Roundup of African conflicts

Central African Republic

From the BBC:

Armed unrest in the Central African Republic has caused thousands of people to flee to Chad in recent weeks.

Sources in the region speak of a nascent rebellion against the CAR government of General Francois Bozize.

The refugees say they were caught in the crossfire between forces loyal to General Bozize and others linked to the government he overthrew in 2003.

They say they are fleeing armed men who attack villages, steal possessions and in some cases kidnap children.

Refugee flows are often the first indication outsiders have of what is happening in the more remote parts of the world.

An estimated 5,000 people are now known to have fled the north-west of the Central African Republic in the past three weeks.

Hundreds of thousands of refugees are already living in the countries of this region, having escaped conflicts in Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nigeria

Violence and kidnappings in Nigeria's river delta region continues. The MEND group has risen to prominence in recent weeks.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, which has threatened "total war" in Nigeria's main oil-producing region and is behind the recent kidnapping of oil workers is a shadowy group, about which little is known.
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Mr Tamuno told our reporter that Mend was fighting for "total control" of the Niger Delta's oil wealth, saying local people had not gained from the riches under the ground and the region's creeks and swamps.

He said the Delta had been exploited for the benefit of other parts of Nigeria and foreign companies and ordered all oil companies and Nigerians whose roots lie elsewhere to leave the region.

Nine foreign oil workers were recently kidnapped, including three Americans.

Nigerian separatist militants showed one of nine foreign hostages to reporters and vowed the oil workers would not be released until the military pulls out of the Niger Delta.
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The rebels did not allow reporters to see their other prisoners -- two more Americans, a Briton, two Egyptians, a Filipino and two Thais -- but they did release photographs of all nine men being held by armed fighters.

Ethiopia

Tensions are still high between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and Ethiopia has been cracking down on internal unrest.

Fear has crept back into the wide boulevards of Ethiopia's capital since Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government unleashed a harsh crackdown on opposition members and arrested thousands following post-election violence.

"It's the 'Year of Living Dangerously,"' said a Western embassy official, referring to the 1982 movie, starring Mel Gibson, about political turmoil in Indonesia.

Even months after relative calm was restored, the kind of paranoia last felt under the oppressive Derg military dictatorship is gripping people, residents and expatriates say.

Addis has a reputation as one of sub-Saharan Africa's most urbane and hospitable capitals. Ethiopian eateries are set beside Italian restaurants and shops pour the country's famous coffee from state-of-the-art machines.

In a reminder of Ethiopia's feudal history, tin-roof slums sprawl within sight of five-star hotels favored by visiting diplomats and politicians. While the signs of poverty may be nearly everywhere, crime levels are relatively low.

But people are treading carefully these days in this city of 5 million, perched 7,875 feet above sea level in the Horn of Africa.

"You have to watch every step, you have to watch your mouth, look behind you," one salesman said, refusing to give his name for fear of reprisal. "Such things were not happening before. We were free. It's never been like this under Meles."