Το Κέρας της Αφρικής και η κατάρα του πολέμου

Η ΑΥΓΗ

Η εμφύλια σύγκρουση ανάμεσα στην κυβέρνηση της Αντίς Αμπέμπα και τις δυνάμεις που ελέγχουν τη βόρεια επαρχία Τιγκράι προκαλεί καραβάνια προσφύγων.

Η κατάρα του πολέμου και της προσφυγιάς ξαναχτυπά το Κέρας της Αφρικής. Είναι μια από τις πιο βασανισμένες περιοχές της μαύρης ηπείρου. Πόλεμοι, εμφύλιες συγκρούσεις, φτώχεια, πείνα, προσφυγιά έχουν σημαδέψει τις τρεις από τις τέσσερις χώρες της, Αιθιοπία, Ερυθραία, Σομαλία (το Τζιμπουτί είναι η τέταρτη).

Λίγα χρόνια μετά τον Β’ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο, Γάλλοι, Βρετανοί και Ιταλοί αποικιοκράτες άρχισαν να εγκαταλείπουν τα παλιά προτεκτοράτα τους στην περιοχή παίρνοντας μαζί τους λεηλατημένο πλούτο και αφήνοντας πίσω τους αρρύθμιστες εδαφικές διαφορές, τέλεια συνταγή για μακροχρόνιες φυλετικές και εθνοτικές συγκρούσεις.

Στα τέλη της δεκαετίας του ‘70, Αιθιοπία και Σομαλία ενεπλάκησαν σ' ένα σύντομο αλλά φονικό πόλεμο (με περισσότερους από 12.000 νεκρούς) για τη διεκδίκηση της διαφιλονικούμενης περιοχής του Ογκαντέν, στα βόρεια της Αιθιοπίας.

Μια δεκαετία αργότερα, το 1991, ένας αιματηρός εμφύλιος στην Σομαλία, που θα διαρκούσε ώς το 2012, μετέτρεψε την άλλοτε αναπτυσσόμενη και κοσμοπολίτικη χώρα σε καταρρέον κράτος.

Δύο χρόνια πριν, ο κόσμος χειροκροτούσε την ιστορική ειρηνευτική συμφωνία με την οποία έκλεινε οριστικά το κεφάλαιο μιας άλλης μακρόχρονης σύγκρουσης στο Κέρας της Αφρικής, του τριαντάχρονου εθνικοαπελευθερωτικού αγώνα της Ερυθραίας (1961-1991) ενάντια στην Αιθιοπία, εγκαθιδρύοντας σχέσεις αμοιβαίας αναγνώρισης. Χάρη σ’ αυτή την συμφωνία, ο νεαρός Αιθίοπας πρωθυπουργός Άμπιι Άχμεντ τιμήθηκε πέρυσι με το Νόμπελ Ειρήνης.

Σήμερα, μια νέα σύγκρουση, στην Αιθιοπία αυτή τη φορά, ανάμεσα στην κεντρική κυβέρνηση της χώρας και την ημιαυτόνομη επαρχία του Τιγκράι, στα βόρειο τμήμα της, αναβιώνει την κατάρα του πολέμου στο Κέρας της Αφρικής.

Η σύγκρουση ξέσπασε πριν από ένα δεκαπενθήμερο, ύστερα από μια περίοδο κλιμακούμενης έντασης ανάμεσα στην ομοσπονδιακή κυβέρνηση της Αντίς Αμπέμπα και το Λαϊκό Απελευθερωτικό Μέτωπο του Τιγκράι (TPLF) που ελέγχει την περιοχή. Η αιθιοπική κυβέρνηση κατηγόρησε το TPLF για “κατάληψη στρατιωτικής βάσης” και “προδοσία”.

