The security situation in Mali remains quite volatile, marked by pockets of terrorist violence, with devastating consequences for civilians, the top UN official there said on Wednesday. El-Ghassim Wane, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, briefed the Security Council on major developments in the West African country over…
Category: African News
3,500 African Union Soldiers Killed in Somalia Since 2007
By Harun Maruf Thousands of African Union peacekeepers have been killed and hundreds more injured in Somalia since the forces began their work in that country in early 2007, the head of their mission told VOA Somali. The peacekeepers were deployed to help protect the government and installations from al-Qaida-affiliated al-Shabab militants. Mohamed El-Amine Souef,…
Ethiopia’s Controversial Dam ‘a Potential Boon for All’
A view of a wall of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam (file photo). ANALYSIS By Jennifer Holleis With 90% of the Grand Ethiopian Reservoir Dam completed, Sudan has now turned into a supporter. Though Egypt is critical of the project, experts have ruled out war and point to potential benefits for the whole region. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance…
Concern as More Medical Practitioners Continue to Leave Nigeria
ABUJA By Patience Ivie Ihejirika While Nigeria’s population is expanding geometrically, the health care workforce is shrinking drastically, as doctors to patient ratio in the country drops to 1:10,000 as against the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of 1:1,000. The mass exodus of skilled medical practitioners from Nigeria is deepening the existing health care crisis, with…
Impunity the Key Obstacle to Human Rights Defence in South Sudan
Without tackling impunity, South Sudan will not stem pervasive violence, and horrific human rights violations and abuses, a UN inquiry said in a new report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It details how perpetrators of the most serious crimes, including widespread attacks against civilians and extrajudicial killings, remain unpunished. Senior government officials and military…
Putin’s Visit a Headache For South African Govt
By Esther Rose Cape Town — Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will be attending the Brics Summit in August this year, on invitation by the South African government. Brics is a group of the world’s biggest emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and late-addition South Africa. The International Criminal Court in the Hague has, since…
Authorities Turn Up Heat For Journalists In Africa, many imprisoned.
The Commitee to Protect Journalists and Amnesty International reported that Algeria sentenced Ihsane el-Khadi to five years imprisonment- also closing down a local independent broadcaster and newspaper there. Two years of the sentence has been suspended and relates to El-Khadi allegedly receiving funds for “political propaganda” and “to harm the security of the state.” Shortly…
Kenyans Urged to Return to Work After Cancellation of Protests
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on Kenyans to resume their normal working routinefollowing the cancellation of the opposition Azimio La Umoja One ‘anti-government’ protests. While lauding Kenyans for their resilience in the face of challenges, Gachagua expressed confidence in the country’s economic recovery. Despite the cancellation of the protests, Gachagua warned that some criminal elements…
HICGI News Agency 