News Timeline: April 2011

 

April 4 — Former Soviet Republics: KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev wins another term in presidential elections with 95.5 percent of the vote. International observes say the election fell short of democratic standards, but Nazarbayev claims the result gives him a mandate to continue national reforms. The opposition is weak and disunited. Nazarbayev has been a president since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

April 6 — Europe/Africa

Italian coast guards rescue several dozen of illegal migrants whose boat capsized just south of the Italian island of Lampedusa. More than 130 people, however, are missing. The boat, which took off from western Libya, carried more than 200 people mostly from African countries: Eritrea, Somalia, Ivory Coast, Chad, Nigeria, and Sudan. Hundreds of migrants have been recently arriving in Lampedusa, overwhelming its facilities.

April 11 — Europe: FRANCE

France’s ban on wearing Islamic face veils, such as niqab or burka, in public places comes into force. A woman wearing a face veil can be detained and fined. Those who force a woman to wear a face veil, however, face larger fines and prison terms up to two years. France is the first country in Europe to impose such a ban, saying it is incompatible with French ideals of equality.

April 11 — Africa: IVORY COAST

Troops loyal to internationally recognized Ivory Coast’s president, Alassane Ouattara, and the French troops, which operate under the United Nations mandate, capture former President Laurent Gbagbo in his home in the capital, Abidjan, after months of the post-election standoff. Gbagbo refused to accept his defeat in the November poll. More than 1,500 people died and about 100,000 fled the country due to the months of this violent conflict. President Ouattara wants Gbagbo to be tried for his crimes.

April 13 — Africa: EGYPT

Egyptian authorities arrest former President Hosni Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, ahead of an investigation of corruption and violence. Mubarak’s family is not allowed to leave Egypt. The interim government has also frozen their assets.

April 18 — Africa: NIGERIA

Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, is declared a winner of the country’s March presidential elections. Jonathan, a vice president in the previous administration, was appointed president after the death of President Umaru Yar’Aduna in May. About 500 people died in the post-election violence, which reflects the country’s regional divisions. Jonathan, who is a southern Christian, ran against a former military ruler and a northern Muslim, Muhammadu Buhari.

April 21 — Latin America: HAITI

Haiti officially declares that Michel Martelly, a popular singer, has won the March presidential election defeating former first lady Mirlande Manigat in the run off vote. Martelly has won 67.6 percent of the vote. The election has been marred by weeks of violent protests by Manigat’s supporters making accusations of fraud.

April 23 — Middle East: YEMEN

Pressed by the continued demonstrations, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh accepts a plan drawn by the Gulf Arab states, which forces him to step down in 30 days and turn over power to the vice president in exchange for immunity from prosecution. The plan also makes the interim government responsible for organizing presidential elections within two months. The opposition, however, does not want to accept immunity from prosecution for President Saleh and his family.

April 25 — Middle East: SYRIA

Several demonstrators are killed in Syria after the government troops open fire on protesters in the city of Deraa. Tanks and troops also advance on the protesters in the country’s capital, Damascus. So far, more than 350 people have been killed in protests across Syria since they started in March.

April 26 — South Asia/International Organizations: SRI LANKA/UNITED NATIONS

A United Nations special panel report says that there are credible allegations into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger rebels in the final phase of the country’s civil war in 2009. Tens of thousands of civilians lost their lives when the rebels used them as human shields and the government troops deliberately targeted them. The Sri Lankan government rejects the accusations.

April 27 — East Asia: INDIA

The Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamsala, India announces that Harvard educated Lobsang Sangay has been elected a prime minister. About 50,000 Tibetans living in exile around the world cast their votes. The Dalai Lama insisted on devolving the political duties to an elected official, but he will continue his role as Tibetan spiritual leader.

April 27 — Middle East: PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

The Fatah party of the Palestinian Authority that is in charge of the West Bank and Hamas ruling the Gaza Strip reach a reconciliation agreement. The plan includes forming an interim government and holding elections in eight months. The two groups have been divided for more than four years. Their reconciliation breaks down a big barrier to a possible future Palestinian statehood. Israel warns that it will not negotiate with the Palestinian Authority if Hamas is involved. The United States, on the other hand, comments that the future unity government will have to recognize Israel and renounce violence.