Daily News on Issues Affecting Africa for October 8th

Continue reading for a summary of recent news stories relating to some of the most pressing issues on the continent. We draw on a wide range of respected news sources, both from Africa itself and around the world. The themes of today's In the News post are: Kenyatta and the ICC, Nigeria's Islamist Insurgency, fate of Zambia with their president's weakening health, Disagreement between Nigeria and South Africa, Egypt's grasp for stability and British troops in Sierra Leone.

Now is not right time to put Kenyatta on trial, East African bloc tells ICC

The East Africa regional bloc, Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), has criticised the timing of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta's appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity.

The Kenyan leader will appear before the Hague-based tribunal, after judges said the case against him for allegedly masterminding post-election violence in 2007-2008 was at a "critical juncture"

To read more from The Africa Report, Click here.

White man, burdened

ZAMBIA rarely makes a stir at the annual UN general assembly in New York. But when Michael Sata, the president, failed to turn up for his speech this year, other African delegations took note.

The 77-year-old had collapsed in his hotel suite on September 25th and was treated by doctors sent by the American government. He had rarely appeared in public in recent months. When he addressed the Zambian parliament earlier in September he joked, "I am not dead," and then left without delivering his speech.

To read more from The Economist, click here.

Nigeria's Islamist Insurgency: Unrest in the home of peace

FOR a town known as "home of peace", Maiduguri, the capital of Borno in northern Nigeria, is seeing a lot of violence. It stands at the centre of an insurgency by Boko Haram, an Islamist outfit trying to establish a caliphate, and its fate is being closely watched in Western capitals.

Several towns in the state, including Gwoza and Bama, are now under the insurgents' control. Maiduguri, home to as many as 2m people, seems to be their ultimate target. Recent attacks have been directed at Konduga, a town roughly 35km (22 miles) outside the city. "The only route going into and out of Borno now is the Maiduguri-Kano road," says one Western embassy official. The other main roads to the capital are controlled by militants.

To read more from The Economist, click here.

Nigeria threatens South Africa with retaliation over 'frozen' arms deal

A top official in the office of Nigeria's National Security Advisor (NSA) told AFP that the country had an agreement to buy $5.7 million (R64 million) worth of military hardware in a deal brokered by a South African firm.

The official, who asked that his name be withheld, said Pretoria had frozen the cash wired to the South African firm's account.

To read more from Times Live, click here.

Ebola Help for Sierra Leone  Is Nearby, but Delayed on the Docks

There are 100 bags and boxes of hospital linens, 100 cases of protective suits, 80 cases of face masks and other items — in all, more than $140,000 worth of medical equipment locked inside a dented container at the port since Aug. 9.

To read more from The New York Times, click here.

As Egyptians Grasp for Stability, Sisi Fortifies His Presidency

With President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi back from his first visit to the United Nations, the Egyptian news media is hailing his performance there as a transformational moment, for the Egyptian president and even for the General Assembly.

No longer tainted as a former general who ousted Egypt's first democratically elected president, Mr. Sisi was finally recognized by the international community as a respected statesman and regional leader, Egyptian commentators say. Mr. Sisi even "changed the way presidents make speeches at the United Nations," the talk show host Amr Adeeb proclaimed, showing a video clip of Mr. Sisi ending his speech late last month by chanting his nationalist campaign slogan.

To read more from The New York Times, click here.

British troops to be sent to help fight Ebola

Britain is to deploy 600 extra military personnel to Sierra Leone next week to help combat Ebola.They will join 150 already in place and will be backed up by a ship, planes and helicopters.

The decision was made at a meeting of Cobra, the government's national emergencies committee, in Downing Street on Wednesday, where David Cameron was reassured by his officials that the risk to public health in the UK remains low.

To read more from The Guardian, click here.