United Nations investigators say it appears Democratic Republic of Congo troops carried out a mass rape during a two-day rampage that terrorized villagers in North Kivu province. A report Friday by the U.N. human rights office says at least 47 women in the villages of Bushani and Kalambahiro were sexually assaulted and raped on December […]
UN Report: Congo Troops Blamed for Mass Rape
Posted July 22nd, 2011 at 11:25 am (UTC-5)
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Malawi Blocks Funeral for 7 Protesters
Posted July 22nd, 2011 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
Authorities in Malawi have blocked a mass funeral for seven people killed during protests in the northern town of Mzuzu. Mourners gathered at a funeral home hosting the seven dead, insisting on carrying out the funeral despite officials’ fears the event would incite more violence. Troops were patrolling Mzuzu and other major cities Friday after […]
Red Cross Visits Former Ivory Coast President in Detention
Posted July 22nd, 2011 at 5:44 am (UTC-5)
The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has visited former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo,who has been detained in the west African nation since April. A Red Cross spokesman said Friday officials from the organization met with Mr. Gbagbo and several others in detention or house arrest to make sure they are being […]
Anti-Piracy Effort Takes Aim at Pirate Bigshots
Posted July 21st, 2011 at 7:00 pm (UTC-5)
An multinational effort against Somali pirates has resulted in a task force aimed at taking down the organizers, financiers, and negotiators behind the piracy business. A U.S. State Department official told VOA Thursday The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia believes there are only a handful of individuals in charge of the […]
Somali Militants Deny Famine Reports
Posted July 21st, 2011 at 5:55 pm (UTC-5)
The rebel group that controls two famine-stricken regions of Somalia is rejecting international reports of the crisis. Al-Shabab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Rage said Thursday the United Nations’ declaration of famine in Somalia is “100% false and propaganda.” The U.N. this week declared a famine in southern Somalia’s Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions, both strongholds […]
New Somali Minister for Women Kidnapped
Posted July 21st, 2011 at 4:15 pm (UTC-5)
Somalia’s new minister for women has been kidnapped by the militant group al-Shabab, less than a day after her appointment. A sister of the kidnapped minister told VOA Thursday Asha Osman Aqil was seized by al-Shabab fighters in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region, which is in the heart of the rebel group’s territory. The sister says […]
New Somali Minister for Women Kidnapped
Posted July 21st, 2011 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
Somalia’s new minister for women has been kidnapped by the militant group al-Shabab, less than a day after her appointment. Reports citing a relative and various Somali officials say Asha Osman Aqil was seized by al-Shabab fighters in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region. Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali had named her to his cabinet on […]
Malawi Protests Death Toll Rises to 18
Posted July 21st, 2011 at 1:30 pm (UTC-5)
The government of Malawi now says at least 18 people have been killed during clashes between police and anti-government protesters that began Wednesday. Malawi’s health ministry raised the death toll Thursday, soon after President Bingu wa Mutharika appealed for calm in a nationwide radio address. The president said he is willing to sit down and […]
UN to Open New Routes to Somalia’s Famine-Stricken Areas
Posted July 21st, 2011 at 12:15 pm (UTC-5)
The United Nations World Food Program says it will soon open new routes to famine-stricken parts of Somalia where the presence of militants has made it hard to reach starving people. Executive Director Josette Sheeran said Thursday that the WFP is preparing to open new land and air routes into what she called the “core […]
Ivory Coast Panel to Probe Post-Election Violence
Posted July 21st, 2011 at 10:15 am (UTC-5)
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has set up a commission to investigate possible human rights violations during post-election violence. The government said Thursday the panel will help understand how and why people were able to conceive, plan and execute what it called “massive human rights and public liberty violations.” The commission is expected to conduct […]
