CHARGED: Sudan's President al-Bashir faces second arrest warrant

NEW AL-BASHIR CHARGES

Sudan

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a second arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on July 12. The new warrant has added three counts of genocide to the charges already listed in the original warrant, which was issued in March 2009. The Sudanese Government does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction and has said the Hague-based court is out of touch with reality "on the ground" in Sudan.

BRAZILIAN VISIT

Pan-Africa 

The growing importance of Africa's relationship with the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) was underlined in July when Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva paid his final official visit to the continent. He visited Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa. Trade between Brazil and Africa has grown from $6 billion to $24 billion since Lula took office in 2002.

SHE'S FREE TO RUN

South Africa

South African athlete Caster Semenya is free to resume her career after receiving a green light from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Semenya has been at the center of a controversy since the 2009 world championships in Berlin, where she won gold in the 800m. Following queries about her muscular physique and running style, the 19-year-old was required by the IAAF to take a gender test to determine whether she was eligible to run as a woman. But the IAAF announcement in July vindicated the gifted teenager.

CATASTROPHIC DROUGHT

Mali

Drought-stricken Mali is facing a potential humanitarian disaster, with some 258,000 people in urgent need of aid, according to Gilles Marion, Oxfam's country head. Marion said aid agencies are struggling to provide enough food and water for people and their livestock in the worst hit parts of the country, raising the possibility of "catastrophic gaps" in the humanitarian effort. Apart from those in urgent need of assistance, a further 371,000 are at risk. Oxfam, the World Food Program, Food and Agriculture Organization, UNICEF and the International Committee of the Red Cross are all working in the affected areas.

RAMPAGING ELEPHANTS

Angola

A herd of elephants in Golungo-Alto district, Cambondo is causing major problems for farmers, with at least 283 farms destroyed during in the first six months of this year. An official from the Institute for Forest Development (IDF) told Angop that 130 hectares farmland used to harvest a variety of products had been destroyed. The official said there is no solution on the horizon and the problem could impact food supply in the village.

PEACEKEEPERS STAY

Burundi and Somalia

On July 14, Burundi confirmed its resolve to keep its 2,500 peacekeepers in Somalia, despite the deadly attack that killed 73 people in Kampala, Uganda, during the World Cup final. Al-Shabab militants in Somalia have repeatedly threatened to carry out attacks on Burundi and Uganda in response to their decisions to provide troops to assist the Somalia Government.

"There is no reason for us to withdraw our troops [just] because al-Shabab attacked Kampala and plans to attack Bujumbura," Burundi's army chief, Major General Godefroid Niyombare, told reporters. "That would be (displaying a) yellow streak."

TEXTING FOR PEACE

Kenya 

A new sms-based service has been set up in Kenya that will allow users to alert authorities when "hate speech" takes place. The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has set up the system in readiness for this month's referendum on a new constitution. "If hate speech is reported, we will be able to respond within 12 hours," NCIC head Mzalendo Kibinja told the BBC.

In June, three MPs were charged with inciting hatred in speeches they made while campaigning for the referendum, scheduled for August 4.

A NATION MOURNS

Democratic Republic of Congo 

Two days of mourning were held from July 5 to mark the deaths of 238 victims who died when a petrol tanker crashed in DR Congo. Flags flew at half-mast and President Joseph Kabila traveled to Sange, the town where the accident occurred, to offer his condolences to the bereaved.

The tanker overturned on a highway passing through the village, which is close to the Burundi border. As a crowd gathered around, petrol spilling from the tank ignited, setting fire to homes and a local cinema hall.

CHILD PROTECTION

Republic of Congo 

Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso announced a new child protection framework on July 2, ahead of celebrations to mark the Day of the African Child (July 16). The framework contains laws to cover all areas of child protection, including children in conflict with the law. Marianne Flach, the UNICEF Representative in Congo, was quick to praise the new framework. "It is a major breakthrough that opens new perspectives in the protection and realization of children's rights in Congo."