Daily News on the Issues Affecting Africa for April 1st

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 the explosions in Nairobi, LRA movements in the Central African Republic, democratic progress in Mali, disagreement between ECOWAS and the EU, the dire situation in South Sudan, symbolism of the closure of the UN mission in Sierra Leone, upcoming elections in Malawi, and civil unrest in Burundi.

Kenyan Nairobi explosions kill six in Eastleigh
Six people have been killed in explosions in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, officials say. Several people were wounded in the attack, which took place in the Eastleigh suburb of the city. Eastleigh is known as "Little Mogadishu" because of its large Somali population. Although no group said it was behind the latest attack, many are blaming it on the Somali militant group al-Shabab. – BBC
To read more, please visit the BBC site here.

CAR: LRA joins the anti-Balaka to fight Muslims and peacekeepers
The notorious Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has reportedly crossed into the Central African Republic (CAR) to join the rogue Christian militia group, anti-balaka to fight Muslims and foreign forces in the strife torn country. – The Africa Report
To read more, please visit the Africa Report site here.

Malians Show Dramatic Leap in Confidence
The return of democracy and peace to much of Mali has generated a complete turnaround in public confidence in the country's future, according to a new opinion survey. – allAfrica
To read more, please visit the allAfrica site here.

ECOWAS states refuse to sign partnership deal with EU
The Economic Community of West African States has once again refused to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union, a Ghanian media reported on Monday. The media report said the refusal was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 44th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS Authority held in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire on Saturday. It said some states found issues with technical matters about the agreement, compelling the heads of state and government to shelve the signing of the deal. – Punch
To read more, please visit the Punch site here.

UN: Over one million displaced by South Sudan conflict
More than one million people have been forced from their homes by the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, the UN says.  Of these, 803,200 have been displaced within the country, and another 254,000 have fled to neighboring countries, according to the latest UN report. It warns that the situation is likely to get worse as the violence continues. – BBC
To read more, please visit the BBC site here.

UN Peacekeeping Mission in Sierra Leone closes down
After fifteen years in the country, the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Sierra Leone is closing down as the West African country is rebuilding after 11 years of civil war. The UN Integrated Peace Building Office has transferred its responsibilities to the UN country team. A few days ago, the UN celebrated the closure of the mission. – SABC News
To read more, please visit the SABC News site here.

Allegations swirl as Joyce Banda seeks to retain power in Malawi
It's only a few months before Malawi's presidential elections, and the race is close – too close for comfort for Joyce Banda, who is desperate to prove her presidency was not just a fortunate coincidence. The pressure is on, and with it some unforgiving media scrutiny. Banda, however, is not doing herself any favors. She's already broken rule number one for free and fair elections: don't, whatever happens, get the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission involved. – Daily Maverick
To read more, please visit the Daily Maverick site here.

Burundi: The country is going downhill-and its neighbors could be affected, too
Mr Nkurunziza's crackdown on dissent and his economic mismanagement have turned Burundi, in the words of a foreign diplomat, into a "hybrid of Rwanda's authoritarian politics and Congo's disastrous economy". Part of the problem is that, though similar in geography and size of population to Rwanda, its neighbour to the north, Burundi struggles to attract equivalent attention. The country was ruined by a 12-year civil war that claimed as many as 300,000 lives before it ended in 2005, yet that conflict was overshadowed by the magnitude of Rwanda's genocide in 1994, when 800,000 people perished in three months. While Rwanda's recovery was accompanied by an edict against mentioning divisions between Hutus and Tutsis, Burundi chose to recognise ethnic tensions overtly. Peace was built on a system of quotas in parliament and other public institutions to protect Burundi's Tutsi minority from outright domination by the Hutus, who make up some 85% of the population. ­- The Economist
To read more, please visit the Economist site here.