News briefs
Regular digests of news on the countries SALO follows, compiled by SALO researchers.
Madagascar - 4 July 2014
Madagascar needs fuel subsidy reforms - IMF Madagascar needs to reform its fuel subsidy programme which does not help its poorest people, a senior International Monetary Fund official said as the lender considers more funding for the Indian …
Western Sahara - 30 June 2014
President Abdelaziz hails AU designation of special envoy to Western Sahara Sahrawi President Mohamed Abdelaziz hailed the designation, by the African Union (AU), of the former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, special envoy to Western …
Somalia - 30 June 2014
China to Re-Open Embassy in Somalia Closed in 1991 China said Monday it will re-open its embassy in Somalia 23 years after evacuating its diplomats as the East African nation plunged into civil war. The decision came after Somalia …
South Sudan - 30 June 2014
Dissident South Sudan army general rejects separate peace talks A South Sudanese army general who switched allegiance and joined rebel forces under the leadership of the former vice-president Riek Machar said he had rejected separate peace …
Sudan - 30 June 2014
Sudan opposition forces alarmed over remarks by Bashir Sudan’s opposition parties which agreed to participate in the national dialogue have expressed resentment over statements made by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir recently regarding the …
CAR - 30 June 2014
Central African Republic: Thousands Flee Attacks in C.A.R The U.N. refugee agency reports thousands of people have fled this week from deadly attacks by various groups of armed men in the Central African Republic town of Bambari. Tensions …
DRC - 30 June 2014
Beatings, rape and mass Congo deportation Members of parliament in the Democratic Republic of Congo are demanding the government cut diplomatic ties with its small western neighbour Congo-Brazzaville over the expulsion of tens-of-thousands …
Madagascar - 30 June 2014
Madagascar’s Delicate Democracy When my colleague Aline Ranaivoson and I interviewed the president for the Secrets of Transformation series, a joint project of Deutsche Welle and the Bertelsmann Stiftung that examines winners and losers in …
Africa - 26 June 2014
Egypt hands Al Jazeera reporters jail sentences Three Al Jazeera journalists have received sentences of seven to 10 years each after being detained in Egypt for the last six months. Protesters rally in support of the detained Al Jazeera …
Swaziland - 26 June 2014
Mswati Should Be Ashamed of Himself for Stealing Swazi Gold The Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] has been receiving information on illegal mining operations in Swaziland for quite some time now. The Dvokolwako diamond mine, for example, …
Zimbabwe - 26 June 2014
ZEC says individuals have no right to access voters roll The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said the Electoral Act does not entitle individuals with access to the national voters roll. This is in response to an application filed by …
Africa - 19 June 2014
[Open letter to African Union heads of state - ‘Its time to focus on people’](Open%20letter to African Union heads of state - ‘Its time to focus on people’ Judging from the daily outpouring of commentary, opinions and reports, you would …
Swaziland - 19 June 2014
Paper Defies Court Over Sources The Swazi Observer newspaper has refused to disclose to the Swaziland High Court its sources in a report that said the Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi had issued warrants for the arrest of three judges in …
Zimbabwe - 19 June 2014
Zim immigrant afraid of reporting rape for fear of being deported A Zimbabwean woman living in South Africa says she was raped by a customer last year on 16 June but she is afraid or reporting the crime. “I wish this day could be erased …
Africa - 13 June 2014
The foreign minister spells out Pretoria’s policy of opening up trade with neighbours. Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane says Africa must fight growing terrorism and instability caused by political …
Swaziland - 13 June 2014
U.N. Experts Denounce Ongoing Detention and Trial of Human Rights Defenders in Swaziland A group of independent United Nations experts today voiced serious concerns at the arrest, detention and prosecution of human rights lawyer Thulani …
Zimbabwe - 13 June 2014
Zimbabwe court scraps defamation law used to curb press HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe’s highest court has scrapped a criminal defamation law which local journalists say has been used by the government to restrict the freedom of the press, …
Western Sahara - 13 June 2014
Amnesty International delegation on working visit to occupied territories of Western Sahara An Amnesty International delegation paid a working visit to the occupied territories of Western Sahara and held a meeting on Monday with the Sahrawi …
Somalia - 13 June 2014
Somalia: UN agencies call for immediate action to curb measles outbreaks Voicing deep concern that outbreaks of measles have left thousands of children in Somalia at risk of disability or death, United Nations agencies today called for …
South Sudan - 13 June 2014
S.Sudan president accepts internal reconciliation within ruling party South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has agreed to internal discussions and reconciliation within the leadership of his governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement …