November 2, 2012 News Round-Up

 October 23 - 29, 2012

AFRICAN INTERNAL RELATIONS
Jeune Afrique: "RDC - Afrique du Sud : Zuma déterminé à aider Kinshasa dans sa lutte contre l'ex-M23" (October 23, 2012)
Joseph Kabila's visit to South Africa has resulted in a joint statement with Jacob Zuma, in which the two parties committed to fighting against the "instability" in eastern DRC. At the same time, the province of North Kivu announced the nightly closure of the border with Rwanda.
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAWEB20121023161152/onu-rwanda-cooperation-joseph-kabilardc-afrique-du-sud-zuma-determine-a-aider-kinshasa-dans-sa-lutte-contre-l-ex-m23.html

VOA News: "Congolese Refugees Search for New Homes in Uganda" (October 23, 2012)
Recent clashes between militia groups in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have driven more than 3,500 refugees into neighboring Uganda.  Worried about ongoing instability in their region, the refugees say they are now looking for permanent residence in Uganda.
http://www.voanews.com/content/congolese-refugees-search-for-new-homes-in-uganda/1531554.html

Jeune Afrique: "La guerre 'pas nécessairement' utile pour le Mali, selon Compaoré" (October 23, 2012)
Burkinabe President Blaise Compaoré, West African mediator in the Mali crisis, said Tuesday that the war was "not necessarily" a "useful" choice for Mali, especially as a West African force prepares itself to engage in conflict with the armed Islamists in the north.
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/actu/20121023T165039Z20121023T165036Z/la-guerre-pas-necessairement-utile-pour-le-mali-selon-compaore.html

BBC News: "African Union ends Mali suspension over military coup" (October 24, 2012)
The African Union has lifted the suspension it imposed on Mali after a military coup in the country in March.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20075563

allAfrica News: "South Sudan: African Union Supports Abyei Referendum in 2013 but Gives Six Weeks for a Deal" (October 25, 2012)
The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) announced on Thursday it support to the organization of a referendum in Abyei next year, but gave the parties six weeks to reach a compromise over the issue.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201210260417.html?aa_source=mf-hdlns

BBC News: "Uganda fury at Congo claims: Somalia operation reviewed" (October 25, 2012)
Uganda says it is reviewing the presence of its troops in Somalia, after the UN accused it of backing Democratic Republic of Congo rebels.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20081847

Jeune Afrique: "Crise malienne : bruit de bottes dans le Sud de l'Algérie" (October 25, 2012)
The prospect of military intervention in northern Mali is becoming more of a reality and the command of the People's National Army (ANP) is prepared to face any eventuality, especially in the south of Algeria.
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/JA2702p008-009.xml8/algerie-mali-ahmed-bousteila-anpcrise-malienne-bruit-de-bottes-dans-le-sud-de-l-algerie.html

allAfrica News: "Sudan: Chadian President Discusses Peace With Darfur Rebels" (October 26, 2012)
Chadian President Idris Deby discussed peace Thursday with the leadership of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement - military council (JEM-MC) which just signed a cessation of hostilities and good will agreement earlier this week.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201210260677.html?aa_source=mf-hdlns

AFRICA INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
allAfrica News: "Mali: France to Send Drones to Mali As Jihadists Flock to North, Report" (October 23, 2012)
France is to send surveillance drones to back up west African intervention in northern Mali and is meeting top US diplomats in Paris this week to discuss the fighting the Islamist presence there, the AP news agency reports
http://allafrica.com/stories/201210230914.html?aa_source=mf-hdlns

BBC News: "Sudan blames Israel for Khartoum arms factory blast" (October 24, 2012)
The Sudanese government says it believes Israel was responsible for explosions at a military factory in the capital Khartoum on Tuesday.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20050781

Jeune Afrique: "Mali: Paris estime que 'l'heure n'est pas à l'intervention'" (October 24, 2012)
The French Defense Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said that "the moment for intervention [in Mali] is not yet here." The intervention is aimed to regain control of the north of the country occupied by armed Islamists.
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/actu/20121024T094207Z20121024T094205Z/mali-paris-estime-que-l-heure-n-est-pas-a-l-intervention.html

Al Jazeera: "ICC prosecutor visits Kenya violence victims" (October 25, 2012)
Fatou Bensouda hears tales of victims of the post-election riots which left 1,300 dead and thousands displaced in 2007.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/10/201210251763823340.html

