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Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
British tourist, 65, is accused of molesting dozens of children from Namibia's San tribe after forcing them to strip at remote 'living museum'
A British tourist has been arrested by police in Namibia, alleged to have sexually assaulted more than 30 indigenous San children at a 'living museum'. The 65-year-old man is accused of rape, indecently assaulting dozens of children, human trafficking, 'crimen injuria' and child exploitation. He was arrested by police on Sunday after allegedly telling San children at the living museum of the Ju'/Hoansi to undress for naked photos and to be touched. The man appeared at Grootfontein Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon to face 38 charges of molesting San children by prosecutor Kristiana Erastus. He was accused of persuading 33 minors to strip to be photographed and to let him touch their private parts in return for sweets he had taken with him. His crimes were said to be against the Child Care & Protection Act of 2015 and read with the African Charter and United Nation Convention & Protocols. It is understand that no plea was taken and Magistrate Abraham Abraham remanded him in custody to come before the court on June 19. The tourist is currently being held in police custody pending his next appearance and it is not yet known if he will be transferred to a main prison. Namibian police inspector Maureen Mbeha said that he allegedly touched the breasts and buttocks of 16 teenage girls, 14 teenage boys and three minors. He is said to have entered Namibia on May 15 on holiday and drove to the remote San camp six-hours' drive from the capital, Windhoek, which he visited. It is his third annual visit to the same camp where he was known to staff and the manager. He arrived on Saturday and was arrested a day later. The Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism condemned the alleged actions stating they were 'deeply disrespectful' to the people of the San. A spokesman said: 'The allegations are a serious violation of our law regarding the protection of minors and it is unacceptable for tourists to exploit them. 'We applaud the Namibia police for their swift actions in attending to this matter and are confident that the law and justice will take place in due course'. The 'living museum' is a joint German-Namibian venture, comprised of seven mock villages set up by the hunter-gatherer communities. San 'present the old, almost forgotten culture in traditional dresses in the midst of their reconstructed "nomad-village" from the ancient days,' the website says. 'The San of the Living Museum set a high value on presenting the hunter-gatherer culture as [authentically] as possible.' Visitors can choose from many experiences including a day visit to shooting bows and arrows or dancing round a fire or a 3 day stay with a San family. The San actors encourage tourists to visit the craft shop to buy traditional art and souvenirs and trade items such as pens or shoes and clothes for goods. Visitors are warned not to give sweets to children as there are no local dentists. They are instead encouraged to make donations to group who will ensure they receive gifts. It is understood the actors wear antelope skins to cover themselves, although some adult women still go topless, as was the traditional dress. The manager of the Ju'/Hoansi museum said that did not apply to teenage girls who would remain fully covered up with leather dress from antelopes. There are seven 'living museums' in Namibia and the group behind them the Living Culture Foundation Namibia was founded by German Dr Ralf Kuhn in 2004. He remains Chairman of the LCFN which relies heavily on tourist money and donations to ensure the long culture and history of the San is preserved. The Living Museum Of The Ju'/Hoansi is near the village of Grashoek. The San are among the oldest surviving civilisations in Southern Africa. Their small stature and semi-nomadic lifestyle saw them persecuted, hunted and forced into poverty when their traditional hunting grounds were taken. Some 2,000 of the 30,000 San in Namibia remain faithful to their traditional roots hunting and farming for survival and do not entertain the modern way of living. The San are thought to have diverged from other nomadic hunting groups some 200,000 years ago and spread out across Southern Africa surviving in the wild. They are known for their 'click language' and supreme hunting and tracking skills and knowledge of nature and do not believe in possessions but sharing.