Οι νεκροί είναι εκατοντάδες μέχρι στιγμής, υπάρχουν πληροφορίες για ωμότητες και στοχοποίηση αμάχων, ενώ τουλάχιστον 27.000 άνθρωποι έχουν εγκαταλείψει τα σπίτια τους και έχουν βρει καταφύγιο στο γειτονικό Σουδάν. Ο ΟΗΕ κάνει λόγο για μια εκτυλισσόμενη μεγάλη ανθρωπιστική κρίση, με τον φόβο ενός ακόμη μεγαλύτερου προσφυγικού κύματος να εντείνεται μετά την εκπνοή, χθες, του τελεσιγράφου του Άμπιι προς τους μαχητές του Τιγκράι να καταθέσουν τα όπλα τους και να παραδοθούν στον αιθιοπικό στρατό. Αφότου έληξε η διορία, ο Αιθίοπας πρωθυπουργός ανήγγειλε ότι η στρατιωτική επιχείρηση στο Τιγκράι εισέρχεται στην «τελική φάση» της.

Οι Αιθιοπικές Εθνικές Αμυντικές Δυνάμεις (ENDF) έχουν δύναμη 140.000 ανδρών και θεωρούνται ετοιμοπόλεμες έχοντας διεξαγάγει σειρά επιχειρήσεων εναντίον ισλαμιστών μαχητών στη Σομαλία τα τελευταία χρόνια, ομάδων ανταρτών στις παραμεθόριες επαρχίες αλλά και έχοντας αποκτήσει πείρα από τον πόλεμο με την Ερυθραία.

Όμως πολλοί υψηλόβαθμοι αξιωματικοί του στρατού ανήκουν στη φυλή Τιγκρέ, ενώ τα περισσότερα βαρέα όπλα βρίσκονται στην επαρχία αυτή και το TPLF κατέλαβε το αρχηγείο της Βόρειας Διοίκησης στο Μεκέλε. Υπάρχουν αναφορές για αποσκιρτήσεις από τον στρατό μελών της φυλής Τιγκρέ. Παράλληλα, και το TPLF έχει μακρά πολεμική ιστορία καθώς πρωτοστάτησε στην προέλαση των ανταρτών προς την Αντίς Αμπέμπα που οδήγησε στην πτώση του δικτατορικού καθεστώτος του Μεγκίστου Χαϊλέ Μαριάμ, το 1991.

Ο πρόεδρος της Ερυθραίας Ισάιας Αφεγουέρκι, μακροχρόνιος εχθρός του Τιγκράι, ελέγχει επίσης έναν μεγάλο στρατό, ο οποίος, σύμφωνα με τις εκτιμήσεις της CIA, αριθμεί 200.000 άνδρες.

Η Ύπατη Αρμοστεία του ΟΗΕ για τους πρόσφυγες υπενθύμισε ότι η νέα σύγκρουση στο Κέρας της Αφρικής επηρεάζει και σχεδόν 100.000 πρόσφυγες από την Ερυθραία, οι οποίοι έχουν εγκατασταθεί στο Τιγκράι και εξαρτώνται από την ανθρωπιστική βοήθεια του οργανισμού για να επιβιώσουν.

 

Bread in Africa

clovegarden.com

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While domestication of grains for easy harvesting may have originated in Anatolia and Caucasus, about 10,000 years ago, the Horn of Africa was certainly not far behind. Grinding of grains into flour with sliding stones, and the baking of flat breads, is far older. Today, the main breads of Africa are still made under very primitive conditions. in a manner possibly in place before the dawn of history.   Photo by Lelaw Wondimu distributed under license Creative Commons.

More on Bread.

