UNITED NATIONS (FinalCall.com) – Representatives from the African Union, the Economic Community of West Africa States and Mali’s interim government gathered at the UN Security Council expecting a resolution authorizing a 3,500 man African-led International Support Mission in Mali, but the North Korean missile launch hijacked the 15-member council’s attention.  

The resolution was still in draft form at Final Call press time with the West African nation patiently waiting for authorization for the military force.

“The African Union hopes that the Security Council will authorize the deployment of AFISMA without delay,” Ambassador Tete Antonio of Mali’s UN Observer Mission to the United Nations told The Final Call on Dec. 10.

Mali, a Texas-sized nation of 14.5 million people, fell into trouble in March after junior army officers staged a coup, ousting the elected government of President Amadou Toumani Toure. On April 6, nomadic tribesman known as the Tuareg formed the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad and declared independence for a large swath of territory in Northern Mali, claiming it as their homeland. These conditions created a perfect political storm for the chaos that engulfs Mali.

On Dec. 11, the army arrested the sitting interim prime minister, who then resigned, and the interim president immediately appointed a new interim prime minister. Dr. Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, told reporters there was concern about the stability of the regime in Bamako. “Mali has been and remains a very complex situation,” she told reporters Dec. 12.

Amb. Rice said the U.S. wanted a swift restoration of democratic government in Bamako but remained very much committed to a collective effort to rid northern Mali “from terrorists.”

According to the draft resolution, transitional government authorities in Mali are “requesting through a Security Council resolution, acting under Chapter VII as provided by the UN Charter of an international military force to assist the Armed Forces of Mali to recover the occupied regions in the north.”

“The deployment and operations of AFISMA would require strong United Nations support,” the African Union ambassador argued.  

Bill Fletcher, Jr. author and longtime international activist, agreed with the AU ambassador, saying, “The AU ideally would not need a Security Council resolution, because they could handle this–but they are going to need financial backing and they probably are aware of the trap of getting into a protracted fight in the north of Mali. The AU does not want to get into this without some powerful backup.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, through a spokesperson Dec. 5, “cautiously” recommended that the Security Council approve Mali force, but without UN financing. The UN has limited ability to deliver a support package in the near term to a combat force, the secretary-general’s representative told the Security Council. He recommended having the AU and Economic Community of West African States fund the force through volunteer contributions.  

“That’s not the solution,” Amb. Antonio argued outside of the Security Council chamber. “Assessed contributions will be the best way to go,” he added, referring to operations funded by the UN.  

According to talk outside of the Security Council chamber, former colonial master France has been the most vocal Western backer of the Mali force resolution. Gerard Araud, the French ambassador to the United Nations, suggested to reporters that his delegation was not happy with the UN decision not to fund the force.  

In addition to questions about how the council would oversee the mission the question of how the force will be paid for remains, Amb. Araud said.  

ECOWAS Commission president Kadre Desire Ouedraogo told the Security Council it needed to “act fast” in deploying the force, adding that the regional organization and the AU had a plan for political dialogue with the Tuareg, but it needed to be paired with a military option to help Mali regain its territory.  

George Ayittey, an American University economics professor, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Free Africa Foundation and associate scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said he “considered the Tuareg cause to be legitimate.” But, he added, the situation has become “complicated” because of the March coup and constant linking of the Taureg movement to Al-Qaeda.

The causes of the Tuareg rebellion can be found in decades-old discrimination and persecution dating back to the 1960s, Prof. Ayittey noted.

“However, the entire West African region is just fed up with coups, which explains why ECOWAS moved swiftly to condemn it. This is the first time ECOWAS has taken such a strong position,” Prof. Ayittey said in an e-mail.

A Pentagon representative said the United States is advising ECOWAS.

Some independent analysts questioned whether the administration’s strategy could backfire, embroiling the U.S. in an intractable local conflict. “There is no place in the world the U.S. does not consider strategically important,” Dr. Stephen Zunes, professor of politics and chair of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of San Francisco, said via e-mail. “Unfortunately U.S. policy in the region is following some of the mistakes we have seen elsewhere, such as U.S.-led militarization increasing the problem rather than reducing it,” he added.

“African leaders need to stop asking the West to intervene in the lives of Africans on the continent,” said Omoyele Sowere, human rights activist and founder and publisher of Sahara Reporters.com. “I would say that Africa should not be a testing ground for military intervention–those interventions have never benefitted Africa,” he said.

Amb. Antonio saw things differently. “This force is not going to attack another African country, but it will attack a band of terrorists,” he said.

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(FinalCall.com) – The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan was the special guest on Saint Kitts’s National Television.   Watch the December 20, 2011 TV Interview  replay.

Related news:

Leader  urges Caribbean to unite for progress; calls for end to political disunity for good of the region (FCN, 12-20-2011)

Minister Farrakhan on Saint Kitts Radio  (FCN, 12-19-2011)

Minister  welcomed in Saint Kitts  (FCN, 12-18-2011)

Minister Farrakhan, Wyclef Jean appear on Haiti TV, Radio  (FCN, 12-16-2011)

Minister Farrakhan lands in Haiti  (FCN, 12-13-2011)

Minister Farrakhan Speaks in Haiti  (FCN, Dec. 11, 2011)

A message for Jamaica, hope for Caribbean  (FCN, 12-13-2011)

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The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is scheduled to be the special guest during a live on-air interview on Saint Kitts national television on Tuesday, December 20 at 7pm Central Time.  

