Sierra Leone's Youth: A Boon for Investment
As Sierra Leone continues to build its nation in the wake of civil war, the youth in the country are a valuable factor in continual improvement.

Shariah in Lawless Somalia
Shariah law comes in different forms, and if Somalia is to adopt a viable version of it, it must be a system that is accountable and takes care of its people.

Book Review: "The Candy Girl"
After a difficult childhood battling polio, Marcella Camara-Macauley studied early childhood education and has now written a children's book whose proceeds go to a worthy cause.

The Emerging Obama Doctrine on Africa
The Obama administration is making it clear to African nations that it intends to play an increasing role in Africa's development and governance.

Public Schools in Sierra Leone Gasping for Life Support
In the war-torn African nation of Sierra Leone, the public school system is crippled, ailing and corrupted by the government, affecting children, teachers and the nation as a whole.

China's Rise in Africa: Miracle or Mirage
Although China's burgeoning economic relationship with Africa is significant, many aspects of China's investment are being distorted and overlooked.

Minister Kanu Resolves Longstanding Corporate Feud
In mediating a resolution involving London Mining, African Minerals and the Government of Sierra Leone, Minister Kanu emerges as the shining star.

Making Roads Safer in Nigeria
Road conditions in Nigeria are horrendous, and the government needs to develop a comprehensive plan of action to keep Nigerians safe on the roadways.

U.S. Should Encourage Democracy in Africa
The United States wishes to respect the will of African people, but the tools of expression can be hard to reach without the declaration and enforcement of U.S. support.

The Youth in Sierra Leone
President Obama's speech in Ghana, directed at all of Africa, aligned with the objectives of the large population of young people in Sierra Leone.

Contemptuousness of Sub-Saharan Africa
The term

Road to Recovery: Provincial Towns in Sierra Leone
After living abroad for over a decade, a native of Sierra Leone returns to his homeland to see the differences incurred by an 11-year civil war.

Somalia, outside the Violence Box
If Somalia is to quell the religious extremism and violence that poisons its society, the government needs to develop a new paradigm of non-violence and cooperation.

Nigeria's Envy
Obama's recent visit to Ghana says much about the country's potential, but it may say even more about the country Obama chose not to visit.

ICC seeking speedy Kenya trials
The ICC's top prosecutor says perpetrators of Kenya's post-poll violence could face trial as early as next July.

DR Congo army 'used aid as bait'
The DR Congo army has been using measles vaccination clinics as "bait" to attack civilians, an aid agency says.

Madagascar rivals reach agreement
Madagascar's rival political leaders agree to form a power-sharing government after months of wrangling.

Somali adulterer stoned to death
Islamists in Somalia stone a man to death for adultery but spare his pregnant girlfriend until she gives birth.

Ivorian joy at Trafigura ruling
An Ivory Coast court rules that compensation to victims of waste dumping should not be paid to one man to distribute.

Turkey defends Sudan leader visit
President Abdullah Gul criticises the EU after it asks Turkey to reconsider an invitation to Sudan's president.

Spain resists deal with pirates
Spain resists pressure to free two Somalis accused of piracy in exchange for Spanish sailors held in Somalia.

Niger-Nigeria 'blockade' mystery
Nigeria is blocking Niger from importing goods, Niger's foreign affairs ministry confirms, but a reason is still unclear.

Zimbabwe's MDC calls off boycott
Zimbabwean PM Morgan Tsvangirai ends his party's boycott of the unity government with President Robert Mugabe.

Ugandan girls give birth and go straight back to school for exams
News two schoolgirls went into labour during exams, gave birth and continued with exams in the afternoon shocks Ugandans.

'Robin Hood' thief who handed out stolen money baffles SA police
South African police are baffled by a modern-day "Robin Hood" who dished out a portion of his takings to servants at a mansion he robbed.

Mazembe clinch Champs Lge title
DR Congo side TP Mazembe win the Champions League after beating Heartland of Nigeria 1-0 in Lubumbashi to win the title on away goals rule.

Angola axe striker Manucho
Spain-based striker Manucho Goncalves will stay out of the Angola national team until he learns respect, says coach Manuel Jose.

Eto'o promises Mallorca return
Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o says Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola never told him why he was sold to Inter Milan.

Price of justice
What did war crimes court do for Sierra Leone?

