Authorities in eastern Libya backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar on Thursday ordered the closure of a Sudanese consulate and the expulsion of 12 diplomats, a pro-Haftar news agency announced. It said the order to shut down the mission in Kufra, an oasis in southern Libya, was taken on the grounds of “damage to Libyan … Read more
A reduction in fighting in Sudan’s Darfur, where a brutal conflict has killed thousands, prompted the UN to downsize the number of peacekeepers deployed there, a top UN official said Thursday. In June, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution that will cut the number of troops and police serving in the joint African … Read more
The United Nations on Friday approved a nearly $600 million cut to its peacekeeping budget following pressure from the United States to reduce funding to the world body. The General Assembly approved by consensus the annual budget expected to total $7.3 billion, down from the current $7.87 billion spent on peace missions worldwide. UN member-states … Read more
International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, reiterated her call for states to arrest and surrender the suspects of alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sudan’s Darfur region, including President, Omar Al Bashir. While addressing UN Security Council on Thursday, Bensouda said impunity was blocking efforts on Darfur war crimes … Read more
A French mineworker who was kidnapped in Chad and taken to neighbouring Sudan has been freed after more than six weeks in captivity, French and Sudanese officials said on Sunday. Thierry Frezier, 60, was freed after collaboration between Sudanese, Chadian and French intelligence services, a member of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) told … Read more
South Africa has formally revoked its controversial decision to leave the International Criminal Court following last month’s High Court ruling that such a move would be unconstitutional. Notice of Pretoria’s decision to end the withdrawal process was posted on the UN’s treaty website this week, although it does not necessarily spell the end of its … Read more
A South African court on Wednesday ruled the government’s plan to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) was “unconstitutional and invalid”, providing a boost to the embattled Hague-based institution. The ICC has been rocked by threats of withdrawal in recent months, with complaints focusing on its alleged bias against Africa. South Africa announced in … Read more
Khartoum (AFP) – Sudanese opposition leader and ex-prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi returned from exile Thursday, more than two years after he fled abroad, saying he wants to “end the war”. Mahdi, whose civilian government was overthrown in a 1989 coup that brought President Omar al-Bashir to power, flew in to Khartoum, said his daughter Mariam … Read more
Khartoum (AFP) – Sudanese opposition leader and ex-prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi will return to the country on Thursday more than two years after he fled abroad, a senior official in his party said. Mahdi, whose civilian government was overthrown in the 1989 Islamist-backed coup that brought President Omar al-Bashir to power, has been in self-imposed … Read more
Until last week, no country had withdrawn from the International Criminal Court. Now, three African states — South Africa, Burundi and Gambia — have made official decisions to leave. Gambia announced its decision late Tuesday. Concerns are high that more African countries now will act on years of threats to pull out amid accusations that … Read more