Renewed violence in C.A.R. threatens humanitarian aid

Renewed violence in C.A.R. threatens humanitarian aid

There’s been renewed concern over violence in the Central African Republic of late, and now the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for the region says the situation is worse following recent attacks in the northeastern town of Birao. Armed attacks at the weekend, which came two weeks after the fighting on…

Ramaphosa appeals for calm in address to nation

Ramaphosa appeals for calm in address to nation

President Cyril Ramaphosa took to the airwaves Thursday evening to deliver another message on South Africa’s escalating violence over migrants, which has claimed at least 10 lives and led to the arrest of more than 400 people. It’s also started to spread to other nations, with Nigeria reporting attacks on…

Ramaphosa condemns South African xenophobia, violence

Ramaphosa condemns South African xenophobia, violence

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday condemned the violence against foreigners that has been sweeping across parts of the country, as mobs loot and attack immigrants and the businesses they own. “The attacks on people who run businesses from foreign nationals is something that is totally unacceptable,” Ramaphosa said…

Maputo youth aim to make the city safer with photography

They say the camera doesn’t lie, and young activists in Mozambique are using photography to speak the truth and make the streets of Maputo safer for themselves, especially women and girls in their communities.  Using a program called Photovoice – an empowerment technique used across the world – students are…

UN calls on Cameroon to address Anglophone crisis

The United Nations human rights office said Tuesday it is increasingly concerned over the violence in Cameroon, and said it stands ready to help the West African nation deal with its crisis. “We continue to receive reports of abductions and killings by armed groups, as well as extrajudicial killings by…

HRW calls out both Nigeria and U.S. over Trump remarks

Campaigners with Human Rights Watch in both Africa and the United States expressed concern late Friday over the Nigerian army’s use of President Donald Trump’s remarks, specifically about responding with lethal force to any migrants throwing rocks at U.S. troops staged on its southern border. Trump’s remarks Thursday, which he…

Rights groups warn again on Guinea’s political violence

International human rights organization Amnesty International has issued another warning over the political violence in the West African nation of Guinea, which claimed another life on Tuesday. Opposition groups reported the shooting death of a 30 year-old man believed to be the victim of security forces in the capital of…

Facebook reveals ‘elections war room’ to combat fake news

The social media giant Facebook has come under heavy fire for its admitted failures to protect user privacy, to prevent “fake news” on its platform that influences elections or hate speech that fuels unrest. That’s been true in the United States and Europe, and notably in Myanmar where misinformation has…

Growing concern on Mali at UN Security Council

During a briefing Friday with the UN Security Council, the head of United Nations peacekeeping operations said he is extremely concerned over the increasing number of attacks by armed groups in Mali. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the undersecretary general for peacekeeping operations, also lamented delays with the implementation of the 2015 peace…

Poll finds fear, distrust in Gabon ahead of legislative elections

Gabon’s 2016 election returned President Ali Bongo to office for a seven-year term while also bringing violence to the streets of Libreville. It left questions over the legitimacy of Bongo’s defeat of opposition candidate Jean Ping, and bitter divisions that his efforts at national dialogue ahead of postponed parliamentary elections…