US to seek stronger ties with Somaliland and Puntland
September 26, 2010
The US wants to strengthen its ties with Somalia’s breakaway regions Somaliland and Puntland, the Obama administration’s top diplomat for Africa has said.
The new, “aggressive” engagement could help to head off the Islamist insurgents, Johnnie Carson said.
Sub-Sahara Africa leads global decline in new HIV cases
September 18, 2010
Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are leading a global decline in new HIV infections, the UN has said.
UNAids said 22 countries in the world’s worst affected region had seen a drop in new cases of more than 25%.
The fall was because of greater awareness and better use of preventative measures, it said.
Mauritania strikes at militants on Mali border
September 18, 2010
Mauritania has launched a military operation against militants linked to al-Qaeda along the border with Mali, officials in the two countries say.
The fighting has moved across the border into Mali itself, reports AFP news agency, quoting security sources.
UN peacekeepers ‘failed’ DR Congo rape victims
September 8, 2010
UN peacekeepers have “failed” the victims of mass rape in eastern DR Congo, a senior UN official has said.
Atul Khare told the Security Council that the scale of systematic rape by armed rebels was far worse than feared.
Naomi Campbell said Taylor sent diamond: Mia Farrow
August 9, 2010
Actress Mia Farrow has testified that model Naomi Campbell said she got a “huge diamond” from men sent by ex-Liberian president Charles Taylor.
Ms Farrow’s testimony directly contradicts Ms Campbell’s account that she received two or three stones and did not know who sent them.
Former South Africa police chief Selebi to be sentenced
August 3, 2010
A South African court is to sentence former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi, after he was found guilty on corruption charges.
Selebi, a former president of Interpol, was convicted in July of receiving bribes from a drug dealer.
Moi told to respect Kenya leader
July 29, 2010
Kenya’s ex-President Daniel arap Moi has been told to respect his successor by a body set up to promote peace, after the two men exchanged insults during a referendum campaign.
President Mwai Kibaki wants Kenyans to approve a new constitution, while Mr Moi is leading the “no” campaign.
Sarkozy condemns hostage killing
July 26, 2010
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed the death of a French hostage killed by suspected al-Qaeda militants in north-west Africa.
Mr Sarkozy condemned the killing of 78-year-old Michel Germaneau as “odious”, saying it would not go unpunished.
Somali shell attack injures Koranic schoolchildren
July 19, 2010
Ten children were injured when a shell struck a Koranic school in Mogadishu, during fresh fighting between Somali troops and al-Shabab Islamist rebels.
The assault by the al-Qaeda-linked group began late on Sunday, targeting government and African Union (AU) bases in the Bondhere and Shibi districts.
East African leaders to debate crisis in Somalia
July 5, 2010
Leaders of the East African regional grouping Igad are meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to discuss continuing political instability in Somalia.
They want the UN to replace the beleaguered African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in the country.