Daily News on the Issues Affecting Africa for July 31st

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 violence in Northern Nigeria, Darfur, African elections, Police Issues, and developments in the East African Community.

Nigeria's Kano city hit by blasts targeting bars
At least 28 are people have been killed in a series of explosions that targeted bars in the northern Nigerian city of Kano, a hospital source tells the BBC. Witnesses said the blasts shook a Christian neighbourhood that has previously been attacked by militants from the Islamist group Boko Haram.The army said 12 people had been killed when explosions placed in packages were dropped in the area on Monday evening. In March, explosions at a bus station in the city killed more than 20 people.
To read more please visit the BBC here

Sudan: Tribal Violence Claims Dozens More Lives in Central Darfur
Dozens more people have reportedly been killed and wounded as violent clashes between Misseriya and Salamat tribesmen in Central Darfur. Move into their second week. Witnesses have told radio Dabanga that the sound of small arms, heavy machinegun fire and grenade explosions could again be heard around the cities of Garsila, Mukjar, Bundisi and Deleig. Apart from the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) fortifying security positions such as the market of Garsila, they report that no attempt has been made by the government to separate the warring tribes.
To read more please visit the AllAfrica site here

International praise for Mali elections
Malian and French leaders have praised the calm and smooth-running presidential vote in Mali, the first election since a coup last year led to a violent rebellion in the north. There were no reports of violence in Sunday's poll despite threats to "strike" polling stations by armed rebels who had occupied northern Mali before being ousted in January by a French-led military intervention. Local and international observers said there had been a strong turnout in the populous south, although official data have yet to be released, giving rise to optimism that the voting rate would exceed the 36 percent achieved in 2007 elections.
To read more please visit Al Jazeera English here

Kenya 'must stay firm on police reforms'
Kenya's lawmakers must reject amendments to a police reform package drawn up after the post-election violence in 2007, Amnesty International said on Tuesday, ahead of a parliamentary debate on the proposed changes. "Attempts by the Kenyan government to water-down key reforms to regulate the country's police force will allow human rights violations to continue and officers to act with impunity," the group said in a statement.
To read more please visit the News24 site here

Togo Ruling Party Wins Legislative Vote
Togo's ruling party, led by a man whose family has governed the small West African nation for 46 years, increased its share of the legislature in last week's elections, the electoral commission announced Sunday. The provisional results dealt a blow to opposition leaders who had hoped recent signs of discontent would translate into gains at the ballot box. A spokesperson for one of the leading opposition parties said the results were unacceptable and vowed to challenge them.
To read more please visit the News24 site here

Finally, monetary union in sight as countries strike deal
The five East African Community countries have finally agreed on the Monetary Union Protocol, to be approved by heads of state in November, ending years of gruelling negotiations that exposed the deep nationalistic misgivings that continue to frustrate the quest for closer regional ties. The approval of the protocol sets the stage for an eventual phasing out of all the national currencies and the establishment of a single regional legal tender. The deal was struck in a meeting held in Arusha on July 16 by the EAC Sectoral Council on the Monetary Union.
To read more please visit the East African site here

U.S. Pushes for Global Eye on South Sudan Conflict
When the National Security Council, the most buttoned-up part of a buttoned-up Obama administration, is aggressively trying to get the word out about a violent, murky conflict in a distant land, it's worth listening to. It's also worth asking, why single out this crisis? Such is the case with the ethnic and tribal clashes that are rippling through a remote, sprawling part of South Sudan known as Jonglei State. Administration officials say they are deeply concerned about the violence, all the more so because there is so little reliable information coming out of a region that is inaccessible in the best of times.
To read more please visit New York Times here

South African police with records 'must be sacked'
South Africa's main opposition party has called for the sacking of close to 1,500 police officers who it has been revealed have criminal records. The officers have been implicated in a range of crimes, the results from a two-year audit announced by Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa show. The Democratic Alliance (DA) said the revelations were "embarrassing." The report has been referred to the police chief for a decision on what action to be taken, Mr Mthethwa said.
To read more please visit the BBC here