Africa

It is a topic shrouded in shame, but traction alopecia may affect one-third of women of African descent.

With few street names in The Gambia, people have to get creative about giving directions.

An improvised roadside mine which exploded hitting a UN peacekeeping convoy in Mali, killing one ‘blue helmet’ from Egypt, and wounding four others, may constitute a war crime, the UN Chief said on Saturday, as senior UN officials condemned the blast. 

A festival celebrating this year’s planting season brings together thousands of people in Nigeria.

The UN has condemned an attack on an Ebola treatment centre in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Friday, which led to the death of a doctor working for the World Health Organization (WHO), and injured two others. 

More than 305,000 children in Mozambique are losing out on lessons at school since the devastating floods caused by Cyclone Idai, which struck southeast Africa just over a month ago. 

A selection of photos from across Africa and Africans elsewhere this week.

In and around Tripoli, an increasing number of children are “at imminent risk of injury or death” two senior United Nations officials warned on Thursday, citing a surge of aggression in crisis-torn Libya.

Sudanese protest groups require unity to secure civilian rule, the BBC's Alastair Leithead says.

A contingent of 530 Ugandan “Blue Helmets” (63 women, 467 men) is playing a crucial role in the United Nations’ efforts to help bring peace and stability to Somalia. They make up the United Nations Guard Unit (UNGU, that is tasked with protecting UN compounds in Mogadishu in order to assist the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) to carry out their mandate. 

A child known as Baby A became the subject of a high court case that has prompted Kenya to start changing its approach to intersex children.

Automation could wipe out many jobs in developing countries, says globalisation expert Ian Goldin.

Heavy shelling overnight on Tuesday which hit a densely-populated neighbourhood of Libya’s capital, Tripoli, was condemned “in the strongest terms” by the head of the UN Mission there, after “scores” of civilians were reportedly killed and injured.

Security across the volatile Darfur region of Sudan has deteriorated since last week’s military takeover in Khartoum, the UN Security Council heard on Wednesday, but the peacekeeping mission in Darfur has “remained vigilant” in the face of rising violence. 

Online groups are targeting and killing young men in Kenya they believe to be gang members.

A photographer breaks stereotypes in Senegal to show that men can be seen in public caring for their children.

One month after Cyclone Idai devastated parts of Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) appealed to the international community to  help some 1.6 million children still reeling from its impact.  

On the fifth anniversary of the schoolgirls' kidnapping, more than 100 are still missing.

Aril 13, 2019 (KHARTOUM) - The head of Sudan's Military Transition Council (MTC) has lifted a night curfew imposed by his predecessor and directed to release of prisoners jailed under the emergency law for protests against the regime of the unseated President Omer al-Bashir.

On 11 April, former head of the MTC Awad Ibn Ouf announced the al-Bashir's overthrow, suspended the Interim Constitution of 2005, declared a three-month state of emergency and a one-month of curfew from 10 pm to 4 am.

However, the curfew was not effectively enforced as the protests including the sit-in outside the army headquarters continued and the opposition calls to defy the restrictive measures.

Ahead of talks with a delegation of the Freedom and Change Declaration forces, Gen Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan in a statement broadcast by Sudanese radio and national television pledged to promote human rights in line with the international and regional charters.

The Council decided to "cancel the curfew, release those sentenced under the Emergency Law or any other law related to recent demonstrations and protests," he said.

Further, he relieved the military governors appointed by al-Bashir last and assigned the army commanders to conduct the affairs of the states.

He further addressed "an open invitation to dialogue for all sectors of society and its parties and civil society organizations."

Also, he called on the "arms holders to sit on the negotiating table to reach a peaceful settlement based on new rules and standards."

The Sudanese general stressed the Council's commitment to a two-year transitional period during which or at the end of which a civilian government would be formed.

The Sudanese opposition groups call for a 4-year period to allow them to build their parties, end the armed conflicts and solve the economic crisis and well as end the international sanction on Sudan.

They are also worried by the presence of the former regime elements in the state apparatus as no concrete measures have been taken until now to neutralize them.

Al-Burhan added that the council is working to remove all restrictions and barriers that hinder freedoms, promoting the spirit of equality and tolerance among the Sudanese society components and enable parties and organizations to carry out their political and professional activities.

"I ask you to help return (home) and to normalize life. We also call on political parties, forces of change and groups and organizations to deal with this stage impartially and patriotically and uphold national values," he called.

(ST)

April 13, 2019 (KHARTOUM) - Salah Gosh, the Director of National Intelligence and Security Service has resigned from his position since Friday, according to a statement released on Saturday.

"General Abdel Fattah al-Burha, the head of the Transitional Military Council (TMC), accepted the resignation of General Engineer Salah Abdallah Mohammed Saleh Gosh as head of the National Security and Intelligence Service," said a short statement by the military body.

According to the official news agency, Gosh extended his resignation on Friday.

The details of the removal of former President Omer al-Bashir have not been disclosed but it is agreed that his insistence to shoot the protesters triggered a meeting between the army, the Rapid Support Forces and the NISS where it was decided to unseat him.

There were conflicting reports about Gosh as some said he was under arrest.

Awad Ibn Ouf the former First Vice-President, and defence minister resigned on Friday evening from his position as the TMC head. Also, removed the former chief of staff Kamal Abdel Marouf.

The Sudanese opposition demands a power transfer to the Freedom and Changes Declaration forces and the dissolution of the military council.

(ST)