Africa News

Libya to release bin Laden driver among Islamists

Tue Aug 31, 2010

A member of Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (R) as he is welcomed by relatives after being released from … TRIPOLI (AFP) – Libya was set to free 37 Islamists on Tuesday, including a former driver of Osama bin Laden and members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, according to the executive direction of the Kadhafi Foundation.

"Thirty-seven Islamists are going to be freed tonight, including an ex-chauffeur of (Al-Qaeda founder) Osama bin Laden who was detained at Guantanamo," said Yussef Sawan.

The man, identified as Abu Sofian Ben Guemou, was handed over to the Libyan authorities in 2007, Sawan added.

A source close to the foundation, headed by the son of Libya leader Moamer Kadhafi, told AFP 150 more Islamists would be released soon.

According to the foundation, "these people had completed their rehabilitation programme, which was aimed at getting the prisoners to renounce violence and reintegrate them into Libyan society."

Rwanda threatens Sudan troops pullout over UN report

Tue Aug 31, 2010

The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, attends a ceremony in Kinshasa in June to mark 50 years of independence … KIGALI (AFP) – Rwanda will withdraw more than 3,000 peacekeepers from Sudan if the United Nations publishes a report on war crimes allegedly committed by Kigali in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an army spokesman said Tuesday.

"The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has finalised a contingency withdraw plan for its peacekeepers deployed in Sudan in response to a government directive in case the UN publishes its outrageous and damaging report," a statement from spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Jill Rutaremara said.

The UN draft report alleges that Rwandan Tutsi troops and their rebel allies targeted, chased, hacked, shot and burned Hutus in the DR Congo, from 1996 to 1997, after the outbreak of a cross-border Central African war.

"All logistical and personnel resources are in place. The pullout will take the shortest time possible. The withdrawal will apply to the RDF peacekeepers serving under the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)," he said.

Spain says W. Sahara arrests affair is 'closed'

Tue Aug 31, 2010

Spanish activists from the SaharAcciones association take part in a pro-independence demonstration in … MADRID (AFP) – Spain's government on Tuesday said that the case of 14 Spanish pro-independence activists arrested in the disputed Western Sahara is "closed" after an explanation from Morocco.

"The Moroccan authorities have given us explanations and we consider that with these the affair is closed," deputy foreign minister Juan Pablo de Laiglesia said on the public radio station RNE.

On Monday, Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero said the government and foreign ministry "have expressed their concern" after the weekend arrests in the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony annexed by Morocco.

Thousands flee south Sudan floods

Tue Aug 31, 2010

A picture issued by the United Nations Mission in Sudan in August 2008 shows children collecting water … JUBA, Sudan (AFP) – Floods in south Sudan have forced more than 50,000 people from their homes, health officials said on Tuesday, warning that the situation could worsen.

Flood waters began rising earlier this month due to torrential seasonal rains in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal state, leaving much of the state capital Aweil under water and affecting thousands in the surrounding countryside.

"In the last one month, 57,135 people have been displaced by the floods," said Olivia Lomoro, the ministry's undersecretary for health.

Southern health minister Luka Monoja warned that the rains, which last until October, could force out more people.

Amnesty slams Rwandan 'genocide ideology' laws

Tue Aug 31, 2010

A Rwandan stands next to the skulls and bones of people murdered during the 1994 genocide at a memorial … LONDON (AFP) – Rwanda's new government must urgently review their "vague 'genocide ideology' and 'sectarianism' laws", which are being used to suppress political dissent, Amnesty International said Tuesday.

The London-based human rights group said in a report the loose wording was being misused to criminalise criticism of the government and legitimate opposition.

"The ambiguity of the 'genocide ideology' and 'sectarianism' laws mean Rwandans live in fear of being punished for saying the wrong thing," said Erwin van der Borght, Africa Programme director at Amnesty International.

Gaddafi causes storm in Italy with Islam comments

By James Mackenzie and Deepa Babington – Mon Aug 30, 2010

A woman speaks with the media as she arrives with about 200 other young women for a meeting with Libyan … ROME (Reuters) – Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's invitation to hundreds of young women to convert to Islam overshadowed a two-day visit to Italy intended to cement the growing ties between Tripoli and Rome.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi hailed Italy's relationship with Libya at an evening ceremony on Monday attended by some of the biggest names in Italian business, many hoping to pick up lucrative contracts in the energy-rich North African state.

Gaddafi called on the European Union to provide 5 billion euros ($6.36 billion) a year to help fight illegal immigration.

U.S. aid worker held for 105 days freed in Darfur

By Opheera McDoom– Mon Aug 30, 2010

U.S. aid worker Flavia Wagner, who works for Samaritan's Purse, arrives at Khartoum Airport, August … KHARTOUM (Reuters) – A U.S. aid worker was released in Darfur on Monday after being held by her kidnappers for 105 days, the latest in a series of abductions of foreigners for ransom in Sudan's west.

A day earlier, three members of a Russian aircrew working for the private Sudanese Badr Airlines were kidnapped in Darfur's largest town, Nyala, and Sudan's army said it was searching for the men.

Flavia Wagner, 35, was working for U.S. charity Samaritan's Purse in Darfur. She arrived in Khartoum on Monday looking thin but smiling as she emerged from the plane.

Southern Sudan to purge child soldiers from army

By MAGGIE FICK, Associated Press Writer – Mon Aug 30,2010 | AP

In this file photo of Saturday, Feb. 24, 2001, Sudan People's Liberation Army child soldiers wait … JUBA, Sudan – The government of Southern Sudan said Monday it will purge child soldiers from the ranks of its former rebel army by year's end, a policy change that could see thousands of young troops pushed out of the military.

The Sudan People's Liberation Army launched a new "Child Protection Department" intended to help the army fulfill an agreement it signed with the United Nations in November. The agreement commits the army to release all children in its ranks by the end of the year and to end the use of child soldiers across Southern Sudan.

West African union provides financial aid for floods

Mon Aug 30, 2010

A part of Niamey is flooded by the Niger river on August 6. The West African Economic and Monetary Union … OUAGADOUGOU (AFP) – The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) on Monday announced one billion CFA francs (1.52 million euros, 1.93 million dollars) in aid to help five member countries affected by floods.

The eight-nation organisation, based in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou, said the funds were to help Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal, which have all experienced heavy floods caused by torrential rains.

Niger, where almost 200,000 people are affected, was granted the largest share of the finance, to the tune of 300 million CFA francs (about 457,000 euros).

Somali rebels kill four AU peacekeepers

Mon Aug 30, 2010

A boy runs across Howlwadag Street in Mogadishu during the third day of fighting between Somali government … MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Four Ugandan peacekeepers were killed in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Monday when al Shabaab Islamist rebels fired mortars at the presidential palace, an African Union spokesman said.

Uganda and Burundi have deployed more than 6,300 troops to the anarchic Horn of Africa nation to guard the port and airport and shield President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed from attack

Last week, the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group vowed to intensify its holy war against the U.N.-backed government which it denounces as a puppet of the West.

Africa News

More Articles...