Protesters clashed with riot police in Gabon, following contested elections and WikiLeaks revelations of corruption in President Ali Bongo Odimba’s ruling dynasty.
Obama’s State of the Union address praised the vote for secession in South Sudan—but an inter-imperial struggle for oil and pipeline routes lies behind US support for the referendum.
The organization International Christian Concern is publicizing revelations in a US embassy cable released by WikiLeaks concerning grave human rights violations in Eritrea.
Nigerian authorities are holding 12 foreign oil executives in a $100 million bribery case—but last month settled with Halliburton, dropping charges against Dick Cheney.
With forces loyal to ex-president Laurent Gbagbo fighting with rivals and UN troops in Abidjan, Ivory Coast is divided into hostile camps and Nigeria is threatening military intervention.
As South Sudan voted in its independence referendum, clashes between Dinka tribesmen and Arab militias left more than 60 dead in the disputed Abyei border enclave.
Violence has rocked the Nigerian city of Jos since Christmas eve bombings left 32 dead. Riots have pitted Christians against Muslims, with both churches and mosques vandalized.
Somalia’s parliament approved new Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, after several delays due to a dispute over the confirmation procedure. Much of the country remains controlled by insurgents.
The Ninth Circuit appeals court upheld a verdict in favor of Royal Dutch Shell in a case brought by families of Ogoni protesters executed by the Nigerian government in 1995.
Hundreds of protesters marched in Galkayo, a town in Somalia’s northern enclave of Puntland, against plans by a southern preacher in the US to hold a mass Koran-burning.
A spike in food prices has triggered deadly riots in Mozambique this week, with unrest over price hikes also reported in Egypt, Pakistan and Serbia—leading to fears of a new global food crisis.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on the government of Sudan to protect its people's rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in the face of mounting violence. Anti-government protests have swept across Sudan for weeks. Over 800 have been arrested, including "journalists, opposition leaders, protestors and representatives of civil society." The government has confirmed 24 deaths but other reports place the number at double that. There have also been reports of security forces following protesters into hospitals and firing tear-gas and live ammunition inside. (Photo via Sudan Tribune)
