Interpol investigation exposes how transnational organised criminal gang Black Axe funds, fixes who rules Nigeria
Scrutiny is needed on governments in China and the United Arab Emirates that serve as major financial transfer hubs for Black Axe’s illicit transactions.
Human rights groups: Mozambique police accused of killing at least 10 in post-election protests
Tensions were high in the southern African country in the buildup and immediate aftermath of the October 9 vote, but more unrest was stoked when two senior officials of an opposition party were killed in their car in the capital, Maputo, on October 18 after being ambushed by unidentified gunmen late at night. The opposition says the attackers fired 25 bullets at the car.
Fifty 50 years after the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ Congolese youths still dream to scale heights of world boxing
As Congo marks the 50th anniversary of the Rumble-in-the Jungle on Wednesday, boxing dreams live on not only in the capital, Kinshasa – where the Ali-Foreman fight happened – but also in the grassroots promotions like Nyama’s out in Goma, a city in the heart of a region that has seen decades of conflict, displacement and crisis.
Botswana election expected to back ruling BDP that has been in power since independence
Botswana has been held up as one of Africa’s success stories as a peaceful and stable democracy with one of the best standards of living in the region, but it is facing new economic challenges that have pushed the BDP to concede that policy change is needed.
HRW: Burkina Faso exposed civilians to risk during al-Qaeda-linked militia attack in which 133 villagers were killed
“The massacre in Barsalogho is the latest example of atrocities by Islamist armed groups against civilians whom the government has put at unnecessary risk,” Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in the report.
Guinea’s ruling junta dissolves 53 political parties, places 54 others under ‘observation’
Col Mamadi Doumbouya has rebuffed attempts by the West and other developed countries to intervene in Africa’s political challenges, saying Africans are “exhausted by the categorizations with which everyone wants to box us in.”
Rebels paradise: As UN troops pull out, Congo and international community can’t provide answers to conflict in Kivu
Last year, at Congo’s request, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to draw down the peacekeeping force and gradually hand over its security responsibilities to Congo’s government by this December. But the soaring violence means that departure is now delayed.
President Ramaphosa puts South African on edge after describing Russia’s Putin as valuable friend, ally’
The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader distanced him and his party from Ramaphosa’s reported quote of Russia being a valuable ally and friend. The remark was apparently made during a meeting of the two BRICS members.
Paradox of Rwanda sending troops to eastern DRC to defend Congolese Tutsi who did’t ask for M23 protection
Many Congolese we spoke to perceive M23’s main aim to be control of power at the local level – undermining the existing authorities. The group has indeed sought to replace customary authorities with M23-appointed ones, at times assassinating Congolese chiefs. Local sources said M23 even burnt chiefdom archives, destroying evidence of claims to customary authority.
Botswana ruling party walks tightrope as it prepares to defend 58 years in power with economy wonky
Just over a million people have registered to vote, according to the Independent Electoral Commission that runs elections, with the increasing unemployment rate a key issue for voters. Botswana is larger than France but has a population of just 2.5 million, with the Kalahari Desert covering large portions of the landlocked country that borders South Africa.
