Prominent Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday, after being tried on charges of spreading fake news, Reuters agency reports. Two other persons including blogger Mohamed Ibrahim and lawyer Mohamed El-Baqer, who faced the same charges, were sentenced to four years. Abdel Fattah’s …
Read More »Central African Republic: United States sanctions militia leader Ali Darassa
The U.S. government on Friday has imposed sanctions on Ali Darassa, the leader of the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC), whose forces are accused of murder, torture, rape and kidnapping. The United States, the United Nations and human rights groups have accused UPC fighters of killing …
Read More »Sudan: heavy toll after Sunday’s protests
A man has been shot dead and many others wounded in Sunday’s protests against Sudan’s military leaders in the capital Khartoum and other cities, medics aligned with the protest movement said on Monday. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum on Sunday to …
Read More »Ethiopia: military recaptured religious town of Lalibela
Federal troops in Ethiopia have recaptured the historic city of Lalibela, famed for its rock churches, state media reported on Sunday, showing pictures of the deputy prime minister visiting the site. It was unclear when government forces recaptured the town, which has spiritual significance for millions of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians …
Read More »UN orders investigation into human rights violations in Ethiopia
The United Nations Human Rights Council has ordered an international investigation into human rights violations and further atrocities in the Ethiopian Tigray region. The Friday session, which was requested by the European Union, said violations committed during more than a year of conflict might amount to war crimes. A 100-page …
Read More »Ivory coast: government resumes talks with opposition
Government in Ivory Coast said it had resumed political dialogues, interrupted after the sudden death of former Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko, with opposition parties. Prime Minister Patrick Achi, who was leading the talks, said it was aimed at strengthening democracy and unity in the country. The local elections scheduled for …
Read More »Rwandan genocide: ex-driver sentenced to 14 years in prison
Former Franco-Rwandan driver Claude Muhayimana has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in the massacres of Tutsis during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. He was found guilty of complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity by a French court which condemned him. Mr Muhayimana who denied …
Read More »European Union calls an urgent session on Ethiopia situation
The European Union has called an urgent session of the UN Human Rights Council to investigate human rights violations and further atrocities in the Ethiopian Tigray region. The Friday session, which was requested by the European Union, will decide whether to appoint an international team to investigate violations that human …
Read More »Nigeria: parliament says “no” to gender equality bill
Nigerian lawmakers have rejected a bill introduced by South-east Ekiti State Senator, Biodun Olujimi aimed at empowering women and promoting gender equality. The senator was forced to withdraw the bill after her male colleagues opposed “socio-cultural and Islamic concerns”. “Of course everyone is afraid to empower women … for cultural …
Read More »Ethiopia: government blames UN of ignoring Tigray rebel destruction
The Ethiopian government has accused the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNHRC), Unesco and the World Health Organization (WHO) of ignoring the destruction in the northern regions of the country, recently taken over by the army and the forces allied with the rebels of Tigray, reports the BBC. The …
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