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North Africa   -   The Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania), Egypt, Sudan   Baghrir   -   [Beghrir]  This is a popular bread in the Maghreb region, often eaten for breakfast with a mix of butter and honey, but also with jams. It is made from semolina or wheat flour.   Photo by Tamorlan distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike v3.0 Unported.   Pita Bread   -   [Pita (Greek); Pocket Bread; Pide (Turkey); Khubz Arabi (Arabic)]  This lightly leavened wheat bread is very popular throughout North Africa, and far beyond. The ethnic markets here in the Los Angeles region are piled high with pita, in both white (photo) and whole wheat versions, in the 7 inch and larger sizes. The earliest Arabic recipes (10th century) have these baked in a Tandoor, but today they are usually made in continuous industrial ovens so as to meet the high demand. Pita is baked in a very hot oven at 450°F/232°C or higher, causing the disk to puff up dramatically. When removed from the oven the disk collapses, but the two sides remain separated, so the bread can be opened into a pocket. Throughout the region, street foods of all kinds are packed into pita pockets. The photo specimen was a 7 inch diameter disk 0.15 inch thick. Half the top layer was removed to show the inside. Enriched wheat flour, water, yeast, salt, calcium propionate. Kisra Rhaheeefa  Kisra Rhaheeefa is much like Ethiopia's Injera and used similarly, but is made from Sorghum Flour or Wheat Flour rather than Teff. The "Kisra Rhaheeefa" name differentiates it from "Kisra Aseeda", which is a Sorghum Porridge.   Photo by Mohammed Elfatih Hamadien distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike v4.0 International. The Horn of Africa   -   Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia   Injera   -   [Injera (Amharic); (Bidenaa (Oromo)]  This is the bread of Ethiopia and Eritrea, usually made from Teff. It was traditionally, and is often still today, made very large, to fit the table for which it would be the tablecloth. Scoops of stews and other recipes are placed directly on it. Diners tear off pieces of the "tablecloth" and use them to pick up the food. Today, especially in restaurants it is often made smaller and served on an Indian thali, or a very large plate.   Photo by PhoTom distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike v4.0 International. This is a sour dough bread, made with a leavened batter similar to thin pancake batter. The batter is baked on a large clay or metal tray, over moderate heat, and on one side only. Bubbles on the top side burst, giving the bread a spongy texture, almost like honeycomb tripe, which is very good at holding sauces. Temperature is regulated so it sets through, but does not brown on the bottom (see the rolled examples in the photo at the top of the page). It can be made using white or brown Teff, or a mix. Farmers say the white Teff is preferred to the brown by most of their customers. Lahoh   -   [Luhuh (Somali), Laxoox, Lahooh, Canjeero, Canjeelo, Anjeero] This bread is popular in Somalia, Djibouti and Yemen, but now also popular in Israel, introduced by Yemenite Jews. It is a fermented sour dough bread usually made of Sorghum Flour or Corn Flour and cooked on circular metal stove called a taawa or daawo. In Yemen, it is often served by street vendors.   Photo by Gilabrand at en.wikipedia distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike v3.0 Unported attribution required. East Africa   -   Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan   Chapati Long influenced by India, East Africa has adopted the Indian Chapati as their main form of bread - but they use white flour instead of the whole wheat Atta flour used in India. As it is very inconvenient for me to produce Chipatis, I use Flour Tortillas, easily available here in Southern California. I prefer the small 5 inch diameter ones. Incidentally, Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas make an excellent substitute for Indian Chapatis   Kisra Rhaheeefa   South Sudan (Christian and Native Religion) is now a separate country from Sudan (all Muslim) and is moving strongly into the East African community. One thing they still have in common with Sudan is Sudan's Kisra Rhaheeefa.

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©Andrew Grygus - agryg@clovegarden.com - Photos on this page not otherwise credited are © cg1 - Linking to and non-commercial use of this page permitted

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Bread and Bread-Baking Technologies in Africa

Bread is a dietary staple in North Africa, Northeastern Africa, and the Horn of Africa, and it is important in the diet of many Saharan and sub-Saharan people. African breads are made from the flours of a variety of cereals, tubers, and corms that are baked, steamed, and sometimes fried to produce pancake, flat bread, leavened or slightly leavened loaves, or cakes using ovens, hearths, griddles, pots, and molds. Technical choice in bread baking is associated with the baking properties of bread ingredients and social group’s culinary practices and preferences and does not represent evolutionary stages.

The Bread/Oven Porridge/Pot Bread/Griddle Traditions

Research of Africa’s culinary practices includes the history of bread consumption and its associated technologies, an investigation that is far from exhaustive. Several researchers observe a general (but not absolute) culinary divide between bread-based cuisines that use ovens and griddles...

