A Warrant Out for Sudan's Bashir

On March 4th, the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands issued a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for Crimes Against Humanity related to the continuing crisis in Darfur. Bashir has been in power since a 1989 coup toppled the democratically-elected government, and he has retained the Presidency since appointing himself in 1993. Some neighboring countries and Arab League states have criticized the warrant citing sovereignty issues (which it certainly has), and fearing further instability (though how could it get any worse?). But whether or not an arrest is carried out, Bashir will unlikely remain President beyond elections in April - the first free contest since 1986. These elections will be followed by a 2010 referendum in the Darfur region to decide whether to become an autonomous entity within Sudan, and a 2011 referendum in Southern Sudan - a currently self-governing area in Sudan - to consider full independence.

Tragedy in Zimbabwe

In an incident that defies imagining, Susan Tsvangirai, wife of newly installed Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, was killed when their vehicle was hit head-on by a passing truck. The Prime Minister sustained light head injuries, and a driver and bodyguard also survived the accident. So far, reports conflict as to how the driver of the truck - which was registered to the US Embassy, reportedly on a British aid mission - managed to veer so violently onto the other side of the road: US ambassador Jim McGee speculated "the driver might have been trying to avoid a pothole," while the driver "told police he had fallen asleep at the wheel." But some Tsvangirai supporters insist the accident smacks of foul play: "This is how they killed their opponents in the 1980s," said MDC Information Minister Nelson Chamisa, referring to Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party. By all accounts, Mrs. Tsvangirai was much beloved, and my heart goes out to all Zimbabweans at this horrifically difficult time.

Also this week, after agreeing to allow bail to be posted for Deputy Agriculture Minister Roy Bennett, Judge Livingstone Chipadze was tossed in prison for "criminal abuse of his office." As much as the PM has faith that Mugabe can be tempered in a power-sharing agreement, I'm beginning to think there is no hope for Zimbabwe while Mugabe retains any power. I mean, by now there must even be a few ZANU-PF members out there annoyed with the President's insane antics. I just hope that despite the dire political situation, food and medical aid continues to get through to those throughout the country in desperate need.

Political Chaos in Guinea-Bissau

It began Sunday night, when Army chief and critic of the administration General Batista Tagme Na Wai was killed by a bomb planted at his office. The following morning, President Joao Bernardo Vieira was shot to death in his home. While President Vieira's death was likely retaliatory, the motive behind the General's death remains unclear. But what initially looked to many like a coup attempt, and could have denigrated into ethnic violence, was dealt with calmly and smoothly by the remaining leadership. Raimundo Pereira, the President of the National People's Assembly (Guinea-Bissau's parliament), was sworn in as President of the country on Tuesday; and according to a Voice of America editorial, Navy Commander Jose Zamura Induta assured that "the attack on the president was an isolated incident, it did not represent a coup d'etat, and the armed forces will respect democratic principles as the nation's leaders work through the crisis."

A few need-to-know details about Guinea-Bissau's recent political history:

• President Vieira and the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) dominated Guinea-Bissauan politics from 1980 to 1999.
• 1994 marked the first multi-party elections in the nation's history, with Vieira elected to the Presidency in a contest widely considered free and fair.
• Civil war broke out in 1998 between the military establishment and forces loyal to the President, leading to a successful coup in May 1999 that ousted Vieira. Kumba Iala of the PAIGC-rival Social Renewal Party (PRS) won elections later that year.
• President Iala was ousted in a bloodless coup by the military establishment in 2003, paving the way for Vieira's return to power as an independent candidate in the elections of 2005.