Madagascar: U.S. Threatens to Cut Trade Benefits Over Political Deadlock

The United States has stepped up pressure on Madagascar's rulers to agree on a transitional government or face losing trade benefits under American law. Read more »

Guinea: Nation Faces 'Explosive' Military Infighting, Says Rights Expert

The fate of Guinea hangs in the balance following the shooting of the country's military ruler, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara. There are fears that the fractured security forces… Read more »

Uganda: Civil Society Condemns Anti-Gay Bill

Ugandan civil society groups marked international Human Rights Day on Thursday by calling for the withdrawal of what they call the “discriminative and oppressive”… Read more »

Guinea: Ecowas Calls on Junta to Step Down

In an effort to restore order in Guinea, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has called on the military to step down and hand power to a civilian adminstration. Read more »

Sudan: Govt Arrests Leading Southern Politicians

The Sudanese government arrested leading figures of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) during a protest outside the National Assembly in Khartoum on Monday, news… Read more »

Guinea: Aide Makes Attempt on Camara's Life

An attempt has been made on the life of the head of the military junta in Guinea, Moussa Dadis Camara.  According to newspaper reports, he sustained severe head injuries when… Read more »

Equatorial Guinea: President Confident of Electoral Landslide

So confident is President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of the outcome of Equatorial Guinea's election on Sunday that he expects to win by the same margin as in 2002 - with 97.1 percent of… Read more »

Nigeria: Yar'Adua Should Draw Up Roadmap to Delta Peace

For the first time in years, Nigeria's Niger Delta seems to be looking up. Read more »

Rwanda: Kagame's Human Rights Record Faces Scrutiny

As Rwanda applies this week to join the Commonwealth, the international grouping dominated by ex-British colonies, both its membership application and a number of recent books on… Read more »

Western Sahara: Expelled Activist Weakens After Hunger Strike

Aminatou Haidar, the Western Sahara human rights activist expelled from her homeland 10 days ago, has entered the second week of a hunger strike in protest against the expulsion. Read more »

Guinea: South African Govt Probes Mercenary Reports

The Pretoria government is probing reports that South African mercenaries are training Guinean militia, recruited by the country's military junta on an ethnic basis. Read more »

Morocco: Sahrawi People Must Have Right to Choose Future, Urges Activist

Aminatou Haidar, one of the most prominent human rights activists in the liberation of the Sahrawi people in Western Sahara, was detained, then deported, by the Moroccan… Read more »

Western Sahara: Human Rights Awardee Detained, Deported by Morocco

In the wake of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's meeting with Moroccan King Mohammed VI last week, a prominent human rights activist was detained on her arrival in Western… Read more »

Zimbabwe: U.S., South Africa Press Govt Over Diamonds

South African and American diplomats said this week that they expected Zimbabwe to implement "stringent controls" according to a "very tight work plan" to make the country's… Read more »

Zimbabwe: 'Slow Boat to China'

When Zimbabweans were being attacked and killed in political violence, a little-known South African musician was inspired to act by the stories she heard from refugees living… Read more »

Guinea: Opposition Rejects Unity Govt

Guinea's opposition has rejected a proposal for a government of national unity which would include the military junta which seized power last December, reports Le Potentiel of… Read more »

Zimbabwe: Failure to Act on Abuses Threatens Conflict Diamond Process

The decision to give Zimbabwe no more than a slap on the wrist for the human rights abuses which its army has committed on the Marange alluvial diamond fields in the south-east of… Read more »

Guinea: Opposition Presents Demands to Compaoré

A coalition of Guinean opposition leaders has presented President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso a set of proposals they believe will end  the political crisis… Read more »

Guinea: Europe Imposes Sanctions on Junta

The European Union (EU) has placed an arms embargo on Guinea and banned members of its military junta from travelling to Europe. Read more »

Algeria: Security Clampdown Conflicts With Bouteflika's Aims

The clashes between police and young people protesting poor housing conditions in Algiers earlier this week reflect growing efforts in recent weeks to stem public demonstrations by… Read more »

Madagascar: Ravalomanana Refuses to Sign Interim Deal

The agreement on a multi-party transitional government for Madagascar has got off to a difficult start, with the deposed head of state, Marc Ravalomanana, refusing to sign the… Read more »

Madagascar: Leaders Agree on Interim Govt Until Elections

Madagascar's political leaders have agreed to appoint a multiparty transitional government, headed by Andry Rajoelina, the leader who seized power last March, until new elections.… Read more »

Guinea: Military Junta Must Go, Says Clinton

The United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has called for the ousting of Guinea's military junta in the wake of what she described as the indiscriminate murder and rape… Read more »

Guinea: African Union, Ecowas Must Help End Human Rights Abuses

The victims of 60 years of human rights violations in Guinea deserve to be heard, and West Africa and the African Union should join calls for an international inquiry into the… Read more »

Africa: Continent's Best, Worst-Governed Nations

Southern Africa is the continent's best-governed and Central Africa its worst-governed region, according to a new ranking of Africa's quality of governance published today. Read more »