As part of FinalCall.com News’ special Caribbean coverage we are bringing you the live program via  streaming video.

Related news:

Minister Farrakhan on Saint Kitts Radio  (FCN, 12-19-2011)

Minister Farrakhan welcomed in Saint Kitts (FCN, 12-18-2011)

Minister Farrakhan, Wyclef Jean appear on Haiti TV, Radio  (FCN, 12-16-2011)

Minister Farrakhan lands in Haiti  (FCN, 12-13-2011)

Minister Farrakhan Speaks in Haiti  (FCN, Dec. 11, 2011)

A message for Jamaica, hope for Caribbean  (FCN, 12-13-2011)

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(FinalCall.com) – The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan appeared on the Saint Kitts’s Freedom 106.5 FM radio program “Issues” hosted by “The Big J.L.” Juni Liburd. Watch the December 19, 2011 show  replay.

Related news:

Minister Farrakhan, Wyclef Jean appear on Haiti TV, Radio (FCN, 12-16-2011)

Minister Farrakhan lands in Haiti (FCN, 12-13-2011)

Minister Farrakhan Speaks in Haiti (FCN, Dec. 11, 2011)

A message for Jamaica, hope for Caribbean (FCN, 12-13-2011)

The post Minister Farrakhan on Saint Kitts Radio appeared first on Final Call News.

• UPDATE: Video Replay is now available here.

(FinalCall.com) – As part of The Final Call’s continung coverage of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s Caribbean trip, we are  live  webcasting from  Saint Kitts at 12 Noon Eastern Time.

Minister Farrakhan welcomed in Saint Kitts   (FCN, 12-18-2011)

Minister Farrakhan, Wyclef Jean appear on Haiti TV, Radio  (FCN, 12-16-2011)

Minister Farrakhan lands in Haiti (FCN, 12-13-2011)

A message for Jamaica, hope for Caribbean (FCN, 12-13-2011)

The post Live St. Kitts Webcast: Minister Farrakhan in the Caribbean appeared first on Final Call News.

(FinalCall.com) – The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan was welcomed into Saint Kitts December 16, 2011 as a part of his working trip to the Caribbean. His previous two stops were in Jamaica and Haiti.

Related news:

Minister Farrakhan, Wyclef Jean appear on Haiti TV, Radio (FCN, 12-16-2011)

Minister Farrakhan lands in Haiti (FCN, 12-13-2011)

Minister Farrakhan Speaks in Haiti (FCN, Dec. 11, 2011)

A message for Jamaica, hope for Caribbean (FCN, 12-13-2011)

The post Minister Farrakhan welcomed in Saint Kitts appeared first on Final Call News.

(FinalCall.com) – On Wednesday December 14, 2011 the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan appeared on a live Radio/TV simulcast   on Haiti’s very popular morning shows.   As part of The Final Call’s  continuing coverage, we bring you the full  60 minute program from Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Related news:

Minister Farrakhan lands in Haiti (FCN, 12-13-2011)

Minister Farrakhan Speaks in Haiti (FCN, Dec. 11, 2011)

A message for Jamaica, hope for Caribbean (FCN, 12-13-2011)

Halliburton in Haiti  (FCN, 07-14-2010)

Nation of Islam purchases water purification unit for Haiti (FCN, 01-11-2011)

Fears UN caused cholera outbreak in rural Haiti  (FCN, 11-13-2010)

Red Cross must do more with aid dollars, Haitian-Americans, coalition demand  (FCN, 09-01-2010)

The story of Haiti’s struggle to survive and thrive amid devastation (FCN, 02-17-2010)

Editors’ Notebook from Haiti  (FCN Photo Essay, 02-11-2010)

Haiti – Profiting from misery?   (FCN, 01-26-2010)

Farrakhan calls for National Mobilization for Haiti  (FCN, 01-19-2010)

Analyzing Haiti’s history of hardship  (Web Video, 01-14-2010)

Naomi Klein issues warning on “Disaster Capitalism” in Haiti (FCN, 01-14-2010)

Disaster hits Haiti: Magnitude  7.0 Earthquake  (FCN, 01-13-2010)

Disaster hits Haiti: Magnitude  7.0 Earthquake  (FCN, 01-13-2010)

How the U.S. impoverished Haiti  (FCN, 09-10-2003)

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KINGSTON (FinalCall.com) –   The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan arrived in Jamaica this week at the start of regional visit.

The following is a FinalCall.com exclusive report filed on the Minister’s visit.

Look for upcoming exclusive reports from FinalCall.com News!

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(FinalCall.com) – As President Obama, the UN and other western powers were ramping up pressure on Libyan Leader Muammar Gadhafi, some leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean called for peaceful resolution to the uprising in the North African nation they say are fueled by outside forces.

