UNITED NATIONS – Mr. Ban, like many participants at today’s meeting, stressed the importance of bringing a sustainable peace to the war-ravaged Darfur region of Sudan, where the Council has authorized the creation of the first AU-UN hybrid peacekeeping force in Darfur, to be known as UNAMID. At full deployment, it will have some 26,000 troops and police officers, making it the largest peacekeeping operation in the world.

"It is an expression of our collective commitment to end the tragedy of Darfur," the Secretary-General said of UNAMID.

Voicing support for the hybrid force, United States President George W. Bush noted that 200,000 Darfurian "innocents are no longer with us," and that more than 2 million others who have been displaced by the violence hope to return to their homes and live in peace. "It’s our duty to help them realize that dream," he told Council members.

Kim Howell, Minister of State for the United Kingdom, said that Sudan must cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC). "Let’s not forget the need for justice," he said, adding that "the age of impunity is dead and there can be no impunity in Darfur."

Speaking in his national capacity, Mr. Sarkozy also stressed the importance of justice and "respect for humans." He noted that "we must be completely categorical about the respect of human rights, on the progression of the rule of law, the need for justice and on punishing criminals."

Several participants also appealed for intensified efforts to bring stability to Somalia, which has been riven by factional fighting and has had no functioning central government since Muhammad Siad Barre’s regime was toppled in 1991.

President John Kufuor of Ghana urged the Council "to show equal commitment to the protracted conflict in Somalia as in Darfur," and consider a contingency plan for the possible deployment of a UN force to replace AMISOM, the AU-led mission in Somalia, by next February.

"We must encourage an inclusive political dialogue for national reconciliation," President Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo said. He said he expects the UN to support AMISOM, and welcomed the AU-UN partnership, as well as the participation of regional organizations such as the European Union (EU) and the League of Arab States.

President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa underscored the importance of Africa finding solutions for African problems. He also cited the need for greater resources to allow the continent to tackle key challenges to establish a far-reaching framework for peace and security on the continent.

The answer to Africa’s problems lies with African cooperation, China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said. "One should not impose one’s own way on them," he noted. "Only unity among African countries can lead to a bright future for the continent."

African achievements – including steps towards deepening regional integration and economic growth – prove the continent is "now a protagonist and no longer just an object of international relations," said Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar noted that donor nations and the UN have provided much support to Africa. "To be fruitful, however, this support must be accompanied with two conditions: namely, good and enlightened governance, and an effective international will guaranteed by collective action to be undertaken by the United Nations," he said.

As Africa continues to recover from the consequences of colonization, it is crucial that any policies to help the continent respect the "rights and dignity of the African peoples" and that the international community desist from pursuing policies that are "relics of the past," said President Martin Torrijos of Panama.

Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde of Peru said that peace and security in Africa involves four main variables: prevention, cooperation with regional and sub-regional organizations, the humanitarian issue and post-conflict management.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono voiced hope that responding to the economic, social and political challenges to peace and promoting interregional cooperation for peace will bring stability to Africa, pointing out that some conflicts that appeared intractable five years ago have been resolved.

In settling African conflicts, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that "special focus should be given to addressing chronic political and socio-economic problems," while issues such as the strengthening of state governance, the development of democracy and the fight against poverty and corruption are within the scope of the AU and the UN.

President Ivan Gašparovic of Slovakia underscored the complexity of African tragedies, with security, development and human rights being interlinked. Thus, he expressed his country’s concern for Zimbabwe, where the crumbling economic and political situation could potentially lead to conflict.

Characterizing the issue as "one of Africa’s biggest outrages," Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt drew attention to the plight of the 300,000 child soldiers on the continent. "Each one of them is a stain on the soul of human civilization," he said, calling for the imposition of a weapons embargo on all countries with child soldiers and the end of impunity for offenders.

Wrapping up the session, Mr. Konaré noted the continent needs the support of the international community in training its troops, improving its information technology and, most importantly, in providing more predictable and regular financing. "Currently, operations are financed one by one. That does not make it possible to deploy rapidly," he told the Council. As a result, "interventions come too late."

The generosity of the Tanzanian people resident in Minnesota was manifest Saturday as they entertained their friends at “A Taste of Tanzania”, an event that had more food than the crowd could handle.

The celebration of the East African country’s food and culture was held at the Center for Families in North Minneapolis and attracted scores of Tanzanians and their friends, who enjoyed the country’s vast cuisine and even took some home. Colorful Tanzanian kitenge and msuli fabrics were on sale while the country’s stimulating music kept the guests entertained.

