Former Burundian government minister and spokeswoman Hafsa Mossi was shot dead in the capital Bujumbura on Wednesday, police said. “Hon. Mossi assassinated 10.30 in Gihosha”, in the east of Bujumbura by, “two criminals in a vehicle,” police spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye said on Twitter. Mossi was Burundi’s information minister and government …
Read More »Ceasefire holding in South Sudan’s capital
Juba, South Sudan | AFP | A ceasefire in South Sudan’s capital appeared to hold for a second straight day Wednesday after intense fighting that killed hundreds of people and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. No gunfire or artillery was heard in Juba and evacuation flights for …
Read More »Three quarters of South Sudanese need humanitarian aid: UN
Amman, Jordan | AFP | Three-quarters of the population of South Sudan needs humanitarian aid after four days of deadly fighting, the UN’s World Food Programme director Etharin Cousin told AFP on Tuesday. Between Friday and Monday, the capital Juba was rocked by clashes between forces loyal to President Salva …
Read More »Uganda, Djibouti censured by ICC for failure to arrest Bashir
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | The International Criminal Court on Tuesday said it is referring Uganda and Djibouti to the UN Security Council after the two east African countries’ failed to arrest wanted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. The Hague-based ICC’s judges said in a statement “the Republics of Uganda …
Read More »Netanyahu, Museveni vow to fight terrorism
Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | “Exactly forty years ago, our forces took part in a historic mission to rescue hostages. The forces landed in the dead of night in a country ruled by a dictator who aids terrorists. Now here I am, I have landed in daylight in a friendly …
Read More »Fierce fighting in Juba despite appeals for calm
Juba, South Sudan | AFP | Heavy fighting resumed in South Sudan’s capital Juba on Monday despite international calls for calm after deadly gun battles sent thousands of people fleeing and threatened the young nation’s shaky peace deal. The United Nations has voiced deep alarm over the surge in …
Read More »Ethiopia blocks social media ahead of exams
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia has blocked social media sites for the next few days, after questions from end-of-year exams were posted online last month, sparking a national scandal and leading to their annulment. A government spokesman said the ban was aimed at stopping students taking university entrance …
Read More »South Sudan: peace on paper, conflict on the ground
Juba, South Sudan | AFP | South Sudan has been plunged back into violence as it marks five years of independence, with a peace deal stalled and huge swathes of the country facing food shortages. Tens of thousands have died in the war that started in December 2013 in the …
Read More »Fresh firefight in South Sudan capital: residents, UN
Juba, South Sudan | AFP | Gunfire was once again heard in South Sudan’s capital on Sunday as former rebels and government soldiers exchanged fire on the outskirts of the city. “Gunshots, heavily armed exchange UN House area once again; going on now since approx. 0825 (0525 GMT),” the UN …
Read More »Britain exits EU: What does it mean for Africa?
A view from the Economic Policy Research Centre Makerere On June 23, the British voted in a referendum to exit the European Union. The referendum was predictably surrounded by discussions of what a British exit- Brexit- would mean for the people and its social, political and economic impact. Of particular …
Read More »