In pictures
From water frolics to stuck in the mud in Africa's week

Aiming for riches
Why 10,000 Ugandans have gone to Iraq

Skin test
Undercover film exposes racism in Germany

African view
Why rape will not silence the women of Guinea

Pulling the strings
South Africa gets its first satire show... only on the web

SA mercenaries 'do not face jail'
Four South Africans convicted over an Equatorial Guinea coup plot will not be re-arrested when they return home, officials say.

Saudi lifts Somali livestock ban
Saudi Arabia ends a nine-year ban on the import of animals from Somalia - a major industry in the war-torn country.

SA chief goes in Semenya row
Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene is suspended over his handling of the Caster Semenya gender row.

Zimbabwe escapes diamond ban
Zimbabwe escapes suspension from the world diamond trade scheme over allegations of soldiers killing miners.

LRA rebel surrenders in Congo
Charles Arop, believed to be behind a brutal attack last Christmas, hands himself in to the Ugandan military.

Morocco expels Swedish diplomat
Morocco expels a Swedish diplomat for allegedly passing documents to separatist groups in Western Sahara.

SA 'to miss land reform deadline'
South Africa will miss a 2014 deadline to redistribute a third of its farmland to the black majority, the government says.

UK expats learn Nigerian culture
Want to cook Nigerian food? Learn in London

South Sudan awaits oil bonanza
South Sudanese see little benefit from $7bn

'Big guns' herald Guinea's crisis
Capital under the gun as junta appears anxious

SA's parentless familes
South African 10 year old left to raise her siblings

South Africa cancels Airbus deal
South Africa cancels a multi-billion dollar contract for eight military aircraft with Airbus, citing escalating costs.

Libyans 'unlikely' to compensate
A lawyer who has advised Libya in the past says it is unlikely victims of the IRA in NI will be compensated.

Are diamonds still forever?
Diamond reserves around the world are falling in value. Does this affect your country?

Does Africa devalue women farmers?
Women farmers produce up to 80% of food in developing nations. But is this key role acknowledged in Africa?

What is good hair?
African hair has been worn in a variety of ways over the years. But are these hairstyle choices or something deeper?

Send us your pictures of Africa
Send in your shots of Africa from shadows to hats

AFRICA: We Are the Government
LAGO DISTRICT, Mozambique, Nov 6 (IPS) - As if they were going to the races, Emma Musako and Monica Mhango showed up in their finest outfits to attend a meeting on the health, social and environmental impacts of uranium mining. They came because they, like the other attendees, no longer want to remain uninformed citizens.

ZIMBABWE: Numerous Challenges For Harare Water Supply
HARARE, Nov 6 (IPS) - Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda is a troubled man. When he took office in July 2008, one of his most immediate tasks was to resolve the water crisis in the capital.

DEVELOPMENT: "Africans Should Become Their Own Philanthropists"
CAPE TOWN, Nov 6 (IPS) - Africans "should dare to imagine an African world not defined by the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund but one that comes out of Africa". This is necessary for Africans to grow out of dependence and become the agents of their own development.

AFRICA: 'Pick Up Your Money With Your Groceries'
ROME, Nov 6 (IPS) - Of the many proposals on how to combat poverty in Africa, the United Nations' International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is championing what must be one of the simplest - make it cheaper and easier for migrants to send money home.

HEALTH: Uganda’s Counterfeits Bill Threatens Access to Medicine
KAMPALA, Nov 6 (IPS) - Uganda is considering an anti-counterfeit bill which analysts say will impair the country’s ability to import and export cheap but effective generic medicines. Activists fear that the bill, once enacted, will deny Ugandans access to safe, effective, quality and affordable generic medication which currently forms the bulk of Uganda’s medicine imports.

LESOTHO: AIDS Orphans get Helping Hand
MASERU, Nov 5 (IPS) - Fifteen-year-old Ntsebeng Tlokotsi* sighs with relief as she is given 140 dollars. Along with it she receives a bag of maize meal and cooking oil. It is a government handout, and she qualifies for this only because both her parents are dead.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Carbon Trading Welcomed, Criticised
NIASSA PROVINCE, Mozambique, Nov 5 (IPS) - A visit from Dutch contractors to Niassa Province, in northwestern Mozambique has got communities excited about the prospect of a carbon credit scheme in the area.

AFRICA: Drug Subsidy Key to Anti-Malaria Effort
NAIROBI, Nov 5 (IPS) - Just three percent of malaria-infected children in Africa get World Health Organisation-recommended drugs. One expert has equated this to a death sentence for sick children.

