Amnesty report details rights violations across sub-Saharan Africa

Amnesty report details rights violations across sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa has been subject to grave human rights violations in multiple nations, according to a new State of the World’s Human Rights report released by Amnesty International on Tuesday. The report authors say it highlights “the failure of global and regional institutions, including the UN Security Council and African…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Amnesty calls on Lesotho to end alleged human rights violations

Amnesty calls on Lesotho to end alleged human rights violations

Authorities in the small southern African kingdom of Lesotho have come under scrutiny from human rights advocates who say excessive force is part of a pattern when security forces arrest and detain suspects. Ahead of general elections planned for next week, the Amnesty International appeal calls on political candidates in…

African leaders speak at Summit for Democracy

President Nana Akufo Addo of Ghana was set to speak as the virtual Summit for Democracy, hosted by the United States, kicked off on Thursday. Akufo Addo and Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, the mayor of Freetown in Sierra Leone, planned remarks for a discussion on “Bolstering Democratic Resilience: Building Back Better Together…

Libya, Egypt at center of surveillance tech case in France

Human rights and privacy advocates are closely following a decade-old case that’s led to this month’s indictments of four technology executives in France, on the grounds that the sale of their surveillance technology in Libya and Egypt leaves them complicit in torture and other rights violations. The four executives are…

The case for renewed sanctions on Myanmar military officials

Monday morning’s arrest of the democratically elected leader of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, and party officials from the National League for Democracy (NLD) in a military coup, has sparked international outrage. Just hours before the new government were set to convene for the first time, the military seized control…

HRW annual report presses for change in Egypt

Human rights abuses in Egypt were at the center of a conversation with executive director Ken Roth as the international Human Rights Watch NGO delivered its annual report on developments around the world. Roth stressed that it’s time for the global community to stop viewing President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and…

HRW: Irreecha festival may prove a flashpoint in uneasy Ethiopia

Human rights campaigners are appealing for calm and restraint in Ethiopia, as the Oromo people celebrate the Irreecha harvest festival this weekend amid ongoing political divisions. “This year’s festival, on October 3 and 4, occurs against the backdrop of escalating tensions and unrest in Oromia,” said Laetitia Bader, the Horn…

Zimbabwe charges 3 opposition activists amid human rights outcry

In Zimbabwe, three women activists with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change – Alliance party who were detained following protests two weeks ago are back in custody pending a final bail ruling on Thursday. The women, including MDC-Alliance MP Joanah Mamombe, above, were charged earlier this week in connection with…

As Liberia’s elites sell out the country, the people continue to suffer

Germany has been involved in development projects in Liberia since at least 2005, providing millions in funds and expertise to the country in areas ranging from infrastructure to health. This, however, will now come to an end. Berlin recently announced earlier this week it would withdraw support for the country…

Michael Wilcox

I am a London-based researcher specialized in security issues and environmental protection. He is currently writing a book about the role lobbying plays in keeping African leaders in power.

HRW says Egypt is expanding repressive powers during pandemic

The Human Rights Watch organization is sounding the alarm over Egypt’s COVID-related emergency powers legislation, which would expand the power of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi regardless of any public health link to a stated emergency. “President al-Sisi’s government is using the pandemic to expand, not reform, Egypt’s abusive Emergency Law,”…

Canadian courts greenlight lawsuit on Eritrean mine workers

Human rights campaigners say they welcome the decision by Canada’s Supreme Court to allow a lawsuit against the Nevsun mining firm, which is accused of human rights violations during operations in Eritrea. Human Rights Watch said a 2013 investigation first found that an Eritrean construction firm owned by the country’s…