Politics

Mubarak trial enters last day before verdict
Wed, 22 Feb 2012
The landmark murder and corruption trial of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak entered its final day of hearings on Wednesday, with the judge expected to announce the date of the verdict. The...
African leaders meet in Benin for security talks
Sat, 18 Feb 2012
African leaders gathered Saturday for talks on insecurity in the Sahel region where fresh violence in northern Mali has sparked what rights groups say is the area's worst human rights crisis in...
Senegal braces for more protests as poll approaches
Sat, 18 Feb 2012
Dakar braced Saturday for more protests just days before presidential polls in which President Abdoulaye Wade is seeking a highly disputed third term which has upset one of Africa's most stable...
Sect gunmen free 119 in Nigeria prison, kill guard
Fri, 17 Feb 2012
LAGOS, Nigeria — Armed gunmen from a radical Islamist sect stormed a federal prison in Nigeria amid heavy gunfire and explosions, killing one guard and freeing 119 inmates in an assault marking...
Uganda government denies backing anti-gay bill
Thu, 09 Feb 2012
Uganda's government has distanced itself from a controversial anti-gay bill calling for severe penalties on homosexuality after it was reintroduced in parliament this week. But in a...
US to deport Liberian over child soldier allegations
Tue, 07 Feb 2012
A US immigration judge has ordered the deportation of a Liberian accused of presiding over atrocities during the West African country's civil war in the 1990s. George Boley, 62, the former leader...
Third day of Egypt clashes as death toll mounts
Sat, 04 Feb 2012
Police fired tear gas and birdshot at protesters on Saturday in a third day of deadly clashes in Cairo, as anger at Egypt's ruling military boiled over after 74 people died in football-related...
Protester killed as Senegal's opposition keeps up demonstrations
Wed, 01 Feb 2012
Protesters and police have clashed in Dakar, with one demonstrator reported dead, as Senegal's opposition pledged to continue with protests against the president ahead of elections this month....
Islamist sect kills 5 people in northeast Nigeria
Tue, 31 Jan 2012
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria  — Police say suspected Islamic insurgents have killed five people in attacks on security targets in Nigeria's restive northeast. The Borno state police spokesman...
Benin President Yayi new African Union Chairman
Sun, 29 Jan 2012
Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi was elected the African Union Chairman on Sunday, taking over the one-year post from Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, officials said. "I...
Sect kills police officer at station in N. Nigeria
Sat, 28 Jan 2012
KANO, Nigeria — Police say gunmen from a radical Islamist sect have attacked another police station, killing one officer in a north Nigeria city where they killed 185 people last week. Kano...
Kenya's finance minister quits over ICC charges
Thu, 26 Jan 2012
Kenya's Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta resigned Thursday after the International Criminal Court ruled this week he should stand trial for his alleged role in 2007-8 post-election violence, a...
US forces free aid workers held in Somalia
Wed, 25 Jan 2012
MOGADISHU - US special forces swooped into Somalia early Wednesday to rescue two aid workers, an American woman and a Danish man held hostage for the past three months, security officials said...
Tanzania frees Burundi opposition leader
Tue, 24 Jan 2012
Tanzanian police Tuesday freed a Burundian opposition leader, Alexis Sinduhije, who was arrested two weeks ago in Dar es Salaam at Burundi's request, a senior Burundian security official said...