United Nations, United States | AFP | African countries on Friday demanded that the appointment of a new UN expert on LGBT rights be suspended, saying his mission to report on anti-gay violence had nothing to do with human rights. The UN Human Rights Council in late September appointed international …
Read More »Elephant poaching costs Africa tourism $25 million
Paris, France | AFP | Stopping the killing of elephants for their tusks could add some $25 million (23 million euros) to Africa’s annual tourism income, more than offsetting the anti-poaching spend, a study said Tuesday. While the figure pales in comparison to the estimated value of the black market …
Read More »COMMENT: ICC is the best protection for Africa’s leaders
COMMENT: By Martin M. Lwanga Politics in Africa tends to be a zero sum game where the losers need an ICC to protect their rights The recent decision by the President of Burundi, Peirre Nkurunziza, to sign legislation enabling Burundi to withdrawal from International Court Criminal Court (ICC), followed by …
Read More »Advantage Mazembe after away draw in final
Blida, Algeria | AFP | Reluctant favourites TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo are poised to win the CAF Confederation Cup after drawing 1-1 at Mouloudia Bejaia of Algeria Saturday in the first leg of the final. Jonathan Bolingi, one of four Congolese in the Mazembe starting line-up, …
Read More »Kenyatta in Sudan as African decisions loom on ICC
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta began a two-day visit to Sudan on Saturday, just days after Khartoum issued a call to all African countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court. Sudan has urged African members to quit the Hague-based ICC which it said was a …
Read More »Prosecutor Bensouda vows to press on despite Africa ICC withdrawals
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor has described decisions by three African countries to withdraw as a “setback”, as she vowed that the tribunal will continue its work on the continent. “You could expect a setback as the ICC started to make more progress,” …
Read More »Severe southern African drought to worsen
Maputo, Mozambique | AFP | The impact of the most severe drought to hit southern Africa in 35 years is expected to worsen in the coming months, a UN climate envoy warned Friday. “The crisis has yet to peak,” Macharia Kamau, special envoy on El Nino and climate, said at …
Read More »Study shows record-shattering birds stay in air for 10 months
Miami, United States | AFP | A small, dark-feathered bird known as the common swift flies for 10 months on end without ever landing, the longest time spent aloft of any known bird, scientists said Thursday. The findings in the US journal Current Biology confirmed a 46-year-old hypothesis, first offered …
Read More »ANALYSIS: ICC ‘bias’ handy cover-up for African detractors
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | Complex diverse political agendas are driving African nations to quit the International Criminal Court, with leaders seeking to cloak the move by reigniting age-old anger at the West, analysts say. Gambia’s announcement that it would be the third country to withdraw from the court …
Read More »Burundi notifies UN of ICC pullout
United Nations, United States | AFP | Burundi on Thursday formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, dealing a blow to the tribunal seen as a pillar of international justice. South Africa was the first to take the formal step at the United Nations …
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