Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerian police on Tuesday briefly detained activists calling for the release of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram jihadists nearly four years ago, campaigners said. Members of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy group were taken into custody as they held their daily demonstration in the capital, …
Read More »UN chief urges ‘restraint’ in DR Congo after deadly protest crackdown
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The UN’s Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for “credible investigations” after at least six people were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a crackdown on a protest against President Joseph Kabila. Guterres said the government should “hold those responsible accountable” in a …
Read More »Pope Francis urges DR Congo to ‘avoid all forms of violence’
Lima, Peru | AFP | Pope Francis called Sunday for authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to “avoid all forms of violence” after a crackdown on protesters in the capital left six dead. Francis, who was in Peru on the final day of a South American tour, called on …
Read More »Internet cut off, at least five dead in DR Congo protest crackdown
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | At least five people were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, the UN said, as the authorities cracked down on a banned protest against President Joseph Kabila. Witnesses said security forces fired live rounds and tear gas in Kinshasa to disperse …
Read More »DR Congo on edge ahead of ‘banned’ protest
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | A heavy police presence is expected in the Democratic Republic of Congo capital Kinshasa on Sunday ahead of planned protests demanding that President Joseph Kabila leave power. Catholic church leaders have called for a mass peaceful demonstration against Kabila’s 17-year rule, three weeks after …
Read More »Thousands of women in anti-president protest in Togo
Lome, Togo | AFP | Thousands of women took to the streets of Togo’s capital Lome on Saturday to protest against the power of President Faure Gnassingbe. Since September, a coalition of 14 political parties has held almost weekly marches, where thousands have called for Gnassingbe to step down to …
Read More »Russia warns US not to get involved in Iran
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Moscow on Thursday warned Washington against interfering in Iran’s “internal affairs” after US President Donald Trump pledged to help Iranians “take back” their government following protests. The White House said it was weighing sanctions against those involved in a crackdown against the unrest, which has left …
Read More »Almost a week of deadly protests in Iran
Tehran, Iran | AFP | Violent demonstrations have rocked Iran for almost a week, leaving at least 21 people dead, with the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday declaring the “end of the sedition”. The protests that started over the economy before turning against the Islamic regime as a …
Read More »Thousands gather in Togo to protest president
Lome, Togo | AFP | Tens of thousands of demonstrators thronged the streets of the Togolese capital on Saturday, the latest in a series of mass protests against the rule of President Faure Gnassingbe. Anti-government marches have been held across the country nearly every week since August, attracting hundreds of …
Read More »Six anti-Trump inauguration day protesters not guilty
Washington, United States | AFP | Free speech activists and opponents of Donald Trump on Friday welcomed the acquittal of six protesters charged over unrest on the US president’s inauguration day. They were among more than 200 people accused in connection with the January 20 protests, some of whom have …
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