Daily News on the Issues Affecting Africa for December 3rd

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 conflict in Central African Republic, UN actions in the Congo, political challenges in South Sudan, political leadership in Zimbabwe, advancements in technology championed by Rwandan president, economic strategies in East Africa, Mauritanian election results, and outcomes of research from this year's World AIDS Day.

Central African Republic: A case for action
Unspeakable horrors are unfolding in the Central African Republic (CAR), a state few in the English-speaking world will have heard of, let alone be able to locate. It has endured five coups since it gained independence in 1960. Earlier this year, a long-running civil war between the Seleka rebels – including bandits and mercenaries from Chad and Sudan – and the government of President François Bozizé resulted in the overthrow of Bozizé and his flight from the country. The Seleka leader Michel Djotodia appointed himself president, but remnants of the largely Muslim rebel force now roam over large parts of the country, killing, looting and burning out the Christian majority population, which has itself resorted to violence, escalating sectarian tensions. – The Guardian
To read more, please visit the Guardian site here.

UN starts drone surveillance in DR Congo
The UN mission in Democratic Republic of Congo has started to deploy unarmed surveillance drones to monitor rebel activity near the forested borders with Rwanda and Uganda. This is the first time any UN mission has deployed drones. The first two were launched from the eastern city of Goma, which was last year briefly occupied by M23 rebels. – BBC
To read more, please visit the BBC site here.

The referendum in Abyei is an ongoing challenge for the African Union
On 27 October 2013, the Ngok Dinka community in the disputed Abyei region of Sudan held a unilateral vote to determine whether Abyei would remain part of Sudan or join South Sudan. The African Union (AU) strongly condemned the referendum as 'unacceptable and irresponsible'. The AU maintained that the referendum violated AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) decisions and could further complicate the search for a common solution based on the framework of existing commitments, given that the issue of voter eligibility had not yet been resolved. Just before the vote, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) members had expressed 'grave concern' about the extremely unstable situation in Abyei, saying the referendum could fuel tensions between Sudan and South Sudan and hamper a solution to the border disputes in the area. – Institute for Security Studies
To read more, please visit the Institute for Security Studies here.

Zimbabwe: Mujuru emerges victorious in provincial polls
Vice President Joice Mujuru's faction scored a landslide victory in the party's provincial elections held on Saturday, making her the odds-on favourite to succeed President Robert Mugabe. Official results released by ZANU PF's national chairman Simon Khaya-Moyo on Sunday showed Mujuru's faction now controls nine out of the ten provinces. Mujuru has been fighting a bitter turf-war with Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa for the right to replace Mugabe. – allAfrica
To read more, please visit the allAfrica site here.

Paul Kagame: Digital president leading a technology movement
Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda, has been dubbed the "digital president" by international organizations, journalists, and politicians alike. A recent article in Wired Magazine provides a compelling review of numerous technology initiatives that President Kagame has spearheaded in the last decade, making it clear why he's been given this title. The Rwandan government has been making a concerted effort to create a culture of innovation by investing in technology, infrastructure, and the skills of the Rwandan people. – World Bank
To read more, please visit the World Bank site here.

East Africa set for historic shift as states adopt EU-type monetary union plan
With the signing of the East African Community Monetary Union Protocol, the five member countries start on a journey that will eventually see them operate a single currency, potentially transforming them into a strong single market with greatly enhanced clout in African and global trade but also exposing them to risk of stumbling from crisis to crippling crisis in the manner of the Eurozone. Under the Protocol, who's signing ends nearly four years of haggling, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Kenya will harmonise their economic and monetary policies for long-term growth. – The East African
To read more, please visit the East African site here.

Mauritania announces partial election results
Mauritania's electoral commission on Sunday (December 1st) announced partial results from the November 23rd legislative and local elections, AFP reported.  President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz's Union for the Republic (UPR) took 36 of the 65 seats available in round one of the poll. Tawassoul won six seats. The main Islamist party was the only member of the 11-party Co-ordination of Democratic Opposition (COD) to participate in the vote. – Magharebia
To read more, please visit the Magharebia site here.

Africa: World AIDS Day. From Tanzania to Swaziland – HIV cure claims false until proven effective
From Tanzania to Swaziland, newspapers continue to report breakthrough "cures" for HIV/AIDS. As the world marked World AIDS Day yesterday, Africa Check investigated the evidence behind just three recent claims. If the reports emanating recently from Tanzania, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe are to be believed, yesterday could have been the last World AIDS Day ever. Clinics will soon be able to stop dispensing treatment, UNAIDS can pack up shop. We now have all the tools to solve the HIV crisis. – allAfrica
To read more, please visit the allAfrica site here.