Human rights watchdog has bleak analysis for SADC summit
Southern African leaders gathered for their summit in Mbabane are being told by Human Rights Watch that the human rights situation in their grouping is in a state of flux. The watchdog cites concerns in Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the host country Swaziland. ends intro The 1992 Windhoek treaty establishing […]
Food security to dominate SADC summit
Food security is expected to dominate the summit opening in Swaziland today of the 14-nation Southern Africa Development Community. At least 27 million people – about nine percent of the SADC population – are food insecure this year as a result of the poor 2015/16 farming season. ends intro The current El Niño-induced drought in […]
6 500 migrants plucked from the Mediterranean by Italian coastguard
The Italian coastguard yesterday launched 40 rescue operations, plucking 6 500 migrants from the Mediterranean off the Libyan Coast. Most of those now being processed in Sicily are from Eritrea and Somalia. ends intro A day before yesterday’s rescue operation, which is the biggest in years, the Italian coastguard rescued 1 100 migrants in the […]
Libreville residents stockpile food for fear of post election violence in Gabon
Gabonese residents in the capital of Libreville are stockpiling food for fear of post election violence. Both main candidates have claimed victory and alleged irregularities by their rivals. EU observers declared Saturday’s poll to have lacked transparency. ends intro Former foreign minister Jean Ping, who’s the main opposition candidate among the 10 contenders against President […]