Top stories from DAWNS Digest
ICC Rules that Kenyatta Must Sit Through His Whole Trial
Kenya’s President now must attend his trial. The International Criminal Court has reversed a ruling that required Kenya’s president to attend only parts of his trial for crimes against humanity. The Hague-based court said Tuesday that President Uhuru Kenyatta “as a general rule” must be present in court. It said other requests for the Kenyan leader to miss parts of his trial will be considered on a “case-by-case basis.” Last month, the ICC ruled that Kenyatta would have to attend only key parts of the trial, which is set to begin in February. (VOA http://bit.ly/194XVER)
Despite Improvements, Insecurity Still Hampering Mali Relief Efforts
Continued sporadic attacks by militant groups in Timbuktu and Gao, as well as fighting between separatist Tuareg groups and Malian forces in Kidal, are interfering with aid operations. “Humanitarian needs assessments have also been limited in Kidal, said aid agency staff, noting that UNICEF’s May nutrition assessment, for instance, covered Gao but not Timbuktu or Kidal due to insecurity. Insecurity is also slowing down operations, as UN agencies wait for MINUSMA troops to secure or patrol areas before going in. But some agencies say they are continuing to work throughout the north’s danger zones – unimpeded. Attaher Maiga, with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gao, said the ICRC continues to access all 11 of the region’s ‘cercles’, or districts. ‘There are no areas where we can’t go,’ he told IRIN.” (IRIN http://bit.ly/18FDP7T)