Egyptian police on alert ahead of students protest

Security forces closed roads surrounding the defence ministry early Tuesday as demonstrations organised by Cairo's Ain Shams University are scheduled to kick off. The students reportedly marched on campus to protest the presidential candidacy of ex-army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, who is believed by supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi as being the architect of his ouster last July. Demonstrators are also denouncing a recent university decision to advance the date of exams, as clashes continue to erupt between protesting students and security forces on university campuses nationwide. Meanwhile Al-Azhar University, the site of the most violent on-campus clashes, also witnessed an anti-Sisi demonstration.

Egypt to lift natural gas prices for homes, businesses

Egypt plans to double the price of natural gas piped into some homes and businesses from next month, but the move will barely help its huge fuel bill because few sites are connected to the gas network. Energy prices in Egypt are among the lowest in the world, and the government spends more than a fifth of its budget on keeping them down. Although successive governments have called for reform, none have dared push through big price rises for fear of public unrest. According to a government statement on Sunday, residential and commercial users of less than 25 cubic metres of gas per month will pay 0.40 Egyptian pounds ($0.06) per cubic metre from May. The Oil Ministry's website shows the current price of gas for households at 0.20 Egyptian pounds ($0.03) per cubic metre, or about $0.80 per million British thermal units.

Military Aid for Egyptians Loses Support

Senator Patrick J. Leahy, chairman of the Senate subcommittee that handles foreign aid, said Tuesday that he would not give any more military aid to Egypt in the wake of mass death sentences handed out by Egyptian courts this week. On Monday, an Egyptian court sentenced the top spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood along with more than 680 others to death in connection with the killing of a single police officer during a riot last summer. Another court in Cairo banned the activities of a left-leaning protest group on espionage charges.

Egypt Archaeologists Find Tomb of Ancient Writer

Egypt's minister of antiquities says a team of Spanish archaeologists has discovered two tombs in the southern part of the Egypt, one of them belonging to a writer and containing artifacts including reed pens and a bronze inkwell. The writing utensils were found next to a mummy, which is well preserved, and that the discovery was made by Egyptian archeologists. The tombs date to roughly 600BC.

Bassem Sabry dies at 31

Bassem Sabry was a founding member of Al-Dostour Party and a key contributor in writing many of its political and intellectual work. He was a prominent political analyst, writer, and thinker. He died on Tuesday night and his passing was mourned by friends and acrost Egypts wide range of politicians and figures.Funeral prayers for Sabry are scheduled to take place on Wednesday at Mostafa Mahmoud Mosque in Mohandessin after afternoon prayers.

Bassem Sabry was a founding member of Al-Dostour Party and a key contributor in writing its programme and many of its political and intellectual work - See more at: http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/04/30/political-thinker-activist-bassem-sabry-dies-31/#sthash.tZ97CPd1.dpuf

Bassem Sabry was a founding member of Al-Dostour Party and a key contributor in writing its programme and many of its political and intellectual work - See more at: http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/04/30/political-thinker-activist-bassem-sabry-dies-31/#sthash.tZ97CPd1.dpuf

Mass Death Sentences in Egypt

A judge at a mass trial in Egypt has recommended the death penalty for 683 people - including Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie. However, the judge also commuted to life terms 492 death sentences out of 529 passed in March in a separate case. The defendants faced charges over an attack on a police station in Minya in 2013 in which a policeman was killed. Ahmed Maher, the group's leader, was sentenced to three years in prison in December for violating a law that bans all but police-sanctioned protests.

Libyan Oil Shortage

In Libya the intern government was forced to slash there budget by a large amount of 36 billion U.S Dollars due to a huge oil shortage which knocked oil production from 1.4 Barrels Per Day to 200,000 Barrels Per Day. This has caused extreme dysfunction in the Libyan Government and caused the Prime Minister, Abdullah al-Thanay to step down saying he has recently been threatened by unnamed members of the militias who helped overthrow Gaddafi during the civil war. This cut in the budget of Libya has caused infrastructure funding to go down severely and has ended almost all government programs that were planned to be implemented in the coming months.