Spiced rice dishes (pilau), chicken, beef, Tanzanian home pastries like samosas and maandazi, boiled cassava, corn-beans mix (makande) and banana soup (mtori) were some of the traditional items that Tanzanians in Minnesota prepared under the stewardship of their organization, Umoja Society.

Tanzanians mingled with their invited guests for networking, as well as listening to presentations made by various invited speakers from organizations such as the African Development Center of Minnesota, whose representative advised on how to navigate the American financial system, which many African immigrants find challenging. Stephen Wreh-Wilson, ADC’s director of home ownership and financial literacy, warned the audience to beware of predatory lenders out to rip off unsuspecting clients.

Before signing up for a mortgage for a house or any other valuable property, read carefully the terms of the contract with regard to “balloon payments at the end, interest and insurance payments, closing costs and other hidden costs including defaulting payments,” Wreh-Wilson said.

Citing the current mortgage crisis, Wreh-Wilson said many unsuspecting clients had been conned into signing expensive mortgages that ended up in foreclosures and repossession of property because the “undisclosed” fees made the extended mortgage unaffordable. He said ADC was there to assist African immigrants in Minnesota to start and sustain successful business, provide free counseling to help them acquire assets and promote community reinvestment.

Wreh-Wilson advised emerging African immigrant entrepreneurs to learn how to build good credit so that they could easily access finances to expand their businesses. He said factors that contributed to a good score include ability to pay debts on time (35%), low balance of outstanding credit (30%), credit history (15%), healthy mix of credit accounts (10%) and recent applications for many new credits (10%).

Individuals who wish to access their own credit reports can do so by making an application to three known firms: Equifax of Atlanta, Experian of Allen, Texas, and Transunion of Chester, Penn. A fee of $3 is payable to any of those bureaus upon requesting a personal credit report.

On the basics of filing taxes, the audience was advised to take advantage of Federal Earned Income Tax Credit and Minnesota Working Families Credit. Low-income families with children can get up to $4,000 back from the federal government and $1,500 from the state of Minnesota.

Wynfred “Billy Dee” Russell, a Liberian-born educator and longtime resident of Minnesota, announced Thursday that he will contest for the presidency of the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota, adding excitement to what is already braced to be a contentious election year.

Russell, 34, an adjunct faculty member at North Hennepin Community College and a former lecturer at the University of Minnesota, told a crowd of Liberians that OLM had been dormant for many years and needed to be rejuvenated.

“Previous leaderships have missed opportunities for grassroots participation and good will,” Russell said. “They have lost the impetus for partnership and collaboration with many essential community members.”

Russell was speaking at a press conference in the African Food Market store in Crystal. He said some Liberians had ceased to associate themselves with OLM because the 30-year-old organization had failed to reach out to the entire community. The reason was because OLM did not have clearly-defined goals, and was focused on too many issues, some of which could not be attained without involving the entire community, he said.

“OLM is not an elephant that’s going to do everything alone,” Russell said. “We are not going to do everything.”

Instead, Russell promised to achieve OLM’s mission of serving Liberian immigrants by involving already-established organizations and creating networks to empower the community.

Russell outlined what he called “the five pillars” that he would implement if elected. They include: creating children and youth programs to reduce teen pregnancies, violence, drug use, and school dropout rates; writing grants for a $200,000 emergency fund; and setting up education and professional development program for adults. He also promised to create a health and social welfare awareness program to educate Liberian immigrants on HIV/AIDS, diabetes and cancer, and also to advocate for Liberians on Temporary Protective Status to get permanent residency before the 18-month extension given by President George W. Bush on Wednesday expires.

Russell also said that his team was already soliciting money for a $250,000 scholarship fund to benefit Liberians who can’t afford college.

OLM elections will be held on Nov. 20. So far only Russell and OLM board member, Georgette Gray, have declared candidacy for the top post. Martha Sinoe, OLM’s current president declined to say if she would be running for re-election, but said she would make an announcement sometime next week.

Russell said he would run a “tight, clean and professional campaign” free of personal attacks and promised to reconcile with the other candidates and their camps, regardless of the poll outcome. That is something Abdullah Kiatamba, OLM’s current chairman of the board of directors, said lacks in OLM.

“Candidates played the politics of character assassination and personal attacks,” Kiatamba said. “The organization sometimes gets too political and that has driven people away.”

