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Ebola cases on the rise for the first time

The number of new weekly Ebola cases rose for first time in 2015 in all three of the hard-hit countries of West Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.
Sierra Leone accounted for 80 of the 124 new cases of the disease confirmed in the week to Feb. 1, it said. Guinea recorded 39 cases while Liberia had just five.
“Weekly case incidence increased in all three countries for the first time this year,” the WHO said in its latest update. Community resistance to aid workers, increasing geographical spread in Guinea and widespread transmission in Sierra Leone remain “significant challenges” to ending the epidemic, it said. 

Reuters

Eighteen killed in Ivory Coast's boat mishap

Eighteen people were killed after an overloaded boat capsized in western Ivory Coast, a local official said on Wednesday. Twenty-five people survived the accident that took place on Monday afternoon on the Sassandra river near the town of Guessabo, Florentine Banto told AFP.
The river is one of the main water routes in the country. The small motorboat, carrying 40 people and several bags of coffee, was "just too full", according to Elvis Achi, the police officer in charge of the area. Ivorian daily Inter reported that the victims were mainly fish sellers from the mountainous region of Guemon.

Guemon, near the border with Liberia, was one of the regions most affected by the post-election violence that rocked the country in 2010-2011 and cost more than 3 000 lives.

- AFP

New African Union Chairman falls down at Harare International Airport

Photo: NewZimbabwe

President Robert Mugabe falls on the red carpet at the airport. 

 

ZANU PF's propaganda machinery was at pains Wednesday to manage President Robert Mugabe's fall at the Harare International Airport with the octogenarian leader's security detail ordering journalists to delete images of the incident. Mugabe, 91 this month, tumbled down a staircase as he walked off a podium after addressing hundreds of supporters.
He had just returned from Ethiopia where he took over the rotating chairmanship of the African Union.

Boko haram attacks kill 70 in Cameroon

Boko Haram militants have reportedly killed at least 70 people in an attack on the Cameroonian town of Fotokol, on the border with Nigeria. The Islamist militants attacked civilians in their homes and in the town's mosque, local officials said, setting many buildings on fire.

 

The attack comes a day after a regional force said it had driven the militants from a Nigerian town near Fotokol. The Boko Haram insurgency has left thousands dead over the last six years. More than a million people have also been displaced by the militants, who now control a large stretch of land in north-eastern Nigeria.

Two Russian pilots go missing in Sudan

The UN sent peacekeepers to Darfur in 2007

Two Russians working for UTair airline have been kidnapped in Sudan's Darfur region, Russian officials say. UTair has a contract to fly aircraft for the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (Unamid) which has been in Darfur since 2007.

It said two of its employees had been taken in the town of Zalingei on 29 January.
Darfur has been the scene of a deadly conflict between the government and three rebel movements since 2003. 

Chad sends troops to Nigeria to help stem Boko haram

The Chadian soldiers had amassed along the border with Cameroon before entering Nigeria

Chadian troops have entered Nigeria to join the battle against militant Islamist group Boko Haram. Armoured vehicles and infantry crossed a bridge from Cameroon following air strikes and mortar attacks on Boko Haram positions, officials say. 

 

Fighting focused on the key north-eastern town of Gamboru, Nigerian security spokesman Mike Omeri said. Chad's deepening involvement shows how the conflict with Boko Haram is taking a regional dimension. Last week, Chadian troops reportedly moved into Malumfatori, a Nigerian town which lies near the borders of Chad and Niger, after a ground and air assault against the militants.

IMF offers Kenya $700m insurance loan

                                                           IMF chief Christine Lagarde was in Kenya last year and met President Uhuru Kenyatta

The International Monetary Fund has agreed to make loans of around $700m (£460m) available to Kenya. The money will be used as an insurance policy to protect against any threats to the country's economy, considered a financial powerhouse in East Africa.

 

The Kenyan government requested the package as a precautionary measure, in case of an emergency such as a natural disaster or militant attack. The funds will be available for the next 12 months. Wildlife, such as this dazzle of zebras, are among Kenya's top tourist attractions The ministry of finance has told the IMF it doesn't intend to use the funds. Instead it will act as security against "economic shocks", the IMF said

Handsome South African TV presenter dies in a car crash

Popular South African TV presenter Simba Mhere (pictured above) died on Saturday January 31st in a deadly car crash in Johannesburg while on his way to the airport. The striking 31 year old presenter of Top Billing (he won the Top Billing Presenter search in 2010), originally from Zimbabwe and moved to Johannesburg when he was a year old, was killed when another car hit his in the early hours of Saturday morning. He was with a friend and his dad in the car. Only his father survived the crashed

Suicide bomber hits presidential rally venue in Northern Nigeria

Officials used containers of water to try and put out the flames

A female suicide bomber has blown up herself in northern Nigeria's Gombe city, minutes after President Goodluck Jonathan left a campaign rally there. At least one person was killed and 18 others were wounded in the blast, police and hospital sources said.

Mr Jonathan is standing for re-election on 14 February against former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari. 

South Sudan's factions set to agree an end to the conflict

President Kiir (left) and Mr Machar signed the deal at talks in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and rebel commander Riek Machar have signed a deal, committing to end the conflict that has devastated the country. The ceasefire agreement was signed at talks in Ethiopia.

But consultations will continue on the contentious issue of a future government and power-sharing. The conflict - which erupted in December 2013 - has displaced about 1.5 million people and earlier ceasefire deals have not lasted.

Nigerian themed dolls which are set to overtake barbie in the market

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Accoording to dailymail UK a Nigerian man who couldn't find a black doll in the shops as a gift for his niece decided to take matters into his own hands.

In 2007, Taofick Okoya, 43, created his own doll that Nigerian girls could identify with by recreating their skin colour and style - and it is now so successful that it is outselling Barbie. The doll, which is called Queens of Africa, comes with traditional outfits and accessories and costs around £4.50.

Former apatheid hitman on parole

Eugene de Kock was the most notorious assassin of South Africa's apartheid era, commanding a death squad that kidnapped, tortured and killed black activists.

His nickname: Prime Evil.

After apartheid fell, he was put on trial and sentenced in 1996 to two life sentences plus 212 years in prison.

But de Kock showed remorse, meeting with victims' families, some of whom publicly forgave him, and helping the Missing Persons Task Force locate bodies, a fact noted by South African Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha.

Controversial former African Bank executive

Controversial former African Bank executive Tami Sokutu, has died at the age of 53 after a short illness.

According to the Sunday Independent, family spokesperson, Saki Macozoma, said Sokutu had not been well for some time and died in his sleep at his house in Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape, on Friday night.
Macozoma said police did not suspect foul play but that a post mortem would be carried out.
The former bank executive landed in hot water last year after allegedly using the “f” word in August against the bank’s clientele – who were largely the poor that had borrowed from the embattled bank.
Sokutu finally apologised in September and reportedly said he was sorry for the hurt caused to all the bank’s stakeholders.
At the time, Fin24 reported that African Bank and its curator Tom Winterboer of PwC distanced themselves from remarks by Sokutu.
"Tami Sokutu resigned and officially left African Bank on February 6 2014. He is no longer an employee of African Bank," Winterboer said in an email to Sapa.
"The views of Mr Sokutu are not the views of African Bank or the curator. We deeply regret the tone in which he engaged with the media."

At the time, Winterboer said he was not in a position to answer further questions because his curatorship was in its early stages. The Sunday Times had earlier quoted Sokutu as saying: "F*** them, f*** them" in relation to people who had obtained loans but could not afford to repay them. These people had been listed as bad credit risks.
Sokutu said he lived lavishly with "no regrets" and that borrowers should not have taken loans if they knew they could not repay them.

Suicide bomber blows up self outside a legislator's home in Northern Nigeria

A suicide bomber blew himself up outside the house of a legislator in the northeast Nigerian town of Potiskum on Sunday, killing 10 people, two security sources told Reuters.
The bomber walked up to the house of Sabo Garbu, a member of the house of representatives in the federal government, before detonating the explosives. 

Reuters
 

Robert Mugabe now Chairman of African Union

New AU chairman Robert Mugabe

African leaders meeting in Addis Ababa have chosen the continent's oldest head of state, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, as AU chairman for the coming year.

