20110524
Reuters
BANJUL (Reuters) - A court in Gambia imposed 20 year jail sentences on Monday on the country's former army and navy chiefs after they were convicted of being involved in a foiled 2006 coup attempt.

20110523
Reuters
CAIRO (Reuters) - An Egyptian criminal court sentenced a police officer to death in absentia on Sunday for killing protesters during demonstrations that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, a judicial source said on Sunday.

20110522
Aljazeera

Windhoek — Inaction marked the Extraordinary Summit of Southern African Development Community heads of state in Windhoek this weekend, despite an agenda covering Zimbabwe elections, political deadlock in Madagascar, the suspension of the regional court and allegations of corruption within SADC itself.

In the days leading up to the summit, there was the chance that it might not take place at all, with the South African president, Jacob Zuma, pulling out at the last moment, preferring to concentrate on local elections in his own country.

20110522
Aljazeera

Nairobi — The African Union has confirmed that the United Nations is actively considering an air and sea blockade of Somalia but gave no indication if a decision was imminent.

The AU maintains that a blockade on Somalia is necessary to prevent infiltration of foreign insurgents into the Horn of Africa country and to cut off their supply lines, in addition to meeting the crippling piracy challenge.

20110522
Aljazeera

World leaders attend inauguration ceremony amid hopes for peaceful new chapter in West African country's history.

Alassane Ouattara has been sworn in as Ivory Coast's president in an inauguration ceremony attended by world leaders.

At least 100,000 people from across the region gathered in Yamoussoukro, the administrative capital, for Saturday's ceremony, Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege covering the event said, describing the atmosphere as "carnival-like".

20110522
Aljazeera

Head of election board wants poll moved to October, saying there is not enough time for "transparent election" in July.

The president of Tunisia's independent election committee has proposed postponing the country's upcoming election to October 16 from July 24, citing operational reasons.

Speaking at a news conference in Tunis, the capital, on Sunday, Kamel Jandoubi said it would be impossible to have elections on the expected date in July.

20110522
Aljazeera

Protesters calling for more rights and economic benefits dispersed by police in Rabat and Casablanca.

Police in Morocco have violently dispersed protesters who defied a ban on demonstrations, beating them up with batons and taking several into custody.

Sunday’s police action in the capital, Rabat, and Casablanca seemed to suggest a tougher government response to the increasingly defiant protests that first erupted in February.

20110522
Aljazeera

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton becomes highest-ranking diplomat to visit Libyan rebels' stronghold.

Catherine Ashton, the European Union foreign policy chief, has pledged support for Libya's rebels during her first visit to the opposition stronghold of Benghazi.

Ashton became the highest-ranking foreign diplomat to visit the city since the revolt against longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi began in mid-February.

22 May 2011
Aljazeera

Call comes after Sudanese troops gained control of disputed region and moved tanks into main town.

The UN Security Council has called on the north Sudanese army to withdraw from positions it has taken in the disputed region of Abyei.
In a statement read to reporters in Khartoum by the French council ambassador on Sunday, the council also condemned south Sudanese forces for attacking a UN convoy in Abyei on Thursday.

May 23 2011
mg.co.za

The African National Congress (ANC) and the National Freedom Party (NFP) will hold coalition talks on Monday afternoon in Durban, the NFP leader said.

20110522
all africa
Last Sunday night, the second live eviction show of M-Net's Big Brother Amplified (DStv Channel 198) delivered yet more surprises as Namibia's Jossy was sent home after receiving the fewest votes from Africa this week. Confidence, Vimbai, Vina and Weza returned to the Heads' house to continue with the game; Ethiopia's Danny got sent to the Tails' house; and Botswana's hip-hop stars Vie and Scar had kicked off the show and set the bar for the evening high by delivering an electrifying performance.

20110522
all africa
The United Nation's Children Fund (UNICEF) has called for active participation of the general public on hand washing campaign, stressing that it can cut child hygiene related diseases as well as child morbidity rate by 44 percent.

20110522
all africa
Addis Ababa — The African Union has called an extraordinary summit to seek a political solution to the ongoing civil war in Libya.

20110522
all africa
Washington, DC — The United States on Saturday rebuked the Sudanese government over its army's move on the disputed border region of Abyei which elevated fears of a full-scale war between the North and South.

20110522
press tv
North Sudanese troops have seized the Abyei town along Sudan's contested north-south border after clashes with forces of South Sudan.

20110522
press tv
Two loud explosions have been heard in the southern suburbs of Tripoli after NATO airstrikes on the headquarters of embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and the capital's port.

20110521
cnn
(CNN) -- Rights groups are calling for the release of the body of a South African freelance photojournalist and investigation into the role Moammar Gadhafi's forces played in his death in the Libyan desert.

20110521
cnn
Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Libya on Saturday accused NATO of causing a humanitarian crisis after airstrikes targeted the government-controlled port in Tripoli, saying the attacks have limited movement of supply ships in and out of the country.

20110521
cnn
(CNN) -- Alassane Ouattara was inaugurated Saturday as president of troubled Ivory Coast in a ceremony that marked a symbolic end to months of political turmoil.

20110521
press tv
Russia has once again slammed NATO for its air strikes on Libya, calling for the deployment of international peacekeeping forces to end the violence in the North African country.