ECONOMY: Ghana Boosts Apprenticeships for Jobless Young Women
ACCRA, Nov 5 (IPS) - The small shack beside Marjorie Patterson's house encloses evidence of a hard day's work. Bags overflow with the bold prints of traditional African fabrics.

AFRICA: Malaria Vaccine Draws Closer
NAIROBI, Nov 4 (IPS) - After 20 years of trials, scientists have announced they are on the threshold of discovering a malaria vaccine. Researchers warn that Africa may not be ready to make use of the vaccine should it be approved as expected within five years.

RIGHTS-CAMEROON: The Reverend Raped Me


YAOUNDE, Nov 4 (IPS) - A countrywide survey of the incidence of rape in Cameroon has returned disturbing statistics: 20 percent of the nearly 38,000 women surveyed reported having been raped; another 14 percent said they had escaped a rape attempt.

RIGHTS-MALAWI: Blame Game While Children Suffer
LIMBE, Malawi, Nov 4 (IPS) - Every morning 12-year-old Thomson Genti and his seven-year-old brother, Chifundo, emerge dirty and wretched from the squalor of their hideout behind the crowded shops in the commercial town of Limbe. It is the start of a day of begging, beatings from the older street boys and insults from passers-by.

SIERRA LEONE: New Dawn for Small Farmers?
KAMBIA DISTRICT, Sierra Leone, Nov 4 (IPS) - They call her "Marie Nerica", after a new breed of rice.

AGRICULTURE-SENEGAL: Groundnut Production in Freefall
KAOLACK, Senegal, Nov 3 (IPS) - Farmers are complaining about a lack of technical assistance and the poor quality of seeds they've planted this year in the Kaolack region, Senegal's groundnut-producing area, 200 kilometres south of the capital Dakar.

RIGHTS-UGANDA: Baganda Fight for Their Heritage
KAMPALA, Nov 3 (IPS) - Specioza Nakabugo (63) sits on a mat under a mango tree on a well-mowed grass patch, her expression a blend of boredom and gloom.

Malawi: Mine Galvanizes Civil Society
As if they were going to the races, Emma Musako and Monica Mhango showed up in their finest outfits to attend a meeting on the health, social and environmental impacts of uranium mining. They came because they, like the other attendees, no longer want to remain uninformed citizens.

Africa: Failure to Suspend Zimbabwe Allows for Sale of 'Blood Diamonds' - HRW
The credibility of the world's "blood diamond" monitoring group has been damaged after its failure this week to suspend Zimbabwe despite overwhelming evidence of serious human rights abuses and smuggling in the Marange diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe, Human Rights Watch said today.

Kenya: Plan Poor's Stipend Well
The government plan to pay poor families a monthly stipend looks noble from a distance, but it but it calls for closure examination. The scheme, launched in Nairobi by Prime Minister Raila Odinga this week, may be well intentioned, but it raises critical concerns, which must be addressed for it to be effective.

Africa: Environments for Leveraging Economic Opportunity
There is no lack of opportunity in Africa. But the road to converting those opportunities to business success is often paved with obstacles. The question becomes not what opportunities exist in Africa, but how to make them work.

Gambia: Trust Bank Gives D50,000 for Beijing Plus 15 Meeting
As preparation for the Beijing Plus15 Banjul meeting gets to an advanced stage, samaritans from all sectors of society are coming on board to be part of this rare historic event with donations in cash or kind.

Gambia: Country's Economy Performs Better in 2009 - IMF Mission Head
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by David Dunn is currently in The Gambia on a working visit to assess the economic performance as at end-September the sixth and final review of The Gambia's three-year programme under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF).

Ghana: Small Size of Bus Stops Creating Problems
Due to small size of the bus stop just after the newly-open Merchant Bank branch when approaching the Adabraka police station from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, is causing inconveniences for customers and staff of the bank, as well as commuters wishing to board commercial vehicles.

Ghana: Takoraadi Poly Lecturers on Strike
Members of the Takoradi Polytechnic chapter of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG), on Tuesday embarked on a sit-down strike action, leaving all class rooms at the Polytechnic virtually empty.

Ghana: No Bus Stops Along Caprice-Avenor Road
It is amazing to note that pedestrians using the Avenor road, when heading towards Caprice, have refused to use the newly-built footbridge.

Ghana: Minority Dares Govt to Probe Telecom Malaysia Deal
Ongoing debate and pronouncement by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to re-engage Vodafone Plc in its acquisition of 70% shares in Ghana Telecom (GT) has sparked the reaction of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) .