Mr Mugabe, who is 90, drew applause when he denounced colonialism.
He also spoke of the "scourge of terrorism" from Boko Haram and said there needed to be "lasting solutions" to the issue in Nigeria and Cameroon.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned of the dangers of leaders clinging to power.
Mr Mugabe has led his country since independence in 1980.
He is subject to travel bans imposed by the US and the EU because of political violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe.

Boko Haram attack on NIgerian village repelled

The rebels also unsuccessfully tried to capture Mauduguri one week ago

The Nigerian army says it has repelled an assault by Boko Haram Islamist militants on the strategic north-eastern city of Maiduguri.

Defence Ministry spokesman Chris Olukolade is quoted as saying the attack was "contained" and the rebels suffered heavy casualties. The militants attacked in the early hours of Sunday, and gunfire was reported on the streets of the city.
 
Last week's assault by Boko Haram on the city was also stopped by the army.
Boko Haram began guerrilla operations in 2009 to create an Islamic state. It has taken control of many towns and villages in north-eastern Nigeria in the last year.

Major high way named after South Africa's previous leader amid opposition

FW de Klerk negotiated South Africa's transition to democracy

Cape Town's city council has voted to rename a street after South Africa's last white ruler despite opposition from the national governing party. City mayor Patricia de Lille accused the African National Council (ANC) of thuggish behaviour during a chaotic session of the council. 
 
It opposed renaming a major highway after FW de Klerk, saying he had the blood of black people on his hands. Cape Town is South Africa's only major city controlled by the opposition. Mr De Klerk handed power to then-ANC leader Nelson Mandela in South Africa's first democratic election in 1994. Backlash The BBC's Mohammed Allie in Cape Town says that the session was marred by councillors spitting, banging their fists on tables and pushing and shoving. 

60,000 Nigerian women and girls to benefit from UNESCO ICT training

The Regional Director, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Professor Hassana Alidou, on Tuesday, said educating women and the girl-child in ICT would have positive impact on national development.

Alidou said this at the inauguration of National Monitoring and Evaluation Committee and Training of Non Formal Education Facilitators in Abuja.

With the theme: “Empowerment of girls and women in literacy and skills development through the use of ICT’s in Nigeria”, she said the role of UNESCO was to increase literacy among girls and women to accelerate national development.

Former al-Shabab commander denounces terror group

A former senior Al-Shabab commander, Zakariya Ismail Hersi, speaks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Mogadishu, Somalia, Jan. 27, 2015.

A former top commander of Somalia's al-Shabab terror group says he has quit the insurgency, renouncing the violence perpetuated by his former comrades. Zakariya Ismail Hersi served as intelligence chief of the al-Qaida-linked organization before surrendering to Somali authorities last December.

Widespread ritual child killings reported in Ivory Coast

According to a Voice of America report, At least 21 children have been kidnapped in Ivory Coast since December and most have been found dead with their bodies mutilated, authorities said, in a wave of ritual killings some residents fear may be linked to upcoming elections.
 
 
Police Chief Brindou Mbia said security forces had been placed on high alert after the spate of child abductions, but he declined to speculate what was behind the killings.

Namibian government goes tough on poachers

The Namibian government will beef up protection for rhinos and elephants and tighten laws to curb increased poaching, which suddenly surged last year, it said on Monday. 
 
“We must increase patrols on the ground which requires more manpower and equipment for the staff,” said Colgar Sikopo, director of parks and wildlife management in the ministry of environment and tourism (MET). 

African billionaires Elumelu and Dangote set to address Africa's energy needs

Speaking at a high profile panel on energy at the 2015 annual meeting for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist Tony Elumelu emphasized the key priority for 2015 for Africa as “policy, policy, policy”. 

Launching the African Energy Leaders Group (AELG), a multi-stakeholder advocacy group that aims to address Africa’s power deficiency; the continent has approximately 620 million people without electricity, Mr. Elumelu said “investors in this space are rational. 

The risks are huge; the capital requirements are equally huge. If you want to invest in this space, you have to first survey the environment beyond economics; policy, stability, enforceability of rules, the nature of the regulatory framework. If the right policies are in place, investors and financiers will be encouraged to invest.”

 

South Sudanese militia has freed 280 child soldiers

A South Sudanese militia has freed 280 child soldiers as part of a wider deal to release about 3,000 underage fighters, the UN's children agency Unicef has said.
More releases will occur in the coming weeks, said the agency, which helped negotiate the children's freedom.
 
