Wanted Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda surrenders to American Embassy. (Google Images)
Jeffrey Gettleman of The New York Times is reporting that Bosco Ntaganda, a Congolese rebel general accused of massacring civilians and building an army of child soldiers, turned himself in to the American Embassy in Rwanda on Monday, saying he wanted to be sent to the International Criminal Court(ICC). Ntaganda is considered to be one of Africa’s most wanted men, because of his leadership of the rebel group M23 and other rebel groups resulting in the murder of scores of people in order to gain footing in the Congo’s lucrative mineral trade.
Gettleman writes:
“According to prosecutors at the I.C.C., Mr. Bosco was one of the worst of Congo’s brutal rebel leaders. In the first set of charges against him, filed in 2006, prosecutors said he extensively used ‘children under the age of 15 to participate actively in hostilities’ while he was a rebel commander in 2002 and 2003. Though the United States is not a member of the court, the Obama administration has indicated support for it.
Last year, prosecutors expanded the allegations, accusing Mr. Bosco of spearheading civilian massacres and using rape and murder as a way to ethnically cleanse certain areas of Congo. Mr. Bosco has hopscotched from rebel army to rebel army, and in 2008, human rights groups said he oversaw the slaughter of scores of civilians in the eastern Congo town of Kiwanja, where residents were pulled out of their homes and shot in the head in front of their families.”
Ntaganda is referred to as “The Terminator” because of his brutal forms of violence.
StereoTypes host Ryan Hall examines stereotypes across the globe. (Google Images)
(Not Safe For Work- profanity)
StereoTypes host Ryan Hall hits the streets of Paris to find out what it’s like to be black in Paris. He finds out a lot more than that in the process. Check out this video to see how people feel about race and racism, or the lackthereof in France. Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
The Spinners original lead singer Bobbie Smith has died at 76. (Google Images)
MSN is reporting that the former lead singer of the soul music group “The Spinners” has died in Orlando, Fla. Bobbie Smith, the group’s original lead singer, passed away from complications from the flu and pneumonia. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2012. Smith sang lead on the Spinner’s hit, “That’s What Girls Are Made For” in 1961. Known at one time as the ‘Detroit Spinners,’ the group’s biggest hits came during the 1970s and included “I’ll Be Around,” ”Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” and “Games People Play.” Smith was 76.
The Spinners original lead singer Bobbie Smith has died at 76. (Google Images)
MSN is reporting that the former lead singer of the soul music group “The Spinners” has died in Orlando, Fla. Bobbie Smith, the group’s original lead singer, passed away from complications from the flu and pneumonia. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2012. Smith sang lead on the Spinner’s hit, “That’s What Girls Are Made For” in 1961. Known at one time as the ‘Detroit Spinners,’ the group’s biggest hits came during the 1970s and included “I’ll Be Around,” ”Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” and “Games People Play.” Smith was 76.
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was recently convicted on 24 corruption charges. (Google Images)
One would have to live under a rock to not have heard the plethora of corruption scandals plaguing politicians of the African Diaspora. Let’s just put it out there — they’re making black and brown folk look bad.
There’s Uhuru Kenyatta, who was recently elected president of Kenya in March 2013. Kenyatta, son of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first president, is facing a major obstacle in the next phase of his political career — criminal charges. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has charged Kenyatta for funding and organizing post-election violence in Kenya in 2007. According to a study by New Dominion Philanthropy Metrics (NDPM), the post-election violence resulted in 1,500 deaths, 3,000 women raped and 300,000 people displaced.
There is Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who has come under fire for the pardoning of former Bayelsa state Gov. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was convicted of stealing millions. Alamieyeseigha fled London disguised as a woman, returning to Nigeria where he had political immunity while in office. He was impeached after it was discovered that he had illegally acquired more than $10 million in real estate in London, Denmark and the United States. How is it that Jonathan, a man that refers to himself as the greatest anti-corruption crusader, manages to pardon the man involved in one of the most high-profile and internationally embarrassing corruption scandals to hit Nigeria in recent years?
What about McKeeva Bush, former Premier of the Cayman Islands? Bush was voted out of office after being arrested at his home for theft in connection with financial irregularities relating to the alleged misuse of a government credit card. We won’t mention Honduras where President Porfirio Lobo and the National Congress removed four Supreme Court justices for refusing to accept the president’s plan to “weed out” corruption in police? This all occurred while the building was surrounded by armed police and military.
