By Bernhard Schell CAIRO (IDN) – “I stand here on behalf of the United Nations system and reaffirm our strong commitment to the member states and the people of Africa,” Secretary-General António Guterres told the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU), adding: “I strongly believe Africa is one of the […]
Tropical African Plants Facing Extinction
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – A new study warns that a third of tropical African plants are on the path to extinction, with much of western Africa standing to lose more than 40 percent of plant diversity. Ethiopia, and parts of Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are […]
Ethiopia‘s Fragile Union Threatened as Sidama People Vote for Self-Government
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – Some of the 80 ethnic groups that form the nation of Ethiopia are demanding great autonomy and are voting with their feet for self-government. The Sidama people voted overwhelmingly in November to become self-governing, casting 98.5 percent of the votes backing the change. The Sidama […]
The Humanitarian Emergency the World is Ignoring
By Kwame Buist ROME (IDN) – Almost daily violent attacks in the Sahel nations of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have displaced nearly one million people and caused emergency levels of malnutrition, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned. “Conflict is moving forward and moving fast,” says Margot van der Velden, Director of WFP’s Emergencies […]
Risks Grow For African Leaders Seeking Extended Term
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – It’s not a piece of cake these days for leaders of African countries plotting to rewrite their constitutions and give themselves another decade or two in power, frustrating efforts by citizen groups to give other leaders a chance to rule. That’s the endgame facing Guinean […]
South African Airlines in Crisis Mode as Workers Strike
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – Unions representing more than half of South African Airways (SAA) workforce called a strike last week after the airline refused to meet wage and job security demands. The unions, representing more than 3,000 workers, walked out on November 15 after the state-owned airline rejected their […]
Gambia Sues Myanmar at UN Court with Rohingya Genocide
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – Few countries are standing up to Myanmar, formerly Burma, for its mistreatment of the Muslim community known as Rohingya. On November 11, Gambia – the smallest nation in mainland Africa – came to the defense of the persecuted minority, filing a lawsuit with the Hague-based […]
Military Attack Striking Students at Famed Ugandan University
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – As shocking images were viewed around the world of Ugandan police and soldiers beating and gassing students at the renowned Makerere University, President Yoweri Museveni was forced to acknowledge that his security forces were out of control. “The military is not trained to quell demonstrations,” […]
Growing Market in Africa for Spyware Targeting Journalists and Activists
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – If you’re worried about robocalls offering a dubious sale of bitcoins, a new technology aimed at political dissidents will chill you to the bone. Pegasus, an all-seeing spyware, worms its way into phones and starts transmitting the owner’s location, encrypted chats, travel plans – and […]
Frelimo, Renamo Tear Up Peace Pact After Elections ‘Tarnished by Fraud’
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – Hopes for a lasting peace between longtime rivals Frelimo and Renamo are fading fast as a recent vote for president of the southern African nation of Mozambique has been muddied by claims of fraud, unjustified use of state resources, as well as sporadic violence including […]