obs-global-security-update-february-2015

Global Security ReportMr. Ben Ali in 2011. Tunisia completed its political transition with a string of elections in thefinal months of 2014, with the most votes going to Nida Tunis, a party that includes manymembers of the old regime and has promised stability after a transition marked by unrest.President Beji Caid Essebsi, who formed the party, was inaugurated last week and is anotherveteran of the pre-revolutionary system. He received Essid on Monday and tasked him withforming a new government. Nida Tunis must form a coalition with several other parties in theparliament to gain a majority. Tunisia’s moderate Islamists, who won elections immediatelyafter the revolution in 2011, remain the second-largest party in Parliament but aren’t expectedto be part of the coalition.4 January Suspected Islamist extremists slit the throat of a Tunisian policeman south of the capitalovernight, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday. Since the revolution of January 2011, Tunisiahas seen a rise in Islamist extremism and tackling it is one of the main challenges facing thecountry’s first freely elected President Beji Caid Essebsi, who was sworn in on Wednesday. Thepoliceman “had his throat slit and was stabbed in the heart in Zaghouan province as he wasreturning from work in the capital,” a ministry statement said. It said that a preliminaryinvestigation suggested he had been killed by an Islamist extremist group and that nine suspectshad been arrested. Dozens of police and military personnel have been killed in attacks blamedon Islamist militants since 2011. In late November, an off-duty policeman was abducted anddecapitated in the Kef area close to the Algerian border.West AfricaBenin22 January Lawmakers in Benin have approved a new law for the media. The new law, which was approvedin parliament on Thursday, removes custodial sentences for offences deemed offensive againstthe head of state, and regulates access to news sources. The new law comes in the wake ofrecent concerns over the freedom of expression in the West African nation. Franck Kptocheme,president of the Benin media professionals union (UPMP), confirmed the new law, stating, “it’sthe crowning achievement of more than 10 years’ battle,” calling the decision “clear-sighted.” Ina 2014 Reporters Without Borders index, Benin was ranked 75 th out of 180 countries and wasranked 16 th amongst African nations. The freedom of information advocacy group highlightedseveral cases in which journalists have been targeted for doing their job. Last year, the publisherof L’independent newspaper was given a three-year suspended prison sentences for allegedly“insulting” President Thomas Boni Yayi. The publication was suspended for six months and onereporter was jailed for two months.8 January Benin’s president Thomas Yayi Boni has indicated that his country will “in a few weeks time”send medical practioners to assist Liberia in its fight to contain the Ebola outbreak. Thepresident noted that the primary objective of every member state of the African Union (AU) isto assist in the eradication of the deadly Ebola virus from Africa. Benin’s leader made thestatement Wednesday at a news conference that was held at the Roberts International Airportin Margibi County when he, along with Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou, paid a one-daysolidarity visit to Liberia. Speaking to reporters, Benin’s President stated “we want to join youin this fight because it is important that as a member of the sub-regional organization it is ourobligation to help you fight this disease.” President Boni alluded to the efforts being made bymembers of the AU and other partners as an endeavour to galvanize more financial assistanceand putting forth sensitization programmes to help Liberia and other affected nations to combatthe Ebola outbreak.Benin’s Minister of Health, Professor Dorothee Kinde Gazard has announced that the Lassa feveroutbreak in Benin is over. A statement released by the Minister of Health’s office disclosed,“between 15 Oct – 24 Nov 2014, 16 cases were recorded including 9 deaths. Of these 9 deaths,Lassa fever was confirmed in 2 of the 4 fatal cases among healthcare givers.”38