Child soldiers were recruited under South Sudan rebel leader David Yau Yau (C), pictured on May 20, 2014 in Juba ©Samir Bol (AFP/File)

Two South African police officers in court for threatening to shoot a three year old

Two metro police officers who allegedly threatened to shoot a three-year-old girl are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, Gauteng police said.
The pair, aged 35 and 39, faced charges of attempted murder, corruption and armed robbery, Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale said.
 

American and French killed in Tripoli hotel attack

Militants have attacked a hotel in the Libyan capital Tripoli, killing at least nine people including five foreigners, officials say. Several gunmen stormed the Corinthia Hotel and opened fire in the reception area. A car bomb also exploded nearby.

Unconfirmed reports say some of the assailants have blown themselves up. The officials say the dead include one US and one French citizen.The security forces say the stand-off has now been brought to an end.

EU observers to Nigerian elections shun troubled North

Less than three weeks to the general elections, the European Union (EU) said it would not send its election observers to the North-East states because of the security challenges in the zone.
With one of the presidential candidates
 
This is even as the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insisted that it stands by the peace accord signed by the 14 presidential candidates and their parties in Abuja on the general elections.

Ugandan rebel leaders makes appearance at ICC

Photo: ICC-CPI

Dominic Ongwen at his first appearance hearing at the International Criminal Court in The Hague 

 

A child soldier-turned-commander in the feared Lord's Resistance Army has made his first appearance before the International Criminal Court. Dominic Ongwen faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Seeming calm and composed, Dominic Ongwen appeared before the International Criminal Court (ICC) Monday for an initial hearing to confirm his identity and inform him of the charges against him.

Still on Tanzania where parents can sell their albino children for up to £50,000

Tanzania's albinos are being 'hunted down like animals' as greed for money and influence drives families to turn on their own loved ones in a trade allegedly fuelled by some of the country's most powerful people.

It is believed albino body parts will bring a person wealth, or luck - and for that, people are willing to pay as much as $3,000 or $4,000 for a limb, or as much as $75,000 - about £50,000 - for the 'full set', a whole body.

People with albinism are regularly attacked by people who chop their limbs off - an act which either leaves them severely mutilated, or dead.  

Albinism, a hereditary genetic condition which causes a total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes, affects one Tanzanian in 1,400, often as a result of inbreeding in remote and rural communities, experts say.

Nollywood actress named on Yahoo's list of "The 10 Highest Grossing Movie Stars in the world." just as she celebrates her 20th year in the industry

Photo: Capital FM

Actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde 

Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has been breaking boundaries for some time now. The gorgeous actress, who is currently celebrating 20 years in the movie industry, was recently put on Yahoo's list of "The 10 Highest Grossing Movie Stars in the world." This list named high grossing actors around the world.

Ghanian senior official hits back at critics after wearing wife's coat on official visit

Mr Nketia (right) was mocked for wearing the fur-trimmed winter coat

A senior official in Ghana's ruling party has laughed off criticism for wearing his wife's coat during an official visit to Germany, it's reported.

Johnson Asiedu Nketia, general secretary of the National Democratic Congress, was snapped wearing a camel-coloured, fur-trimmed number on the trip, and was promptly ridiculed by fellow politicians and social media users, the Graphic website reports. Mr Nketia says nobody in Germany mentioned his choice of attire, but it was a different story back home in Ghana, where one opposition politician seized on the fashion choice as evidence of a "totally confused" administration. 

Libya Islamist group leader confirmed dead

Mohammad al-Zahawi's death is said to have resulted from wounds sustained in a battle in October

Libyan Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia has confirmed that its leader Mohammad al-Zahawi has died. In a statement, the group said "we mourn the death of the emir", without giving further details. 

 

His death is thought to have resulted from wounds sustained in a battle with Libyan government troops in the eastern city of Benghazi last October.
The group is blamed for the 2012 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, in which the US ambassador was killed. Three other Americans also died.

SA President's son Edward Zuma evades arrest

President Jacob Zuma’s son, Edward Zuma, has managed to evade arrest for the past seven months after failing to respond to several subpoenas to appear in court for child maintenance.