Boko Haram receives help from Al-Qaeda

Dr. Lional Von Frederick Rawlins, a forensic criminologist, says that foreign terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda are giving aid to Boko Haram in Nigeria. These foreign terrorist groups are training, funding, and sending troops for Boko Haram. Rawlins also suspects they are helping coordinate and accomplish terror attacks in Nigeria. Rawlins says many survivors of Boko Haram attacks describe their attackers speaking some language foreign to Nigeria, and that this shows that terrorists must be coming in from different countries. He also says that Boko Haram is getting too confident and something needs to be done before it only gets worse. http://allafrica.com/stories/201404210674.html

Polio Hits Equatorial Guinea, Threatens Central Africa

After being free of polio for 15 years, two cases of it have been reported in Guinea. The children who are paralyzed are in two totally different parts of the country. This means that the disease could of spread across the nation. The outbreak is dangerous because Guinea has the worst polio vaccination rate. Controlling the disease in Guinea will be challenging. One of the current polio cases is in capital, Malabo, located on an island off the country's Atlantic coast. The disease could spread even further, to the troubled Central Africa Republic. The violent clashes taken place in the country increases the chances of polio breaking out in the area. Peacekeepers are being sent to the country to try and help calm down the violence.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/04/17/303403242/polio-hits-equatorial-guinea-threatens-central-africa

South Sudan: Children Killed in Brutal South Sudan Fighting

Juba — A number of children have been killed in this week's fighting in South Sudan - some in an attack on displaced civilians while others have been caught in the crossfire or died as a result of being recruited by armed groups and forces, UNICEF said today.

The exact number of children that were killed is unknown but there was a dozen of civilian killed and attacked by gunmen on Thursday who attacked Internally Displaced Persons sheltering at the UN Protection of Civilians. A lot of kids and families were here so if a kid was to be recruited by the army then he or she was a target as well as their family. 

Jonathan Veitch stated that "children were attacked in a place where they should have felt safe" UNICEF Representative in South Sudan.






http://allafrica.com/stories/201404210005.html

Gunmen Attack Nigerian Girl's School

Yesterday, gunmen entered the campus of the Government Girl's Secondary School, Yana in Bauchi. It is reported that gunmen entered the staff housing around 2:30 on Sunday morning. The attackers set fire to staff house buildings, stole the principal's car, and killed a 5 year old girl in a fire set to open the bank vault.  These attacks came just a week after 129 girls were abducted from the Government Girl's Secondary School, Chibok. It is unknown currently who is behind these attacks and if they are related.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201404210247.html

Premium Times
Author unknown

Embrace the Ice

One of the many things that stirs the memory of our childhood was the memory of the ice-cream truck and its melody as it rolled down the hill towards you. Ice cream has become an iconic example of delicious desserts and nowhere is this more prevalent than in Rwanda. Rwanda is a very hot country, and ice-cream is not something you'd expect in that nation, but lo and behold it has opened. Enter Inzozi Nziza. This ice cream store, the first in the nation, has received massive popularity by the Rwandan people, many of which have never even tasted ice cream. This is a good reminder, that even if all the bad things are going on around you, the populace should still look for something 'sweet' to satisfy them.

allAfrica.com
Amy Fallon
http://allafrica.com/stories/201404210544.html

Total Goes Ahead With $16 Billion Angolan Kaombo Oil Project

France's Total said it had decided to go through with the Kaombo oil project. This could help Angola keep up oil output over the long run. The decision to invest in the ultra deep sea project is constantly put on hold, however this is important for Africa's No.2 oil producer. Kaombo illustrates both the group's capital discipline and objective to reduce capex. The company decided to build its two 115,000 barrels per day floating production storage. This could save about $2 billion and plus another $1 billion by agreeing with the government to cut the number of work hours done on the project.