Ghana: Mills Under Fire Over Vodafone Deal
One of the few people who have openly declared their intentions to contest for the position of National Youth Organizer in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) party and also a staunch supporter of the Mills administration, Mohammed Mubarak (Ras Mubarak) has launched a scathing attack on the government, over its decision to re-engage Vodafone in over the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA).

Kenya: Telkom Returns CDMA Services After Approval
Telkom Kenya's commercial brand, Orange, has reintroduced nationwide code division multiple access (CDMA) services, after being restricted within regional zones for about a year.

Kenya: Central Region to Host Trade Fair for Farmers
The annual national agricultural trade fair in central Kenya will be held late this month. This year's event, slated for November 20 and 21 in Ol'Kalou town, seeks to explore possible interventions by government and other stakeholders to improve food security.

Kenya: Country's Top Earner Gets Sh3.9 Million a Month
The gap between the salaries of senior and junior employees in Kenya is widening, with a new survey showing that the highest paid chief executive earns more than 400 times the lowest paid employee.

Kenya: National Bank in 6 Percent Pre-Tax Growth
National Bank of Kenya's pre-tax profit rose six per cent in the first nine months of the year from Sh1.3 billion to Sh1.4 billion.

Zimbabwe: Govt to Grab Foreign Firms
IN a move with damaging implications for investment, Zimbabwe plans to grab a 51% stake in foreign-owned firms within 60 days of the gazetting of the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act regulations, documents in the possession of the Zimbabwe Independent show.

Nigeria: Yar'Adua - No Going Back On Deregulation
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua said yesterday that there was no going back on the planned deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

Africa: 'Pick Up Your Money With Your Groceries'
Of the many proposals on how to combat poverty in Africa, the United Nations' International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is championing what must be one of the simplest - make it cheaper and easier for migrants to send money home.

Nigeria: Niger Border Not Closed, FG Says
The federal government yesterday said Nigeria has not closed its borders with Niger Republic.

Nigeria: No Going Back On Deregulation, Says Yar'Adua
PRESIDENT Umaru Yar'Adua has said that the deregulation of the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry is inevitable, but that government is still holding consultations with stakeholders on the necessity of the action.

Nigeria: Yar'Adua Proposes to Spend Billions on Niger Delta
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua yesterday sought the endorsement of the National Assembly for a N352.2 billion supplementary appropriation to enable the Federal Government address emerging challenges of the post-amnesty period in the Niger Delta region.

Africa: 'Africans Should Become Their Own Philanthropists'
Africans "should dare to imagine an African world not defined by the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund but one that comes out of Africa". This is necessary for Africans to grow out of dependence and become the agents of their own development.

Nigeria: 6,000 MW Power Target Report Card
With seven weeks left in the Federal Government's promised 6,000megawatts power generation target by year's end, the country currently generates 2,900mw of power even though all the $5.09 billion [about N762.93 billion] special intervention funds for the sector this year have been spent. This much became clear yesterday from the speech by Minister of Power Mr. Remi Babalola at his Ministerial Press Briefing.

Rwanda: PSF Retrenches 35
Thirty five employees of the Rwanda Private Sector Federation (PSF) yesterday lost their jobs in a move the body has attributed to financial constraints.

Niger: Nigeria Imposes Sanctions
A regime of sanctions against this country's northern neighbor, Niger Republic, went into effect early this week with men of the Nigeria Customs Service preventing the export of fuel, grain and other essential commodities across the Jibia border in Katsina State, Daily Trust learnt in Katsina.

Zimbabwe: Govt Escapes Diamond Trading Ban
Zimbabwe's rough diamond trade has escaped a six-month suspension by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) - an international initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds - after its own investigating team recommended earlier in 2009 that the country be temporarily barred from importing and exporting the gems.

Nigeria: Ecobank Partners Western Union, USAID to Attract U.S.$22 Million Diaspora Investment
Ecobank Group is partnering with Western Union and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to bring in N22 million worth of diaspora business investment in Africa

Nigeria: Labour Expresses Concern Over Retrenchments in Banks
Organised Labour in the nation's banking industry, yesterday, expressed concerns over the wave of retrenchments in the banks since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under Alhaji Lamido Sanusi began a fresh reforms in the banking sector, with Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) allegedly planning a massive retrenchment exercise.

