Somali Woman Stoned to Death

By Shamsydeen Badmus

Published: November 21, 2009

Islamists in Somalia have stoned to death a 20-year-old woman divorcee accused of adultery. Sheikh Ibrahim Abdirahman, the judge for the group al-Shabab, said Halima Ibrahim Abdirahman was killed on Tuesday in front of a crowd of 200 people. Judge Abdirahman said the woman had confessed to having an affair with an unmarried 29-year-old man and had given birth to a still-born child.

South African Mercenaries Accused of Training Guinean Junta

By Adebayo Somuyiwa

Published: November 21, 2009

The US says it has evidence that Guinea’s military junta is being trained by South African mercenaries. William Fitzgerald, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, said South African mercenaries have been seen at a training camp south of the capital Conakry. Guinea’s military regime came under fierce criticism after the army opened fire on anti-government protesters in September.

Xenophobia in South Africa

By Adebayo Somuyiwa

Published: November 21, 2009

High unemployment caused by the global economic crisis is believed to be behind a feared resurgence of xenophobic conflicts against Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa. A police official told IRIN News more than 2,400 Zimbabweans have been forced to take refuge in government buildings in De Doorns, a farming town 140km from Cape Town after their shacks in an informal settlement were attacked and demolished.

West Saharan Rights Activist on Hunger Strike

By Tayo Adelaja

Published: November 21, 2009

Western Sahara’s most prominent human rights activist has been told to appear in a Spanish court for public disorder after starting a hunger strike in the Canary Islands. Aminatou Haidar, who campaigns for indigenous Sahrawi rights, started her protest at Lanzarote airport on Sunday after Morocco refused to allow her to return to the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

Conflict Deepens Corruption

By Seyi Oduyela

Published: November 21, 2009

War-torn countries like Somalia, Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan remain some of the world’s most corrupt, according to a new report released by Transparency International. The global civil society organization issued its world Corruption Perception Index 2009 yesterday.

UN Court Overturns Rwanda Genocide Conviction

By Adebayo Somuyiwa

Published: November 21, 2009

A Rwandan businessman who was sentenced to 20 years in jail for organizing the killing of around 1,000 Tutsis during Rwanda’s genocide has been acquitted by a United Nations appeals court.

Democratic Republic of Congo Gold is Funding Rebels

By Shamsydeen Badmus

Published: November 21, 2009

Gold continues to be smuggled out of the Democratic Republic of Congo despite sanctions, the United Nations claims. The coordinator of UN arms embargo experts, Dino Mahtani, told the BBC around 40 tonnes of gold continues to be taken out of the country each year.

Kenya Evicts Forest Settlers

By Seyi Oduyela

Published: November 21, 2009

The Kenyan government began searching for illegal settlers living in the Mau forest yesterday after a deadline for their eviction expired. Officials said most of the 20,000 families in the region had already left their farms.

Zambian Editor Acquitted

By Seyi Oduyela

Published: November 21, 2009

The editor of a Zambian newspaper accused of disseminating pornography has been acquitted of all charges. Chansa Kabwela was arrested in July after distributing pictures of a woman giving birth in a hospital car park during a strike by health workers in Lusaka.

Kenya to Circumcise 1Million Men

By Seyi Oduyela

Published: November 21, 2009

The Kenyan government is currently expanding medical services in order to reach its target of circumcising at least 1.1 million men in the next five years, IRIN News has reported.

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