According to the Sunday Independent, the warrant of arrest was issued on 23 June by the Pietermaritzburg Maintenance Court and had to be served by police in Durban North where Edward lives.

Meet Adiat Disu one of Forbes 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa.

Adiat Disu, daughter of former Nigerian international, Mr. Tajudeen Disu, was among the six young Nigerian entrepreneurs honoured in the United States for their contributions to high society fashion. 

Adiat, along with five other Nigerians, made Forbes’ list of 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa. Other Nigerians who made the list are Ada Osakwe, Toyosi Ogunsiji, Amy, Rimini Makakama, and Yasmin Bello-Oagie.

A graduate of Boston University, USA, Adiat is the founder, African Fashion Week, New York. She is also the international publicist and founder of Adiree, a New York-based communications and brand strategy company. 

Female Egyptian activist killed during protest in Cairo yesterday

A female demonstrator (pictured) was killed in clashes with Egyptian police during a protest in central Cairo on January 24th on the eve of the anniversary of the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak. A health ministry spokesman said Shaima al-Sabbagh died of birdshot wounds, which fellow protesters said were fired by police to disperse the march. Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab said al-Sabbagh's death was being investigated and vowed that 'whoever committed a mistake will be punished, whoever he may be.' (UK Daily Mail)

Edgar Lungu to serve as Zambia's President till 2016

Edgar Lungu will serve as president until 2016 when a new election will be called

Zambia's presidential election has been won by Defence and Justice Minister Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front. Mr Lungu won by a 48.3% majority, the election commission said, after an election race marred by delays.

 

His rival, Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development, who earlier denounced Tuesday's election as a sham, came close with 46.7% of the vote.
The election was called after the death of President Michael Sata last October.
Mr Lungu, who will be sworn in on Sunday, said he aims to complete economic development projects begun by his predecessor.

On Saturday, Mr Hichilema called the "election" stolen, accusing the electoral commission of manipulating the results to favour Mr Lungu, a former lawyer. 

BBC

Spanish police detain two set of brothers of Moroccan decent for terror related offences

Spanish police are deployed in the El Principe suburb of Ceuta, hours after they arrested four alleged jihadists. Photograph: Reduan/EPA

Police in Spain’s north African enclave of Ceuta arrested two pairs of brothers on Saturday suspected of belonging to a militant Islamist network that may have been planning an attack on the Spanish mainland.

Spain has stepped up security as well as efforts to prevent the radicalisation of young Muslim citizens following attacks in Paris this month in which Islamist gunmen killed 17 people.

Zambian opposition complains of irregularities

Photo: Zambia Reports

Voters line in Zambia's presidential election.

UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) yesterday lodged a complaint with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) alleging discrepancies in the released results of some constituencies.
UPND Presidential candidate, Hakainde Hichilema with other officials from his party were locked up in a meeting with ECZ officials, PF officials and others for more than an hour to address the complaints.
Mr Hichilema told journalists after the meeting that his party was concerned about the irregularities of results from some constituencies.
"There are many issues of the results we have discussed which affect the integrity of the final results and it is important that they are not released until the concerns are addressed," Mr Hichilema said.
He said if the concerns were not addressed they could create problems and affect the credibility of the results.

He disclosed that the parties and ECZ had agreed that no results would be announced until the complaints lodged were addressed. He said that the duration of when the results would be released was not an issue but more anarchy would be created if wrong results were declared

The Democratic Republic of Congo senate has amended a controversial census bill

The protests were biggest in Kinshasa and the eastern city of Goma

The Democratic Republic of Congo senate has amended a controversial census bill following four days of violent nationwide protests.

The new version, to be approved by the lower house, removes the requirement to hold a census before the next election. The opposition had said this was a way for President Joseph Kabila to extend his time in office rather than stand down next year as planned.
Hundreds of students took to the streets to celebrate the news.

Nigeria does not need the help of UN or African Union troops to take on Boko Haram

Nigeria's army has so far failed to contain the insurgency during the state of emergency

Nigeria does not need the help of UN or African Union troops to take on Boko Haram, the country's national security adviser has told the BBC.

