Africa

Photo: IDP’s that took refuge and protection with UNMISS, pack up their belongings following five straight days of heavy clashes in Juba in early July. Photo: UNMISS/Eric Kanalstein

Dutch General to Probe into UNMISS Response to Violence

NEW YORK (IDN) - A distinguished Dutch General has been tasked with probing into the response of the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to the violence that erupted in the country's capital Juba in July 2016.

A statement issued by the office of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Major General (retired) Patrick Cammaert of the Netherlands on August 23 to lead an independent special investigation.

He will review reports of incidents of attacks on civilians and cases of sexual violence that occurred within or in the vicinity of the UN House Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites in Juba.

: IDN-INPS UN Bureau; UN INSIDER; 24 August 2016

Photo: A fistula patient. Credit: Kizito Makoye

Tanzania Bailing Out Fistula Sufferers

By Kizito Makoye

DAR ES SALAAM (IDN) – Resting on her bed, Maimuna Saguti recalls the harrowing suffering she went through two months ago when she had to give birth under a mango tree while on her way to hospital.

“I don’t want to remember that day. The waters had broken hours before we reached the hospital,” she told IDN.

The 35-year-old food vendor from the village of Lukanga in Tanzania's coastal Pwani Region suffered childbirth-related complications that not only caused an obstetric fistula, she also lost her child a few hours after giving birth.

: IDN-INPS Asia Editor; THE WORLD; Africa; 24 August 2016

Photo: House of the Parliament of Botswana in Gaborone. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

For Germany Botswana is One of Africa's Success Stories

By IDN-INPS Africa Desk

BERLIN – Germany regards Botswana as one of Africa’s success stories. The landlocked country is the seat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other organisations. Women hold some positions in politics and society, including at the highest levels.

Ahead of the forthcoming 50th anniversary of the country's independence on September 30, Professor Maria Boehmer, Minister of State at the German Federal Foreign Office said: “In many different ways, Botswana is one of Africa’s success stories."

: IDN-INPS Asia Editor; NEWSBRIEFS; 23 August 2016

Ethiopian Silver Medallist Fears Death Back Home

NEW YORK (IDN | GIN) – Using every fibre of his being, track star Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia made a dash across the finish line at the just-ended Olympic Games in Rio but it wasn’t to be the end of his run.

Lilesa used his high profile silver medal victory to make a sign of solidarity with the Oromo people who are locked in a decades-long struggle with the government of Ethiopia. In a photograph seen worldwide, 26-year-old Lilesa stands with his arms crossed over his head – a gesture of defiance used by Oromos in recent months.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 23 August 2016

Photo: View of the capital Addis Ababa from the Sheraton Hotel. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

UN Urges Independent Probe of Rights Violations in Ethiopia

By Ronald Joshua

GENEVA (IDN) - The United Nations human rights chief has voiced concern over serious human rights violations in the Oromia and Amhara regions of Ethiopia early August, and urged the Government to ensure access for independent observers to affected areas.

At least 97 people were killed and hundreds more injured when Ethiopian security forces fired live bullets at peaceful protesters across Oromia region and in parts of Amhara over the weekend of August 6-8, according to credible sources who spoke to Amnesty International.

: Ronald Joshua; UN INSIDER; 22 August 2016

Photo: Federal and Regional leaders of Somalia after the conclusion of the National Leadership Forum held in Mogadishu on 12 April 2016, which dealt with the 2016 electoral process, among other issues. UN Photo/Omar Abdisalan.

Somalia Urged to Follow Timeline for Democratic Governance

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK (IDN) - As the ancient proverb goes, "there is many a slip between the cup and the lip", but if Somalia – often described as a 'failed state' – abides by the postponed timeline for this year's parliamentary and presidential elections, the United Nations would have reason to record success in a long-winded process.

The United Nations Security Council's 15 members in their meeting on August 19 adopted the Presidential Statement applauding the progress under way for the last four years, and underscored "the need to maintain the momentum towards democratic governance, with an inclusive, transparent and credible electoral process in 2016 as a stepping stone to universal suffrage elections in 2020".

: J Nastranis; UN INSIDER; 20 August 2016

Four Years on New Charges Rock British Mining Giant

NEW YORK | JOHANNESBURG (IDN | GIN) – Prayers have been said this week for 34 men, employees of the UK mining company Lonmin, who were fatally shot on August 16, 2012 during a strike and protest action over pay and conditions at the British Marikana platinum mine.

The shootings, by the South African Police Service, unleashed a national crisis. A Commission, appointed by President Jacob Zuma, found that the “decisive cause” of events on four years ago was an unlawful and reckless decision by senior police officials to disarm and disperse the strikers, by force if necessary.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 16 August 2016

Photo: Eliane 16-year-old mother holding Eric in her hands, her one-month-old baby. © Amnesty International

'Shamed' Sierra Leone Bars Pregnant Girls from School

NEW YORK | FREETOWN (IDN | GIN) – At their next meeting in Geneva, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child will review reports detailing the obstacles, risks and challenges imposed by governments that limit the prospects for children to succeed.

Among the countries to be reviewed is Sierra Leone whose ban on admitting pregnant girls to mainstream schools was the subject of a briefing paper called “Shamed and Blamed”. Submitted by Amnesty International, it faults the policy expressed by Minister Minkailu Bah that “visibly pregnant girls would be a negative influence to other innocent girls”.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 16 August 2016

How Manyonga Rid Himself of 'Demons' for Silver Long Jump

NEW YORK | PRETORIA (IDN | GIN) - Luvo Manyonga was overjoyed with the silver long jump medal awarded him at the Rio Olympic Games on August 14. But the track and field star from Mbekweni township in South Africa has soared over obstacles more than once.

Manyongo grew up in a single parent household in a township still struggling to provide regular services of water, sanitation and electricity. Drugs, guns and violence are never far from the world of young people without jobs or prospects. A few years ago, Manyonga was on the verge of becoming another statistic of this cycle of life.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 16 August 2016

Photo: Worldwide switch to bivalent oral polio vaccine begins. Credit: Nigerian Health Online

Complacency in Nigeria Blamed for Polio's Return

NEW YORK | ABUJA (IDN | GIN) - A year after Nigeria was removed from the polio-endemic list, two cases have been reported in the northern Borno state, where the terrorist Boko Haram still controls the territory.

The eradication of polio, reported in 2015 by the World Health Organization, was called an “historic achievement” by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a public-private partnership leading the effort to eliminate the disease.

As recently as 2012, Nigeria accounted for more than half of all polio cases worldwide. Since then, a concerted effort by all levels of government, civil society, religious leaders and tens of thousands of dedicated health workers resulted in Nigeria successfully stopping polio.