Africa

Senegal opens court to try former Chad dictator

Senegal’s new Extraordinary African Chambers officially opened to try Chad’s ex-dictator Hissene Habre, accused of thousands of political killings during his eight-year rule.

Africa

East, West Africa top global piracy: report

The International Maritime Bureau hailed progress against Somali pirates, but urged the world’s navies to keep up the pressure—and warned of growing piracy off West Africa.

Africa

Charles Taylor appeals war crimes convictions

Former Liberian president Charles Taylor began his appeal in The Hague of his conviction and 50-year sentence for war crimes committed during the civil war in Sierra Leone.

Africa

Attempted coup d’état in Eritrea?

Some 200 disaffected soldiers with two tanks surrounded Eritrea’s Ministry of Information, forcing the broadcast of a statement calling for the release of political prisoners.

Africa

Central African Republic rebels advance

Rebels who have taken up arms again in the Central African Republic’s south, accusing the regime of not honoring peace accords, have seized several towns in the south.

Africa

ICC acquits Congolese militia leader

The International Criminal Court acquitted Congolese militia leader Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui on charges of rape, murder and pillage committed in eastern Ituri district.

Africa

Protests rock Sudan, South Sudan…

Security forces mixed it up with protesters both in Sudan, hit by a wave of student unrest, and in South Sudan’s West Bahr el-Ghazal state, where 10 were killed by army troops.

Africa

Pressure on Rwanda over role in Congo war

Anti-Rwanda protests were held across the Democratic Republic of Congo after Rwanda-backed rebels took the eastern city of Goma. UN “peacekeepers” failed to defend the city.

Africa

Kenya: cattle rustlers bring war to Rift Valley

Hundreds of villagers fled as Kenya mobilized military forces to hunt for cattle rusters after bandits killed over 30 local police officers in Samburu district, Rift Valley province. 

Africa

Israel bombs Sudan —again?

The Sudanese government charged that Israeli airstrikes were responsible for explosions overnight at the Yarmouk Military Industrial Complex, an armaments plant in Khartoum.