South Africa arrests hundreds over xenophobic violence

Police arrest more than 300 for crimes against migrants, after violence kills eight and displaces more than 1,000. South Africa’s government has vowed to crack down on xenophobic violence, after arresting more than 300 people for a range of crimes against migrants. Authorities said on Sunday in Johannesburg that 307 suspects had been arrested for a range of xenophobic-related crimes.… Read More

U.S. Deeply Concerned About Rising Tensions in Burundi

Press Statement The United States is deeply concerned by the rising tensions in Burundi in advance of general elections beginning in May that, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, have led over 8,000 Burundians to flee to neighboring countries to escape intimidation and violence, including by the youth militias of the ruling party. The United… Read More

Congo delays vote on electoral law, West urges revisions

Democratic Republic of Congo’s Senate has delayed until Friday a vote on changes to the electoral law after calls from Western powers to withdraw or alter the proposed bill, which has sparked days of violent protests. The new legislation calls for a census before elections due next year. President Joseph Kabila’s allies say the move is necessary to update voter… Read More

DR Congo unrest: Catholic church backs protests

The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has thrown its weight behind protests against President Joseph Kabila extending his rule. It called on people to peacefully oppose his move to delay presidential elections until a census is held. At least 11 people have so far been been killed in the protests. It is the worst unrest in the… Read More

“People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people”

By Jennifer Fierberg In a recent four day trip to Washington DC, meetings and interviews filled my schedule during the US African Leader Summit. Fifty heads of state from Africa descended upon DC to discuss topics of growth, infrastructure, food security, trade and various other political topics. President Obama made it clear that there would be no private meetings between… Read More

Women journalists harassed and abused, often by colleagues – survey

A member of the local media records a fire at the Comayaguela market in Tegucigalpa February 18, 2012. REUTERS/Jorge Dan Lopez   LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – It’s not news that women journalists are groped and threatened while covering protests and conflict, but often they face this abuse at work, and when they complain, they are told to “grow up”.… Read More

Gerald Gahima: “Root Causes of Conflict Must be Addressed”

As Rwanda commemorates 18 years since the genocide that claimed the lives of some 800,000 people, a former Rwanda chief prosecutor has warned that the likelihood of renewed conflict, even conflict along sectarian lines, is very real in Rwanda. Gerald Gahima said the Rwandan society has the challenge of ensuring that violence like that experienced in the past does not… Read More