Rwanda: UN to Publish Explosive Report on Rights Abuses The report documenting the most serious human rights violations committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 1993 and 2003 will be made public on 1 October, the United Nations announced today.

Congo-Kinshasa: UN Chief in Rwanda to Discuss Contentious Report Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived today in Kigali, where he plans to meet with Rwandan leaders to discuss the soon-to-be-released United Nations report on serious human rights violations committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 1993 and (...)

Kenya: Human Rights Commission Crisis Deepens The leadership crisis at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) deepened on Monday when commissioners stripped chairperson Florence Jaoko of all her powers.

Zimbabwe: London-Based Exile Radio Station's Broadcasts Jammed in Harare Reporters Without Borders condemns the jamming of some of the programmes of Short Wave Radio Africa (SWRA), a London-based radio station staffed by Zimbabwean exile journalists that broadcasts to Zimbabwe.

Congo-Kinshasa: Peacekeepers Launch New Operation After Mass Rapes The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken several measures to improve the protection of civilians in the east of the country following the recent incidents of mass rape, but establishing State authority in conflict-affected areas would be the (...)

South Africa: Community Tests State on Mining Rights The case is one of many legal battles, in different courts, involving mining companies and rural communities living on top of potentially lucrative mines.

Uganda: Lobby Groups Reject Licensing of Journalists In a letter to the President, IFEX members and four other organisations called on the government to withdraw the proposed amendment and revise other existing laws related to free expression:

Congo-Kinshasa: Lubanga's Lawyers Insist Stay of Proceedings is Irreversible In what is likely to be the final submission before appeals judges decide on the way forward in the appeal against the release of Mr. Thomas Lubanga, defense attorneys have insisted that the stay of proceedings imposed by trial judges was (...)

Africa: Africa's Women Turn 50 Five decades ago, 17 African countries threw off the brutal and degrading yoke of colonialism. The 50th anniversary of African national liberation is an opportunity to critically reflect on the era of post-colonial Africa, which began with luminous hope but has been marred by a leitmotif of (...)

South Africa: Gauteng Tackles Strike Aftermath The Gauteng provincial government remained upbeat on Wednesday that plans were in place to help the province recover from the recent public servants’ strike.

Liberia: DCT-008 Concludes His Evidence Today, DCT-008, the 20th defense witness who could possibly be the final witness to give oral evidence in the Charles Taylor trial, concluded his evidence.

Uganda: Rights Body Condemns NRM Poll Violence Human rights activists yesterday condemned the violence that has marred the NRM primaries, calling for action against perpetrators.

East Africa: institute Challenges Govt Committment After Bashir Visit The Institute for Democracy & Leadership in East Africa (IDEA) is challenging the commitment of Kenya as a Member of the United Nations International Criminal Court (ICC).

Kenya: Mutula Steps in to Settle Row in Rights Team The government on Wednesday stepped in to try and resolve squabbles threatening the operations of its key human rights watchdog.

Algeria: Transparency International Raises Alarm over Activist's Safety Transparency International (TI) is greatly concerned for the safety of anti-corruption activist, Djilali Hadjadj, following his recent arrest, and calls on the Algerian government to ensure his safety and to adhere to the country’s code of criminal (...)

Congo-Kinshasa: Rights Defender Abducted, Mistreated Congolese authorities should open a prompt, impartial, and thorough investigation of the abduction and ill-treatment of a human rights defender in North Kivu province in late August 2010, a coalition of 36 international and Congolese human rights organizations said today. The authorities should (...)

Swaziland: Police Break Up Pro-Democracy Meeting, Arrest Scores of Activists On the eve of the Global Day of Action for Swaziland, police in Swaziland this afternoon broke up a peaceful meeting of pro-democracy activists at the Tum’s George Hotel in Manzini before loading scores of them into police vans and taking them away to the Manzini Regional Police (...)

Swaziland: Zimbabwe Activist Banned for Five Years From Entering Country A leading Zimbabwe democracy activist has been banned from entering Swaziland for the next five years, after he was arrested on Tuesday taking part in a protest to mark the Global Day of Action in Manzini.

Congo-Kinshasa: UN Prolongs Patrols to Deter Attacks on Civilians The United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Wednesday said it was extending by another week an operation designed to enhance the protection of civilians in the eastern areas of the country where members of illegal armed groups raped some 240 people (...)

Zambia: Investigate Police Brutality, Says Rights Group The Zambian police routinely engage in cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, including torture, to extract confessions, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should investigate, discipline those found to be implicated, and train officers to interrogate suspects without coercion, (...)

Uganda: World Journalists' Group Condemns Attack on Photograher The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the unwarranted assault of New Vision Photographer, Arthur Kintu, by a businessman and prominent religious leader, Hassan Basajjabalaba which occurred on September, 6th at Namboole while he was covering the elections in Kampala, (...)

Senegal: Abusive Teachers Sentenced The arrest and conviction of seven Quranic teachers who forced boys trusted to their care to beg is a significant move forward for children’s rights in Senegal, Human Rights Watch said today.

Mauritius: Dad, Meet the Vacuum Cleaner What’s happening, Mauritius?

Congo-Kinshasa: Rights Defender Abducted, Mistreated Congolese authorities should open a prompt, impartial, and thorough investigation of the abduction and ill-treatment of a human rights defender in North Kivu province in late August 2010, a coalition of 36 international and Congolese human rights organizations said today. The authorities should (...)

Congo-Kinshasa: Official Says UN Failed Mass Rape Victims A senior United Nations official has said the organisation’s peacekeepers failed mass rape victims in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The comment came after at least 242 women and children were raped in 13 villages in late July and early August. More than 500 sex assaults have now been (...)

Congo-Kinshasa: UN Mission Failed to Protect Civilians Briefed by Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Atul Khare, and Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Margot Wallström

Namibia: Rights Groups Support Case Against Forced Sterilisation Health and human rights activists continue to lobby in support of the on-going court case involving HIV-positive women, who are suing the Namibian government for damages amounting to one million Namibian dollars each in compensation for alleged violations of their rights to be free from (...)

Uganda: It is Wicked to Profit From Suffering Children My World Vision colleagues and a child protection committee in Busia have rescued an 11-year-old, deaf boy from starving to death. At the time of rescue, Jimmy (not real name) was dirty, stinking and skinny.

Rwanda: Gen. Rwarakabije Slams UN Report MAJ. Gen. Paul Rwarakabije has slammed the UN for what he called a ’malicious’ report leaked to the media, saying that it is a false document and the work of people who are determined to obstruct the country’s unity and reconciliation (...)

Rwanda: Ban Ki-Moon in the Country THE United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, arrived in the country yesterday on an impromptu visit aimed at discussing with the Rwandan government the controversial leaked draft UN report alleging that Rwandan troops could have committed human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of (...)