Daily News on the Issues Affecting Africa for September 18th

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 Sudanese president's request for a US visa, Ethiopian land issues, same-sex protocol in Zambia, EAC visa issues, violence in Nigeria, Sudanese political tension, and peace-building in Somalia.

US hints it will approve visa request by Sudan's Bashir
The Sudanese government hit back at statements by U.S. officials condemning a bid by president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir to travel to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings this month. The Sudanese government on Tuesday confirmed what US State department officials announced as a visa application by Al-Bashir to enter the country. – Sudan Tribune
To read more, please visit the Sudan Tribune site here

In Ethiopia, more land grabs, more indigenous people pushed out
Ethiopian officials say the Mursi, like a growing number of ethnic or tribal groups in Ethiopia, are voluntarily moving out of their ancient lands; human rights groups say this is untrue. The ongoing controversy is not new in Ethiopia, and "land grabs" by governments for lucrative leasing deals have become a story across the continent.  – CS Monitor
To read more, please visit the CS Monitor site here

Zambia postpones same-sex conduct trial
The postponement of the trial against two Zambian men charged with same-sex sexual conduct whilst they continue to languish in prison is compounding their suffering, Amnesty International said. The trial, which was due to start yesterday, was deferred as the presiding magistrate, Mr. John Mbudzi, had to attend an urgent family matter. No new date has been confirmed yet. – allAfrica
To read more, please visit the allAfrica site here

Tanzania, Burundi left out of talks on single visa
The so-called coalition of the willing comprising Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda has continued with its integration endeavours without Tanzania and Burundi. It has emerged that experts from Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda met in Kigali on Thursday to advance discussions on how to implement the directive of their heads of state to have a single tourist visa available from 2014 onwards, to enhance the flow of tourist visitors across the three countries without additional fees. This comes after the East African Community Council of Ministers officially sought clarification on why the three countries have been running a parallel integration agenda that sidelines the other two partners. – The Citizen
To read more, please visit The Citizen site here

16 soliders, 150 Boko Haram members killed in Northern Nigeria
In a fresh attack against extremist Islamist sect Boko Haram, 16 Nigerian soldiers and 150 sect members, including a top commander, were killed in the northern state of Borno. – Times Live
To read more, please visit the Zambia Times Live site here

A gathering swarm: Could locusts escalate tensions between the Sudans?
Whether it is disagreements over oil fees, disputes over borderlands, or accusations of fuelling rebel groups in each other's territory, there is no shortage of tensions between Sudan and South Sudan. The rhetoric from both sides of the divide is often barbed, and relations between political figures in the two countries are ever heated and precarious. However, below the radar and far away from the corridors of power and high-level meeting rooms, there is another group of much smaller and humbler actors that may end up being central to even further tensions between the Sudans. – Think Africa Press
To read more, please visit the Think Africa Press site here

Somalia's 'New Deal' tackles old problems
In Brussels, it was hailed as a "New Deal" for Somalia. That after more than two decades of killing and chaos, the Horn of Africa country now has a government and enough international backing to start delivering peace and economic growth for its people. – Al Jazeera
To read more, please visit the Al Jazeera site here