Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza arrived in Tanzania on Thursday for his first foreign trip in more than two years, seeking to revive political dialogue on the crisis in his country. Nkurunziza arrived with a heavily armed escort in the northwest Tanzanian town of Ngara, about 15 kilometres (eight miles) from …
Read More »Burundi human rights activist detained:
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Burundi’s National Intelligence Service (SNR) has picked up a human rights activist and is holding him over an alleged breach of state security, a police source said Friday. Germain Rukuki, who has long worked for civil associations, was arrested by agents of the feared SNR …
Read More »Court declines to grant order to stop EAC states signing EPA
East African Court of Justice rules on European Partnership Agreement EPA Arusha, Tanzania| EAST AFRICA COMMUNITY MEDIA | The First Instance Division of the East African Court had declined to grant orders sought by one Castro Pius from Tanzania, to stop the Partner States which have not signed the European Partnership Agreement …
Read More »Burundi becoming a ‘violent dictatorship’: report
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza and his ruling party have moved the country toward violent dictatorship, rights groups said Tuesday in a report that slams the international community for inaction. A “purge” of ethnic Tutsis from the army, a crackdown on opposition and media and a …
Read More »Malawi deplores clashes between Hutu-Tutsi refugees
Blantyre, Malawi | AFP | Malawi on Friday deplored the violent clashes reportedly taking place between rival ethnic groups from Rwanda and Burundi at a refugee camp near the capital Lilongwe, and said they must stop. There have been clashes in recent weeks between Tutsi and Hutu refugees from Rwanda …
Read More »UN says Burundi still torturing and killing opponents
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Burundi security forces and government-allied militia are continuing to torture and kill opponents, UN investigators said Thursday, allegations denied by the government. The investigators from the UN’s Commission of Inquiry on Burundi have been denied entry to the country said there was a “feeling of …
Read More »Burundi ‘peace run’ attracts 8000, say organisers
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | More than 8,000 people on Saturday took part in a “Burundi Peace Run” through the capital Bujumbura, organisers said, in a bid to show the country has overcome more than two years of political crisis. A heavy military and police contingent was on hand for …
Read More »In Burundi, unmarried couples have until December to legalise their relationships
In moral ‘crusade’, Burundi forces unwed couples to marry Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Unmarried couples have until the end of the year to legalise their relationships, the Burundi government said Friday, as part of an effort to reform morals in the country. The order follows the launch of a …
Read More »Uganda assumes EAC Chair as Museveni makes strong case for integration
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania| PPU| President Museveni on Saturday assumed the chair of the East African Community (EAC), with the head of state making an impassioned plea for East African integration. Speaking at the 18th Ordinary Summit of the of the Heads of State at Dar es Salaam State House minutes …
Read More »East African leaders press EU to lift Burundi sanctions
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | AFP | The presidents of Tanzania and Uganda called Saturday on the EU to lift sanctions on Burundi, but a diplomatic for the European bloc dismissed the appeal. The joint plea, by Yoweri Museveni and John Magufuli came at a meeting of the East African …
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