President George W. Bush extended the stay of Liberians who are on Temporary Protected Status yesterday, ending the anxiety that has been looming over citizens of that country, as the Oct. 1 deadline for them to leave the United States came closer.

“Although the armed conflict in Liberia ended in 2003 and conditions have improved, I have found that the political and economic situation in Liberia continues to be fragile,” President Bush wrote in a memorandum to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff.

In reaction to the good news, the President of the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota, Martha Sinoe, said Bush’s announcement was a result of tireless lobbying by not only Liberians, but also human rights organizations and other well wishers.

“We are very thankful to the people of Minnesota, the media and advocacy groups that helped bring attention to the cause,” Sinoe said.

There are approximately 1,200 Liberians residing in Minnesota under TPS. Various organization, local and national have been rallying for Congress to extend the status of Liberians who fled the civil war and were allowed to resettle in the United States temporarily.

POWDER SPRINGS, Ga. – The detectives investigating the murders of a Kenyan mother and her two daughters, whose badly battered bodies were discovered on Aug. 1 in their Atlanta area home, said they have made significant progress in the case.

Speaking to Mshale in two separate interviews, the detectives said they were following crucial leads and assured the public that they would apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous acts.

The attack that killed Jane Kuria, 45, and her daughters Isabella Kuria, 19, and Annabel Kuria, 16, also left the woman’s son, Jeremy Kuria, 7, and his cousin Peter Thande, 10, seriously injured and unconscious.

Kenyans – both in the United States and Kenya – have been eagerly waiting for information on the apprehension of the killers. Investigators have been silent about the case, sparking accusations by frustrated Kenyans that the authorities are not giving the matter the seriousness it deserves.

The lead investigator in the case, Detective William Hewell of the Powder Springs Police Department said the progress made so far was promising, although he declined to disclose further details.

And Detective John Dawes of Cobb County Police Department, who is helping with the investigations, said he was waiting to interrogate some of the Kenyans who accompanied the bodies to Kenya, as soon as they return to the United States. Dawes said he was also scheduled to speak to young Peter and the boy’s mother when they returned from an undisclosed out-of-state location. He added that he would soon be analyzing forensic data, which was being processed.

“I must also say that most of the people who we have talked to us so far have been very co-operative,” Dawes said.

The officers appealed to the public to be patient, saying that the homicide case was delicate and complicated and that the investigations could not be rushed.

The Kenyan ambassador to the United States, Peter N.R.O. Ogego, asked Kenyans with any information that may help solve the murders to step forward and give it to the police. Ogego said he had full confidence in this country’s justice system.

“It may seem as though they are not doing much right now, but I can assure you that regardless of the length of time it takes, the perpetrators will be brought to book,” Ogego said on a phone interview from his Washington, DC office.  “I have been speaking to the detectives on a regular basis and they have told me that they are on top of things.”  

Ogego said that the authorities had assured him that there would be no victimization whatsoever and that any information given to the police would be treated confidentially.
A sister of Jane Kuria said that she hoped the killers of her sister and nieces would be caught. Speaking from her home in Lynn, Mass., Margaret Njeri expressed her optimism that the police would soon nab the culprits.

“My mom back home and my three siblings, one of whom is here with me, are also hopeful that we will soon get answers to the many questions that we have been asking,” Njeri said.

Jane Kuria and her children arrived in Boston in 2001, after the death of her husband. She and her daughter applied for asylum, saying that because of their opposition to female circumcision, their lives were in danger if they returned. After her death, her immigration lawyer, Charles H. Kuck told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that her asylum was denied and he was in the process of appealing before she was murdered.

Speculation has been rife as to who and why anyone would commit the crimes that left many with more questions than answers. Kenyan online forums have thrown around the name of Mungiki, a violent Kenyan group that has been said to kidnap and circumcise women.

Following the murders, Rev. Dr. G.G Gitahi of Kenya American Community Church, where Jane Kuria fellowshipped just two days before she and her daughters were murdered, cautioned the congregation against speculation.

“Careless speculation can only exacerbate the situation,” he said. “I urge you to shun unsubstantiated statements and let the investigating authorities do their work.”

Anyone with information on the murders is asked to call Cobb County police Crimes Against Persons Unit at (770)499-3945.  Those who do not wish to be identified may call Hewell gave two tip-lines where those who do not wish to be identified may call (678)567-2490 or toll-free, (888)322-8884). 

