haverão “outras crises no futuro, embora nunca tão graves como esta”, considerou. Pois bem, se o desempenho de Xanana nesta crise foi e é desastroso – ele próprio assim considera – porque motivo se obstina em continuar na política e a dividir os timorenses? Porque motivo, insiste em fundar o partido xananista, dividindo ainda mais o espectro político, procurando obter uma maioria que o conduza ao terrível desempenho de primeiro-ministro de crises que não saberá administrar, como não o soube no desempenho das funções de Presidente da República. Ana Loro Metan 2007

Os equívocos de José Sócrates

O senhor secretário-geral do Partido Socialista declarou (em 10 de Novembro de 2006), no Congresso de Santarém, que as reformas progridem, a economia melhora, o desemprego diminui, os postos de trabalho aumentam. Na Rua 1ºde Dezembro vejo bêbados, junto à Ireja de São Domingos dormem pessoas, na zona do Camões há quem durma, o metro está cheio de invisuais a pedir. Nas proximidades de casa há quem me peça dinheiro para ir beber um café. O panorama idílico traçado pelo senhor Eng. José Sócrates não corresponde de forma alguma ao que vejo à minha volta. O salário não é aumentado, o poder de compra não aumenta nestes últimos três ou quatro anos, as pensões de sobrevivência dos idosos são em alguns casos inferiores a 190 euros, o salário mínimo nem chega aos 397 euros, as desgraças são muitas. Estamos muito longe de nos situar entre os 22 ou 23 países mais desenvolvidos da Terra. Os portugueses estão descontentes. A maioria dos portugueses não vive de forma remediada nem é feliz. Apenas 10 ou 12 por cento terão 15.000/18.000 euros de reserva no banco, apenas 10 ou 11 por cento irão de férias à Tailândia ou ao Brasil; e assim por diante. A vida é boa para um milhão de portugueses ou pouco mais. Não o é para sete ou oito milhões. O senhor secretário-geral do PS não consegue compreender isso? Vive dentro de uma redoma de vidro? Jorge Heitor 11 de Novembro de 2006 Foi assim que me referi, há oito anos e dois meses, às perspectivas algo ilusórias de José Sócrates quanto ao evoluir da vida em Portugal. Claro que ele e os seus amigos não sentiam muita razão de queixa. Faziam parte do oitavo da população que se conseguia safar.

Timor-Leste: Chegou a hora de Rui Araújo?

East Timor's independence hero and former guerrilla fighter Xanana Gusmao has told colleagues he will resign as Prime Minister in the next fortnight. Mr Gusmao gathered most of his 53-member government a meeting on Wednesday night in the capital Dili where he outlined plans to step back in favour of a unity administration under a new leader. It is understood former health minister and opposition Fretilin party member Rui Araujo is most likely to win the top job, with February 6 the date for a change-over. Mr Gusmao - who became East Timor's first president in 2002 after decades of brutal Indonesian occupation - has been a towering figure in the tiny nation's struggle for independence. He spent more than a decade in the resistance to the 1975 invasion before being captured by Indonesian troops in 1992 and imprisoned. Indonesian-sponsored militias then sought to violently intimidate the Timorese from voting for independence in 1999, with Australia eventually leading a United Nations military intervention after the ballot. But Mr Gusmao, who has said he would prefer to live in the hills and write poetry, has also played a major role in the country's at times fragile years of independence. He was elected prime minister in 2007 after riots in the capital the year before and a bitter political stand-off with then Fretilin prime minister Mari Alkatiri. He was also the target of gunfire in 2008 by supporters of a rebel military officer, barely an hour after then-president and Nobel laureate Jose Ramos-Horta was shot in the stomach. Mr Gusmao, 68, had flagged last year he intended to step down but has worked over recent months on a government restructure. He told his colleagues as many as 20 ministers, vice ministers and secretaries of state would see their jobs pared back under the restructure, with new blood also introduced. Minister of State Agio Pereira confirmed in a media statement government members had been given letters outlining the restructure. He said an official announcement on the make-up of the government will be made early next week. Portuguese-language media in East Timor has reported two ministers confirmed Mr Gusmao made clear his intention to step down. Fairfax Media has also independently confirmed the comments. It is understood Mr Gusmao intends to continue to have a role in government. But Mr Gusmao's only public statement has been to say he will first talk to East Timor's President, Taur Matan Ruak. Sydney Morning Herald

Kissinger, "criminoso de guerra"

Washington: US Senator John McCain had a blunt message for demonstrators chanting for the arrest of Henry Kissinger at a Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing on Thursday: "Get out of here, you low-life scum". The protesters, from the Code Pink anti-war group, drew the ire of the Arizona Republican who chairs the committee after some of them approached Mr Kissinger as he took his seat at a hearing on global security. Members of the group held up handcuffs and anti-Kissinger signs and called for his arrest for "war crimes". Former Secretary of State George Shultz, stands to move protesters away from fellow former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Former Secretary of State George Shultz, stands to move protesters away from fellow former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Photo: AP Addressing the hearing on global security challenges facing the US, Mr McCain said: "I have been a member of this committee for many years and I have never seen anything as disgraceful and outrageous and despicable as the last demonstration that just took place." Mr McCain said he would have Capitol Police arrest the protesters if they did not "shut up". He then told them: "Get out of here, you low-life scum". In a statement afterward, Mr McCain, who was held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, said the protesters had physically threatened Mr Kissinger, who was secretary of state from 1973 to 1977 under Republican Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. "No American citizen testifying before the US Congress should be subjected to such treatment, particularly not a 91-year-old former Secretary of State who has served our nation with great honour and distinction", he said. In its own statement, the Code Pink group said it had been attempting a "citizen's arrest" of Kissinger and was "really proud of our action in the Senate today". It said its "arrest warrant" denounced Mr Kissinger "for complicity in the bombings in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos; the overthrow of the Allende government in Chile and the Indonesian invasion of East Timor". At the hearing, Mr Kissinger cautioned against deeper US military engagement in the Middle East and Ukraine without a better understanding of the potential consequences. In a rare appearance on Capitol Hill, the former top foreign-policy strategist for the Nixon administration counselled restraint. While the most immediate challenge was to defeat Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria, Mr Kissinger said, "We must not let that degenerate into another war that we don't know how to end". He also stopped short of endorsing a call by the committee chairman, Senator McCain, for providing defence weapons to Ukraine's military as it battles Russian-backed separatists. "I'm uneasy about beginning a process of military engagement without knowing where it will lead us and what we'll do to sustain it," Mr Kissinger said. Reuters, Bloomberg