World News
Amnesty International Finds Trouble Brewing in Cameroon
In a new 37 page report, the rights watchdog Amnesty International has documented “unlawful killings, destruction of private property, arbitrary arrests and torture” in two restive regions in Cameroon tied to a power struggle pitting French against English-speaking Cameroonians. In the Amnesty report titled, “A turn for the worse: Violence and human rights violations in…
Read MoreAfrican Union To Hold Summit in ‘Slavery Hub’
“Corruption” is the theme of this year’s African Union Summit to be held next month in the capital of Mauritania – a country better known for being the last country in the world to ban slavery. According to the 2016 Global Slavery Index, Mauritania has one of the highest rates of slavery in the world,…
Read MoreBribery Caught on Tape Nails Ghana’s Senior Soccer Brass
Senior officers of the revered Ghana Football Soccer Association who took fat wads of cash to influence player selection in the national team became the unwitting stars of a new documentary by Ghana’s number one investigative journalist. The film opened this month in Accra. The sting, called “astronomical” in its scope, caught big and small…
Read MoreSpain Gives ‘Safe Harbor’ to 629 Africans Stranded at Sea
After European leaders from Italy and Malta refused to accept a ship with over 600 mostly Africans aboard, it took the new prime minister of Spain to allow the stranded migrants a safe refuge. Pedro Sanchez, who took office a week ago, said the ship could dock in the Spanish city of Valencia. The migrants…
Read MoreWorldwide Campaign Frees Prominent Cartoonist in Equatorial Guinea Prison
If you’ve ever received a request to step up for a jailed author, artist or journalist, you might have wondered later: Was he ever freed? In the case of Ramon Nse Esono Ebale – he certainly was and he thanks you. In a moving letter published under the title “Artist, Finally Free, Leaves Country”, artist…
Read MoreUtah State and Fort Hare University Conservationist Tapped for U.N. Expert Panel on Biodiversity
U.N. activities for World Environment Day on June 6 were focused this year on plastic pollution. Marked every year since 1974, the day is celebrated in over 100 countries. Dr. Luthando Dziba, managing executive for conservation services at South African National Parks (SANParks) has been appointed to the UN body on biodiversity and ecosystems. Dziba,…
Read MoreRetirement Pledge in Doubt as Ivory Coast President Eyes a Run for 10 More Years
In a recent interview with a French magazine, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara revealed his vision of two more terms in office despite having repeatedly said he would step down at the end of his second term in 2020. The news throws cold water on the plans of the opposition and even members of Ouattara’s…
Read MoreSouth African Promise of a ‘New Dawn’ Slowed by Infighting
South Africa’s former leader Jacob Zuma is among those said to be impeding efforts by his successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa, to create a “new dawn” for citizens and foreign investors – free of corruption and cronyism which became associated with the Zuma regime. Zuma was ousted as president of South Africa three months ago. It…
Read MoreRiot Police Break Up ‘Transparency Rally’ in Mali
The UN is calling for calm in Mali after dozens of protestors were attacked by soldiers in the capital city Bamako, two months ahead of a presidential election. Several hundred people attended the rally, outside the headquarters of the Democratic Alliance for Peace – the party of the current President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Some 30…
Read MoreLawyers Building Case Against Gambian Ex-President Over Mass Killing Of Refugees
Strong evidence has been gathered linking the former president of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, to the murder of 44 West African migrants mostly from Ghana by operatives of the ex-president. The sole survivor of the mass killing, also from Ghana, promised himself not to rest until Mr. Jammeh was brought to justice. ”It is my…
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