Daily Maverick
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
States' obligation to protect climate-related human rights heads to African Court on Human Rights
A group of lawyers and civic organisations have formally asked the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights to issue an advisory opinion on the obligations of African states to protect climate-related human rights on the continent in a 'heartfelt plea for justice'. As climate change wreaks havoc across the African continent, which is heating at a faster rate than the rest of the world with more severe climate and weather disasters, a request has been submitted to the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. The court has been asked to provide an advisory opinion on African states' obligation to protect climate-related human rights in Africa under the African Charter — focusing on the right to life, health, development, and to a general satisfactory environment. Groups from across the continent began working on the request as far back as 2022, according to Paul Mulindwa, the advocacy and campaigns officer, and Africa Lead at Civicus. The formal petition was submitted to the Tanzania-based court on 2 May 2025 by the Pan African Lawyers Union (Palu), in collaboration with the African Climate Platform and other African civil society organisations including the Environmental Lawyers Collective for Africa, Natural Justice, and Resilient. The petition relays the disproportionate impact of climate change on Africa despite the continent's minimal historical greenhouse gas emissions, and presents detailed accounts of climate impacts across different African regions. 'We are launching this petition as a heartfelt plea for justice for the communities enduring these harsh realities,' said Alfred Brownell, lead campaigner of the African Climate Platform. The sharp increase in extreme droughts and floods, together with rising temperatures, was endangering natural habitats and threatening the wellbeing and livelihoods of vast numbers of people across the continent. Brownell said their mission was to put in place strong protective measures against these environmental harms, to ensure the dignity and resilience of the millions of Africans who were confronting these challenges were upheld. This is the first time African civil society is using the court's advisory jurisdiction to address the climate crisis, a development described by legal experts and climate activists as a 'transformational moment' for African jurisprudence on climate justice and intergenerational equity. Protests, water shortages, flooding and drought across Africa In North Africa, water scarcity has become a critical issue exacerbated by climate change. Reports indicate that approximately 83% of the population of North Africa faces extremely high water stress. Climate change continues to drive more frequent and intense droughts, lower average precipitation, and increased temperatures, worsening water shortages across the region. These shortages have triggered social unrest, including ' thirst protests ' in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria. In 2017, water shortages in Zagora, Morocco, led to protests, resulting in the arrest of 23 protesters and the imprisonment of eight. Morocco also entered its sixth year of drought in 2024, with the Al Massira Dam — the country's second-largest dam — registering its lowest fill level since its construction in 1976 at less than 6%, compared with almost 99% in May 2013. The document states that West Africa has reported changes in weather patterns, including climate-related droughts and flooding that are interrupting agricultural cycles and reducing food production. This extreme weather has affected the region's agricultural output, including products such as cocoa. The petition also addresses how climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, including women, children, the elderly, indigenous peoples, and environmental human rights defenders. In stating these impacts, the applicants request the court to clarify states' obligations regarding: Legal standards for climate change mitigation, adaptation, resilience, and the redress of loss and damage. The protection of environmental defenders and affected communities from reprisals. Participation, transparency, and accountability in climate-related decision-making. The just and equitable transition to low-carbon energy systems. The regulation of third-party conduct, particularly that of multinational corporations. The decolonisation of natural resource governance frameworks. Speaking to Lucien Limacher and Nomasango Masiye-Moyo from Natural Justice; lead drafter and international human rights lawyer Dzimbabwe Chimbga; and Brownell, they believe that the African Court is uniquely positioned to interpret the African Charter and issue authoritative legal guidance for all member states of the African Union on the matter. Its opinions carry moral and legal weight, particularly on matters of continental concern like climate change, which affects all African countries and disproportionately harms vulnerable populations. 