Podcasts

Ugandan MP's petition the ICC for investigation into 'genocide' by the army and the police

A group of Ugandan lawmakers have sent a petition to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to ask for an investigation into possible atrocities by security forces when they clashed with a tribal militia late last year. According to an official toll, 62 people were killed in November when a combined force of soldiers and police officers clashed with a tribal leader's guards in the Rwenzori region near Uganda's western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

Thousands of political prisoners in Ethiopia is pardoned in the restive Oromia region

Ten thousand prisoners have been pardoned in the restive Oromia region of Ethiopia, the state broadcaster EBC reported on Wednesday evening. The pardon came amid a State of Emergency in the country that has led to the arrest of several thousands of others across the nation.

 

Strike by Kenya doctors continues despite President Uhuru Kenyatta's offer to increase salaries by over 40%

Striking doctors are yet to go back to work even after being offered an enhanced pay package that would cost the Treasury an additional Sh4 billion every year. In the meeting chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House Mombasa, it was agreed that the entry point of doctors would be enhanced from Job Group L to M, and gross salaries raised to Sh196,000 from the current Sh140,244.

Mozambique's Renamo opposition party extends ceasefire to aid peace talks

Mozambique's Renamo opposition party said on Tuesday it had extended a ceasefire by two months to allow talks with President Filipe Nyusi's government, raising hopes for a nascent peace process. Both sides have clashed sporadically since Renamo challenged the results of the southern African nation's 2014 elections.

 

Nigeria's government rolls out new scheme to give monthly payments to one million of the poorest

The Federal Government has announced that it has started payment of N5,000 monthly stipend to one million of the poorest and most vulnerable in the country through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) of its Social Investment Programmes (SIP). This was disclosed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande on Monday.

 

Morocco's central bank has approved five requests to open Islamic banks in the country

Morocco's central bank has approved five requests to open Islamic banks in the country and allowed three French banks to sell Islamic products, it said on Monday. Islamic banks and insurers are setting up in Morocco after new legislation allowed them into the market, and the central bank has set up a central sharia board with a body of Islamic scholars to oversee the new sector.

Will Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh step down?

The Gambia's opposition says longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh could be considered a rebel leader if he takes up arms and doesn't step down later this month, a warning issued after the president vowed any foreign troop presence would be tantamount to an act of war. Halifa Sallah, the spokesman of the opposition coalition, said on Monday that Jammeh will be a private citizen as of January 19 and would have no constitutional mandate to be in command of the armed forces of The Gambia.

Will Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh step down?

The Gambia's opposition says longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh could be considered a rebel leader if he takes up arms and doesn't step down later this month, a warning issued after the president vowed any foreign troop presence would be tantamount to an act of war. Halifa Sallah, the spokesman of the opposition coalition, said on Monday that Jammeh will be a private citizen as of January 19 and would have no constitutional mandate to be in command of the armed forces of The Gambia.

Mozambique's escalating violence forces thousands to flee

Sheltering from rain in a small tent, Titus Albaosui is trying to escape the fighting between government troops and rebel forces raging across central Mozambique and raising fears of civil war. The clashes between longtime rivals, the Frelimo government and Renamo, an armed insurgent group and also an elected opposition party, have revived the spectre of Mozambique's civil war that ended more than 20 years ago.

 

Gambia's president-elect urges regional bloc to speed up negotiations on Jammeh's departure

The West African regional group Ecowas should be quick in following up on negotiations to ensure outgoing President Yahya Jammeh leaves office when his current term expires, according to the opposition coalition led by president-elect Adama Barrow. Barrow is expected to assume office on 18 January, however Jammeh has rejected the results of the polls, saying he wants fresh elections.

DRC political instability persists

Political uncertainty persists with President Joseph Kabila still clinging to power. This as UN forces hunt those responsible for Christmas massacre. This as fighting between militias killed at least 35 people over the Christmas weekend in North Kivu, a majority Christian area in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

AfricaReport

Congo forces kill 26 protesters against leader Kabila

Security forces shot dead at least 26 protesters who had gathered in the streets of Kinshasa and other cities of Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday to demand that President Joseph Kabila step down after his mandate expired overnight.