Sambo Dasuki said Nigeria, and its neighbours were in a "good shape" to take on the insurgents.
But he acknowledged the group, which is fighting to create an Islamic state, were a "real security threat".
Meanwhile US Secretary of State John Kerry says he plans to visit Nigeria in a couple of days.
Mr Kerry made the announcement in a speech discussing how to tackle violent extremism at the Davos economic conference.
Since the Nigerian government declared a state of emergency 20 months ago in three north-eastern states to deal with the insurgency, Boko Haram has strengthened and now controls several towns, where it has declared a caliphate.
The militants gained worldwide notoriety after kidnapping more than 200 schoolgirls in April last year - who have yet to be rescued.

Ghanaian President moves tough on Boko Haram

Ghanaian President John Mahama tells DW that he believes there is no longer any room for negotiation with the Nigerian Islamist terror group Boko Haram. "I don't think negotiations have gone anywhere," he says.

Mahama points out that all previous attempts at talks have failed. "We cannot say we are waiting for negotiations and dialogue while the group continues to abduct and kill people," he says.

Ugandan Rebel leader tranfered to Hague

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Mr Ongwen in 2005

Top Ugandan rebel commander Dominic Ongwen has arrived in The Hague to stand trial on war crimes charges.

Mr Ongwen, a feared commander of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), was taken into US custody in the Central African Republic (CAR) earlier this month.
Uganda agreed that he should be tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC), despite being a fierce critic of The Hague-based court.
US and African forces had been searching for Mr Ongwen since 2011.
He is said to be the deputy to LRA commander Joseph Kony, who is still on the run.
The ICC said in a statement that Mr Ongwen would be held in a detention centre in the Netherlands until his trial.
He was due to undergo a medical visit upon his arrival and a date would soon be set for his first court appearance, the statement added.
The UN Security Council and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon both issued statements welcoming Mr Ongwen's transfer. Mr Ban called it "a step forward in efforts to bring justice to the thousands of victims of LRA violence".

Nigeria reduces petrol pump prices from N97 to N87 per litre

The Nigerian Government on Sunday night announced a reduction in the price of premium motor spirit (petrol)from N97 to N87 per litre.

The reduction follows the crash in the price of crude oil in the international market.
The Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, made the announcement on the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, on Sunday night. She spoke from the presidential villa apparently after consultations with President Goodluck Jonathan.

She said: "I will like to announce the reduction in the price of Premium Motor Spirit by N10. Therefore, the reduction would be from N97 per litre to N87 per litre and this would be effective from midnight Sunday, January 18, 2015. In line with this I have directed the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, and the Directorate of Petroleum Resources to ensure that there is strict adherence of this regime as it takes effect from midnight Sunday, January 18. I do hope that the entire country will benefit immensely from this reduction of the pump price."

BBC report says a grenade is cheaper than a bottle of coke in Central African Republic

Packaging of a 2006 consignment traced by researchers showed that a batch of more than 25,000 Type 82.-2 grenades was manufactured in China

The grenades come from China, or Bulgaria. The mortars are Sudanese. The rocket launchers were made in Iran. The bullets are British, or Belgian or Czech. Spain and Cameroon provided the shotgun rounds. And so it goes on.

A detailed survey of the weapons currently circulating in the Central African Republic (CAR) offers some intriguing insights into the global arms industry, and the extent to which its output continues to find its way - legally or otherwise - into the hands of rebel armies.
The impact of the weapons trade can be lasting and devastating.

When arms were obtained by the Seleka - a coalition of largely Muslim insurgents that swept to power in CAR in 2013 - a civil war was triggered that went on to displace hundreds of thousands of civilians.

"Type 82-2 hand grenades are among the most widespread military item in CAR," says the report, compiled by Britain's Conflict Armament Research group, for the European Union.

"They are so common that they reportedly can be bought for the equivalent of around $0.50-$1.00 (£0.33-£0.66) each, less than a bottle of Coca-Cola," the report says. 

"Small and easily concealed, they have had a significant security impact, causing civilian injuries and deaths in Bangui and elsewhere throughout 2014."

culled

Zambians go to the polls to vote a new President

There was a long queue of voters when polls opened in the Lusaka suburb of Kanyama

Voters in Zambia are going to the polls in a presidential election caused by the death of Michael Sata last year.

