East Africa : News
News : East Africa : News
Sudan: Agreement Reached, Ending Clashes in Disputed TownThe top United Nations official in Sudan today welcomed the agreement to end the deadly fighting between Government forces and the former southern rebels in the disputed Abyei area, which has forced thousands of civilians to flee this week. (AllAfrica)
Kenya: Food Shortages Hit Mt Elgon Amid Torture Claims
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has called for an investigation into allegations of torture committed by security forces deployed in the clash-torn Mt Elgon district in western Kenya. (AllAfrica)
Somalia: Security Council Calls for Plans for Peacekeepers
The Security Council today called on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to continue contingency plans to deploy a possible United Nations peacekeeping operation in strife-torn Somalia and to relocate its political office from neighbouring Kenya. (AllAfrica)
Kenya: Food And Security Top Cabinet Meeting Agenda
The Grand Coalition Cabinet meeting on Thursday failed to reach a decision on how to handle Mungiki and other armed groups. (AllAfrica)
Sudan: Fighting Forces UN Mission to Evacuate Staff
The United Nations has evacuated most of its staff from the Sudanese town of Abyei, located in a disputed oil-rich area, amid continued shooting between Government forces and the former southern rebels with whom they reached a peace deal in January 2005. (AllAfrica)
Somalia: UN Calls For More Support Of Refugees in Yemen
The top United Nations refugee official, beginning a five-day visit to Yemen, today called on the international community to bolster its assistance to Somali refugees who have reached the Middle East country after making the perilous crossing of the Gulf of Aden. (AllAfrica)
Uganda: Govt Sets Prices for Commodities
In a bid to fight procurement corruption in public offices, the government has issued prices for common consumer goods that are clearly at odds with the surging market rates. (AllAfrica)
Kenya: Amnesty Says Truth Commission Draft Bill Seriously Flawed
Kenya's draft bill to establish a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission is flawed and should be amended, Human Rights Watch said. (AllAfrica)
Tanzania: Mining Firms Targeted
The Government plans to review its taxation structure in this year's national Budget to get especially the mining companies to pay more, the Finance minister says. (AllAfrica)
Kenya: Raila Meets Kriegler Commission
ODM has voiced concerns over alleged irregularities in last year's General Election to a team formed to investigate the polls fiasco. (AllAfrica)
Africa: Int'l Conference to Call for Action On PWDs, Poverty, Discrimination, Lack of Access of PWDs
An international conference scheduled to be held next week in Addis Ababa is expected to call for global action on poverty, discrimination and lack of access to basic services for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), organizers said on Thursday. (AllAfrica)
Sudan: Faultline Town Deserted After Clashes
Thousands of people have fled Abyei town after two days of clashes between Sudanese government troops and the southern Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A). (AllAfrica)
Tanzania: Secrecy On Pemba Leading to Unnecessary Anxiety
Today marks the fifth day since security personnel picked up from Pemba, eight people suspected to have been behind a memorandum presented to the United Nations offices in Dar es Salaam, calling for the island's secession from Zanzibar and the Union Government. (AllAfrica)
Tanzania: Shun Violence
Tanzania joined the whole world yesterday in marking what has dubbed the International Day of the Family. (AllAfrica)
Tanzania: UK Activists Pile Pressure Against Soda Ash Project
A UK-based environment group has urged Tata Chemicals Limited of India and its Tanzanian partner, National Development Corporation (NDC), not to disturb Lake Natron area environment. (AllAfrica)
Tanzania: President Calls for New Talks With Opposition CUF
President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday appealed to the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi and the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) to resume Mwafaka talks to end the two-month standoff. (AllAfrica)
Kenya: Charge Top Security Men Over Torture, Demands Rights Team
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has written to the Attorney-General recommending the prosecution of nine senior security officials over the ongoing military operation in Mt Elgon. (AllAfrica)
Kenya: Pardon for Poll Violence Crimes
People who committed crimes in the post-election violence period might have a chance to apply for amnesty if Parliament enacts a proposed Bill. (AllAfrica)
Kenya: Leaders Must Be Serious On Mediation
Chronic truancy continues to plague the National Dialogue and Reconciliation talks. (AllAfrica)
Kenya: Move to Trim Cabinet is Long Overdue
Parliament made a historic move this week by passing a Private Member's Motion allowing him to draft a Bill limiting the number of Cabinet ministers. (AllAfrica)
Uganda: Activists Want All Guns Removed
DISARM all former LRA rebels and people holding illegal guns in the north to achieve total peace in the war-torn region, activists have said. The recommendation is contained in a 24-page report by the Civil Society Organisations for Peace in Northern Uganda. (AllAfrica)
Rwanda: Some ICTR Trials to Spill Over to Next Year
At least two trials involving nine defendants are expected to spill over to next year and will not be able to meet the UN Security Council's deadline of December,2008, cautions the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Justice Dennis Byron. (AllAfrica)
Somalia: Burundi Defense Chief Visits Mogadishu
Burundi's defense minister, Major-General Niyoyankana Germain, spoke with reports Thursday at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, the Somali capital. (AllAfrica)
Ethiopia: Editor And Three Others Previously Arrested Over Magazine Story Now Out On Bail
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the Ethiopian authorities to drop charges against Alemayehu Mahtemework, the editor of monthly entertainment magazine Enku, and three others who were arrested with him after the publication of a cover story about a jailed popular singer. (AllAfrica)
Uganda: Ex NRM Directors Sue Gov't
Ghosts of the defunct Movement political system have returned to haunt the government, as two former deputy directors of the Movement Secretariat are claiming over Shs60 million in compensation. (AllAfrica)
Uganda: Tullow Gets More Oil Deposits
Tullow Oil of UK has discovered more petroleum deposits in the exploration Block 2 of Lake Albert basin in Western Uganda, confirming the widespread of the oil resource in the area. (AllAfrica)
Uganda: Rafu Requires Serious Overhaul
It's quite disheartening looking at the colossal billions of shillings lost in inflated road construction costs in connivance between the Road Agency Formation Unit (Rafu), a government agency, and the contractors. (AllAfrica)
Tanzania: Bank Customers Can Now Pay Electric Bills With Card
Tanesco customers can now pay their electricity bills with CRDB bank cards following the launching of the service in Dar es Salaam yesterday. (AllAfrica)
Kenya: Country Restores Continental Church Body's Diplomatic Status
The government of Kenya has restored the diplomatic status of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), a protestant and evangelical church body. (AllAfrica)
Uganda: Religion Retained As Optional Subject in School Curriculum
A huge debate over a government proposal to scrap religious education from the school curriculum may now come to an end following passage in Parliament of a law which recommends the teaching of religious education. (AllAfrica)
SUDAN: Watermelons, conflict and climate change
EL OBEID Tuesday, May 13, 2008 (IRIN) - Several hundred kilometres from the simmering conflicts between pastoralists and farmers [over natural resources] in Sudan's Darfur region, the two communities in the village of Gereigikh in North Kordofan State have learnt to cool the tension with watermelons. (IRIN)
