Africa

Amidst post-election violence in the Central African Republic (CAR), more than 200,000 people have fled for their own safety, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday.    

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, is urging authorities in Uganda to ensure elections next week are free and peaceful, noting that the arrest of opposition candidates and their supporters are among several “worrying” developments ahead of the vote. 

The men were detained when special forces stormed the Nave Andromeda off the Isle of Wight.

As Senegal's Mbaye Leye prepares for his first match in charge of Standard Liege he is also taking a big step for African coaches.

Five things you should know about the upcoming elections in Uganda.

A selection of the week's best photos from across the continent and beyond.

The amazing life of Johnny Smythe - RAF officer, prisoner of war and a father of the Windrush generation.

The firm is to pay $2.5bn to settle US criminal charges over the 737 Max aircraft conspiracy.

Despite increased insecurity and limited funding, the UN food relief agency is continuing to supply food for hundreds of thousands of people affected by conflict in northern Mozambique.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has been sworn in for a second term after chaotic scenes in parliament.

The United Nations Secretary-General has expressed shock at the massacre of civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and called on the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. 

A strange coalition of former enemies has joined forces to oust Central African Republic's newly re-elected leader.

The Kani brothers presided over a reign of terror in the Libyan town of Tarhuna - now their crimes are being revealed.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has underlined the critical role of the Security Council in addressing links between fragility and conflict, two of the greatest obstacles to achieving sustainable development across the world. 

Sharon Machira explains how people living in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa can enter.

Senior officials from the United Nations and regional organizations have called on all political actors in the Central African Republic (CAR) to respect the final results of the recent presidential elections, and to settle any disputes peacefully and in accordance with the country’s laws. 

January 4, 2021 (GADAREF) - The Ethiopian Federal Army deployed more troops on the border area to prevent people fleeing the war in the Tigray region to cross into Sudan.

The federal troops have retaken control of most of the territory of the Tigray region. However, the TPLF fighters continue to resist in several areas triggering new waves of refugees.

Sudanese authorities recently identified over 40 TPLF elements who arrived in Sudan among the civilians.

"The Ethiopian army began closing the borders with Sudan, deploying troops, patrolling the border and building a fence to prevent refugees from reaching Hamdayet camp," an eyewitness told the Sudan Tribune on Monday.

The witness further said that the Ethiopian army and police patrols chased the refugees in May Glitte area leading to Hamdayet Reception Centre on the Sudanese side of the border.

There more than 5,000 people in Dima, close to the Sudanese border who seek to enter the Hamdayet centre, according to eyewitnesses.

Fateh Moghaddam the director of emergency housing for refugees told the Sudan Tribune that the number of Ethiopian refugees has exceeded 63,000.

Moghaddam pointed out that 44,000 refugees from Hamdayet camp in Kassala state are waiting to be transferred to Altanideba camp in the Gadaref state.

He added that the transfer of refugees from the Hashaba Reception Centre in Gadaref began on Monday, with 250 refugees.

The UNHCR and Sudanese authorities initially decided to transfer 1000 refugees per day to the newly opened second camp in Altanideba area, but they reviewed their plans after the outbreak of the coronavirus in the Um Rakuba camp.

Moghadam said that the High Commissioner for Refugees reduced the number of passengers in a single transport bus from 35 to 15 people.

Also, 250 refugees are transported to Altanideba from the Hamdayet camp which is near the triangle border area between Eritrea Sudan and Ethiopia. The HCR and Sudanese authorities say they consider ways to accelerate refugees' evacuation from this sensitive area.

(ST)

January 4, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese pound fell on Monday against major currencies as political deadlock continued over the 2021 budget.

U.S. dollar notes (Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha Photo)

Traders told Sudan Tribune that the dollar was sold at 267 pounds while the Saudi riyal was traded at 71 pounds and the Emirati dirham at 72 pounds. The Euro was sold at 225 pounds.

The dealers attributed the decline in the pound's exchange rate to an increase in demand for hard currency in addition to the lack of clarity regarding the 2021 budget.

Sharp disagreements have emerged over allocations in the 2021 budget to the security and defense sector compared to the health and education.

The Finance Ministry announced that the Sudanese council of ministers will consider the budget on Tuesday, provided that it is deposited for final approval by January 10th.

Another trader in the black market, who spoke anonymously, told Sudan Tribune: "There is an increase in the demand for hard currency for the purposes of importing goods and fuel."

He pointed out that many companies are waiting for the 2021 budget to be approved to find out what policies it will adopt pertaining to the exchange rate.

The transitional government is banking on obtaining loans that would help support the Sudanese pound's exchange rate.

(ST)

A viral dance hit points the way to positive developments but there are dangers ahead.

January 3, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan agreed on Sunday to hold bilateral meetings to determine points of agreement and disagreement between them over the Renaissance Dam, ahead of another meeting next week.

The three countries held a virtual meeting on Sunday chaired by the South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor to discuss better ways to break the deadlock in the talks on the filing of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

"The meeting concluded with the adoption of Sudan's proposal that this week be devoted to bilateral meetings between the three countries and the group of experts and observers," said the Sudanese irrigation ministry in a statement released after the meeting.

The statement further said that the South African Foreign Minister requested that "the bilateral meetings be designated for "identifying points of agreement and disagreement between the three countries, provided that the tripartite meetings will be held again on Sunday, January 10, with the hope that the negotiations will be concluded by the end of the current months."

South Africa's chairmanship of the African Union will terminate by the end of January as the 34th AU Summit will be held in Addis Ababa on 6 and 7 February 2021.

In a separate statement, the Egyptian water ministry said its delegation stressed the need to reach an agreement on the GERD filling as soon as possible, before the start of the second phase of filling the dam reservoir.

(ST)