Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo – International Medical Corps has been awarded $10 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to assist survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through the Bienvenue aux Changements dans la Communauté (BCC) program. As lead grantee, International Medical Corps will implement the program with partners Search for Common Ground and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Communication Programs. While providing a comprehensive and innovative program to prevent SGBV, International Medical Corps and its partners will utilize behavior change communication to impact... Continue Reading
Henry Okah denied his faction carried out the Abuja bombings Oil militant Henry Okah has been charged in South Africa in connection with Friday’s bomb attack in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. Mr Okah, who was arrested in Johannesburg on Saturday, has denied links to the blasts. At least 12 people were killed in the car bombings which came as Nigeria marked 50 years of independence. Mr Okah is believed to lead a militant faction opposed to a government amnesty for the oil-producing Niger Delta. He told the BBC on Friday that his group was not responsible for the car bombings. He... Continue Reading
By Guyson Nanagayi – Libreville – (Reuters) – Gabon’s government has agreed to trade union demands to limit the number of foreign workers in its oil sector to 10% and to require all executive posts to be held by Gabonese, oil sector union ONEP said on Sunday. The limit comes after Africa’s seventh largest crude oil producer, one of the few in sub-Saharan Africa to have launched a Eurobond. Gabon produced about 250 000 barrels of oil per day in 2008, according to US Energy Information Administration data. Foreign investors include Royal Dutch Shell, Total, Tullow Oil Plc, Canadian Natural... Continue Reading
By Guyson Nanagayi – Antananarivo – (AFP)- Hippolyte Ramaroson missed his big chance to speak on the world stage at the United Nations because of the crisis in Madagascar that has increasingly isolated the huge island nation. But as Madagascar’s foreign minister, the former military heavyweight is a key figure in behind-the-scenes haggling to reconcile his government, which is under international sanctions, and the leaders he is accused of helping to overthrow. The SADC and African Union suspended Madagascar. Only humanitarian aid is now arriving and the economy – particularly the crucial textile industry – has been hit by the... Continue Reading
By Mohamed Nuxurkey – As bloody fighting continued in Mogadishu’s hottest frontlines the death toll is rapidly increasing because of the scale of the war. According to the medical officials in Mogadishu at least 8 people have been killed and dozens more wounded during the fighting. “We have counted 8 bodies and we have also 24 wounded mostly civilians but the list includes soldiers” said Dunia Mohamed senior medical officer at Medina hospital. “I’m waiting for the result of my mother who is now unconsciousness inside this room because I was not allowed to enter the room” said Shukri Hassan... Continue Reading
