Rebels in the Central African Republic say they have agreed to a temporary cease-fire deal with the government. Representatives of the Seleka rebel coalition say they reached the agreement Thursday, during talks with the C.A.R. government and opposition leaders in Gabon’s capital, Libreville. The cease-fire is reportedly for one week. There was no immediate word […]
Bozize Supporters Build Roadblocks in C.A.R. Capital
Posted January 2nd, 2013 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
Supporters of Central African Republic President Francois Bozize have set up roadblocks in the capital, Bangui, saying they want to stop any rebel incursion. French media reports say young men describing themselves as “patriots” are manning checkpoints where they stop vehicles and question occupants in a search for rebel fighters. The rebel coalition known as […]
US Closes Embassy in Central African Republic; Evacuates Staff
Posted December 27th, 2012 at 8:55 pm (UTC-5)
The United States has temporarily shut down its embassy in the Central African Republic and evacuated the staff, because of a rebel threat to topple the government. A State Department spokesman Thursday said Washington is urging all parties to begin peace talks to offer a new vision of security for the country. He said U.S. […]
France: Protecting Interests, Not Intervening in Central African Republic
Posted December 27th, 2012 at 5:40 am (UTC-5)
French President Francois Hollande says France has a presence in the Central African Republic to protect its interests and nationals, not to intervene in the country’s business. Mr. Hollande spoke Thursday, a day after protesters critical of France’s inaction during a rebel advance in the C.A.R. threw stones at the French embassy in the capital, […]
South African Gold Mining Companies, Workers Reach Agreement
Posted October 25th, 2012 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
South African gold mining companies have signed a new wage deal aimed at ending strikes that have crippled the industry. The deal between mineworkers’ unions and three major mining companies, signed Thursday, gives mineworkers cumulative wage hikes of between 11 and 20 percent. The increase is on top of earlier pay increases that took effect […]
No African Leader Wins Ibrahim Prize
Posted October 15th, 2012 at 10:35 am (UTC-5)
For the third time in four years, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation has declined to give out its award for excellence in African leadership. The foundation announced in London Monday that it would not present the $5 million award. It said none of the leaders it considered for the prize this year met the criteria. The […]
Protest Follows Firing of 12,000 South African Miners
Posted October 6th, 2012 at 6:30 am (UTC-5)
Dozens of South African miners held a protest march Saturday in Rustenburg in a show of solidarity with thousands of fellow miners fired at the Anglo American platinum mine. The world’s largest platinum producer dismissed 12,000 mineworkers in Rustenburg Friday for staging an illegal strike. Anglo American Platinum said the workers from its Rustenburg mine […]
AU Sending 5,000 Troops to Find LRA Leader Kony
Posted March 23rd, 2012 at 11:20 am (UTC-5)
The African Union says it will deploy an additional 5,000 troops to search for fugitive rebel leader Joseph Kony, head of the Lord’s Resistance Army. The announcement was made in Entebbe, Uganda Friday by Francisco Madeira, the AU’s special envoy on the LRA. Madeira said the the troops will be supplied by Uganda, the Central […]
Court: Italy Must Compensate Somali, Eritrean Migrants
Posted February 23rd, 2012 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
A European court says Italy must pay a group of African migrants more than $22,000 each for illegally returning them to Libya. The European Court of Human Rights ruled Thursday that Italy violated the rights of 11 Somali and 13 Eritrean migrants who it intercepted in the Mediterranean in May 2009 and quickly handed over […]
US Breaks Ground on African American Museum
Posted February 22nd, 2012 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
The National Mall in Washington is getting a new, long-awaited museum dedicated to the experience of African Americans. U.S. President Barack Obama and other dignitaries – including former first lady Laura Bush – helped break ground Wednesday on the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Mr. Obama called on the museum to serve […]