Source: http://www.theafricareport.com/Central-Africa/total-goes-ahead-with-16-bln-angolan-kaombo-oil-project.html

14 year old wife accused of murder

Wasila Tasi'u, a 14 year old wife, is being charged with murder in Nigeria. She is accused of poisoning her husband, Umar Sani, and three other people. The crime took place in the Kademi village. Prosecutors claim Wasila poisoned the victims food with a substance locally known as Ota piapia. Six other people were poisoned, but made it to the hospital and received treatment. Wasila has pleaded not guilty to the charges. http://allafrica.com/stories/201404150122.html

Boko Haram kills 60

60 people were killed yesterday in Boko Haram attacks in the villages of Ngoshe and Kaigamari in Borno.  The attacks consisted of burning house, shops, and telecommunication masts.  They threw out improvised explosive devices. The Boko Haram also attacked Maiduguri yesterday and killed over 200 people.  Many residents fled the area in fear of future attacks.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201404141357.html?page=2

 KINGSLEY OMONOBI AND NDAHI MARAMA WITH AGENCY REPORTS

Kenya: 20 Bank Accounts Probed Over Terror Links - Muhoro

Nairobi — Detectives have launched investigations into 20 foreign and local bank accounts suspected to fund terrorism in Kenya. Criminal Investigations Department Director Ndegwa Muhoro says the accounts are being probed by the Banking Fraud Investigation Unit, which detected suspicious transactions.  Kenya has faced increased terror threats in the recent past among them the September 2013 Westgate attack that left 67 people dead. Several grenade attacks have taken place especially in the city's Eastleigh area with the recent killing six people at a restaurant.

A gun attack at a Church in Likoni by suspected terrorists in March also left six people dead. Following the attacks, the government has launched a massive crackdown targeting illegal aliens and 82 Somalis have since been deported.


http://allafrica.com/stories/201404140411.html

Peacekeepers to CAR

The united nations has finally accepted the numerous proposals to send a peacekeeping operation to the war torn state of CAR. This may be too little too late, as the Central African Republic has been swept with genocide and other atrocities committed by their own people. This is in wake of the fact that the minority Muslim population of CAR has been seemingly wiped from the face of the map in the western side of the state. This may also seem like a too little to late venture, as the forces won't be able to begin their mission for at least another six months. The help may arrive too late, but it is a start, let us hope that CAR is willing to accept, and that the violence has not spread further.

allAfrica.com
Samuel Oakford
http://allafrica.com/stories/201404141560.html

Tough times ahead for EA tourism as insecurity scares visitors away

East African countries face decreased growth in tourism as costly and cumbersome visa processes and insecurity turn visitors to other emerging destinations in Africa.

A new report by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) states that if the region tackles rising insecurity and lengthy visa processes, the bloc could more than double the contribution of the tourism sector to the GDP.

This year, Kenya and Burundi are expected to trail behind their EA neighbours in the growth of tourism earnings and contribution to the economy.

The WTTC projects that Uganda’s sector contribution to GDP will grow the most at 6.4 per cent; in 2013 it was Ush5,495 billion ($2.1 billion).

Tanzania follows at 4.3 per cent; in 2013, contribution to GDP was Tsh6,899.5 billion ($4.2 billion), and Rwanda is set to grow at 4 per cent; GDP contribution was Rwf181.5 billion ($266.9 million) in 2013.

Kenya and Burundi are set to grow at a 3.1 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively; last year’s GDP contribution was Ksh462.8 billion ($5.4 billion) in Kenya and BiF182.4 billion ($118,000) in Burundi.

Original Author: SCOLA KAMAU
Source: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/2271804/-/5mbn38/-/index.html

Boko Haram and Nigerian Army Working together

A Nigerian soldier claims the military has a connection to Boko Haram, an extremist islamic group. The soldier said that his unit and another unit based out of Bama were supposed to be carrying out a raid when they were ambushed. He said that the Bama unit was given green uniforms while his unit had tan ones. As soon as the battle began the Bama unit, who was better equipped, withdrew, leaving the soldier's unit to fight Boko Haram militants alone. The soldier also claimed to have seen some of his prior military trainers amongst the Boko Haram. The government has made no comment on these claims.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201404070440.html

Mali Prime minister fired

Ibrahim Boubakar Keita, president of Mali, has fired prime minister Oumar Tatam Ly. Oumar will be replaced by 39 year old Moussa Mara. The official statement announcing the dismissal of Ly was released on Sunday. Mara was the accountant and and mayor of a part of the capital, Bamako. He ran for president last election, but only received 1.5 percent of the vote. Ly at age 50 is a banker by profession, was appointed by Keita. The statement announcing the replacement of Ly also stated that Keita wants Mara to form a new government, but did not expand on the statement.http://allafrica.com/stories/201404060019.html