Protesters took to the streets in Libya days after protests in Tunisia and Egypt led to the resignation of their presidents while other Middle East countries announced governmental reforms in light of unrest.

With events changing quickly and some skepticism about the veracity of some western news media reports coming out of Libya, the leaders said other motives may be at work.

“The government of the United States is not concerned at all about peace in Libya and it will not hesitate to give NATO the order to invade that rich country, perhaps in a question of hours or very short days,” Cuba’s former President Fidel Castro wrote in a column in the state media.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez later released an official statement from the government, calling reports from Libya confusing, contradictory and fomenting unrest, according to published reports. “Some North American politicians and media groups are inciting violence, military aggression and foreign intervention,” Mr. Rodriguez said.

France said it would fly aid to the opposition-controlled eastern half of the country. The European Union imposed an arms embargo and other sanctions, following the lead of the U.S. and the U.N.

There must be peaceful resolution to the unrest “without any type of meddling or international intervention, and in a manner that guarantees the integrity of the Libyan nation,” the foreign minister said.

Daniel Ortega–the president of Nicaragua whose wealth and land distribution programs in the 1980s put him at odds with the U.S., which eventually backed a movement that put him out of office–told his supporters at a rally he had expressed concern and support to Mr. Gadhafi.

“How many battles has Gadhafi had to fight? I transmitted to him from their ruler, according to the Associated Press.

The EU was also considering the creation of a no-fly zone over Libya. And the U.S. and Europe were freezing billions in Libya’s foreign assets, the AP reported. “Gadhafi has lost the legitimacy to govern, and it is time for him to go without further violence or delay,” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said, according to AP.

“No option is off the table. That of course includes a no-fly zone,” she added.

British Prime Minister David Cameron told lawmakers: “We do not in any way rule out the use of military assets” to deal with Mr. Gadhafi ’s government.

Mr. Gadhafi , who over two weeks responded strongly to efforts to unseat his government, rejected a question from ABC News about whether he would step down as the Obama administration demanded. “My people love me. They would die for me,” he said. ABC reported that Col. Gadhafi invited the United Nations or any other organization to Libya on a fact finding mission.

Col. Gadhafi ’s remarks were met with derision in Washington. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice said Col. Gadhafi ’s behavior “underscores how unfi t he is to lead and how disconnected he is from reality.”

The turmoil in the oil-rich nation roiled markets for another day.

Libya’s oil chief said Feb. 28 that production had been cut by around 50 percent, denting supplies that go primarily to Europe. The country provides 2 percent of the world’s oil, but concerns the unrest will spread to other oil-rich nations have sent oil prices rising worldwide.

The uprising that began Feb. 15 has posed the most serious challenge to Col. Gadhafi in his more than four decades in power.

News reports have said hundreds, and perhaps thousands, are dead. But clashes appeared to have eased considerably in the past few days after planeloads of foreign journalists arrived in the capital at the government’s invitation, AP said.

The two sides are entrenched, and the direction the uprising takes next could depend on which can hold out longest. Col. Gadhafi is dug in Tripoli and nearby cities, backed by his elite security forces and militiamen who are generally better armed than the military.

His opponents, holding the east and much of the country’s oil infrastructure, also control pockets in western Libya near Tripoli. They are backed by mutinous army units, but those forces appear to have limited supplies of ammunition and weapons, the AP reported.

Gadhafi opponents have moved to consolidate their hold in the east, centered on Benghazi, Libya’s second largest city, where the uprising began. Politicians there set up their first leadership council to manage day-to-day affairs, taking a step toward forming what could be an alternative to Col. Gadhafi ’s government.

Other pressure increased on Col. Gadhafi , with Western powers calling for an end to what they called a crackdown on opponents Feb. 28. Meanwhile Libyan security forces fought rebels holding the two cities closest to the capital and opponents charged his warplanes bombed an ammunition depot in the east.

The U.S. moved naval and air forces closer to Libya and said all options were open, including patrols of the North African nation’s skies to protect its citizens.

The post Fighting in Libya rages, West on verge of intervention? appeared first on Final Call News.

(FinalCall.com) – Egypt’s long-time President Hosni Mubarak has stepped down after 30 years in power. Egypt’s Vice President Omar Suleiman made the brief announcement over state TV.

Jubilant protesters filled the streets, many cheered, other cried when the official announcement was made. After 18 days of protests and over 300 killed, an historical event has taken place and the voice of the people has been heard.  U.S. President Barack H. Obama is scheduled to speak later today regarding the most recent developments. Mr. Mubarak is said to be in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Source, Al Jazeera – February 11, 2011

Related news:

A revolution of dissatisfaction and dashed expectations (FCN, 02-10-2011)

As those in foreign lands rise up, U.S. activists must too persevere (FCN, 02-10-2011)

Egyptian unrest and US media bias (AJE Web Video, 02-05-2011)

In Egypt, calls grow louder for President Mubarak’s ouster (FCN, 01-28-2011)

Wikileaks secret U.S. Government cables from Egyptian Embassy (Wikileaks.ch, 01-28-2011)

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