Top UN official expressses serious concern about scale of killing, displacement in Sudan in 17 months
On Friday, UN-backed human rights investigators urged the creation of an “independent and impartial force” to protect civilians, blaming both sides for war crimes including murder, mutilation and torture.
South African minister implicated in $112 million bank heist denies corruption allegations
Justice Minister Thembi Simelane was only appointed to her position in June in the country’s newly-formed government of national unity, after the former ruling African National Congress party lost its parliamentary majority in the May 29 election.
China reluctant to commit to debt relief sought by Africa but pledges $58 billion support over three years
During those peak years, Beijing bankrolled the construction of roads, railways and bridges. But a drying up of funds since 2019 has left Africa with stalled construction projects.
Chinese President Xi pledges more aid to Africa at what’s now derided ‘parley of African beggars’ in Beijing
China has tried to position itself as a leader of the Global South, a catchphrase for the developing world. While others don’t necessarily see China as the leader, its message of rewriting the international order resonates with African nations that feel frustrated and abandoned by their traditional Western partners.
Recalcitrant China expected to listen more to mineral-rich African countries, give others a short shrift
China unveiled a $60 billion financing package at the 2015 FOCAC and repeated that in 2018. By the summit in Dakar in 2021, Beijing pivoted to trade and investments – a shift largely due to domestic financial pressures, the onset of Covid-19 and a commodities crash that hurt African economies.
Families, rights groups and EU question death of inmates in Congo prison as state promises to build facility prison
The European Union on Wednesday called on Congolese authorities “to quickly shed light on these tragic events in order to establish the various responsibilities, including with regard to respect for human rights and the rule of law.”
South Africa: Fake railway engineer handed 15 years in prison, ordered to refund $323,000 salary
Investigators have said there was rampant corruption and mismanagement at some of South Africa’s biggest state-owned businesses between 2009 and 2018. A report last week by a special unit that is investigating high-level corruption said that more than $7 billion may have been lost to graft at some of those state-owned companies, including PRASA.
Criminal justice in Congo tested as 129 die as 12,000 inmates attempt jailbreak to protest inhuman prison conditions
Inmates had increasingly grown frustrated with the poor conditions in the facility, including inadequate beds, poor feeding and poor sanitation. However, authorities failed to act despite warnings, said Cole, president of the local Bill Clinton Peace Foundation, which has in the past visited the prison.
Nigerian protesters accused of acting ‘with intent to destabilise Nigeria’ face death penalty
The protesters were charged under Nigeria’s Penal Code, which critics have described as one of the country’s harshest laws and one used by authorities to clamp down on dissent. The treason charge carries a death penalty.
Why SAF, RSF factions in Sudan’s 30-month civil war are averse to peace despite 16,000 people massacre
Furthermore, the various mediators’ strategies follow a predictable incremental logic, starting with a humanitarian ceasefire and aiming for a power-sharing arrangement. All parties can anticipate the steps in this process and are hesitant to engage in processes that could result in outcomes similar to the failed pre-conflict setup.