'It [the petition] draws attention to how climate impacts — like droughts, floods, and food insecurity — are already undermining basic rights, especially in poor and marginalised communities,' they said. The petition asks the court to define what African states are required to do under the charter and related international and regional instruments, to prevent, mitigate, and adapt to climate change. This includes obligations to reduce emissions, protect vulnerable communities, and ensure inclusive and equitable climate action, to define what a just transition is and to hold third parties accountable. The organisations said its goal was to move from aspirational commitments to clear, enforceable standards. Shaping climate action across the continent When asked what a favourable opinion would be, Limacher said it should provide legal clarity and a normative framework that African states can rely on to guide climate legislation, policymaking, and international advocacy. 'It would help integrate human rights-based approaches into climate action and hold states to account for their obligations under the African Charter,' he said. While advisory opinions like these are not legally binding, Limacher said they were often used by courts, lawmakers, and regulatory bodies to interpret constitutional rights and shape legal reforms. This opinion could empower civil society, courts, and communities to push for stronger climate protections, and influence national climate strategies, environmental laws, and development plans. Courts, governments, and advocacy groups often use them to guide action, shape jurisprudence, and build legal precedent. Leading environmental lawyer Cormac Cullinan told Daily Maverick that an advisory opinion was a form of 'soft law', the idea being that while not actually law, it was often very influential and could become law at some point. 'It's quite a lot of work to produce an opinion like that; they'll have to look at the state of international law and the various conventions… If they come out with a statement, I would anticipate that in courts of law in Africa, if something comes up, that the lawyers would probably refer to that opinion if it was helpful and bring it to the attention of judges with the hope that the judges would agree with the opinion and then make a ruling on that basis,' he said. Limacher added that on the ground, having a legal opinion on this could help amplify the voices and experiences of communities most affected by climate change, like indigenous peoples, smallholder farmers, women, and youth. It could do this by providing a legal basis to demand protection and redress. In practice, the lawyers said they often influenced both domestic and regional norms, especially when backed by public demand and civil society mobilisation. South Africa, as a state party to the African Charter and a key regional player, for example, would be expected to align its climate and human rights obligations with the court's guidance. The opinion could influence South African courts, Parliament, and policy frameworks, especially in addressing environmental justice, climate litigation, and community rights. 🎙️ Following the filing, PALU CEO @donalddeya spoke to the media, emphasising the urgency of legal clarity in responding to the climate crisis. Stay tuned as we continue to advocate for climate justice through legal accountability and continental collaboration. 🌍⚖️ — PALU (@LawyersofAfrica) May 2, 2025 Rooted in regional and global instruments Donald Deya, the Chief Executive Officer of the Pan African Lawyers Union (Palu), said their request was firmly rooted in a 'constellation of binding regional instruments that chart the course for human rights across the continent'. These include the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa (commonly known as the Maputo Protocol), the Kampala Convention on Internally Displaced Persons, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the Revised African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. In addition, they also draw on widely ratified international treaties that resonated with African states. 'We remain steadfastly committed to the principle that the rights enshrined in the African Charter must be safeguarded, not just in theory, but in practice not only for the communities of today, but for the generations yet to come,' said Deya. Expected timeline for the African Court to respond If the court confirms admissibility, it will then invite submissions from stakeholders, including states and experts. But the lawyers warned that a ruling could take several months to more than two years, depending on procedural steps and complexity. One of the lawyers said that the court could reject the request based on grounds such as lack of jurisdiction, if it was not a human right matter, if the applicant lacked legal standing or if the matter was pending before the African Commission on Human and People's Rights. However, this seemed unlikely. 'This petition is an historic opportunity for Africa to lead in climate and human rights jurisprudence. It reflects growing recognition that climate justice is not only an environmental issue but a fundamental human rights concern. We hope the African Court will rise to the moment and offer clear, bold guidance for the continent's future,' said the lawyers. Cullinan said that he hoped that these would be progressive opinions that would speak to the fact that we were about to breach the 1.5°C level, which the international community found to be the level where climate risks would become unacceptable and would impose increasingly severe limitations on human rights. 