Southern Africa leaders back Western Sahara at ‘historic’ talks Pretoria, South Africa | AFP | Several southern African leaders on Tuesday threw their support behind Western Sahara, with one calling the disputed territory the “last colony” on the African continent. Also attending is Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni. President Cyril Ramaphosa, leader …
Read More »Former foes Ethiopia and Eritrea seek to boost Juba peace deal
Juba, South Sudan | AFP | The leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea met South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Monday seeking to breathe new life into a flagging peace agreement signed six months ago between his government and rebels. South Sudan’s influential Catholic Church last month warned that the deal agreed …
Read More »Oulanyah hails UPDF on peace, security
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, has praised the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Force (UPDF) for its role in national and regional stability. At an event to launch this year’s Tarehe sita celebration activities at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs headquarters in Mbuya, Oulanyah said …
Read More »Bashir vows to bring peace as demos called in war zones
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | President Omar al-Bashir vowed Monday to bring peace in the state of South Kordofan where Sudanese forces are fighting rebels, as protesters planned to hold anti-government rallies in the country’s conflict zones. Deadly protests triggered by a government decision to raise the price of bread have rocked the east African …
Read More »IGAD: Security improving in region
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has said that the security and conflict situation in the IGAD Sub-region is rapidly improving. IGAD is a trade block comprising of Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia. Dr Koang Tutlam Dung, the Representative …
Read More »Nobel laureates urge world to help victims of rape in conflict
Oslo, Norway | AFP | Nobel laureates Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad called on the world to protect victims of wartime sexual violence in their Peace Prize acceptance speeches on Monday, slamming indifference to the plight of women and children in conflict. Congolese gynecologist Mukwege, whose work has made him …
Read More »Fight to end rape in war must begin in peacetime: Mukwege
Oslo, Norway | AFP | Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege may have won his Nobel prize for his work to end sexual violence in war, but the crusading surgeon said the groundwork for equality must be laid in peacetime, as he praised movements like #MeToo. Mukwege, whose work has made him …
Read More »Mukwege saviour to dozens of ‘little sisters’ raped in DRC village
Bukavu, DR Congo | AFP | Lucie was just seven years old when the men took her. She was found the next day, naked and bleeding, on the edge of the vast forested hills of Kahuzi Biega Park, in violence-plagued eastern DR Congo. “The militants entered the family home …
Read More »Nobel laureates challenge world to end sexual violence
Oslo, Norway | AFP | Nobel peace laureates Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege said Sunday they hoped their award would help them push the international community to act to end rape in conflict and deliver justice for victims. Yazidi activist Murad and Congolese doctor Mukwege will be jointly presented with …
Read More »Mukwege: Congolese ‘Doctor Miracle’ heals sexual atrocity victims
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | In Democratic Republic of Congo, they call him “Doctor Miracle” for his surgical skill and dedication in helping women overcome the injuries and trauma of sexual abuse and rape. Denis Mukwege is a crusading gynaecologist who has spent more than two decades treating appalling …
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