December 17, 2009
Nigeria: Abuja, Executive Branch Have Too Much Power, Says Peer Review
A major review of Nigeria compiled by its African peers says too much power is concentrated in the central government, inhibiting "true federalism," and that the executive branch… Read more »
December 14, 2009
Sudan: North, South Agree on Independence Referendum
Officials from the ruling parties in Khartoum and Southern Sudan have reached an agreement on new legislation governing national elections next April as well as a later referendum… Read more »
December 10, 2009
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 »
December 07, 2009
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 »
November 03, 2009
Equatorial Guinea: Govt Frees Mercenaries
The government of Equatorial Guinea has freed four South African mercenaries jailed for plotting to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, South Africa's foreign ministry has… Read more »
October 30, 2009
Africa: French Court Blocks Probe of Three Presidents
A French Appeal Court in Paris yesterday rejected the demand of the Transparency International (TI) organization for leave to open a probe in France into the estates of three… Read more »
October 08, 2009
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 »
September 28, 2009
South Africa: The Right to Know and Justice in Africa
Ironically, International Right to Know Day, which is celebrated today, has been one of the world’s best-kept secrets. Read more »
September 24, 2009
South Africa: Al-Qaeda Threatened U.S. Offices - Report
United States government offices in South Africa are expected to reopen on Friday after being closed for two days, reportedly after a threat from an al-Qaeda splinter group. Read more »
September 21, 2009
Cote d'Ivoire: Toxic Waste Claimants Offered Payouts
A Dutch-based oil trading company has offered to pay more than 30 million Euros (U.S. $48 million) to up to 31,000 Ivorians who said toxic waste dumped in Abidjan made them ill in… Read more »
September 14, 2009
Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai Accuses Zanu-PF of Law-Breaking, Hate, Land Invasions
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has accused President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party of breaking the law, spreading "the language of hate," invading productive farms,… Read more »
September 02, 2009
Sudan: Panel to Back 'Home-Grown' Justice for Darfur?
The high-level African Union (AU) panel appointed to help end the Darfur conflict is reported to be advocating a South African-style "truth and reconciliation commission" and… Read more »
August 07, 2009
Gambia: Court Jails Six Journalists
Six Gambian journalists, including the editors of two independent newspapers, have been sentenced to two-year jail terms and each fined about U.S. $10,000 on sedition and criminal… Read more »
August 06, 2009
South Africa: Zuma Nominates New Chief Justice
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has moved to end a political battle which has threatened to damage the country's judiciary and its independence by making an early… Read more »
July 22, 2009
Sudan: Tribunal Cuts Size of Disputed Abyei Region
An international tribunal has cut the size of the disputed Abyei region of Sudan, rejecting the formal claims of both north and south Sudan and slicing at least 18,000 square… Read more »
July 20, 2009
Sudan: Court Ruling Will Test Peace Prospects
A small piece of land in Sudan and one of the international tribunals based in the Netherlands are about to have a large impact on Sudan's present and future. Read more »
July 16, 2009
Niger: Lawyers Strike, President Clamps Down on Press
Lawyers in Niger went on a one-day strike this week in solidarity with the Constitutional Court, which was dissolved by President Mamadou Tandja - an act the lawyers deemed… Read more »
July 13, 2009
Sierra Leone: Charles Taylor to Testify in His Own Defense
Former Liberian leader Charles Taylor is scheduled to take the witness stand this week to testify in his own defence at his trial on charges of war crimes and crimes against… Read more »
July 09, 2009
Kenya: Annan Sends Polls Violence Names to World Court
The top mediator in Kenya's election crisis last year, former United Nations chief Kofi Annan, has sent the International Criminal Court (ICC) an envelope containing the names of… Read more »
July 02, 2009
Niger: U.S. Criticizes Tandja's Bid to Keep Power
President Mamadou Tandja has undermined Niger's efforts over the last 10 years to advance good governance and the rule of law, President Barack Obama's spokesman said on… Read more »
June 29, 2009
Africa: Zuma is Out of Step With History
Just ahead of this week’s African Union summit in Libya, South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has advocated an old and discredited approach for dealing with African… Read more »
June 17, 2009
Gabon: Delay in Presidential Elections?
Government and opposition parties in Gabon are discussing delaying presidential elections to enable the updating of voters' rolls, according to the Kinshasa newspaper, Le… Read more »
June 16, 2009
Central African Republic: International Court Charges DRC's Bemba
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has committed for trial the former vice-president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Jean-Pierre Bemba, on charges of war crimes… Read more »
June 15, 2009
Malawi: Madonna's Newly-Adopted Child Prepares to Leave
As pop star Madonna prepares to fly her newly-adopted Malawian child to New York, the child's father has reportedly given up efforts to keep her in Malawi. Read more »
June 12, 2009
Malawi: Court Allows Madonna to Adopt Child
A Malawi appeals court has given pop star Madonna the right to adopt a second Malawian child. Read more »