News briefs
Regular digests of news on the countries SALO follows, compiled by SALO researchers.
DRC - 29 July 2016
DR Congo judge ‘pressured’ to convict Moise Katumbi A judge in the Democratic Republic of Congo has said she was pressured by the intelligence service to convict opposition politician Moise Katumbi. Chantal Ramazani, who is now in hiding, …
Africa - 22 July 2016
AU self-funding plan cautiously welcomed The African Union’s decision that all African countries will impose a 0,2 percent levy on their imports to enable the organisation to finance its own activities, including peacekeeping operations, …
Zimbabwe - 22 July 2016
Zimbabwe cabinet approves ’no work - no pay’ policy, July pay dates released President Robert Mugabe’s cabinet has approved a ‘no work – no pay’ policy in the wake of the workers strike that led to a stay away earlier this month in the …
Swaziland - 22 July 2016
Swaziland Rights Group Lashes King Mswati Over Jet Purchase The Swaziland Solidarity Network has lashed out at King Mswati III, questioning his morality and leadership and saying that he deliberately works against getting people out of …
Madagascar - 22 July 2016
Madagascar celebrates 56th anniversary of independence Madagascar on Sunday celebrated its 56th anniversary of independence from France with the theme: “Modern and prosperous Madagascar, a shared goal.” Fireworks show on Saturday evening …
Western Sahara - 22 July 2016
Western Sahara clouds Morocco’s return to African Union After a 32-year hiatus, Morocco officially announced its intention to rejoin the African Union on Monday after leaving in a row over the status of Western Sahara. Morocco claims the …
South Sudan - 22 July 2016
UN human rights expert calls for the release of journalist Alfred Taban A United Nations human rights expert today urged the Government of South Sudan to immediately release Alfred Taban, a prominent journalist and chief editor of the daily …
Sudan - 22 July 2016
Khartoum supports South Sudan demand to join Arab League State Minister for Foreign Affairs on Thursday reiterated Sudan’s support to South Sudan’s request to join Arab League (AL) as special observer, which is expected to be discussed …
Central African Republic - 22 July 2016
EU launches two-year military mission in the Central African Republic The European Union has announced the launch of a two-year military training mission in the Central African Republic to be based in the capital Bangui. The European Union …
Somalia - 22 July 2016
AU to probe alleged killing of 14 civilians in Somalia The incident occurred late Sunday in the west of Somalia, about 30 kilometres from regional capital Baidoa, and involved Ethiopian troops from the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). …
DRC - 22 July 2016
DRC Official Denies Government Persecution of Opposition Leader A senior adviser to the Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila is denying reports the administration in Kinshasa has launched a witch hunt against opposition …
Africa - 8 July 2016
Zimbabwe tense amid national shutdown Tensions still remain high as the national shutdown of public services persists in Zimbabwe. The industrial action by civil servants in Zimbabwe got off to a slow start on Tuesday, with 14 civil …
Zimbabwe - 8 July 2016
Zimbabwe businesses closed during stay-away Zimbabweans stayed at home on Wednesday and foreign banks and most businesses in the capital shut down, in one of the biggest protests against high unemployment, an acute cash shortage and …
Swaziland - 8 July 2016
WFP launches emergency food distribution in Swaziland he World Food Programme has launched emergency food distributions in Swaziland to feed vulnerable people in one of the country’s worst-hit by the recent El Niño weather event, which led …
Madagascar - 8 July 2016
Journalists frown at controversial media draft law A controversial media draft law for Madagascar’s journalists has divided public opinion in the country. Journalist in the country have spent time this week contesting some articles in the …
Western Sahara - 8 July 2016
UN Decolonization Committee to Meet On Western Sahara Soon United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization (Committee of 24) is to hold a special session on Western Sahara shortly, said the agency’s chairman, Rafael Dario Ramirez …
South Sudan - 8 July 2016
South Sudan’s former rebels warn of return to war Former rebels aligned with Vice President Riek Machar on Wednesday accused the South Sudanese government of arrests and killings they said could drag the country back to civil war. “If the …
Sudan - 8 July 2016
Five soldiers killed in South Sudan’s capital Juba Five soldiers were killed and two wounded late on Thursday when forces loyal to President Salva Kir and Vice President Riek Machar clashed in South Sudan’s capital. Lul Ruai Koang, a …
Central African Republic - 8 July 2016
UN rights chief warns of violence re-escalating in Central African Republic The United Nations human rights chief today warned that the security and human rights situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) may be starting to deteriorate …
Somalia - 8 July 2016
AU to withdraw troops from Somalia in 2020 The African Union said it plans to pull its soldiers out of Somalia where they are fighting jihadists by December 2020, according to a statement issued Wednesday. The “exit strategy” formulated by …