'It's hardly disputable that a range of human rights (to life, to food, women's rights, many others) are going to be affected by climate change, and what that means is that states mustn't do anything that is going to unjustifiably limit human rights. In fact, they should be wanting to take measures to protect human rights,' he said. Parallel to ICJ proceedings This request for an advisory opinion from the African Court comes as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is also considering issuing an advisory opinion on climate change obligations for states upon request by the UN General Assembly. In December 2024, the ICJ held hearings on an advisory opinion request initiated by Vanuatu and supported by more than 100 countries. That request asks the ICJ to clarify states' obligations under international law to protect the climate system and the legal consequences for states that have caused significant harm to the climate system. The ICJ proceedings have been described as 'one of the most comprehensive advisory opinion processes in the ICJ's history', with 96 states and 11 international organisations presenting their perspectives. The ICJ is expected to deliver its advisory opinion in 2025. Globally there are other precedents of such climate-related advisory opinions by a human rights court. There have been three other advisory opinion petitions filed before international or regional legal bodies — the Inter-America Court of Human Rights, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas, and the International Court of Justice. Both the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the International Tribunal on the Law of the Seas have issued advisory opinions linked to climate change impacts and human rights. DM
Zawya
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
African Leaders meet in Uganda to Push Back Against Foreign Influence on Family
Top political leaders, parliamentarians and faith-based actors from across Africa and beyond have this week convened at State House, Entebbe for the Third African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family and Sovereignty, issuing a strong call for an African Charter that defends traditional values, strengthens national sovereignty and resists external ideological pressure. The high-level meeting, hosted by State House and the Parliament of Uganda in partnership with several African and global organisations, was opened by President Yoweri Museveni and Uganda's First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni on Friday, 09 May 2025. In the meeting, Janet Museveni warned of growing global influences that threaten to erode African cultural identity and family structures under the guise of aid and development. 'Too often, aid is not offered freely, it now comes with conditions that threaten to redefine our societies according to foreign standards, thereby eroding the values we hold sacred and undermining our right to govern ourselves,' she said. Mrs. Museveni, speaking with the conviction of a wife, mother, and grandmother, emphasised the urgency of reclaiming the continent's educational, cultural and spiritual foundations from foreign interests. 'Africa stands today at a crossroads. We face unprecedented global pressures that challenge not just our economies but our beliefs and institutions that hold our nations together, especially the family,' she said. AUDIO: Mrs. Museveni She cited ongoing reforms in Uganda's education sector aimed at instilling patriotism, moral grounding and reverence for family and God, noting that these initiatives are fully government-funded to avoid external ideological strings. She also highlighted Uganda's commitment to the 2020 Geneva Consensus Declaration, which affirms national sovereignty in policy decisions on life, family and gender. President Yoweri Museveni, addressing the gathering, voiced strong support for the cause, warning against what he called 'disorientation' being pushed on African societies. 'Now, for some of the people to want to spread this disorientation to the whole world is really criminal. But it will not work. It will fail,' he said. President Museveni also dismissed comprehensive sexual education for children as 'madness,' arguing that African traditions offer appropriate, age-based moral instruction. He warned that Uganda may withdraw from the Samoa Agreement if it is found to contain ideologically coercive clauses under the label of reproductive rights. 'I appeal to you, now that you are here, all of you, and our lawyers are here, study that Samoa document. If it really contains all those things you are talking about, the reproductive rights, what have you, then we shall have to pull out from that nonsense, and tell the European Union that we cannot be part of that criminality. Because comprehensive sexual education, in the Bible, it says there is time for everything,' he said. AUDIO: President Museveni Speaker Anita Among reaffirmed Uganda's commitment to protecting family values, citing the country's recent anti-homosexuality legislation as an example of standing firm under international pressure. She equally warned of increasing threats to African family structures from both local and foreign forces. 'The struggle towards preservation of family is not without challenges. The forces against the foundational values of family have agents both locally and internationally. They will try to divide us so as to defeat us,' she said. Among hailed Parliament's resolve during the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, saying Uganda resisted blackmail and sanctions to defend traditional values. 'The combination of blackmail, sanctions and manipulations did not deter our spirit. We legislated in the best interests of our families and society' she said. AUDIO: Speaker Anita Among Among praised the President, the first lady and Members of Parliament for their courage and role in protecting Uganda's cultural foundations. Other notable voices at the conference included Mohamed Ghayate, Deputy Speaker of Morocco, who reaffirmed his country's commitment to an African renaissance grounded in sovereignty and shared cultural heritage. 