Burundi Student Jailed By the Secret Intelligence Agents for ‘Insulting’ President
Earlier this month Burundian intelligence agents arrested eight secondary school students in Muramvya province and accused them of insulting the head of state. Their crime? Drawing and writing phrases like “Get out” or “No to the 3rd term” on a picture of President Pierre Nkurunziza in a textbook. Angered by the arrests, their classmates demonstrated […]
Signs of Violence Ahead of Kenya’s 2017 Elections
With just over a year to go before Kenya holds its next general elections, the political climate in the country seems to be reaching a peak. The opposition’s so-called ‘Firimbi Movement’ (spear-headed by Parliamentary whistle-blowers from the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy, or CORD) has been conducting regular demonstrations in order to force the country’s […]
Peace and Prosperity Continue to Elude Africa 50 Years and Counting
Three years ago, to mark the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, the African Union (AU) signed a solemn declaration to end strife on the continent and to work for peace and prosperity. The declaration’s noble goals were to rid Africa of violent conflicts, wars, human rights violations and humanitarian […]
YahClick, the number one satellite broadband service in Africa, to expand to 19 African countries
UAE-based satellite operator, Yahsat, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tele10 Group, the regional broadcast and internet service provider, to discuss collaborations for improving internet connectivity in Rwanda, Burundi and East Democratic Republic of the Congo. The MoU comes ahead of Yahsat taking delivery of its third satellite, Al Yah 3. The launch of […]
One Acre Fund, a nonprofit agriculture organization, opening its Malawi and Uganda operations
One Acre Fund, a nonprofit agriculture organization that supplies smallholder farmers with the financing and training they need to increase their incomes and food security, today announced the official opening of its Malawi and Uganda operations. Malawi and Uganda began as pilots in 2013 and 2014 respectively. One Acre Fund now serves 400,000 smallholder farmers—with […]
George Clooney Awards New Humanitarian Prize to Burundi Orphanage Founder
A Burundian activist credited with saving thousands of children’s lives during a 12-year ethnically charged civil war is the first recipient of a new humanitarian prize presented by Hollywood actor and campaigner George Clooney. Marguerite Barankitse, a former teacher, founded the Maison Shalom (the house of peace) orphanage in eastern Burundi in 1993 to house […]
International Criminal Court Opening Examination into the Situation in Burundi
Since April 2015, I have closely followed the situation in Burundi and repeatedly called upon all involved to refrain from violence, warning that those alleged to be committing crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”) could be held individually accountable. In the course of the on-going crisis, more […]
Burundi minister targeted in grenade attack
Burundi’s Human Rights Minister Martin Nivyabandi and his wife were lightly injured Sunday in a grenade attack as they were leaving a church in the capital Bujumbura, the city’s mayor told AFP. “A grenade was thrown in the car park of the Healing of the Souls church in Nyakabiga,” mayor Freddy Mbonimpa said, referring to […]
UN asks Ban Ki-moon for Burundi Options
The United Nations Security Council asked U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday to provide options for a police deployment to Burundi, where simmering political violence has stoked fears the small African state could spiral into ethnic conflict. Burundi has been embroiled in political violence since President Pierre Nkurunziza said last April he would seek a […]
United Nations High Commission for Refuges Appeals for More Urgent Funding in Burundi
The United Nations High Commission for Refuges (UNHCR) has appealed for more urgent funding for Burundian refugees that have so far shot to more than 250,000. UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming announced the funding gap during a news briefing in Geneva on Friday. She said UNHCR requested $175.1 million for the Burundi humanitarian response in 2016 […]
