Africa – 19 August 2015

Burundi
Ban condemns assassination of senior army officer amid ‘troubling’ political violence
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the assassination Burundi’s former Army Chief of Staff, Colonel Jean Bikomagu, who was shot dead by unknown assailants in the capital, Bujumbura, on 15 August, the second killing of a senior official in the crisis-torn country this month.
“[The Secretary-General] is troubled by the trend of politically-motivated violence in Burundi. He welcomes the Government’s decision to carry out investigations, and arrests and trials of the perpetrators behind the recent killings,” said a statement issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson in New York.
UN News

Burundi crisis poses ‘catastrophic’ risk for region: AU
The African Union (AU) has said that there may be “catastrophic consequences” for Burundi and the region if political differences are not resolved peacefully.
This comes a day after Burundi’s former army chief of staff Jean Bikomagu was assassinated, further indicating the possibility of renewed conflict in the country which has witnessed violence since April over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to seek a third term.
Aljazeera

Lesotho
Prince Harry to visit US, South Africa and Lesotho
Prince Harry is to make official visits to the US, South Africa and Lesotho later this year, Kensington Palace has confirmed.
He will visit Washington DC in October for events linked to the Orlando 2016 Invictus Games.
In November and December, he will open a Lesotho children’s centre and fulfil a “programme of engagements” in South Africa on behalf of the UK government.
The prince, 30, left the Army in June after 10 years’ service.
BBC

http://mg.co.za/article/2015-08-19-lesotho-pm-under-fire-at-sadc-summit