South Africa Zuma: Violence at State of Nation address
Punches have been thrown in South Africa's parliament as opposition MPs tried to disrupt the State of the Nation address by President Jacob Zuma. Members of the radical Economic Freedom Fighters' party (EFF), all dressed in red, scuffled with security guards who ejected them from the chamber. Mr Zuma had twice got to his feet but was shouted down by EFF MPs. Outside parliament, police used stun grenades to disperse opposition and government supporters. Mr Zuma has been dogged
Kenyan closure of Dadaab refugee camp blocked by high court
The High Court in Kenya has blocked the government's bid to close the largest refugee camp in the world. A directive to shut the Dadaab camp and forcibly repatriate about 260,000 Somali refugees living there was issued last year. The deadline for its closure had been extended until May, but a high court judge ruled the decision was tantamount to an act of group persecution. The government says it will appeal against the ruling on security grounds. It said that attacks on its
Russian Ship Crew Taken Hostage off Nigerian Coast
A crew of seven Russians and a Ukrainian has been taken hostage off the coast of Nigeria after their ship was attacked, diplomats in Moscow and Kiev said yesterday. “According to the information of the Russian embassy in Abuja, there has been an armed attack on the cargo ship BBC Caribbean which belongs to German company Briese Schiffahrt,” a Russian foreign ministry statement said. “Seven Russian citizens who are members of the crew have been taken hostage,” it said, adding
Boko Haram-fuelled famine threatens 120,000 Nigerians as Lake Chad crisis deepens, UN warns
At least 120,000 people are facing starvation in northeastern Nigeria due to a "catastrophic" man-made famine caused by the insurgency of Boko Haram terrorists, the UN-agency Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned. The agency also predicted the crisis was likely to deteriorate between June and August. Borno state, Boko Haram's birthplace and the epicentre of the group's seven-year insurgency, is expected to have around 78,000 people living in famine-like condition
