Kigali, Rwanda | AFP A Rwandan court on Friday sentenced former politician Leon Mugesera to life in prison for inciting the 1994 genocide. Judge Antoine Muhima said Mugesera had taken part in “public incitement to commit genocide” as well as inciting torture and ethnic hatred, though he was found not …
Read More »Anxiety as South Sudan readies for rebel chief’s return
Juba, South Sudan | AFP On a dusty patch of earth cut into thick bush on the outskirts of South Sudan’s capital, hundreds of rebel soldiers who took part in a more than two-year civil war have set up a new base. The camp is basic: a few blue tents …
Read More »ODINGA: ICC’s failure to try Kenyan leaders spells ‘doom’
Paris, France | AFP | The ICC’s failure to try top Kenyan leaders for crimes against humanity in the country’s worst violence since independence spells “doom” for global efforts to fight impunity, former Kenyan leader Raila Odinga told AFP. Despite this setback, African countries must not quit the International Criminal …
Read More »Malawi president declares national disaster after drought
Blantyre, Malawi | AFP Malawian President Peter Mutharika on Wednesday declared a state of national disaster due to food shortages caused by drought, in the latest sign of alarm over a hunger crisis across southern Africa. Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia are all suffering food supply problems, while South Africa …
Read More »Kenyatta promises $10,000 for Olympic gold
Nairobi, KENYA | AFP | Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said Monday he will give priority to pass a new anti-doping law to beat a deadline and ensure the east African track giants compete at the Rio Olympics. The second World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) deadline for Kenya to tighten its anti-doping …
Read More »Sierra Leone on alert after new W.Africa Ebola cases
Freetown, Sierra Leone | AFP | Sierra Leone called Sunday for increased vigilance to prevent a resurgence of the Ebola virus after new cases in neighbouring Liberia and Guinea, but cautioned against shutting off borders between the west African states. The alert came after the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed …
Read More »Hunger, power cuts in Zimbabwe, Zambia as lake level hits record low
Kariba, Zimbabwe | AFP Lake Kariba on the Zambezi River border between Zimbabwe and Zambia used to be dotted with hundreds of commercial fishing rigs, while local fishermen in small makeshift boats would catch enough bream for their livelihood. Now the fishermen are standing on shore praying for rain as …
Read More »Somalia executes two Shebab fighters for killing journalist
Mogadishu, Somalia | AFP Two members of Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab jihadist group were executed by firing squad Saturday for the murder of a journalist killed by a car bomb last year, a judge said. Abdirisak Mohamed Barow et Hassan Nur Ali, who admitted being Shebab members during their trial, were …
Read More »Tanzanian UN troops face paternity claims after alleged sex abuse
United Nations, United States | AFP Eleven girls and women from the Democratic Republic of Congo claim they became pregnant as a result of sexual abuse by Tanzanian troops serving in the UN peace mission there, the UN said Tuesday. “Seven of the alleged victims have already given birth and …
Read More »Angola, hit by collapse of oil prices, seeks IMF aid
Washington, United States | AFP Angola said Wednesday it had asked the International Monetary Fund for help after the crash in oil prices ravaged government finances. The IMF said discussions would begin next week in Washington on what could be a three-year support plan for the government. “The sharp decline …
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