NEWS

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Riot police deployed in key squares of Sudan’s capital Monday as protesters planned to march on President Omar al-Bashir’s palace calling for him to “step down” following deadly anti-government protests. Bashir has instructed police to abstain from using excessive force against the demonstrators after 19 …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP |  After two years of delays, the Democratic Republic of Congo voted Sunday in presidential elections that will determine the future of Africa’s notoriously unstable giant. The country’s Catholic Bishop Council said the voting took place in “relative calm”, based on their observations in 78 …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP |  Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir on Sunday told police to abstain from using excessive force against anti-government demonstrators as the UN called for a probe into deaths during the violent protests. At least 19 people have been killed since December 19 during protests sparked by Khartoum’s …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Only six companies have been cleared to display fireworks across the country, Uganda Police has announced. Only Tomil Fireworks Ltd, Sky Flames (U) Ltd, Quality Lighting Ltd, Extremes Events Ltd, Goshen Africa Events Ltd and Ms. Light Africa (U) Ltd have been cleared, to operate at  762 places where …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization chief warned Friday that growing unrest in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was disrupting efforts to rein in an Ebola outbreak, threatening gains made in fighting the deadly virus. The security situation in the Ebola-hit Beni and Butembo areas has deteriorated …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP |  Nineteen people have been killed so far in protests following calls for more demonstrations against a rise in bread prices. UN on Friday called on the authorities in Sudan to investigate the deaths. Sudanese police broke up several protests held after Friday prayers, as security agents …

United Nations, United States | AFP | UN experts are accusing a warlord in the Democratic Republic of Congo of leading horrific gang rapes in South Kivu during which women were held captive in a cave and treated like sex slaves, according to a confidential report obtained by AFP on …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Tanzania’s tough-talking president John Magufuli has earned respect by fighting corruption, but international donors are now concerned by crackdowns on human rights. The European Union, Tanzania’s biggest development partner, and the World Bank have recently taken measures to sanction repressive policies. Magufuli’s reputation was boosted …

  Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Inmates have decried the poor prison conditions and justice system that has unfairly kept many of them in jail. The inmates, complained about poor feeding, health facilities, congestion, denial of the right to vote, delayed appeals in court and an unfair criminal justice …

  Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has urged farmers to consider intensive commercial agriculture in a bid to grow household incomes and improve Uganda’s economy. Kadaga also asked farmers in Busoga sub-region to take advantage of the several partnerships made with the Government …