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    Additional Reading

1. Chazan, M., & Lehner, M. (1990). An ancient analogy: Pot baked bread in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Paléorient, 16(2), 21–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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6. Samuel, D. (1989). Their staff of life: Initial investigations on ancient Egyptian bread baking. In B. J. Kemp (Ed.), Amarna reports V (pp. 253–290). London: Egypt Exploration Society.Google Scholar 
    
   Egyptian Bread Websites

1. Amarna West Site blog, British Museum. http://blog.amarawest.britishmuseum.org/2013/01/14/amara-west-2013-expect-the-unexpected/
2. Harvard University. http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~aera/Giza_Pages/Aeragram_Pages/AERAG1_1/bakeries.htm
3. Hilary Stewart on Ancient Egyptian bread baking. http://ancientfoods.wordpress.com/2011/08/12/ancient-egypt-bread/
4. Theban mapping project. http://www.thebanmappingproject.com/articles/article_15.4.html
5. University of Memphis. http://www.prosphora.org/page38.html
6. Sally Grainger and Roman bread, British Museum. http://blog.britishmuseum.org/2013/07/19/a-very-versatile-roman-oven/

Libia. Torture nei campi di detenzione: le nuove immagini choc

diktiospartakos.blogspot.com

Katerina Tsapopoulou

Libia. Torture nei campi di detenzione: le nuove immagini choc

Paolo Lambruschi sabato 4 gennaio 2020

Donna appesa a testa in giù e presa a bastonate: le cronache dell'orrore dal lager di Bani Walid, in Libia. Sei morti in due mesi. Spuntano i nomi degli schiavisti: «Ci stuprano e ci uccidono»

Una giovane eritrea appesa a testa in giù urla mentre viene bastonata ripetutamente nella "black room", la sala delle torture presente nei centri di detenzione in Libia. Questa è una sequenza di frame del video choc spedito dai suoi aguzzini ai familiari della donna presa a bastonate allo scopo di estorcere soldi per salvare la figlia

 

COMMENTA E CONDIVIDI

Una giovane eritrea appesa a testa in giù urla mentre viene bastonata ripetutamente nella "black room", la sala delle torture presente in molti centri libici per migranti. Il video choc - di cui riportiamo solo alcuni fermo immagine - è stato spedito via smartphone ai familiari della sventurata che devono trovare i soldi per riscattarla e salvarle la vita.

È quello che accade a Bani Walid, centro di detenzione informale, in mano alle milizie libiche. Ma anche nei centri ufficiali di detenzione, dove i detenuti sono sotto la "protezione" delle autorità di Tripoli pagata dall’Ue e dall’Italia: la situazione sta precipitando con cibo scarso, nessuna assistenza medica, corruzione. In Libia l’Unhcr ha registrato 40mila rifugiati e richiedenti asilo, 6mila dei quali sono rinchiusi nel sistema formato dai 12 centri di detenzione ufficiali, il resto in centri come Bani Walid o in strada. In tutto, stima il "Global detention project", vi sarebbero 33 galere. Vi sono anche detenuti soprattutto africani non registrati la cui stima è impossibile.

La vita della ragazza del Corno d’Africa appesa, lo abbiamo scritto sette giorni fa, vale 12.500 dollari. Ma nessuno interviene e continuano le cronache dell’orrore da Bani Walid, unanimente considerato il più crudele luogo di tortura della Libia. Un altro detenuto eritreo è morto qui negli ultimi giorni per le torture inferte con bastone, coltello e scariche elettriche perché non poteva pagare. In tutto fanno sei morti in due mesi. Stavolta non siamo riusciti a conoscere le sue generalità e a dargli almeno dignità nella morte. Quando si apre la connessione con l’inferno vicino a noi, arrivano sullo smartphone con il ronzio di un messaggio foto disumane e disperate richieste di aiuto, parole di angoscia e terrore che in Italia e nella Ue abbiamo ignorato girando la testa o incolpando addirittura le vittime.