The United States is chock full of corruption scandals. There is former Illionois Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who was charged with violating federal law by misusing $750,000 in campaign funds. What did he buy with said funds? Fur wraps and a watch. If convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and false statements, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was convicted in federal court on 24 of 30 corruption-related counts related to bribery, tax evasion, extorting contractors wanting to do business with the city and raiding the nonprofit Kilpatrick Civic Fund for his personal expenses. We won’t mention the sexting scandal, perjury and obstruction of justice charges that landed the former mayor in prison in 2008. Kilpatrick has been in and out of state and federal prison so much over the last five years, that it is hard to keep track of the prisoner merry-go-round or how many times he lists racism as the reason for his demise.
That’s the problem with never ending corruption scandals taking place amongst black and brown politicians throughout the African Diaspora. Many complain about racism and the mainstream’s investment in showing the worst of politicians of color worldwide. Can we blame mainstream media outlets when we give them so much material with which to work? What about our continuing choice to re-elect corrupt politicians who have broken our trust and run roughshod over any semblance of decency, integrity or truthfulness while in office? Is it mainstream media’s fault that we re-elect them anyway?
It defies logic that many black and brown people feel that we deserve so little from our elected officials worldwide? What sense does it make to cry racism? We’ve been dealt that hand and know the double-standard that awaits us in all facets of life and politics is no different.
The idea that all politicians are corrupt so we may as well be corrupt is naïve at best and idiotic at worst. The proliferation of stories of political corruption make it difficult for those of us trying to move away from dominant narratives of corruption, poverty and disease that dominate news of the African Diaspora. While many keep trying to lift up the Diaspora, corrupt politicians continue beating down the Diaspora, all for personal gain. Until there is a collective decision to call for an end to corruption in politics including a refusal to elect politicians (local, state, national) that engage in criminal activity on any level, then unfortunately stories of corruption involving a few, will continue to be the headlines that define the many people of African descent. If that’s not a criminal act, then I don’t know what is.
This article was written by Nsenga K. Burton, founder and editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire.
The ICC says Kenya’s president-elect Uhuru Kenyatta will still stand trial despite charges being dropped against his co-conspirator in the case. (Google Images)
Judie Kaberia of AllAfrica.com is reporting that International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda maintains that the decision to drop charges against former head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura has no impact on her case against Kenya’s President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta. Kaberia writes:
“In her submission to the court, she explained that withdrawal of charges against one alleged indirect co-perpetrator does not automatically affect the other accused, so Kenyatta’s case remains.
She says according to the Rome Statute: ‘Article 25 (3) demonstrates that the legal status of one alleged indirect co-perpetrator has no bearing on the guilt or innocence of another alleged co-perpetrator.’
‘In accordance with this Statute, a person shall be criminally responsible and liable for punishment for a crime within the jurisdiction of the court if that person: (a) commits such a crime, whether as an individual, jointly with another or through another person, regardless of whether that other person is criminally responsible.’
She said although the two were charged jointly, it did not imply that both have to be criminally responsible.
Bensouda further explained that one co-accused can be found not to be criminally responsible while the other is found responsible despite being jointly co-accused.”
The ICC has been under scrutiny since dropping the charges against President-elect Kenyatta’s alleged co-conspirator Muthaura for his role in post-election violence, which many read as a signal that charges against Kenyatta would be dropped as well. Kenyatta’s defense team argued that since the two were jointly accused, the charges against their client should also be dropped. ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda refutes the claim, saying the cases against both men are very different.
The ICC says Kenya’s president-elect Uhuru Kenyatta will still stand trial despite charges being dropped against his co-conspirator in the case. (Google Images)
Judie Kaberia of AllAfrica.com is reporting that International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda maintains that the decision to drop charges against former head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura has no impact on her case against Kenya’s President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta. Kaberia writes:
“In her submission to the court, she explained that withdrawal of charges against one alleged indirect co-perpetrator does not automatically affect the other accused, so Kenyatta’s case remains.
She says according to the Rome Statute: ‘Article 25 (3) demonstrates that the legal status of one alleged indirect co-perpetrator has no bearing on the guilt or innocence of another alleged co-perpetrator.’
‘In accordance with this Statute, a person shall be criminally responsible and liable for punishment for a crime within the jurisdiction of the court if that person: (a) commits such a crime, whether as an individual, jointly with another or through another person, regardless of whether that other person is criminally responsible.’
She said although the two were charged jointly, it did not imply that both have to be criminally responsible.
Bensouda further explained that one co-accused can be found not to be criminally responsible while the other is found responsible despite being jointly co-accused.”
The ICC has been under scrutiny since dropping the charges against President-elect Kenyatta’s alleged co-conspirator Muthaura for his role in post-election violence, which many read as a signal that charges against Kenyatta would be dropped as well. Kenyatta’s defense team argued that since the two were jointly accused, the charges against their client should also be dropped. ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda refutes the claim, saying the cases against both men are very different.
