MALI: Rebels make advances in north
On Wednesday, Mali's ruling junta accused Taureg rebels in the northern city of Gao of committing human rights abuses; the rebels on Thursday declared a ceasefire after seizing control of northern towns Gao, Kidal, and Timbuktu, establishing Sharia Law in all three. They claim they have achieved their goal of creating the state of 'Azawad' and ended military operations. Looting and destroying of hospitals, government buildings, and NGO offices has been reported by Amnesty International, forcing humanitarian operations to be suspended. The group also reports that the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) rebels have carried out abductions and rapes against young woman in Gao and Menaka. Comment: On Thusday, coup leader Captain Amadou Sanogo proposed a national meeting to determine "what will be best for the country." An Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mediator, Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, began talks with Malian leaders on Tuesday to restore constitutional order. (All Africa, France 24, France 24, AFP, BBC, Al Jazeera)

MAURITIUS: President resigns
Last Friday, Mauritian President Jugnauth announced his resignation effective Saturday and said he was joining the opposition. His resignation follows disagreement with Prime Minister Ramgoolam over last month's creation of a new opposition alliance headed by Jugnauth called the Mauritian Militant Movement/Militant Socialist Movement alliance (MMM/MSM). Monique Ohsan Bellepeau from the ruling Alliance of the Future will serve as acting president. Comment: Analysts say the move will create more political instability since the former president also mentioned the possibility of having a motion of no confidence against the government in parliament. Since independence from Britain in 1968, Mauritius has been considered a stable democracy and has sustained economic growth to make its 1.2 million inhabitants among the wealthiest in Africa. (AFP, Al Jazeera, Reuters)

RWANDA: War crimes suspect to be extradited
Last Friday, a French court in Rouen approved the extradition of genocide suspect Claude Muhayimana to Rwanda to stand trial. An international arrest warrant issued last December accuses Muhayimana, a dual French-Rwandan national, of taking part in genocide and crimes against humanity in 1994. He denies any role in the genocide in which 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis, died. Comment: France has previously sent Rwandan citizens to Tanzania to face trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, but it has never extradited anyone to Rwanda, citing concerns over the administration of a fair trial. Kigali abolished the death penalty in 2007 and has ensured that suspects extradited for trial will be treated according to international standards. (Al Jazeera, All Africa, Voice of America)

SOMALIA: Blast kills Olympic officials
On Wednesday, an explosion at Mogadishu's newly re-opened National Theatre killed at least 10 people, including two top Olympic officials. Government officials, including Somalia's Prime Minister, members of parliament, and journalists were among those caught in the blast, which targeted the event marking the one-year anniversary of the start of a national television station. Aden Yabarow Wiish, the President of the Somali Olympic Committee, and Said Mohamed Nur, the Somali Football Federation chief, both died in the blast. African Union (AU) peacekeepers said a female suicide bomber caused the explosion, but militant Islamist group al-Shabaab, which claimed responsibility, said that its militants had planted the explosives. Comment: Last week, AU troops seized control of territory on the outskirts of Mogadishu, which they said had previously allowed the Islamist fighters to launch their frequent attacks on the city. Analysts say that public outrage over the attack will likely result in positive momentum for the shaky Transitional Federal Government (TFG). (All Africa, BBC, Al Jazeera, The Guardian)

 

CHINA: Government websites hacked with anti-censorship message
On April 5, the international hacking group "Anonymous" posted a message on a number of Chinese government websites reading: "Dear Chinese government, you are not infallible, today websites are hacked, tomorrow it will be your vile regime that will fall," and "What you are doing today to your Great People, tomorrow will be inflicted to you. With no mercy." The message also provided instructions on how to circumvent China's restrictions on its Internet. The government has not officially confirmed the hackings. Some news wires reported that officials have denied that any hackings took place Comment: The Chinese government attempts to block certain social media websites and sites containing material deemed to "politically sensitive." (BBC, Al Jazeera, AP)

MYANMAR: Nobel Laureate wins seat in parliament
On April 1, 66 year-old democracy advocate and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi won Myanmar's by-election with an estimated 82 percent of the vote in the constituency of Kawhmu, south of Rangoon, according to the National League of Democracy. Voting was largely peaceful Sunday; however, allegations of vote-tampering and harassment persisted. The military-backed government wishes to downplay these allegations to convince Western nations to halt debilitating economic sanctions. Comment: This election stands as part of a larger sequence of democratic reforms taking place in the Southeast Asian nation. It was the first time Ms. Suu Kyi was able to freely contest an election, having been under house arrest in 1990 and 2010. (ABC, Toronto Star, LAT)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Elections postponed
On April 5, Papua New Guinea's parliament voted 63 to 11 to defer mid-year national elections for six months, reneging on their commitment to hold elections in five-year cycles. Many analysts condemned the move as unconstitutional. Elections were postponed on the grounds that the electoral rolls and security arrangements were not suitably prepared, particularly in the volatile Highlands. Concerned citizens have used social media sites on a large scale to voice dissent. Comment: In April 2002, the Morauta government attempted to defer the election because the rolls were in poor shape; however, the courts ruled the postponement illegal. (Al Jazeera, SMH, Radio NZ)