'Sovereignty is the living expression of the will of our peoples to freely define their destiny, protect their resources, and preserve their culture,' he said, pledging Morocco's support for a continental charter. Henk Jan van Schothorst of Christian Council International, a Dutch-based advocacy group, praised Africa as the 'last man standing' in the global battle for family values. 'You are threatened by the policies of the West, especially from the part of the world where I come from. But I want to encourage you to stay strong — not only for your children but also for ours,' he said. The conference, organized by the Inter-parliamentary Network on Family Values, Family Watch Africa, African Bar Association, and the Foundation for African Heritage, marked the continuation of a growing African-led initiative to frame a Charter of Values and Sovereignty. As deliberations continue, participants called for the outcomes of the gathering to be mainstreamed through African legislatures, the African Union, and the Organization of African First Ladies. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
In Tanzania, Samia's Facade of Reform Is Crumbling
At the height of her reform ambitions, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan proudly championed the 'Four Rs' of reconciliation, resilience, reforms, and rebuilding, a program that marked a radical departure from her predecessor, John Magufuli. She reversed a number of retrograde and repressive policies implemented by Magufuli and initiated reconciliatory dialogue with the opposition. She also skillfully consolidated power within her party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, or CCM, which has held the presidency in Tanzania since independence in 1961. However, Samia's reforms have quickly stalled as the 2025 general elections draw nearer. The government's recent arrest of Tundu Lissu, the chair of Tanzania's main opposition party, Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo, or CHADEMA, and his subsequent indictment on treason charges related to his advocacy for electoral reform, clearly indicates that the façade of progressive change that had been constructed under Samia is crumbling and could presage a return to authoritarian rule in Tanzania. In the wake of Lissu's arrest, CHADEMA was disqualified from the election after it refused to sign a code of conduct mandated by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Disillusioned by the government's intransigence on electoral reforms, CHADEMA passed a 'No Reforms, No Elections' resolution in December 2024. The resolution is at the center of the party's campaign strategy to expose the government's reluctance to institutionalize these reforms. In 2022, following dialogue with opposition parties, Samia had formed a special task force on democracy and political parties, which issued a list of reform recommendations. The opposition's demands of establishing an independent electoral commission, lifting the ban on political parties, and revising various laws that govern political activity were incorporated into the task force's recommendations. The government subsequently introduced reform legislation that was presented as institutionalizing the needed reforms but which in reality largely maintained the status quo. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. For example, the opposition had demanded measures to ensure an independent electoral commission, but the president still has executive powers to appoint its members, despite a cosmetic name change from the National Electoral Commission to the Independent National Electoral Commission. Additionally, an election reform bill that became law in 2024 still allows government-appointed district executive directors to oversee election returns during elections. Finally, the task force had recommended that the results of presidential elections should be subject to challenge in a court of law, preferably a higher court, but there is still no mechanism for this to occur. In 2020, the African Court on Human and People's Rights ruled that Tanzania violated the African Charter by refusing challenges to presidential elections in court. In addition to the lack of progress on electoral reform under Samia, continued repression, especially abductions and disappearances of CHADEMA members, have deepened mistrust of the government. CHADEMA's reform campaign seems to have resonated with the Tanzanian public. Lissu is charged with treason because he called for disrupting the upcoming elections if his reform demands were not met. In local elections held in November, many CHADEMA candidates were disqualified, and CCM went on to win 99 percent of the local contests. Samia's perceived outsider status, as a Muslim woman from Tanzania's semi-autonomous state of Zanzibar, was seen as something that would undermine her chances of becoming president. However, she was able to overcome these hurdles through the support of CCM's power brokers, such as former President Jakaya Kikwete. She has also been a shrewd political operator, using both party processes and the power of the presidency to eliminate rivals. The reforms and reconciliation she had begun were quickly reversed when it became evident that the opposition was gaining momentum. After the ban on political parties was lifted, CHADEMA began holding nationwide rallies demanding a new constitution as the best pathway for consolidating reforms. The demand for a new constitution