The vote is expected to be a close contest between Edgar Lungu from the governing Patriotic Front and Hakainde Hichilema from the United Party for National Development.
The BBC's Nomsa Maseko in Lusaka says candidates have vowed to improve the education system and create jobs.
The winner will serve out the remaining 18 months of Michael Sata's term.
Zambia is due to hold a general election in 2016.

Group captured from Cameroon by Boko haram free

Cameroonian soldiers pursued the militants towards the Nigerian border

At least 24 of up to 80 people taken hostage by Boko Haram militants in Cameroon at the weekend are reported to be free.

Some escaped from their captors while Cameroon said others were freed "as defence forces pursued the attackers who were heading back to Nigeria".
Many of those kidnapped in the cross-border raid were said to be children.
It was one of the biggest abductions by Boko Haram outside Nigeria and raised fears that it is expanding its attacks.
The militant Islamist group has seized control of towns and villages in north-east Nigeria and has begun threatening neighbouring countries.
Chad, which also borders Nigeria, has recently sent soldiers to help Cameroon tackle the militants.

South African woman fall to her death while on first date with British man

Just hours after meeting an English man she had only spoken to online, a young Johannesburg woman tragically fell from a cliff to her death at the weekend.
Cheynne Holloway, 21, had walked up to the top of a popular cliff in Northcliff with her friend James Oliver, to look at the view at about 17:45 on Saturday, reported Netwerk24.
Sapa reported a paramedic as saying that some rocks gave way and Holloway fell about 20m down.
A witness, Armand Goosen,  told Netwerk24 that Oliver was taking photographs of the young woman with a view of Johannesburg in the background. He looked down to adjust his camera’s tripod and when he looked up, Holloway was gone.
“Where is she? Where is she?” he was heard screaming helplessly.
Goosen said he and another man had gone down to look for Holloway. When they found her she was only barely alive. Oliver tried for about 20 minutes to give her CPR.
The paramedic was quoted by Sapa as saying that they took over CPR but unfortunately Holloway was declared dead on the scene.
Holloway was the bassist for a band called Burning Blue. Messages of condolences poured in on the group’s Facebook page.
The band wrote: “Our hearts are shattered. The girl everybody loved, our precious friend and more, Cheynne, passed away in a tragic hiking accident yesterday. The most beautiful, shining soul has left us.
“We can't even think right now. There are simply no words.”

- News24

As the floods ravage Malawi, concerns on food security increases

Food security has become a major concern as torrential rains are expected to continue in the southern African country of Malawi.
According to Eye Witness News, more than 200 people were confirmed dead and many were missing or trapped in inaccessible areas, following flash floods caused by days of torrential rains exacerbated by Tropical Cyclone Bansi. 
The rains have swept away roads, bridges and destroyed thousands of crops. An estimated 100 000 people have been left homeless.


Flood victims make their way to a relief station with their salvaged belongings at Bangula, Malawi, in the southern district of Nsanje. (Thoko Chikondi, AP)

Mali's health minister declares the nation Ebola free

Mali recorded its first case of Ebola in October

Mali's health minister says the country is now free of the Ebola virus, after 42 days without a new case of the disease.

"I declare this day... the end of the epidemic of the Ebola virus in Mali," said Ousmane Kone.
The last Ebola-infected patient in Mali recovered and left hospital in early December.
Latest figures show the three West African countries worst affected have all seen a decline in new Ebola cases.

Another rebel leader captured in Central African Republic

A leader of Central African Republic's anti-Balaka Christian militia, a widely feared commander who has been implicated in attacks on civilians throughout the battle-scarred country, has been arrested, a justice official said Sunday.

 

UN Peacekeepers -Photo credit AFP

Rodrigue Ngaibona, alias Andilo, was arrested in the town of Bouca on Saturday by Cameroonian peacekeepers, prosecutor Maurice Dibert-Dollet said in a statement. An arrest warrant was issued last May linking Ngaibona to murders, rapes and looting during the country's unprecedented sectarian violence in which thousands have died.

Boko Haram kidnaps dozens of children across the border in Cameroon

Boko Haram has kidnapped many people in Nigeria including more than 200 girls from a school last April

Suspected militants from Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram have kidnapped dozens of people in raids in neighbouring Cameroon, officials say.

They said many of those kidnapped in the cross border attack against villages were children. Four villagers who tried to fend off the attackers were killed, a security source has told the BBC.