AFRICA

The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | Judges at the International Criminal Court Tuesday sentenced former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba to 18 years in jail for a series of brutal rapes and murders in Central African Republic over a decade ago. “The chamber sentences Mr Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo to a …

The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | On the eve of his landmark sentencing, lawyers for former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba Monday gave notice that they will appeal his war crimes conviction and press for a mistrial. Just hours before the once feared militia leader was due back in the …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Five Kenyan policemen were killed Monday when suspected radical Shabaab fighters attacked their convoy in the far northeast of the country, the local governor said. The police vehicle exploded into flames after it was hit by a suspected rocket-propelled grenade as it provided security for …

Lubumbashi, DR Congo | AFP | DR Congo’s disbanded M23 rebel movement has called on the government to agree a new demobilisation scheme following deadly clashes near a camp housing former rebels dissatisfied with their conditions. M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa said in a statement that the deaths of several people …

Cairo, Egypt | AFP | An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to life in prison in an espionage trial in which six of his co-defendants were handed death penalties. Morsi, who has been sentenced to death in a separate trial, was Egypt’s first democratically elected …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has declared a four-month ceasefire in two states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan, where recent fighting between troops and rebels has left scores of casualties, the army said Friday. Bashir’s forces have been battling the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North …

The imminent closure of Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp will stretch Uganda’s already meagre resources for refugees, Hilary Onek, the country’s minister of relief, disaster preparedness and refugees has said. “Uganda is experiencing an influx of refugees who have been living in neighbouring countries but have now been chased,” Onek said. …

Attacks in the Central African Republic have increased in the first three months of the year, with 42 incidents, six deaths and 252 abductions, according to a report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. United Nations, United States | AFP | The rebel Lord’s Resistance Army is stepping up attacks, …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Eight Kenyan politicians are behind bars on suspicion of hate speech in the latest sign of rising political tensions a year ahead of elections. Three lawmakers from the ruling Jubilee party, and four plus a senator from the opposition CORD alliance, were ordered to be …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Arch-rivals Ethiopia and Eritrea traded blame Tuesday for one of the fiercest border clashes since a 1998-2000 war, with Addis Ababa warning any further conflict is “up to Asmara.” The neighbours are bitter enemies, with tens of thousands of troops dug into trenches eyeing …