Kenya: Bid to Revive Ailing Cotton Industry With GMO Variety
The country is edging closer towards the adoption of the GMO cotton variety in a move that might boost production in the ailing sub sector.

Kenya: Government Move Noble
The government move to offer thousands of vulnerable households a monthly stipend to meet their basic needs is laudable but begs a number of questions that might derail its worthy intentions.

Africa: $336m to fight malaria
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has released US$336 million to Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Nigeria to purchase more than 50 million long-lasting insecticidal nets in the next few months. The move amounts to a 2/3 increase of the number of bed nets in Africa. According to a statement from the Global Fund office: “The…

SA terminate $5.4bn Airbus deal
The South Africa government has terminated the US$5.4 billion Airbus A400M military aircraft deal, cabinet announced on Thursday. The decision which was taken two weeks ago but was only made public Thursday would have seen the southern African country acquire eight Airbus A400 military aircrafts. In terminating the contract, cabinet cited delays in…

Moroccan woman awarded $1m
An award in the form of $1 million has been given to Aicha Ech Channa - a Moroccan who founded the Association Solidarité Feminine, an organization that provides services to unmarried women with children. The University of St. Thomas and the Opus Prize Foundation (USA) presented the award on Wednesday. Ech Channa, 68, founded the organization in Casablanca…

Morocco: Transport workers end strike
The Trade Unions and the transport company in Morocco have reached an agreement to end a massive bus workers' strike in Rabat. The strike action disrupted the daily lives of commuters for nearly a week. AfricaNews reporter said it was a difficult moment for many workers who heavily rely on public transport to work. The transportation workers…

Algeria plans to ban old vehicles
The Algerian Ministry of Transport is considering measures to replace the old and dangerous buses on the roads. It is part of the government's efforts to reduce road accidents. The ministry will develop the criteria for the forcible retirement of vehicles aged 30 years and over. Deaths resulting from car crashes soared by 7 % in 2009, as compared…

“Road building to stop for 2010”
The South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL), who are responsible for the upgrades under the R22 billion (¤1.8 billion) Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, have confirmed that construction of this critical project would stop during the World Cup 2010 tournament. “Come May 2010, there will be no more construction, no more road closures…

SA minister: "Africa's roads unsafe"
South Africa's Transport Minister, Sibusiso Ndebele, has stated that more needed to be done to ensure safety on the world's roads. "Africa has the most dangerous roads in the world," said Ndebele. Ndebele admitted that road deaths may claim more lives than HIV/Aids and malaria by 2020. Addressing an international audience, Ndebele…

Nigeria: Chinese firm to fix railways
A Chinese company has been awarded a 10 months contract to reconstruct a 488 kilometer rail line linking southern Nigerian States to the northern ones. The contract award was signed between the Nigerian Government and the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company. Dr. Isa Bio, Nigeria Minister of Transport said the contract will include a provision…

Nigeria: War of words over deregulation
Nigerian Labour Congress is leading a national protest over the proposed deregulation of the downstream oil sector of the economy. The labour union under the leadership of Wahab Umaru has warned the government that it will shut down economic activities and call for an indefinite industrial strike action to protest the proposed deregulation of petroleum…

Ethiopia to get modern city transport
A newly established transport company, Alliance Transport S.C., is to introduce a "modern" city transport service in Ethiopia. The company is to import 100 to 120 buses from Europe to begin operations in Addis Ababa. The company founding members told the media over the weekend that their service includes non-stop service en route long distant…

Zambia: Fuel shortage hits again
Zambia has once again been gripped by an acute fuel shortage that has paralyzed operations in heavy industries and inconvenienced motorists. This is the second fuel shortage to hit the country within two weeks and observers are warning the situation might get "messy" if not urgently attended to. The second wave of petroleum shortages in Zambia…

Switzerland cuts ties with Libya
Switzerland has suspended a deal aimed at normalizing relations with Libya, following Tripoli's "unwillingness" to release two Swiss citizens held there, reports said. In a statement issued after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the Swiss government said that it had suspended an agreement reached with Libya on August 20 that aimed to…

Charles Taylor confesses
The former Liberian leader, Charles Taylor, has confessed to sending armed men to fight during the civil war in Sierra Leone. The UN Special Court reported: "In a surprising move, Charles Taylor reinforced the truthfulness of his former vice president's testimony against him earlier in the trial." The UN-backed court for Sierra Leone…

