Kenya’s parliament threatens sanctions on Machar after renewed South Sudan fighting Malakal, South Sudan | AFP | At least 56 rebels and four government troops were killed in heavy weekend clashes in northeastern South Sudan, in a worrying surge of violence in the world’s youngest nation. Sudan People’s Liberation Army …
Read More »Rwanda’s last king, Kigeli V, dies at age 80
Kigali, Rwanda | AFP | The last king of Rwanda, Kigeli V, who ruled the east African nation for less than a year before being forced into exile, finally settling in the United States, died early Sunday according to his official website. He was 80. Born Jean-Baptiste Ndahindurwa, King Kigeli …
Read More »Gatete named Finance Minister of the Year
Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Claver Gatete, has been named Finance Minister of the Year in the Sub-Saharan category by Global Capital, an international news, opinion, and data service Gatete’s honour was announced on Oct.04 together with winners from Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, and …
Read More »Malawi president home after mysterious weeks-long trip
Blantyre, Malawi | AFP | Malawian President Peter Mutharika returned home Sunday after an unexplained trip to the United States that lasted several weeks, sparking rumours over his health. Mutharika flew to New York to give a speech at the UN General Assembly on September 25 but there had been …
Read More »Medical delivery drones take flight over Rwanda
Muhanga, Rwanda | AFP | “Three, two, one, launch!” And with that, catapulted from a ramp, the small fixed-wing drone buzzes into the air towards its pre-programmed destination, the Kabgayi hospital two kilometres away. On Friday Rwanda inaugurated a drone operation that its backers hope will kickstart a revolution in …
Read More »African leaders tackle piracy, illegal fishing at Lome summit
Lome, Togo | AFP | Stemming the astronomical losses caused by crime in the oceans surrounding Africa is the focus of a major continental summit on Saturday in the Togolese capital, Lome. “Over recent decades, the accumulated revenue losses resulting directly from illegal activities in the African maritime sector add …
Read More »Chad and Kenya join battle to lead AU, Uganda’s Kazibwe out
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Kenya, Senegal and Chad will each nominate a candidate to become the new head of the African Union, which failed to choose a successor to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in July. A list of candidates, obtained by AFP but not yet made public, includes Kenya’s foreign …
Read More »Now, Machar heads to South Africa for medical tests
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar, a pariah for the West since his call last month for renewed civil war, headed to South Africa for medical check-ups on Wednesday, an AFP correspondent reported. In what he billed as his first media appearance since he fled …
Read More »How much is child soldier’s lost youth worth? ICC asks
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | “How do you calculate a lost childhood?” That was the question Tuesday before war crimes judges trying to set the amount of landmark reparations to be paid to former Congolese child soldiers. After years of hearings, trials and appeals before the International Criminal Court …
Read More »Landmark agreement on Rwandan refugees
UNHCR, African host countries agree on final steps to resolve Rwandan refugee situation UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and delegations from African countries as well as the African Union, have agreed on the final steps to end the protracted Rwandan refugee situation after seven years of negotiations. This was at …
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