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GUINEA

January 31 election promise 'impossible' to keep

The promise by Guinea's military rulers to hold elections on January 31 will be "technically impossible" to keep, the head of the west African country's poll commission told AFP Wednesday.

DR CONGO

UN-backed forces failed to disarm Rwandan rebels, say experts

UN efforts to disarm the Rwandan-Hutu rebels in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo have failed and international action is needed to restrict their financing, according to a new report by UN experts.

DR CONGO

Warlords in the dock at ICC for 2003 attack on village

Two Congolese warlords are scheduled to appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) (pictured) Tuesday for allegedly directing a February 2003 attack on a village as rival groups fought for control of the region’s gold, diamonds and oil.

THE OBSERVERS

South African white supremacy rears its ugly head over 'racist Vodafone'

A group of disgruntled Afrikaners has launched a campaign to boycott the country's biggest cellular network for selling just 3.44% of its shares to black-only buyers.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Two French aid workers abducted

Two French aid workers from the NGO Triangle were kidnapped overnight from Sunday to Monday in the north-east of Central African Republic, Mahamat Salah Amadou Birao, Bangui's vice-consul in Darfur, told AFP.

SOMALIA

At least 14 killed as rival Islamist militants battle for control of town

At least 14 people were killed on Sunday as al Qaeda-inspired Shebab fighters attacked rival Hezb al-Islam militants and took control of a southern town some 100 kms north of Kismayo, a key port city.

THE OBSERVERS

Libyans discover France to blame for floods

Residents of the Libyan city of Benghazi have made an incredible discovery. They've located some of the city's manhole covers, missing for years, in the town of Najac, south of France.

YEMEN

Greek-owned ship becomes latest target of pirates

The "Red Sea Spirit", a Greek-owned bulk carrier flying the Panama flag, was attacked off the coast of Yemen by pirates on Thursday, though it remains unclear whether the hijacking was successful.

EGYPT

Mubarak vows to protect nationals amid football row

President Hosni Mubarak vowed Saturday that Egypt will be firm in dealing with any attacks on its nationals as a row with Algeria over a World Cup football qualifier turned into a diplomatic dispute.

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AFP

Egypt Muslims burn Christian shops: police

Hundreds of Muslim protesters on Saturday burnt Christian-owned shops in southern Egypt and attacked a police station where they believed a Christian accused of raping a Muslim girl was being held, a police official said.Police repelled the ...

DR CONGO

Aid groups say 30,600 have fled ethnic clashes

An estimated 30,600 people fleeing ethnic clashes in the Democratic Republic of Congo have crossed the border into the Republic of Congo, aid agencies say. The number has surged in the past few days as fighting has intensified.

SOMALIA

EU to send troops to train Somali soldiers

The European Union plans to send troops to train Somali security forces in Uganda next year, as the interim government in Mogadishu struggles to maintain control over the embattled country.

DIPLOMACY

Egypt recalls ambassador from Algeria over football violence

Egypt has recalled its ambassador to Algeria for consultation following attacks on Egyptian football fans and businesses in Sudan, after Algeria beat Egypt in a 2010 World Cup qualifier play-off.

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AFP

African women remain undervalued: UN report

Women in Africa have yet to receive the financial recognition they deserve for the time and effort put into domestic and reproductive work, a UN report launched Friday concluded.The place of women in statistics also needs to be sorted out on the ...

DIPLOMACY

Gabonese president Bongo in first Paris trip since election

Gabon's President Ali Bongo was in France on Wednesday for his first trip since succeeding his father, who was France's closest ally in Africa and the key figure in a rather dubious network of trade and political ties known as "FranceAfrique".

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AFP

South Sudan clashes leave 47 dead: military

Forty-seven people were killed in ethnic clashes in south Sudan's Lakes state region, a military spokesman said on Wednesday.Mundari ethnic gunmen launched an attack on two Dinka Aliab villages in the Bulok area of Awerial county on Monday, said ...