Dohwa Jina Kim, Correspondent (Africa) The Senegalese sculptor, Ousmane Sow has been awarded with French honour, joining France’s Academy of Fine Arts at the age of 78 being the first African to do so. In the Paris ceremony, he attributed all honour to “all of Africa…and the great man Nelson Mandela.” Sow won international fame when his large-scale wrestler sculptures were exhibited in Paris. His ongoing series, ‘Great Me’, depicts historical figures including Charles […]
Randi Karangizi, Correspondent (Africa) KIGALI — Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, the leader of the unrecognised United Democratic Forces Party (UDF), has been charged as guilty with crimes of belittling the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and scheming against authorities by spreading rumours to incite the public to stand against the state. One of Ingabire’s lawyers, Iain Edwards said ‘I can confirm that the sentence has been increased to 15 years’. Umuhoza is a leading critic of Rwandan President Paul Kagame […]
Sadichchha Pokharel, Correspondent (Africa) NAIROBI– A freight train has crashed into Kibera slum in Nairobi, injuring many. The train was on its way to Uganda, when it derailed and crashed into houses in Kibera, one of the biggest slums in Africa. Several people have been buried under the wreckage. Rescue efforts are taking place but have been carried out at a very slow pace, according to residents. Due to the location and the overwhelming […]
Maria Anifowse, Correspondent (Africa) BAMAKO – A suicide attack in Mali’s troubled northern city, Kidal, killed two UN troops on Saturday, December 14, 2013. The soldiers were members of the UN Peacekeeping force known as MINUSMA and died when a suicide bomber ploughed his explosive-laden car into a bank that they were guarding. The car bomb attack came a day before Mali holds a second round of legislative polls. “For the moment, we have […]
Ferhiyo Ismail Ali, Editor (Africa) The UN has launched its very first surveillance drones to monitor the borders of Rwanda and Uganda to detect any uprising rebel activities. It has been reported that the first two drones were occupied last year by the M23 rebels when it launched. If the drones are to be successful in DR Congo, they will subsequently be used in various other UN peacekeeping missions, reports have stated. UN officials […]
Suryatapa Mukherjee, Correspondent (Politics) JUBA — South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir declared an overnight curfew in the capital Juba, effective from Monday, after renegade soldiers attempted to overthrow the government. The curfew will run each night from 6 pm to 6 am. Kiir stated that an unidentified individual fired shots in the air near a ruling party conference leading the fighting to break out. “This was followed later by an attack at the SPLA […]
Sadichchha Pokharel, Correspondent (Africa) Thamsanqa Jantjie, the infamous interpreter at Mandela’s memorial has been accused of murdering two men by burning them alive. Jantjie, who became a subject of ridicule after he misinterpreted President Obama’s speech at Mandela’s memorial last week, was reportedly a part of the group that burned down two men alive in 2003 by putting tyres around their necks and setting them on fire. While the rest of the suspects were […]
Ferhiyo Ismail Ali Editor (Africa) UGANDA — Members of the Ugandan parliament will receive free iPads, at an estimated cost of $3,70,000. Uganda’s newspaper, The New Vision stated that the reason for this is to speed up the process of legislation and to make MPs more efficient and competent. Emmanuel Dombo, parliamentary commissioner, stated that the budget for paper, which will no longer be needed, has been cut to fund the iPads. It will enable […]
Sadichchha Pokharel with Anthony Segaert Correspondents (Africa) JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s first black President and revolutionary leader, Nelson Mandela has passed away at his home in Johannesburg, South African President Jacob Zuma has announced. Mandela, aged 95, had been under intensive care after spending three months at the hospital for his lung infection. His health had been in a critical condition since the past few months. “Our nation has lost its greatest son,” said a very […]
Sadichchha Pokharel, Correspondent (Africa) BANGUI – After a heavy fighting in the CAR capital Bangui on Thursday, France has confirmed to take immediate military action to protect civilians in the area. The violent battle between Christian and Muslims has left at least a100 dead. President François Hollande has stated that the number of French troops deployed in the region will be “doubled within a few days, if not a few hours.” Thursday’s violence has raised […]
