Top stories from DAWNS Digest
How Do You Say “Ukraine” in Sango? The Russians, backed by the Chinese, are blocking an effort by France and the US at the Security Council to impose individual sanctions and a travel ban on the ousted leader of the Central African Republic, François Bozizé. Why target him for sanctions? It is believed that he is backing Christian militias who are meting out reprisal attacks on Muslim civilians, after a mostly Muslim rebel group ousted him from power last year. Why are Russia and China blocking it? Diplomats say it’s retaliation for Ukraine…BUT…the logic and language used in a Russian letter obtained by Reuters suggests that Moscow does not want to set a precedent in which a forcibly removed president becomes the target of sanctions. “It remains to be answered why France and the United States, while proposing to list François Bozizé, who was unconstitutionally removed from power, overlooked Michel Djotodia, the former transitional president and Seleka leader, who masterminded the forcible takeover of power in March 2013,” says the letter. Deeper Dive: Reuters http://bit.ly/1iMdvNO
Will He Run? Speaking at an event at Tufts University, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame gave one the biggest hints yet that he may alter the constitution in order to run for a third term in 2017. (Think Africa Press http://bit.ly/1mzM0HP)