Archive for the ‘Africa’ Category
Obama Should Visit Gaza
by Medea Benjamin
3 Jun 09 | ei
U.S. President Obama should visit the Gaza Strip to see the death and the destruction caused by Israel’s recent attacks.
Study Likens Israel to South African Apartheid; U.S. Pressed to End Gaza Blockade
Somalia Facing ‘Foreign Invasion’; A.U. Chairman Defends ‘Pirates’
Sharif Ahmed, Somalia’s president, has said his country is being “invaded” by foreign fighters who are joining armed groups in their attempt to overthrow the government. Al-Shabab, one such armed group, reportedly has up to 1,000 foreign fighters in its ranks. Al Jazeera’s Nicole Johnston reports. (2:28):
African Nations Call for Somalia Blockade
A six-nation east African body has urged the U.N. to impose an aerial and maritime blockade on Somalia, where local fighters are trying to oust the government.
Chad Forces ‘Set to Enter Sudan’
20 May 09 | AJE
Chad’s armed forces will soon enter Sudan to head off a planned assault by opposition fighters around its eastern border, the country’s interim defence minister says.
U.N. Signals ‘No’ to A.U. Request for Somalia Peacekeepers
The United Nations Security Council has told the African Union it will not take over the A.U. peacekeeping mission in Somalia under current conditions. But African officials remain hopeful the world body will change its mind.
A.U. May Seek NATO Help in Somalia Crisis; U.S. Blames Eritrea for Somali Instability
The African Union says if the situation gets further out of control, it may ask assistance from NATO forces stationed in Somalia’s pirate-infested waters. Read the rest of this entry »
Somalia Peace Overture Rejected After Amnesty Int’l Calls for End to ‘Amputations and Public Killings’
Somalia’s president has appealed to Islamist insurgents to negotiate as intermittent fighting continued for an eighth day in the capital, Mogadishu. Read the rest of this entry »
U.N. Security Council Stops Short of Condemning Israel for Gaza Massacre
13-14 May 09 | PTV
The U.N. Security Council has “expressed concern” about Israel’s attacks on U.N. buildings during the recent Gaza War, but stopped short of condemning the regime.
Was Tortured CIA “Ghost Prisoner” Murdered?
by Andy Worthington
13 May 09 | AlterNet
The suspicious death of Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi, who was tortured into lying about an Iraq-al Qaeda connection, raises a series of troubling questions. Read the rest of this entry »
Liberia Says Firestone Polluting Water
13 May 09 | VOA News
Fifty kilometers east of the capital, Harbel has always been a company town. Named after Firestone founder Harvey Firestone and his wife Idabelle, Harbel has been the center of the world’s largest single natural rubber operation for more than 75 years. Read the rest of this entry »
Libyan Whose “Confession” Facilitated Iraq War Dead
13 May 09 | PTV
The United States says it is probing into the suspected suicide of a former Guantanamo detainee and alleged al-Qaeda operative in a Libyan prison.
113 Civilians Killed in Mogadishu
12 May 09 | AWC News
Thousands flee Somali capital amid renewed violence. Read the rest of this entry »
Aftermath of Renewed Fighting in Eastern Chad
The UN Security Council has condemned an offensive by rebels fighting Chad’s government in the east of the country. Heavy fighting has been raging for the past two days near the town of Am-Dam as government forces seek to halt the advance of rebels from the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR). Al Jazeera’s Tarek Bazely has an exclusive report showing the aftermath of those battles. (2:34):
Zuma Sworn in as South Africa’s President
9 May 09 | AJE
Jacob Zuma has officially become South Africa’s new president – the fourth democratically-elected president since apartheid ended 15 years ago. Zuma took the presidential oath at a ceremony in Pretoria, saying that the country was entering a new era in its history. More than 11 million South Africans voted for the ANC. Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa reports from the ceremony. (2:21):
Sudan-Backed Rebels Erupt in Chad
6 May 09 | AJE
Chad has accused Sudan of backing a rebel group’s push into the country. Read the rest of this entry »
Tsvangirai: Mugabe Not Respecting Power-Sharing Deal
6 May 09 | PTV
The Zimbabwean premier has criticized President Robert Mugabe for flouting the agreement over the country’s new unity government in the case of the detention of some activists. Read the rest of this entry »
War Crimes Court Rejects Taylor Acquittal Bid
War crimes judges have rejected a request to acquit Liberia’s former President Charles Taylor on charges of crimes against humanity. Read the rest of this entry »
Teenage Somali Pirate Charged as Adult in New York
30 Apr 09 | NYT
The federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan is a towering presence, more than big enough to have handled such history-in-the-making cases involving a Gotti, a Madoff, and several men who have pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden.
Odinga Calls for New Kenya Poll
27 Apr 09 | BBC
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said fresh elections may be needed if the rift in the power-sharing government cannot be solved.
Resounding Victory for A.N.C. in South Africa
26 Apr 09 | NYT
Final results released Saturday showed that the governing African National Congress won the April 22 election with 66 percent of the vote, less than its victory margin in 2004 but an impressive tally nonetheless after a dissident group had broken away to form its own party. Read the rest of this entry »
Provisional Result Shows ANC Wins South African Election Convincingly
24 Apr 09 | VOA News
With most of the vote counting done the ruling African National Congress looks set to achieve its goal of winning a two-thirds majority in South Africa’s national assembly. The official announcement is expected Saturday. Read the rest of this entry »
‘Teenage Pirate’ to Face U.S. Court
21 Apr 09 | BBC
A Somali teenager captured by the US during the rescue of an American sea captain from pirates is due to appear in a federal court in New York. Read the rest of this entry »
Zimbabwe Raids Private Bank Accounts
20 Apr 09 | Reuters
Zimbabwe’s central bank raided the private bank accounts of companies and donors to fund President Robert Mugabe’s government during the economic crisis, according to a central bank statement made available on Monday. Read the rest of this entry »
Zuma to Lead South African Democracy Hurt by His Rise
20 Apr 09 | Bloomberg
The African National Congress, which led the fight to end apartheid, may be the biggest threat to South Africa’s democratic institutions even as it prepares for victory in April 22 elections.