Jeune Afrique: "RDC: en Europe, Augustin Matata Ponyo tente de rassurer les investisseurs" (October 25, 2012)
Congolese Prime Minister, Augustine Matata Ponyo, continues his tour of Europe. After Belgium earlier this week, the head of government headed to Germany with the objective of reassuring European investors.
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAWEB20121025163815/rwanda-investissement-angela-merkel-belgiquerdc-en-europe-augustin-matata-ponyo-tente-de-rassurer-les-investisseurs.html

RFI: "La Côte d'Ivoire et l'Union européenne veulent renforcer leurs liens" (October 26, 2012)
The President of the European Commission has completed a two-day visit to Abidjan. José Manuel Barroso reiterated continued support to Côte d'Ivoire since the end of the post-election crisis in April 2011. Twenty seven members have given 430 million euros (about 282 billion CFA francs) to this country. In addition,  the European Union and Côte d'Ivoire have signed a financing agreement for the budget support of € 115 million (about 75 billion CFA francs), of which the first disbursement is expected before the end of year. The President of the European Commission also visited the University of Cocody.
http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20121026-cote-ivoire-union-europeenne-renforcent-leurs-liens-ouattara-barroso

BBC News: "Newton on Derwent man Gary Hyde guilty over arms deal" (October 26, 2012)
An arms dealer has been convicted of helping to organize a "huge" shipment of guns and ammunition from China to Nigeria without a license.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20093748

VOA News: "Clinton in Algeria for Talks on Mali" (October 29, 2012)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Algeria for talks on fighting terrorism in Africa's Sahel region. The Obama administration is looking for Algerian cooperation against Muslim extremists in northern Mali.
http://www.voanews.com/content/clinton-in-algeria-for-talks-on-mali-aqim/1535141.html

BENIN
BBC News: "Benin President Boni Yayi 'poison plot': Three charged" (October 23, 2012)
Three people plotted to kill Benin's President Thomas Boni Yayi by substituting poison for his medicine, prosecutors say.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20043189

BURUNDI
VOA News: "Burundi Seeks International Support for Development" (October 29, 2012)
The Republic of Burundi is seeking support from international donors for a new four-year development plan. The United Nations Development Program is hosting a two-day conference, bringing together representatives of the Burundian government and foreign governments as well as donor agencies.
http://www.voanews.com/content/burundi-seeks-international-support-for-development/1535637.html

CÔTE D'IVOIRE
Reuters Africa: "Ivory Coast ex-leader Gbagbo to stay in detention: ICC judges" (October 26, 2012)
Appeal judges at the International Criminal Court on Friday turned down former Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo's request to be allowed to leave the Netherlands pending a decision on whether he will face trial, saying he might try to abscond.
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE89P02Q20121026

CNN: "International court rejects appeal by former Ivory Coast president: (October 28, 2012)
The International Criminal Court has rejected an appeal from former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo to be released from detention in the Netherlands while he awaits trial.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/27/world/europe/netherlands-icc-gbagbo/index.html?hpt=iaf_c2

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
allAfrica News: "Congo-Kinshasa: DRC Humanitarian Crisis Growing Severe – OCHA" (October 25, 2012)
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday said the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was critical, with over 2.4 million internally-displaced people and persistent insecurity and poverty.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201210250068.html?aa_source=mf-hdlns

BBC News: "Virunga National Park: DR Congo rangers killed" (October 26, 2012)
Two rangers and a soldier have been killed by rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo's famous Virunga National Park, officials say.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20092835

The New York Times: "Noted Women's Rights Activist in Congo Eludes Group of Gunmen" (October 26, 2012)
A leading human rights activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo said on Friday that he had narrowly escaped what appeared to be an assassination attempt when gunmen infiltrated his home, took his children hostage and killed a security guard in a spray of bullets before fleeing in the family car.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/27/world/africa/human-rights-doctor-in-congo-eludes-gunmen.html?ref=africa

EQUATORIAL GUINEA
VOA News: "Equatorial Guinea Urged to Probe Lawyer's Disappearance" (October 24, 2012)
Human rights groups are urging Equatorial Guinea officials to investigate what they call the possible "enforced disappearance" of a top human rights lawyer.
http://www.voanews.com/content/equatorial-guinea-uged-to-probe-lawyers-disappearance/1532325.html

KENYA
BBC News: "Kenya restricts 'hate' texting for elections" (October 24, 2012)
Kenya's political parties have been banned from sending any bulk text messages to voters without the approval of state regulators.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20075586