«Mangiamo un pane al giorno e uno alla sera, beviamo un bicchiere d’acqua sporca a testa. Non ci sono bagni», scrive uno di loro in un inglese stentato. «Fate in fretta, aiutateci, siamo allo stremo», prosegue. Il gruppo dei 66 prigionieri eritrei che da oltre due mesi è nelle mani dei trafficanti libici si è ridotto a 60 persone stipate nel gruppo di capannoni che formano il mega centro di detenzione in campagna nel quartiere di Tasni al Harbi, alla periferia della città della tribù dei Warfalla, situata nel distretto di Misurata, circa 150 chilometri a sud-est di Tripoli. Lager di proprietà dei trafficanti, inaccessibile all’Unhcr in un crocevia delle rotte migratorie da sud (Sebha) ed est (Kufra) per raggiungere la costa, dove quasi tutti i migranti in Libia si sono fermati e hanno pagato un riscatto per imbarcarsi. Lo conferma lo studio sulla politica economica dei centri di detenzione in Libia commissionato dall’Ue e condotto da "Global Initiative against transnational organized crime" con l’unico mezzo per ora disponibile, le testimonianze dei migranti arrivati in Europa.

I sequestratori, ci hanno più volte confermato i rifugiati di Eritrea democratica contattati per primi dai connazionali prigionieri, li hanno comperati dal trafficante eritreo Abuselam "Ferensawi", il francese, uno dei maggiori mercanti di carne umana in Libia oggi sparito probabilmente in Qatar per godersi i proventi dei suoi crimini. Bani Walid, in base alle testimonianze raccolte anche dall’avvocato italiano stanziato a Londra Giulia Tranchina, è un grande serbatoio di carne umana proveniente da ogni parte dell’Africa, dove i prigionieri vengono separati per nazionalità. Il prezzo del riscatto varia per provenienza e sta salendo in vista del conflitto. Gli africani del Corno valgono di più per i trafficanti perché somali ed eritrei hanno spesso parenti in occidente che sentono molto i vincoli familiari e pagano. Tre mesi fa, i prigionieri eritrei valevano 10mila dollari, oggi 2.500 dollari in più perché alla borsa della morte la quotazione di chi fugge e viene catturato o di chi prolunga la permanenza per insolvenza e viene più volte rivenduto, sale. Il pagamento va effettuato via money transfer in Sudan o in Egitto.

Dunque quello che accade in questo bazar di esseri umani è noto alle autorità libiche, ai governi europei e all’Unhcr. Ma nessuno può o vuole fare niente. Secondo le testimonianze di alcuni prigionieri addirittura i poliziotti libici in divisa entrano in alcune costruzioni a comprare detenuti africani per farli lavorare nei campi o nei cantieri come schiavi.

«Le otto ragazze che sono con noi – prosegue il messaggio inviato dall’inferno da uno dei 60 prigionieri eritrei – vengono picchiate e violentate. Noi non usciamo per lavorare. I carcerieri sono tre e sono libici. Il capo si chiama Hamza, l’altro si chiama Ashetaol e del terzo conosciamo solo il soprannome: Satana». Da altre testimonianze risulta che il boia sia in realtà egiziano e abbia anche un altro nome, Abdellah. Avrebbe assassinato molti detenuti.

Ma anche nei centri di detenzione pubblici in Libia, la situazione resta perlomeno difficile. Persino nel centro Gdf di Tripoli dell’Acnur per i migranti in fase di ricollocamento gestito dal Ministero dell’Interno libico e dal partner LibAid dove i migranti lasciati liberi da altri centri per le strade della capitale libica a dicembre hanno provato invano a chiedere cibo e rifugio. Il 31 dicembre l’Associated Press ha denunciato con un’inchiesta che almeno sette milioni di euro stanziati dall’Ue per la sicurezza, sono stati intascati dal capo di una milizia e vice direttore del dipartimento libico per il contrasto all’immigrazione. Si tratta di Mohammed Kachlaf, boss del famigerato Abd Al-Rahman Al-Milad detto Bija, che avrebbe accompagnato in Italia nel viaggio documentato da Nello Scavo su Avvenire. È finito sulla lista nera dei trafficanti del consiglio di sicurezza Onu che in effetti gli ha congelato i conti.

