Africa
African states fail to stop work of U.N. gay rights investigator
UNITED NATIONS African states failed on Monday to halt the work of the first U.N. independent investigator appointed to help protect gay and transgender people worldwide from violence and discrimination.
Recent Africa News
Congo authorities block opposition demonstration
KINSHASA Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo blocked an opposition demonstration in the capital on Saturday aimed at putting pressure on President Joseph Kabila to step down next month at the end of his mandate, witnesses said.
Mali ethnic militia group says it will lay down its arms
BAMAKO A militia in central Mali that represents ethnic Peuhls said on Saturday it would lay down its arms in a boost for government attempts to bring peace to the country.
Somalia's PM says secures ceasefire between two warring regions
MOGADISHU Somalia's prime minister said on Saturday he had secured a ceasefire between two warring regions in the Horn of Africa nation, two weeks after a peace deal collapsed leading to fighting that killed at least 29 people.
Gridlocked Guinea Bissau names fifth PM in a year
BISSAU Guinea Bissau named its fifth prime minister in a year on Friday as the coup-ridden West African country struggled to end months of political gridlock.
EU says refused access to observe Gambia's December 1 election
DAKAR Gambian authorities have refused the European Union access to observe upcoming elections, an EU spokesman said on Friday, amid concerns about the fairness of the voting process in the tiny West African nation.
The rifts behind Nigeria's mass kidnap
CHIBOK/ABUJA - When local people warned that hundreds of Islamist militants were heading towards his remote town of Chibok in northeastern Nigeria, Danuma Mphur hurried to summon help. Full Article