The human rights watchdog calls what happened in the Sudanese capital barbaric and a bloodbath.

The African Union punitive measure against the military junta in Khartoum is unprecedented.

It has gone further than the United Nations Security Council where China and Russia blocked condemnation of the attacks on Sudanese civilian  demonstrators

The continental body’s Peace and Security Council decided at an emergency meeting yesterday that Sudan will remain suspended until a civilian-led administration is restored.

The Transitional Military Council is split on how to respond raising fears of a civil war in Sudan.

The post Amnesty International calls for killer Sudanese troops to be confined to barracks appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Amnesty International and global media outlets have shown footage of Cameroonian soldiers shooting and killing  civilians, including women with children strapped to their backs.

Cameroon’s a key security partner of the United States.

300 US marines are training Cameroonian troops fighting Boko Haram coming into the north of the country from neighboring Nigeria.

But Cameroon’s English-speaking minority claims it’s being marginalized and radical elements within this group are  seeking to secede.

In parts of the southwest, security experts say the country is close to civil war.

Washington’s saying it will not condone executions, attacks on civilians and burning villages 

The post US cuts military aid to Cameroon over human rights violations appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

This paves the way for the early release of the man who’s been awaiting trial in the Hague for seven years.

The ICC judges say the prosecution case against former Ivorean President Laurent Gbagbo is exceptionally weak.

It relates to his refusal to accept defeat in 2010 elections.

In the ensuing civil war, more than 3 000 people died and half a million were replaced.

The ICC found earlier this week that the prosecution could not adequately link Gbagbo to the deaths and acquitted him on war crimes charges.

They judges said today they has assurances from Gbagbo that he would return if the prosecution appeal against the acquittal is successful.

The post ICC judges reject prosecution request to keep acquitted Ivorean former President Laurent Gbagbo in jail appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Three weeks of bloody protests  calling for Al Bashir’s departure have left more than 40 people dead.

Sudanese telecoms billionaire Mo Ibrahim awards an annual prize of $5-million for good governance to a former African leader.

He says he hates impunity. 

But  there is a case for lifting the ICC indictment on Omar Al Bashir – conditional on his stepping down – if it will save lives and spare Sudan a bloody civil war.

The ICC charge, dating back to 2009, alleges Al Bashir engaged in crimes against humanity in putting down  a separatist rebellion in Darfur

The post Drop ISS charges against Sudan’s President Omar Al Bashir, if he steps down, says Mo Ibrahim appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Luanda’s President Joao Lourenco says their future relationship will be characterised by  common sense and pragmatism.

Angola’s never forgiven Portugal for quitting  a fiercely fought liberation war  in 1974  without handing power to any party.

This left the former colony fighting an exhausting civil war that lasted 28 years.

Before the slump in oil prices, Angola had become a major investor in cash-strapped Portugal that was forced to take a $100 billion bailout from the  European Union and International Monetary Fund.

Meeting in Luanda, President Joao Lourenco and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa agreed to develop future relations to the mutual prosperity  of both countries.

Lourenco will visit Lisbon in November.

The post Angola and Portugal turn the page on past bitterness appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

The talks will be mediated by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa.

Conflict between  South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar have locked Africa’s youngest country in a four-year civil war.

Tens of thousands have died and nearly four million people have been driven from their homes.

Millions are going hungry creating a massive humanitarian crisis.

The regional organisation  IGAD has made several unsuccessful attempts to broker a sustainable peace.

Today’s talks in Addis Ababa have a threat of sanctions by the United Nations Security Council hanging over them. 

The post President Ramaphosa welcomes Riek Machar’s participation in peace talks with Salva Kiir appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

They’re looking for a government that will help them overcome the effects of a debilitating civil war, a horrible Ebola outbreak and a deadly mudslide.

President Ernest Bai Koroma’s standing down after completed two five year terms.

But with 16 candidates vying for his job, there’s no certainty about who takes up the reins.

Despite having abundant natural resources, including diamonds, bauxite and gold, Sierra Leone is among the poorest countries in the world, with one of the world’s highest maternal and infant mortality rates.

The population of seven-and-a-half million have only 150 doctors.

Their frustration caused some violence during the election campaign.

It is hope voting will be peaceful.

The post Unprecedented level on enthusiasm in today’s Sierra Leone election appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Still recovering from a  protracted civil war, it is vital that the outcome is accepted and doesn’t spark fresh violence.

Liberians peacefully  overcame organisational and procedural problems to cast their ballots yesterday.

It’s unlikely the exercise will produce a clear winner.

So a run-off between the two top candidates is in prospect next month.

Initial indications are these will be former football star George Weah and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s deputy Joseph Boaki.

Whoever emerges will have a herculean task of beating corruption and driving Liberia out of its reliance on foreign economic aid to finance a country still recovering from civil war and the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

The post Liberians counting votes after yesterday’s poll appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

It’s unlikely that any of the 20 candidates will win more than 50 percent of the votes, so the contest is likely to go to a run off next month.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s heritage is picking up her country after 15 years of civil war that killed hundreds of thousands and reduced its economy to rubble.

For much of her 12-year presidency, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate presided over annual economic growth of seven percent.

The  2014 Ebola outbreak put paid to that and drove Liberia back to reliance on foreign aid which currently makes up more than half of its gross domestic product.

Her successor will have his or her work cut out

The post Voting gets underway in Liberia appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Macher has not been seen since the rival leaders’ forces clashed in the capital two weeks ago.

ends in

Riek Machar’s replacement as vice president by former peace negotiator Taban Deng Gai has been criticised by some of the Machar’s supporters.

It has complicated a tense political situation driven back to the point of civil war by clashes that left 300 people dead.

There are  fears that Machar’s supporters will regard a  peace deal with President Kiir as broken.

Kiir is gambling on a majority of opposition politicians backing his new appointment.

Machar’s forces were outgunned by fighters loyal to the president early in July.

After  many of his bodyguards were killed, Machar

left the capital, Juba, demanding that a neutral peacekeeping force be deployed to guarantee his safety.

The post Riek Machar replaced as South Sudan’s vice president appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.