August 01

• Somalia: Somali Journalists Ambivalent About Draft Media Law

  Somali journalists are expressing a range of opinions on a proposed media law that some say will allow the government to control the press and limit the free flow information. Read more »

• Tanzania: Four Tanzanian Security Officers Dismissed Over Poaching

  Head of Tanzania's Kiteto Prison Ally Ramadhani Sauko and his deputy Joseph Kimaro have been fired for possession of giraffe, zebra and ostrich meat, Tanzania's The Citizen... Read more »

• Kenya: Kenyan Captives Re-United With Families

  District Officer Yesse Mule Edward and immigration ministry employee Fredrick Irungu Wainaina, held captive by al-Shabaab since January 2012, were re-united with their families... Read more »

• Kenya: Kenyan Authorities Probe Links Between Kenyan and Tanzanian Extremists

  Kenya is investigating allegations that Mombasa cleric Sheikh Abubakar Shariff Ahmed, known as Makaburi, has become the new spiritual leader of al-Shabaab-affiliated Muslim Youth... Read more »

• Kenya: Kenyan Journalists Refuse to Cover Parliament Press Conference

  Kenyan journalists refused to cover a press conference convened by majority leader Aden Duale Tuesday (July 30th) in protest over the closure of the parliament's media centre in... Read more »

• Kenya: Kenyan Oil Wells Commercially Viable, Tullow Says

  London-based oil exploration firm Tullow announced Wednesday (July 31st) that Kenya's Etuko-1, the most recent well the firm has drilled, has shown signs of commercially viable oil... Read more »

• East Africa: Regional Presidents to Discuss Amisom Strategy

  Presidents of the six countries contributing troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) will meet Sunday (August 4th) in Kampala for an emergency session to streamline... Read more »

• Somalia: Godane Accuses Foreign Forces of Splintering Al-Shabaab, Lambasts Defectors

  Al-Shabaab commander Ahmed Abdi Godane in an audio message released Tuesday (July 30th) accused foreign countries of attempting to break up the militant group, Kenya's Africa... Read more »

• Somalia: Puntland Heightens Security for Final Week of Ramadan

  Puntland's regional administration has implemented heightened security measures to protect against terrorist attacks in the final week of Ramadan, Nugal Governor Abdi Hirsi Ali... Read more »

• Somalia: Somaliland Immigration Boss Addresses Youth Emigration

  Head of Somaliland's regional Immigration Department Mohamed Ali Yusuf Tuesday (July 30th) appeared before the Somaliland presidential committee on youth empowerment, illegal... Read more »

July 31

• Somalia: Somalia Leads World in Per Capita Female Circumcision

  Approximately 6.5 million Somali girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) -- otherwise known as female circumcision -- according to a new report by... Read more »

• Somalia: Dutch Firm Sign Agreement to Establish Coast Guard

  Somali Minister of Defence Abdihakim Haji Mohamud Fiqi has signed an agreement with the Netherlands-based Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group (AMO) to develop an effective coast... Read more »

• Somalia: Somali Rights Files Complaint Against Kenyan Military At the Hague

  Somali Rights has filed a complaint letter with the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague requesting it investigate alleged human rights abuses by the Kenyan military in... Read more »

• Kenya: Kenya Jails Nine Somali Pirates

  A Kenyan court sentenced nine Somali pirates to five-year jail terms Tuesday (July 30th) for attempting to hijack a German cargo ship off the coast of Somalia in 2009, Kenya's... Read more »

• Kenya: Kenyan Man Sentenced to Death for Killing, Kidnapping British Tourists

  A Kenyan court sentenced to death Ali Babito Kololo on Monday (July 29th) for his role in the killing of British national David Tebbutt and the kidnapping of his wife Judith in... Read more »

• Tanzania: World Bank Funds Tanzanian Road Upgrades

  Tanzania signed a $210-million (340-billion shilling) loan agreement with the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) Monday (July 29th) to make improvements to... Read more »

• Kenya: Al-Shabaab Releases Two Kenyan Hostages

  Al-Shabaab has released two Kenyan civil servants kidnapped last year, the Kenyan government announced Tuesday (July 30th). Read more »

• Kenya: Kenyan Police Arrest Three Suspected Poachers

  Kenyan police arrested three people in Narok Tuesday (July 30th) on suspicions that they were on their way to poach animals at the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya's Daily Nation... Read more »

• Somalia: Puntland Administration, Media Fraternity Agree On Draft Law

  The Media Association of Puntland (MAP) and the Puntland regional Ministry of Information have reached an agreement on a second draft of a regional media law, Somalia's Garowe... Read more »

• Kenya: Kenyan Teachers Union Threatens Second Strike Over July Pay

  The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has threatened to resume striking if the government does not pay teachers their July salaries, Kenya's The Standard reported Wednesday... Read more »

July 30

• Kenya: Kenya's Kwale County Bans Vendors From Beaches

  In an effort to tighten security and increase county revenue ahead of the peak tourism season in August, Kenya's Kwale County is banning vendors from local beaches. Read more »

• Tanzania: Tanzanian Authorities Arrest Nine Suspects With 70 Elephant Tusks

  Authorities have arrested nine people, including two police officers, in possession of 70 elephant tusks in Tanzania's Coast region, Tanzania's The Citizen reported Monday (July... Read more »

• Kenya: Amnesty International Warns of Setbacks in Kenyan Police Reform

  Watering-down key reforms to regulate Kenya's police force could allow human rights violations to continue and officers to act with impunity, Amnesty International said in a press... Read more »

• Kenya: Families of Kenyans Abducted By Al-Shabaab Seek Govt Help

  The families Kenyans citizens abducted by al-Shabaab have asked the government to initiate talks with the militant group to secure their release, Kenya's Daily Nation reported... Read more »

• Kenya: Kenyan Media Seek Independence of Media Council

  Kenyan media associations have criticised proposed changes to the Media Council Bill, saying it curtails freedom of information and independence of the media, Kenya's The Star... Read more »