S. Africa: 1150 arrested at entry points
At least 1,150 suspects have been rounded up in South Africa over the last two weeks for various crimes during a patrol at various entry points, according to the Police Service on Wednesday. The police revealed that stolen goods and accessories worth millions of Rands were recovered during the period. SA National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele said…

Somalia: Insurgents capture strategic town
Somali insurgents have recaptured the strategic town of Beledweyn in Hiran region after heavy fighting broke out between the Somali government forces and Islamists rebel group. Five people were killed and nine others wounded on Wednesday at Jente Kundishe, some 206 miles (332Km) north of Mogadishu. A resident in Beledweyn Jama Osman Ali told AfricaNews…

Botswana receives "Most Peaceful Award"
Botswana has been adjudged the "Most Peaceful Nation" in Africa at the Global Symposium of Peaceful Nations in Washington DC, USA. Only Botswana and Malawi made it from Sub-Saharan Africa ranking Botswana at the 34th position with 1.643 points while Malawi placed 47th making it the second in Africa. A statement from the Botswana Ministry…

Joburg hosts Miss World 2009
The city of Johannesburg hosts the 2009 Miss World final, a statement to AfricaNews from the Johannesburg Tourism Company and Total Exposure announced. The event which takes place on 12 December 2009 will be the second in a row for the city. The statement said the 120 participants representing their respective countries are due in the city of gold…

Mexico embraces West Africa again
Mexico has reopened its embassy in the Nigerian Federal capital of Abuja. The move is aiming at improving relationship with countries in the West African region were Mexico has no diplomatic representative. Ambassador Luis Alberto Barrero Stahl was received by the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) president Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas at…

Benni McCarthy eyes Portsmouth
South Africa leading striker and English premiership player Benni McCarthy is eying a move to Portsmouth. Jerome McCarthy - brother of Benni - told the local media that come the January transfer window Benni would be making moves to depart from Ewood Park. “Benni told me something is going to happen and chances are he will move to Portsmouth…

Nigeria: 15,000 rebels rehabilitated
About 15, 000 militants have been sent to camps in the Niger-Delta area and Rivers State for rehabilitation programs, Nigeria's Defense Minister Godwin Abbe revealed. He told press men in Lagos that "They have been divided into batches... They will undergo training in skills acquisition that will make them useful to themselves." The…

Tribal clashes uproot over 16,000 civilians in northern DR Congo, reports UN
Clashes between two tribes in northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have caused more than 16,000 civilians to flee their homes since last week, crossing into neighbouring Republic of Congo to find safety, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.

UN agency helps officials in Cape Verde tackle outbreak of dengue fever
Officials from the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) are at work in the Atlantic Ocean archipelago of Cape Verde to help local authorities battle the country's first reported epidemic of dengue fever.

Kenya: UN seeks urgent funds to respond to flooding in refugee camps
The United Nations refugee agency is appealing for $2.8 million to provide essential supplies and respond to possible disease outbreaks among more than 300,000 refugees in two camps in Kenya threatened by flooding.

UN anti-malaria official commends UNICEF for funding 20 million mosquito nets
The official tasked with spearheading United Nations efforts against malaria has welcomed the decision of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) to allocate more than $8 million in new funds to distribute insecticide-treated mosquito nets in eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

International Criminal Court trial of former DR Congo leader to start next April
The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced today that the trial of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, a former senior official of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who has been charged with war crimes, will begin in April 2010.

Former Rwandan tea industry executive jailed for eight years by UN tribunal
The former head of the government office that controlled the Rwandan tea industry was today sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty by a United Nations tribunal over his role in the African country's 1994 genocide.

Africa's efforts to achieve anti-poverty goals in peril, warns Migiro
Africa's efforts to meet the global anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by their 2015 deadline are threatened by the impact of the global financial crisis on the continent's economies, said Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro.

UN lauds first ever rescue of abducted children in southern Sudan
The United Nations today hailed the rescue of 28 children who had been abducted in southern Sudan's Jonglei state, and urged that all those still being held be released immediately.

Drugs and crime threaten recent stability in Guinea-Bissau, warn UN officials
The prospects for political stability in Guinea-Bissau appear to be good but are threatened by drug trafficking and organized crime, United Nations officials warned the Security Council today.

Top UN official in Sudan hails return to civilian life of 15,000 former civil war soldiers
The top United Nations envoy to Sudan has praised the disarming, demobilization and reintegration so far this year of over 15,000 former combatants from the African nation's north-south civil war.