became CHADEMA's main agenda, even as they spoke vehemently against government corruption and controversial government deals such as an agreement with a Dubai-based company, DP World, to manage ports at Dar es Salaam and elsewhere in the country whose terms were unusually generous to the the company. As opposition to the deal grew, the government began employing means to silence it. Critics of the port deal and opposition figures were harassed, arrested, and detained. Accounts of abductions, disappearances, and the killing of opposition voices followed. Then, in January 2025, during a Special CCM convention, Samia was declared the party's presidential candidate for the upcoming election in a political maneuver that went against party traditions. CCM has traditionally held its nominations in June or July of an election year. This unprecedented move demonstrated Samia's intentions of eliminating potential party rivals for the presidential nomination. With the electoral body disbarring CHADEMA from the elections, it appears that she has now eliminated any external challenger as well. This positions Samia and CCM for a landslide victory in the general election. These developments point to a worrying democratic decline in Tanzania. In its latest Freedom in the World report, Freedom House changed the country's rating to 'Not Free' from 'Partly Free,' reflecting the country's poor performance on measures of political rights and civil liberties. At the regional level, Tanzania's democratic backsliding mirrors similar trends in Kenya and Uganda. In November, Uganda's longtime opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, was abducted while in Kenya and later charged with treason. Tanzanian human rights activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai, who resides in Kenya, was briefly abducted in Nairobi in January, and she has said she believes the Tanzanian government was involved. In Kenya, incidences of abductions and forced disappearances were reported following youth-led protests in June 2024 over the cost of living and a proposed tax hike. These patterns suggest a broader regional shift towards repression and away from democracy. It remains to be seen whether the Tanzanian government's decision to disqualify CHADEMA from the presidential election scheduled for October will be reversed or whether Lissu's treason charges will be dropped. But it seems clear that Samia's brief experiment in progressive reform is now over. Nicodemus Minde is a Researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, in Nairobi. He writes on politics, culture and big-power politics in Africa. The post In Tanzania, Samia's Facade of Reform Is Crumbling appeared first on World Politics Review.
Zawya
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Seychelles: President Ramkalawan Welcomes Delegation from African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
President Wavel Ramkalawan received a delegation from the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) at State House this morning. The delegation was led by Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso as part of a promotional mission to assess the state of human rights in Seychelles. In his opening remarks, President Ramkalawan warmly welcomed the delegation and praised the ACHPR's ongoing efforts in advancing human rights across the African continent. He reaffirmed Seychelles' unwavering commitment to the principles enshrined in the African Charter and reiterated the government's dedication to ensuring a dignified life for all Seychellois citizens. The delegation's visit aims to evaluate various aspects of human and peoples' rights in Seychelles. During the discussions, Honorable Solomon Ayele Dersso underscored several key areas of interest, including the prison riot of January 2025, the December 7th disaster, progress on the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC) report, the role of Parliament in upholding legislative duties, the state of freedom of expression, and initiatives surrounding the upcoming elections. Speaking to the press, Honourable Dersso emphasized that the delegation would engage with various stakeholders to gather critical data for their assessment. He commended Seychelles for implementing key social provisions, such as free education and healthcare with protective measures, describing them as exemplary models for other African nations. Additionally, he acknowledged the country's continued progress in strengthening democratic institutions. "The promotional mission of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights involves firsthand engagement at the national level to gather direct information and understanding about the state of human rights in the country," he explained. "This encompasses freedom of expression, issues related to prison conditions, the social and economic wellbeing of people in Seychelles, and a wide range of other issues that affect human rights and peoples in Seychelles." The Commission's findings will be compiled into a comprehensive report, which will subsequently be released to the media. Honorable Dersso is expected to present preliminary observations during a press conference scheduled for March 14, 2025. Present at the meeting were the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde; Principal Secretary Ambassador Vivienne Fock-Tave; Director General for Regional Affairs, Mr. Christian Faure; Director for Regional Affairs, Mrs. Veronique Morel; and Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Sandra Michel. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.