MINNEAPOLIS – Teachers of Islam should refrain from actions that go against the teachings of Prophet Muhammad in order to keep the faith of their flock strong, Islamic scholars said at a Minnesota conference held during the Labor Day weekend.

Sheikh Abdilbary Yahya, a leading scholar and the Imam of the Seattle Mosque in Washington state, told hundreds of Muslims who attended the seventh annual Islamic conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center that Muslim teachers especially have the call to propagate with humility the message of Allah to others.

Sheikh Yahya said it was incumbent upon Muslims who wish to teach the religion of Allah to emulate the Prophet’s way characterized by love and wisdom.

He said Prophet Muhammad was a successful teacher because he showed respect and love for his students. He was kind, showed humility, was merciful, desired best results from his listeners, used wisdom in his messages and did not scold or cane anyone, but treated everyone as “best friend [and] companion.”

To prove his point about the Prophet’s humble character, the scholar told the audience a story.

“At one time a Bedouin walked into the Mosque of the prophet and [urinated] inside the prayer mosque on the wall,” Sheikh Yahya said. “The prophet’s companions were furious and wanted to be physical with him, but the prophet asked them to calm down and, ‘Let the visitor finish his business.’ The prophet explained to his companions that the Bedouin was used to the nomadic desert culture where ‘every corner place is a bathroom, therefore he should be guided wisely without demonizing him.’”

The scholar said the way of the Prophet is the role model for Muslims, and that teachers of Islam should replicate the Prophet in order to be effective in their transmission of religious and other useful knowledge to their students.

In his lecture, Sheikh Yahya described Prophet Muhammad as a teacher like no other, as his audience gave big smiles of appreciation.

Another leading Islamic scholar, Sheikh Hamdy El-Sawaf of Minnesota warned that if Muslims do not obey the guidance of Allah on matrimonial matters, the marriage institution would collapse leading to adverse consequences such as poor parenting and the disintegration of families.

Sheikh El-Sawaf, who has counseled many Muslim married couples, said available statistics in America today show that approximated 50 percent of all contracted marriages end in divorce. He said the emerging trend was troubling and Muslims, who have clear guidelines from Allah’s laws on how matrimonial and family relations can be sustained, should adhere to their religious teachings to maintain strong family ties.

“If you wish to drive in American roads, you must follow the traffic code,” he said. “Why do Muslim spouses fail to obey the clear laws from God to have healthy relationships?”

Sheikh El-Sawaf said Muslims when choosing their partners should use the criterion of the level of righteousness of their intended spouses as the measuring scale. He said that although other considerations like beauty, wealth and good family ties may have merit, such yardsticks must be treated as deen, secondary to religious faith.

The scholar decried domestic abuse among couples, physical and psychological, which he said was against Islam. He lashed at husbands who abandoned their families and turned alcoholics or worked many jobs to the extent of having little time for their spouses and children.

“A husband and father is not just an image,” he said. “He has to be real. He should give attention to his wife and must be a role model for his children.”

Sheikh El-Sawaf said the Islamic Holy Book, the Qur’an, and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad define in clear terms the husband and wife reciprocal roles and responsibilities to each other.

The teachings of the Prophet call for true love and compassion among married couples and mandate couples to control their anger that might lead to fights, he said.

 “If you become angry while standing, take a chair and sit down, and if your anger is still high, lie down in bed; and if this does not restore your calm composure, cleanse your body with water (udhuu),” he said.

Sheikh El-Sawaf discouraged the prevailing mood by many couples to demand divorce at the slightest misunderstanding.

Although Islam permits divorce under extreme cases of incompatibility, the teachings of the Islamic faith point to the reality that of all the lawful things that Allah has permitted, divorce is the one thing that annoys him most. It is said that it literally sends tremors to His throne when executed by married couples.

The theme of this year’s Annual Islamic Conference was “Correcting the pathway for reaching the goal” and Sheikh El-Sawaf advised Muslims to take the first steps in correcting their ways inside their families. He said the way to go about it was to strictly adhere to the guidance of Allah on how to raise successful families.

Hundreds of participants traveled from as far as Canada and other U.S. for the conference. Sheikh Abdirahman Omar, Imam of Minneapolis’ Abuubakar As-Saddique Mosque and president of the Council of Imams, said he hoped the conference would raise the level of faith for all participants.

