Daily News on the Issues Affecting Africa for April 15th

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 updates on a deadly bombing in a Nigerian bus station, UN peacekeeping in CAR, Zambia's political flux, piracy threat in Mozambique, Chad's troop removal from CAR, and continued violence in South Sudan.

Nigeria bus station explosion kills at least 71
Rescue workers help victims of the blast, which happened on the outskirts of the capital city, Abuja. At least 71 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the blast, which occurred during the morning rush hour. One witness says he saw at least 30 bodies." – The Guardian
To read more, please visit the Guardian site here.

Not a Moment Too Soon: UN Approves Peacekeeping Mission for the CAR
On 10 April, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted in favour of a resolution authorising a peacekeeping force of around 12,000 personnel to be deployed to the Central African Republic (CAR). – Think Africa Press
To read more, please visit the Think Africa Press site here.

Zambia: Sata's constitutional tricks risk electoral backlash
The sudden about turn by the Zambian President Michael Sata on enacting a new constitution has not only eroded his credibility but is galvanizing the kind of opposition that could see him lose office in the 2016 general election. He obviously senses the danger and has mounted some rear-guard actions. – African Arguments
To read more, please visit the African Arguments site here.

Piracy could spread to Mozambique
A new breed of pirate could emerge in northern Mozambique to exploit the gas and oil industry that is about to boom there, unless the region addresses the problem. Rear-Admiral Robert "Rusty" Higgs and Joao Paulo Coelho, a professor at the Aquino de Braganca Centre for Social Studies in Maputo, issued the warning at a maritime security seminar in Pretoria on Friday. – IOL News
To read more, please visit the IOL News site here.

Chad abandons its neighbor
Following repeated controversies, the Republic of Chad announcement on April 3 that it intends to withdraw its 850 troops from the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA). Any hopes for a resolution to the crisis have been dashed due to Chad's abandonment of the international mission because unlike France, Chad is the decisive player in the future of the Central African Republic. – The National Interest
To read more, please visit the National Interest site here.

Heavy fighting erupts in South Sudan's Unity state
Rebel spokesperson Peter Riek Gew says forces from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) loyal to president Salva Kiir attacked their hideout in the north of Unity state on Sunday night. However, he claims rebels defended their positions and have captured an oil field, about 35km from the state capital, Bentiu. – Sudan Tribune
To read more, please visit the Sudan Tribune site here.