LIBYA
Jeune Afrique: "Libye : enquête sur les dernières heures de Kaddafi" (October 25, 2012)
On the anniversary of the death of the "Guide" of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, the NGO Human Rights Watch published a survey on the impact execution of the dictator and his family.
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/JA2702p010-012.xml0/enquete-libye-mouammar-kaddafi-human-rights-watchlibye-enquete-sur-les-dernieres-heures-de-kaddafi.html

MADAGASCAR
RFI: "A Antananarivo, la population fait face aux coupures d'eau à repetition" (October 26, 2012)
Many people in Madagascar are deprived of drinking water. The city of Tulear in the southwest, had a prolonged shortage earlier this week. Also in the capital for several days, some areas have been facing serious problems of distribution. Jirama, the national water and electricity, is experiencing cash flow problems for several years now and is struggling to cope with demand.
http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20121026-antananarivo-population-fait-face-coupures-eau-repetition

MALI
Jeune Afrique: "Mali: plusieurs Touareg tués par des hommes en uniforme de l'armée à Diabali" (October 24, 2012)
Many Tuareg civilians were killed by men in Malian army uniforms in Diabali (Central Mali) where, on September 8, 16 people were shot dead by Malian soldiers.
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/actu/20121024T144656Z20121024T144653Z/mali-plusieurs-touareg-tues-par-des-hommes-en-uniforme-de-l-armee-a-diabali.html

RWANDA
Jeune Afrique: "Génocide au Rwanda : Bisesero, trois jours de trop" (October 26, 2012)
A striking investigation, conducted with the help of a policeman on this site in 1994, shows that the French army left Tutsi survivors at the mercy of the killing masses for more than 72 hours.
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/JA2702p084.xml0/france-rwanda-genocide-fprgenocide-au-rwanda-bisesero-trois-jours-de-trop.html

SIERRA LEONE
VOA News: "Challenges Face Journalists Covering Events in Sierra Leone" (October 26, 2012)
Many journalists across Africa face challenges such as low pay and lack of resources.  Sierra Leone will soon be holding presidential and parliamentary elections. That may increase reporting challenges there for journalists.
http://www.voanews.com/content/challenges-face-journalists-covering-events-in-sierra-leone/1533782.html

SOUTH AFRICA
VOA News: "S. Africa Mines, Workers Reach Agreement" (October 25, 2012)
South African gold mining companies have signed a new wage deal aimed at ending strikes that have crippled the industry.
http://www.voanews.com/content/south-african-gold-mining-companies-workers-reach-deal/1533017.html

CNN: "8,100 South African mine workers fired" (October 26, 2012)
Operators of a South African gold mine fired 8,100 striking workers after they did not return to work. Some 15,000 workers at Gold Fields Limited's KDC East mine near Johannesburg had been participating in an on-again, off-again strike since August. Many workers returned to work this week, and the company said it fired those who did not return.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/24/world/africa/south-africa-miners/index.html?hpt=iaf_c2

The New York Times: "Police Use Force in Miners Strike in South Africa" (October 27, 2012)
The police fired on hundreds of miners in North West Province who had gathered near the Olympia Stadium, apparently to block a rally by the Congress of South African Trade Unions, which is part of the governing African National Congress. It was unclear if anyone had been injured.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/world/africa/police-fire-rubber-bullets-at-striking-south-africa-miners.html?ref=africa&_r=0

SUDAN
allAfrica News: "Sudan: Darfur Peace Talks to Start On November 22" (October 23, 2012)
Negotiating delegations from the Sudanese government and a splinter faction of Justice Equality Movement (JEM) will start talks on November 22nd, officials from the two sides said.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201210240366.html

TOGO
allAfrica News: "Togo: Simmering Discontent Ahead of Polls" (October 24, 2012)
Since April, the opposition has been holding demonstrations to press for electoral reforms ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for an as yet undeclared date this month. Their demands have steadily grown tougher: They now want to see the back of President Faure Gnassingbé who came to power following a bitterly contested poll after the death of his father, Gnassingbé Eyadema, in 2005. Eyadema had ruled the tiny West African country for 38 years.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201210240979.html

ZIMBABWE
VOA News: "Zimbabwe Constitution Mired In Disputes" (October 23, 2012)
In Zimbabwe, a two-day conference meant to reach common ground on a draft constitution ended Tuesday without setting a date for a referendum. The two major parties in Zimbabwe, ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), still have fundamental disagreements and are sticking to their positions.
http://www.voanews.com/content/zinbabwe-constitution-election/1531929.html

allAfrica News: "Zimbabwe: Food As Political Weapon" (October 25, 2012)
According to starving villagers in southern Zimbabwe, officials of President Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party are denying them food, because they did not vote for the right party in previous elections.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201210251340.html?viewall=1