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Crimean Tatar TV Station Forced to Close

As of today, the only television station in Crimea that broadcasts in Crimean Tatar, Ukrainian and Russian languages, ATR, ceased operating. It was forced to shut down because it was not able to re-register under Russian law by the April 1 deadline.   The Crimean authorities claim that ATR’s closure has nothing to do with politics. That sounds like an April Fool’s joke – except that it’s not.

Nigeria’s New President, Boko Haram, and Rights

Against the odds, Nigeria has succeeded in carrying out a mostly peaceful presidential election. The campaign was marked by bitter, divisive, and sometimes hateful rhetoric which left little hope that the contest would end without violence.

This good news should not obliterate the deep problems that bedevil Nigeria, including the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast that is spilling across Nigeria’s borders, communal violence, corruption, and impunity for crimes by Nigerian security forces.

Photo by Martina Bacigalupo

CrisisWatch N°140 

March saw significant improvements in resolving longstanding conflicts, particularly in Myanmar and Colombia. However, Yemen’s political crisis tipped into all-out war, and fighting increased again in South Sudan following suspension of the peace talks. In Africa, election-related tensions worsened ahead of Burundi’s June presidential elections, while renewed international support to Guinea-Bissau gave a lift to political stability and reform. In a significant development for West Africa and beyond, Nigeria witnessed, for the first time in its history, the ousting of a ruling party through national elections, with Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the 28 March presidential elections. 

FULL BRIEFING (via Crisis Group)

Total Lunar Eclipse On Saturday Will Last For Just 5 Minutes