The Abuubakar Islamic Center has been engaged in the teaching of Islam (daa’wa) for over a decade now and has been responsible for building Islamic institutions that have enabled Muslims practice their faith and understand how best to raise their children.

The new president vows to work with his deputy, who ran a campaign against him.

SAN FRANCISCO –Lt. Frank Musisi, a U.S. Army Reserve from Los Angeles, Calif. claimed the presidency of the Ugandan North American Association Sunday, handily defeating incumbent Abdul Kimbugwe of Boston, Massachusetts, and narrowly surpassing challenger Moses Wilson, also from Los Angeles by a mere 10 votes.

Musisi garnered 242 votes against Wilson’s 232. Kimbugwe, the incumbent, received 109 votes, while Sophia Anyomokolo, the fourth candidate and the only woman in the race, got a paltry eight votes.

Musisi ran the most spirited campaign of any candidate, with a visible pack of supporters soliciting votes with placards and postcards outlining his platform throughout the weekend. But in his victory speech, the new president described himself as “non-political.”

“I do not subscribe to any political party from Uganda or the United States,” Musisi said.  “Our work is to help our brothers and sisters in the community in North America, and this is what we’re going to do.”

Musisi then called upon the audience to contribute to a collection being held to allow the body of an uninsured Ugandan reverend who recently died in Los Angeles to be sent home for burial.

“I believe, as the new UNAA president and our board, it is appropriate for us to start from this gathering here to mobilize funds to help our brother be taken back home.”

He concluded his remarks by extending an olive branch to Moses Kalemba, the new UNAA vice president, who had campaigned alongside Musisi’s rival, Wilson.

“I am so happy that I am going to be working with our senior member, Mr. Moses Kalemba. I know his wise counsel will guide us in the next two years,” Musisi said.

The brevity of Musisi’s 10-minute speech was heartily welcomed as the banquet in the grand ballroom of the San Francisco Hyatt Regency Hotel stretched on towards midnight. The event was more than three hours off schedule, prompting some to joke that the event was keeping Africa time.

The poll results, announced by UNAA Electoral Commission chairman Alexander Zabasajja of New Jersey, returned Treasurer Brenda Kalema to office. The incumbent Secretary Francis Ssennoga ran unopposed.

The closest contest saw Felix Kabuye-Kayanja defeating Becky Wamala-Brown by only seven votes to become the next Board Member at Large. Henry Nsereko was reelected in a tight race for Board Member,Uganda.

Zena Mbega  and Moses Male ran unopposed to become Youth Board Members, as did John Mutyaba for Board Member, Central.

Ronnie Mayanja was chosen to represent the Eastern region, and Julius Kabukuru, the Pacific.

The position of Board Member, Canada was left vacant.

the Vice President of Uganda, Gilbert Bukenya, and other ministers and dignitaries who attended the three-day conference congratulated the new UNAA president. Once all the election results had been announced, Bukenya led the crowd to the dance floor.

Musisi was a member of the UNAA board from 2003 to 2005 and was on the convention committee when it was held in Los Angeles in 1994. He was born in the Bumangi Ssese Islands, in Uganda’s Kalangala District, and immigrated to the United States in 1990. He holds a degree in Information and Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine. Musisi enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2000 and served in war in Iraq. He is currently assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve Centre as a Support Operations Officer in Los Angeles.

New UNAA Board:

President: Frank Musisi

Vice President: Moses Kalemba

Treasurer: Brenda Kalema

Secretary: Francis Ssennoga

Youth Board Member: Zena Mbega

Youth Board Member: Moses Male

Board Member Eastern: Ronnie Mayanja

Board Member Central: John Mutyaba

Board Member Pacific: Julius Kabukuru

Board Member at Large: Felix Kabuye-Kayanja

Board Member Uganda: Henry Nsereko

Board member Canada: Vacant

 
Outgoing UNAA Board:

President: Abdul K. Kimbugwe        

Vice President: Moses O. Nekyon   

Treasurer: Brenda Kalema   

Secretary: Francis Ssennoga

Youth Board Member: Grace L. Sebugwawo          

Youth Board Member: Flex K. Kayanja      

Board Member: Ben Omara Abe     

Board Member: Michael Miti Kavuma         

Board Member: Benon Mukasa       

Board Member: Patrick Iga Musisi

Board Member: Tom Mutyabule      

Board Member Canada: Johnson Mujungu   

Board Member Uganda: Henry N. Busulwa