Africa
Uganda: vaccine trial against Ebola
Uganda, in partnership with the WHO and other health organisations, has launched its first-ever vaccine trial for the Sudan strain of Ebola. The trial began just days after a nurse succumbed to the…
DRC: fighting between army and Rwandan-backed rebels
Fighting persists between the Congolese army and M23 rebels in Goma, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), leaving control of the city uncertain. The M23, which according to the…
Tanzania: opposition party elects new chairman
Tundu Lissu has been elected chairman of Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, ousting Freeman Mbowe, who had led the party for over twenty years. Lissu won a tightly contested election with 51.5% of…
Sudan: shelling kills at least 120
On 13 January at least 120 people were killed by indiscriminate shelling in Omdurman, with the death toll expected to rise. Sudan's civil war, between the army and the paramilitary RSF, began 21…
South Africa: rescue operation at besieged illegal gold mine
A rescue operation is under way at a gold mine which has been under police siege since Aug as part of a government initiative targeting illegal mining, an industry valued at 60 billion…
Mozambique: post-election violence, calls for peace
Violence has gripped Mozambique following disputed elections on 9 October; the situation worsened after Daniel Chapo was officially declared president on 23 December. Adding to the feeling of insecurity, on Christmas Day over…
Mayotte: aftermath of Cyclone Chido
France has intensified relief efforts in Mayotte, with 120 tonnes of food scheduled for distribution. The Indian Ocean archipelago, France's poorest territory, has been under a curfew due to looting and lawlessness following…
Nigeria: authorities seek to combat oil theft
In the Niger Delta, rampant oil theft continues to threaten local livelihoods and the national economy. Armed groups siphon crude oil from pipelines in the region, often operating with impunity and even security…
France: author guilty of downplaying Rwandan genocide
French-Cameroonian author Charles Onana has been found guilty of downplaying the Rwandan genocide, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 people in 1994. He was fined €8,400, and his publisher was fined…
Uganda: mental health crisis at refugee camps
The mental health crisis at Kiryandongo refugee camp is escalating, with suicides and suicide attempts surging. Between January and October 2024, 41 suicides and over 130 attempts were recorded, highlighting the profound psychological…
