West Africa

Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission has paid about $700,000 (£607,000) in compensation to victims of police brutality. Fifty-eight people, mainly family members of victims of rights violations, were awarded varying sums. It follows investigations into complaints by families of victims who accused the police of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, illegal …

Some people in Sierra Leone are unhappy with Kenya’s presidential inauguration on Tuesday, during which William Ruto was sworn in as the country’s fifth head of state. Others, particularly opposition supporters in the country on the southwest coast of West Africa, were amused by what they saw as the mistreatment …

Ivorian authorities are angry with military leaders in Mali, who imposed certain conditions before releasing the Ivorian soldiers arrested on July 10. Mali’s condition before proceeding with the release of the Ivorian soldiers is simple: the extradition by Ivory Coast of Malian political figures who found refuge in Abidjan. But …

The General Overseer of the Universal Spiritual Outreach Society, Prophet Kwabena Boakye Asiamah, popularly known as Ajagurajah, has warned against picking up money from the floor, especially if it is not yours, saying it makes you automatically indebted to some spirits, local media reported. “Picking money from the floor causes your salary …

The trial of the massacre of September 28, 2009 will open on September 26 and the former head of the junta Moussa Dadis Camara is among the accused, Guinean authorities announced. At least 150 dead during the massacres and 11 people are in the dock. This is a relief for …

Chief Danso, a resident in Assin Fosu, a city in the Central Region of Ghana, has subjected a 10-year-old boy to torture for allegedly attempting to steal from his abandoned house, Adomonline reported. According to the website, the victim and his two other friends were allegedly caught in an attempt …

Authorities in The Gambia are investigating a paracetamol syrup’s suspected link to the deaths of dozens of children from kidney failure. “Dozens of children have died in the last three months. Autopsies suggest the possibility of paracetamol,” the Reuters news agency quoted Mustapha Bittaye, the Gambia’s director of health services, …

Nigerian Customs Service intercepted 7,000 donkey penises, which were heading for Hong Kong at Murtala Muhammed Airport, local media reported quoting Sambo Dangaladima, the customs controller at the airport. “The animal parts were packed in 16 sacks found in the animal export section,” said Sambo Dangaladima. He said the smell …

British police announced the arrest of a 40-year-old man for alleged war crimes he committed during Liberia’s civil wars which began in 1989 and ended in 2007. He was arrested during a raid on a home in the city of Newcastle on suspicion of committing offences contrary to the International …

German soldiers from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (Minusma) resumed reconnaissance operations outside Gao on Tuesday. German troops are present in Gao, where they help protect the airport, and conduct reconnaissance flights to ensure the safety of their patrols. But in recent weeks, relations between Mali …