Algiers, Algeria | AFP | Mass protests may have pushed long-time Algerian leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika from power, but demonstrators look unlikely to let up, demanding sweeping changes to the political system. With pressure far from dissipating, what happens now? – Constitutional roadmap – Algeria’s constitution outlines a vague roadmap for …
Read More »A quarter-century later, Rwanda’s genocide weighs heavily on its youth
Kigali, Rwanda | AFP | Every April 7, Rwanda recalls the hundreds of thousands of people who perished in the 1994 genocide — an occasion that for many survivors triggers terrifying memories. But for the two-thirds of the population born in the aftermath of the slaughter, the trauma is of …
Read More »Roads deadlier than guns in Libya
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Roads in conflict-riddled Libya, where petrol is cheaper than mineral water, rank among the deadliest in the world. Disregard for traffic rules, a dilapidated infrastructure and cars that fail to meet safety standards combine to make road accidents in Libya more lethal than incidents involving …
Read More »Could Algeria’s protests set off Arab Spring 2.0?
Tunis, Tunisia | AFP | The resignation of Algerian leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika after huge protests has inspired activists in the region, but looks unlikely to spark a repeat of the Arab Spring uprisings. Civil society figures in authoritarian Egypt and Sudan welcomed the toppling of a veteran president once seen …
Read More »FAO, Japanese government boost refugees in Moyo, Yumbe
Moyo, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | It is 1pm. Dressed in UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) white T-shirts, men and women sing songs of praise as a convoy of vehicles snake its way in Palorinya East Village in Moyo District. The delegation consists of FAO representative to Uganda …
Read More »‘Uganda’s population now at 40 million’
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s population has hit the 40 million mark, according to government statistics agency Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). According to UBS projections, Uganda’s population his the 40 million mark on Thursday at 4:00AM. This according to their population clock which updates growth hourly. The …
Read More »Libya in chaos since 2011 overthrow of Kadhafi
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with two rival authorities and a multitude of militias vying for control of the oil-rich country. Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar on Thursday ordered his troops to “advance” on …
Read More »Forever young: study uncovers protein that keeps skin youthful
Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Beauty might only be skin deep, but for those wondering how to keep that skin young, scientists may have found an answer in the form of a protein that encourages cell competition. The prosaically named COL17A1 might not sound like a fountain of youth, but …
Read More »Mandatory ‘divorce course’ for parents splitting up in Denmark
Copenhagen, Denmark | AFP | Gone are the days in Denmark when parents could get a divorce with a simple online click — now they have to complete a course before their marriage can be dissolved. As part of a new divorce law that entered into force on April …
Read More »Make or break for Vipers as they visit KCCA
KCCA FC v Vipers SC – 4:00pm Star Times Stadium, Lugogo Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | KCCA FC and Vipers SC face off in game day 25 of the Star Times Uganda Premier League at Startimes Stadium, Lugogo today. “To many, it’s seen as the title decider while to the …
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