Benin: 14th April. Pres. Patrice Talon returned to power with 86% of votes for 2nd mandate (no opposition). He has vowed to track down those responsible for pre-election violence. (France 24)
Cameroon: Human Rights Watch have signalled increase in police targeting LGBT+ . (France 24)
Cape Verde: 19 April. Despite being criticised for its handling of the Covid crisis the ruling party maintained its majority in a parliamentary election (Reuters)
Chad: 19th April. US staff ordered to leave after rebels approach capital and Idriss Déby re-elected. (Reuters)
19th April. Idriss Déby re-elected as President with 79.32% of votes. Opposition parties denounce re-election of Idriss Déby because of intimidation and demand civilian rule (BBC)
20th April. Idriss Déby, President of Chad killed fighting rebels hours after election to 6th mandate (from 1991) (BBC)
20 April. 15 generals to lead Chad for the next 18 months as Transitional Military Council. Leader to be Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, son of ex-President Idriss Déby. (BBC)
21 April. Conflicting reports about shooting in presidential palace in N’Djamena. Alleged shootings within Déby family Mahamat shot after quarrel with Zakaria his brother has been denied. (BBC)
23rd April State funeral of Idriss Déby (BBC)
21 April. Rebel forces are threatening to march on N’Djamena. (Reuters)
Democratic Republic of Congo: DRC seeking £3Billion from Uganda in UN court on 13th April in compensation for invasion and “breaches of human rights that were verging on barbarity” in 1990s. (BBC)
Egypt: Ashraf Raslan (Head of Egyptian railways) dismissed after 2nd deadly crash recently. (BBC)
Egypt and Sudan reject Ethiopian proposal to share data on Renaissance dam. (Reuters)
Pres. Al-Sisi warns of potential conflict after dam talks failure (Reuters)
Ethiopia: 6th April. 100 killed in border clashes between Afar (Ethiopia) and Somali regions ahead of June national elections (Reuters)
Eritreans kill 9 civilians and wound a dozen (Reuters)
Mass protests in Amhara Region after 2 towns attacked and destroyed. Areas attacked were Amhara majority and Oromo minority. OLF Shane denied responsibility. Attacks lasted 14-19 April. Ceased when military set up command post in area on 20th. At least 20 dead thousands displaced. (BBC)
19th April. UN aid chief claims sexual violence being used as weapon by Ethiopian and allied Eritrean soldiers in Tigray region. US envoy challenges UN Security Council silence. (Reuters)
Egypt and Sudan reject Ethiopian proposal to share data on Renaissance dam. (Reuters)
Pres. Al-Sisi warns of potential conflict after dam talks failure (Reuters)
Ivory Coast: 15th April. Amade Ouremi (ex-warlord given life sentence in Abidjan for 2011 massacre in Duekoue (W. Ivory Coast). His lawyers claim he was under orders from anti-Gbagbo rebel forces at the time. (France 24)
15th April. Paris court life sentences for 3 tried in absentia for Boaké bombing of 2004 which acted as trigger for France to destroy Ivory Coast air force. Plaintiffs were hoping that the trial would share light on series of unanswered questions about French involvement in the matter. (France 24)
Mali: Germany approved plans to increase military training in Mali. (Reuters)
Niger: 18th April. 19 civilians killed during attack on Gaigorou, Tillaberi region (France 24)
Nigeria: Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto has been criticised by Government spokesman, Garbah Shehu, and by Muslim Solidarity Forum, claiming to represent Muslim groupings, for criticising the Buhari Government in his Easter homily for bad governance. He was defended by the Catholic Church and by the Christian Association of Nigeria (representing all the major Christian denominations). (UCAnews) (CRUXNews)
1800 prisoners freed from SE Nigerian prison after attack by gunmen with explosives and rockets. (Reuters)
19th April. Up to 65,000 people fleeing armed groups attacks on Dmasak, NE Nigeria. (Reuters)
Calls for resignation of Isa Pantami (Minister of Communication and Digital Economy) after alleged support for extremist groups including Boko Haram (BBC)
Lawmakers criticise 3 large cement firms for hampering economic recovery. (Reuters)
Rwanda: Rwanda has begun to roll out the second doses of anti-Covid19 vaccine (KTN)
19th April. Report claims France was well aware of preparations for genocide in 1994 and bore significant responsibility for enabling it, (Reuters)
Sierra Leone: A species of wild coffee has been re-discovered which may help secure the future of coffee. (Reuters)
Somalia: 14th April. International warnings of diplomatic reactions after President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed signs extension to his mandate for another 2 years into law. (France 24)
South Africa: 20th April. Firefighters have contained a fire on Table Mountain, Cape Town after 24 hours. I damaged historical sites, people fled their homes and schools closed. (Reuters)
South Sudan: All schools to re-open 3rd May after 13-month closure (BBC)
Sudan: Egypt and Sudan reject Ethiopian proposal to share data on Renaissance dam. (Reuters)
56 killed and 132 wounded in West Darfur
Pres. Al-Sisi warns of potential conflict after dam talks failure (Reuters)
PM Abdalla Hamdok has called for a summit between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan concerning the Renaissance dam. He dismissed ideas of military confrontation. He also claimed to be talking with ICC about handing over Omar al-Bashir (former ruler) and claims he has sent additional security forces to West Darfur (France 24)
Tanzania: Uganda and Tanzania deal to pipe oil from Uganda to Tanzanian port of Tanga. $3.5 bn / 896 miles (BBC)
Uganda: Archbishop Lwanga honoured with 17 gun salute at funeral (NTVNews)
Uganda and Tanzania deal to pipe oil from Uganda to Tanzanian port of Tanga. $3.5 bn / 896 miles (BBC)