Ma non è servito a nulla. L’agenzia ha scoperto che metà dei dipendenti di LibAid sono prestanome a libro paga delle milizie e dei 50 dinari (35 dollari) al giorno stanziati dall’Unhcr per forniture di cibo a ciascun migrante, ne venivano spesi solamente 2 dinari mentre i pasti cucinati venìvano redistribuiti tra le guardie o immessi nel mercato nero. Secondo l’inchiesta i danari inoltre venivano erogati a società di subappalto libiche gestite dai miliziani con conti correnti in Tunisia, dove venivano cambiati in valuta locale e riciclati. Una email interna dell’agenzia delle Nazioni Unite rivela come tutti ne fossero al corrente, ma non potessero intervenire. L’Acnur ha detto di aver eliminato dal primo gennaio il sistema dei subappalti.

© RIPRODUZIONE RISERVATA

https://www.avvenire.it

30 More Christians Arrested in Eritrea — Renounce Your Faith or Go to Jail

June 4, 2019 by Lindy Lowry in Africa, Stories of Persecution
Open Doors USA

The crackdown on Christians in Eritrea continues. Reportedly, more than 30 Christians (members of Pentecostal churches) were arrested by security forces in recent days. This report comes on the heels of recent news of arrests of 141 Christians, mostly women, in the nation’s capital city of Asmara.

According to the most recent report, police stopped them in three different places, again in Asmara.

“Police officers carry out continuous raids in private homes where devotees of unrecognized religions, especially Pentecostal Christians, meet for community prayer,” the report said. “They are released only if they disavow their faith.”
 
Intensifying Friction in Asmara 

A crackdown on Christians continues through Eritrea’s capital city of Asmara.

The report also refers to intensifying difficulties between the church and Ertitrea’s government. Authorities are demanding the “full control” of all religious organizations, such as private schools, medical clinics and orphanages.

“The authorities, in fact, demand the full control of all organizations of religious origin, such as private schools, medical clinics and orphanages” the report indicated—all of which provide needed support to the Eritrean population.

Some 66 percent of all Eritreans live below the poverty line; and there remains an extreme lack of resources and poverty alleviation programs.

Only a couple weeks ago, police rounded up 141 Christians, including 23 men, 104 women and 14 minors from Asmara’s Mai Temenai area. Reportedly, officials separated the men and women before taking the women to Police Station Number 4 and the men to Adi Abeito prison, the main prison for Asmara and the surrounding areas. It’s not known where the 14 minors were held.
 
The ‘North Korea of Africa’

Eritrea’s intricate prison system is known for its brutality, including jailing prisoners in metal shipping containers in the scorching heat–weather conditions that often permeate the country’s tropical desert climate.

Since 1993, Eritrea President Isaias Afwerki has overseen an authoritarian brutal regime that rests on massive human rights violations. Known as the “North Korea of Africa,” the country in the Horn of Africa is consistently in the top 10 on Open Doors’ World Watch List; this year it ranks at No. 7.
 
Praying for Believers in Eritrea
 
Pray that everyone in these recent arrests would experience God’s transcendent peace and comfort as they endure this persecution.
Pray for the Lord’s spiritual and physical provision to these men, women and children.
Pray for courage and wisdom as they interact with authorities.
Pray that they will not be fearful but have the grace of the Lord’s peace as they face uncertainty.
Pray that the Lord would glorify himself through the testimonies of our brothers and sisters and that they will be surprised by hope.
Pray that God would soften the heart of President Afwerki and draw the country’s government leaders to Himself.
And pray for the secret church of Eritrea. Ask God to give these believers His wisdom, discernment and courage as they follow Jesus in the volatile country.

Top photo: Christians come together to worship and pray in a secret location in Eritrea. 
 
Please, see also

Our tag about Pentecostal Churches

The Orthodox Christian sentiment regarding the persecutions of Christians by Islamist