Ebola Virus Spreading through Liberia

Fear is spreading throughout Liberia as Ebola, the world's deadliest virus, with a 90% death rate, has an opportunity to spread.  A woman infected with Ebola was put on the back of a motorcycle with a driver near Monrovia.  Although the woman died, the driver of the motorcycle is still alive, but now infected with the quick spreading disease.  The Ministry of Health is currently looking for the man to prevent further spread of the disease.  Aside from the man, authorities are also looking for at least 40 other people who may have come in contact with the deceased woman. Since the spread of Ebola from Guinea, 86 Liberian deaths have been reported.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201404071825.html

The Sadness Behind the Central African Republic's Mango Trees

A sudden profusion of mango trees always indicates that a village was once there. At this time of the year most fruits are small, hard, and green. However, this year, the ground will be covered in a rotting yellow squelch, the aroma more sickly than sweet. Mango trees once meant a village was nearby, however now these villages are deserted thanks to violence in central Africa. Most people have been murdered or forced to leave. This June, many many mangos will go unpicked and wont be enjoyed.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26817382

Rwanda: The Refugee - 'It Was Like Hell, Blood Everywhere'

(KIGALI, RWANDA - APRIL 07: An emotionally distraught woman is carried out of Amahoro Stadium during the 20th anniversary commemoration of the 1994 genocide April 7, 2014 in Kigali, Rwanda.)


Themis Hakiszimana was working at the national television station in Kigali at the start of the genocide. When the army started forcibly recruiting Hutu, he fled but there was no escape from the violence. The president's plane was shot down during this broadcast, president Juvenal Habyarimana was killed. At the airport, we saw Belgian soldiers sitting on the tarmac. They had been disarmed and were being guarded by many Rwandan soldiers. They believed the Belgians had given information to the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RFP), who were fighting the government, to shoot down the plane.http://allafrica.com/stories/201404070048.html?page=3

Cameroon is reeling and suffering a lot of problems as it has been, but the kidnapping of two italian priests is setting off proverbial bombs throughout the world. Though it has lately been unclear around who is the culprit a suspicion has arisen that the culprits are a Nigerian based criminal organization. The Priests were also noted to have been brutalized before the kidnapping. The military itself is searching for the priests, to distance this crime away from an international incident. Christians in Cameroon have been holding a mass for the kidnapped priests and pray for their safe return, as does much of the world.

allAfrica.com
Moki Edwin Kindzeka
http://allafrica.com/stories/201404070516.html

Congo-Kinshasa: Rumble in the Belgian Bungle

Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in the eastern Kivu provinces, can be traced to its convoluted history of migration, citizenship and property rights.
Four countries share borders with the Kivu provinces: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. The conflict in North and South Kivu is often described simplistically as a struggle between rebels (often supported by neighbouring countries), the national military and armed local "self-defence" forces. According to this narrative, the conflict began in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide in 1994, and the three groups are now vying for control of the area's natural resources: gold, tin, tungsten and coltan (used in mobile phone chips).
The origins of this conflict, however, are much deeper, and date back much further. Trouble in the Kivus began in the 19th century when Banyarwanda cattle herders from present-day Rwanda moved to the South Kivu hills. An exact date for this movement is not known, but historians estimate that they may have arrived around 1850. The conflict's roots became even more entangled when the Belgian government took over administration of Congo in 1908 from King Leopold II, who had run the territory as his personal fiefdom since 1885.http://allafrica.com/stories/201404040651.html

Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda envoys jointly woo US tourists

Envoys representing Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda on Monday launched a Single Tourist Visa in the US capital in a joint effort to woo prospective tourists from the North American nation.

Kenya’s Charge de Affairs, Jean Njeri Kamau, joined her two colleagues – Rwanda’s Mathilde Mukantabana and Uganda’s Oliver Wonekha - at a symbolic ceremony held at the Rwandese Embassy on Connecticut Avenue in Washington DC.

Speaking during the event attended by stakeholders from the tourism and aviation industries, Ms Kamau said American tourists wishing to visit the three countries on a single trip will now pay $100 for a 90-day multiple-entry visa.

Original Author: BMJ MURIITHI

Link:http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Kenya--Uganda-and-Rwanda-envoys-jointly-woo-US-tourists/-/2558/2265610/-/7pdmdn/-/index.html