Daily News on the Issues Affecting Africa for August 27st

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 Nelson Mandela's health, Nigeria's biggest challenge, Liberia students all fail University admission exam, Rwanda tribunal digs up partial truth, South Africa: findings will not affect elections - IEC  and other parts of Africa.

Nigeria: Insecurity Still Nigeria's Biggest Challenge
Nigerians can be very touchy when it comes to the performance of their economy. In its effort to project an image of Nigeria as the leading heavyweight on the continent, despite its huge and seemingly growing insecurity problems, the Nigerian government is not taking any negative statements about its economic growth lying down. Earlier this month it decided to take on the African Development Bank (AfDB) because of its assessment of Nigeria in the bank's 2013 African Economic Outlook report. In a statement on 12 August, the Nigerian government said the report contained 'bogus claims' and 'dangerous innuendos' - this despite the fact that Nigeria is one of the bank's biggest shareholders.
To read more please visit the AllAfrica site here

Liberia Students all Fail University Admission Exam
Liberia's education minister says she finds it hard to believe that not a single candidate passed this year's university admission exam. Nearly 25,000 school-leavers failed the test for admission to the University of Liberia, one of two state-run universities. The students lacked enthusiasm and did not have a basic grasp of English, a university official told the BBC. Liberia is recovering from a brutal civil war that ended a decade ago.
To read more please visit the BBC site here

Nelson Mandela showing 'great resilience' in hospital
Critical but stable" is the phrase used by the government for weeks now, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge reports from Johannesburg. However, Saturday's statement does provide some fresh insight into the precariousness of the health of the global icon and the reserves he still appears able to call upon, our correspondent adds. The statement said doctors were still working hard to bring about a turnaround in his health and, as a result of medical interventions, his condition tended to stabilise.
To read more please visit the Standard Digital site here

Rwanda Tribunal Digs Up Partial Truth
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) based in Arusha, Tanzania, is due to conclude its business at the end of 2014 following several deferrals. A United Nations Security Council Resolution set up the tribunal in 1994. Analysts have globally recognised the ICTR's role in bringing perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandese genocide to justice. However, for a variety of reasons, they also believe that the tribunal has not entirely fulfilled its mandate.
To read more please visit the AllAfrica site here

le Rwanda et la Tanzanie à couteaux tirés
Paul Kagamé a menacé de "frapper" Jakaya Kikwete. Mais ce  dernier n'est pas en reste et a promis de faire subir à son voisin "de sinistres  conséquences". Les présidents rwandais et tanzanien tentent depuis de calmer le  jeu, mais jamais l'escalade verbale n'avait été si loin. Tout a commencé fin mai, au cinquantenaire de l'Union africaine à Addis  Abeba. Irrité de l'instabilité chronique dans la région des Grands Lacs, Jakaya  Kikwete, le président tanzanien, conseille à ses homologues de RDC, Joseph  Kabila, d'Ouganda, Yoweri Museveni et du Rwanda, Paul Kagamé, de négocier avec  les rebelles qui les combattent.
To read more please visit the jeune afrique site here

South Africa: Findings Will Not Affect Elections - IEC
The findings of the Public Protector's investigation into IEC chairwoman Pansy Tlakula will not affect the national and provincial elections next year, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said. "Various election milestones have already been achieved by the electoral commission. Staff have been identified and trained and the focus now is on the November 2013 registration weekend," IEC vice-chairman Terry Tselane said in a statement, issued late on Monday. He said the report by Thuli Madonsela, which found Tlakula guilty of improper conduct and maladministration, would in "no way" affect the 2014 elections.
To read more please visit the AllAfrica site here

Tunisie: le Premier ministre annonce qu' Ansar al-Charia est responsable des assassinats de l'opposant
Le Premier ministre tunisien, l'islamiste Ali Larayedh, a  annoncé, mardi 27 août, que le principal mouvement salafiste jihadiste du pays,  Ansar al-Charia, longtemps toléré, était responsable des assassinats de deux  opposants ainsi que d'attaques contre les forces tunisiennes. Ansar al-Charia est responsable des assassinats de l'opposant de gauche  Chokri Belaïd et du député Mohamed Brahmi ainsi que de nos martyrs de la police  et de l'armée nationale", a déclaré le Premier ministre lors d'une conférence de  presse, mardi 27 août. "Nous avons décidé de classer Ansar al-Charia comme  "organisation terroriste'", a-t-il ajouté, alors que son gouvernement est très  critiqué face à l'essor des groupes jihadistes constaté depuis la révolution de  janvier 2011.
To read more please visit the Jeune Afrique site here