Is Pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio a.k.a. Pope Francis I really the first Latino Pope? (Google Images)
In an op-ed for the Los Angeles Weekly, writer Dennis Romero wonders aloud if the new pope, both of whose parents are Italian, is really the first Latino Pope? This is an interesting question and complicates the categories of race, ethnicity and nation which often get conflated, particularly in this type of discourse. Racially, the new Pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio is white, but ethnically and culturally, he is Latino because of his upbringing in Argentina.
Romero spoke with Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, associate professor at UCLA’s Cesar E. Chavez Department of Chicana/o Studies, who said the Pope is undoubtedly Latino because of a number of factors including his cultural experience, not his “genetic background.” Pope Bergoglio speaks Italian, Spanish and German and was raised in Argentina, like many Italians who migrated there for a better life in the 1920s.
It is easy to see that Pope Bergoglio is multicultural and has many identities that are fluid and dynamic. Perhaps the greater question is with all of the candidates who are racially indigenous or even black and South American, why go with one who is racially white?
Pope Francis I (Bergoglio’s chosen moniker) was celebrated in his Italian ancestral village even though he was not raised there, which is not unusual (Kenyans celebrating President Obama’s historic win even though he was born in the United States and raised primarily by his American mother).
What is interesting is that at a time when there are more Latino Catholics than any other cultural group, the Catholic Church would go with the status quo – an Argentinian with Italian roots who racially reaffirms the racial and ethnic hierarchy of the papacy of old, under the guise of connecting to the shifting racial and ethnic demographics of the church of today.
The Catholic Church’s new Latino Pope isn’t really that new, at least racially — in fact his appointment could be read as old hat. We’re all grown here — Pope Bergoglio is a safe choice for reasons that are obvious to some and willingly overlooked by others but his appointment is not new or radically different from any other Pope that has come before him.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Gov. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was convicted of stealing millions, receives pardon from Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. (Google Images)
The Associated Pressis reporting that Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s pardon of a politician convicted of stealing millions has outraged the nation. Jon Gambrell of the Associated Press writes:
“Nigeria has pardoned the former political benefactor of the nation’s president, a presidential adviser said Wednesday, a politician convicted of stealing millions of dollars while serving as a state governor.
The decision from a closed-door meeting Tuesday of the Council of State to pardon former Bayelsa state Gov. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha drew immediate outrage across Nigeria, an oil-rich nation long considered by analysts and activists to have one of the world’s most corrupt governments.
While the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan repeatedly says it is fighting the entrenched system of graft that strangles Nigeria, the leader has shared stages before with convicted politicians. Meanwhile, the country’s largely opaque budgets and loose regulatory controls continue to allow for hundreds of millions of dollars more to be stolen annually.”
Alamieyeseigha was caught with $1 million in cash in his home in London in 2005. He fled London dressed as a woman to Nigeria where he had immunity from prosecution while in office. He was impeached for illegally operating foreign accounts in London, Denmark and the U.S., acquiring property valued at $10 million. Alamieyeseigha plead guilty to the charges which paved the way for Jonathan, a marine biologist, to ascend to power.
Many Nigerians are disappointed and outraged by this latest decision which flies in the face of President Jonathan’s proclamation to end corruption in the country. A few weeks ago, President Goodluck referred to Alamieyeseigha as his “boss” at an event in Lagos.
Gov. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was convicted of stealing millions, receives pardon from Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. (Google Images)
The Associated Pressis reporting that Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s pardon of a politician convicted of stealing millions has outraged the nation. Jon Gambrell of the Associated Press writes:
“Nigeria has pardoned the former political benefactor of the nation’s president, a presidential adviser said Wednesday, a politician convicted of stealing millions of dollars while serving as a state governor.
The decision from a closed-door meeting Tuesday of the Council of State to pardon former Bayelsa state Gov. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha drew immediate outrage across Nigeria, an oil-rich nation long considered by analysts and activists to have one of the world’s most corrupt governments.
While the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan repeatedly says it is fighting the entrenched system of graft that strangles Nigeria, the leader has shared stages before with convicted politicians. Meanwhile, the country’s largely opaque budgets and loose regulatory controls continue to allow for hundreds of millions of dollars more to be stolen annually.”
Alamieyeseigha was caught with $1 million in cash in his home in London in 2005. He fled London dressed as a woman to Nigeria where he had immunity from prosecution while in office. He was impeached for illegally operating foreign accounts in London, Denmark and the U.S., acquiring property valued at $10 million. Alamieyeseigha plead guilty to the charges which paved the way for Jonathan, a marine biologist, to ascend to power.
Many Nigerians are disappointed and outraged by this latest decision which flies in the face of President Jonathan’s proclamation to end corruption in the country. A few weeks ago, President Goodluck referred to Alamieyeseigha as his “boss” at an event in Lagos.
