Goma, DR Congo | AFP | UN chief Antonio Guterres started a three-day tour of the Democratic Republic of Congo Saturday, expressing “solidarity” with a region ravaged by violence and an Ebola epidemic. The secretary general first visited Goma, the capital of North Kivu province which is trying to …
Read More »Sudan’s persecuted Christians eye long-sought freedom
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan’s Christians suffered decades of persecution under the regime of Islamist general Omar al-Bashir. Now they hope his downfall will give the religious freedom they have long prayed for. Deep within the maze of dusty alleys that honeycomb Omdurman, Khartoum’s sprawling twin city, Yousef Zamgila’s …
Read More »Sudan swears in ruling council and prime minister Hamdok
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan took further steps in its transition towards civilian rule Wednesday, with the swearing in of a new Sovereign Council and prime minister. A government is expected to be formed within a week, after which the new institutions can tackle the daunting task of rescuing …
Read More »Formation of Sudan’s sovereign council drags on
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan’s transition towards civilian rule got off to a bumpy start as generals and protest leaders fell two days behind schedule Tuesday in unveiling a joint sovereign council. The body will replace the transitional military council that took over from longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir when …
Read More »Sudan protesters, army rulers ink power sharing deal
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan’s protesters and ruling generals Wednesday inked a deal that aims to install a civilian administration, a key demand of demonstrators since president Omar al-Bashir was deposed in a coup three months ago. The move loosens a deadlock that has gripped the country, following …
Read More »Mass protests for civilian rule rock Sudan
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Tens of thousands of protesters rallied across Sudan on Sunday against the ruling generals as demonstrators marched on the presidential palace in Khartoum, in the biggest mass demonstration since a deadly crackdown on demonstrators. The “million-man” march is seen as a test for protest organisers …
Read More »Tension as Ethiopia army chief killed amid regional ‘coup’ bid
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia’s army chief and a top local leader have been shot dead during an attempt to overthrow a regional government in the north of the country, underscoring political instability as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tries to reform the nation. Violence flared on …
Read More »Ethiopia army chief of staff shot amid unrest
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia’s army chief of staff has been shot, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on television Sunday as the government said it had thwarted an attempted coup in a regional state of this Horn of Africa nation. Abiy took to national television in the early …
Read More »Ousted Sudan strongman Bashir faces corruption charges
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan’s public prosecutor has charged ousted president Omar al-Bashir of corruption, the official SUNA news agency said on Thursday. The announcement came more than two month after the military ousted Bashir on April 11 following months of nationwide protests against his 30-year ironfisted rule. “The …
Read More »How the crisis in Sudan unfolded
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | The deadly crackdown by security forces on protesters in Sudan follows a worsening standoff between the ruling military and demonstrators demanding civilian rule. The unrest started in December 2018, when citizens revolted against a tripling of the price of bread. In April, demonstrators launched a …
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