News briefs
Regular digests of news on the countries SALO follows, compiled by SALO researchers.
DRC - 22 April 2016
Keep the Candle of Freedom Burning in the Congo The U.S. should seize the opportunity to help facilitate the peaceful transfer of power in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The history of postcolonial Africa is brimming with tales of greed, …
Africa - 15 April 2016
Somalia, Sudan agree to boost ties Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his Sudanese counterpart Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir have agreed to step up cooperation in various fields during a State visit by the former to Khartoum, Garowe …
Zimbabwe - 15 April 2016
Zimbabwe holds largest anti-Mugabe protest in years Demonstrators in Zimbabwe held the largest protest against President Robert Mugabe in nearly a decade on Thursday, marching through central Harare demanding that the 92-year-old leader …
Swaziland - 15 April 2016
King ‘Steals From Children’ to Buy Jet The best-known of the prodemocracy groups in Swaziland has accused King Mswati III of stealing from children so he could have his own personal jet aircraft. The People’s United Democratic Movement …
Madagascar - 15 April 2016
New Madagascar PM Vows to Target Poverty, Corruption Madagascar’s new prime minister pledged he would focus on fighting poverty and corruption as he took over on Wednesday from Jean Ravelonarivo, who left office amid confusion over his …
Western Sahara - 15 April 2016
Western Sahara separatists warn UN of return to violence The separatist leader of Western Sahara has warned the United Nations of a return to armed conflict in the North African territory unless pressure is put on Morocco to fully restore a …
South Sudan - 15 April 2016
A new dawn after years of wasted lives? As rebel leader Riek Machar prepares for what’s supposed to be a peaceful return to the capital, the cracks in South Sudan’s newly-formed unity government are already beginning to show. Can the …
Sudan - 15 April 2016
Sudan summons U.S. diplomat over Darfur referendum Sudanese foreign ministry on Tuesday summoned the U.S. acting Chargé d’affaires in Khartoum after the State Department said publicly Saturday it doesn’t consider credible the administrative …
Central African Republic - 15 April 2016
UN Accused of Withholding Scores of Sex Abuse The United Nations is withholding more than 40 new cases of sexual violence by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR) in direct contravention of its promise to disclose all …
Somalia - 15 April 2016
Leaders agree to hold general elections this year Somali leaders met for a three-day conference in Mogadishu, where they consented to holding a general election later this year, Kenya’s Daily Nation reports. During the conference that ended …
DRC - 15 April 2016
Fresh fighting drives displacement in eastern DR Congo Fighting between the Congolese army and rebel forces has forced tens of thousands of people in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to move out of four sites for the …
Africa - 8 April 2016
Security issues to dominate AU-EU meeting THE insecurity risks posed by the Boko Haram sect are set to be among the most prominent issues on the agenda when the African Union Commission and the European Commission hold their annual College …
Zimbabwe - 8 April 2016
Zimbabwe’s Mugabe seeks to calm angry war veterans Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe on Thursday sought to shore up his hold on power by offering reassurances to war veterans who have become increasingly vocal in their criticism of his …
Swaziland - 8 April 2016
MPs Block Swazi King’s New Jet Members of the Swaziland Parliament have blocked a move to pay E96 million (about US$6.4 million at the present ever-fluctuating exchange rate) for a jet plane for the kingdom’s autocratic monarch King Mswati …
Madagascar - 8 April 2016
$65m support for Madagascar’s power sector Madagascar has been granted a $65 million (£46m) loan to improve its electricity sector operations and governance. Access to power services in the country is “low by any standards”, according to …
Western Sahara - 8 April 2016
Morocco expels eight Europeans supporting Western Sahara prisoners Moroccan authorities have expelled eight European activists who they said were in the country to undermine public order by supporting prisoners from Western Sahara protests …
South Sudan - 8 April 2016
UN Security Council renews sanctions against those blocking peace in South Sudan The United Nations Security Council Thursday renewed, until 1 June, its sanctions regime imposed last year against those blocking peace in the war-torn …
Sudan - 8 April 2016
Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir ’to step down in 2020’ Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has told the BBC he will step down in 2020, when his current mandate ends. Mr Bashir also denied allegations of abuses perpetrated by the Sudanese forces in …
Central African Republic - 8 April 2016
UN troops tried in DR Congo Three UN peacekeepers accused of sexual abuse in Central African Republic (CAR) have gone on trial in Democratic Republic of Congo. Two of the Congolese troops denied charges of raping minors, while a third …
Somalia - 8 April 2016
IMF: Somalia’s Efforts at Rebuilding its Economy ‘Bearing Fruit’ The International Monetary Fund says Somalia has marked a milestone in its development by taking steps to normalize relations with international financial institutions. The …