Representing the SADC
CNN — A toddler has died after a boat ferrying more than 30 villagers across the Shire River in Malawi’s Nsanje district was attacked by a hippo, causing it to overturn, authorities said. A police spokesperson, Agnes Zalakoma, said the incident happened early Monday and 23 of the boat’s 37 passengers were missing and feared … Read More “Toddler dead, 23 others missing as hippo capsizes boat in Malawi | CNN” »
CNN — Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni does not oppose a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill and plans to finalize it next week, Uganda’s ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), said on Thursday. “President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has congratulated the members of parliament for their stand on homosexuality and agreed to assent to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023 … Read More “Uganda’s President Museveni to return anti-LGBTQ+ bill to parliament | CNN” »
CNN — A group of leading global scientists and academics have signed an open letter urging Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to veto a hardline bill criminalizing homosexuality in the country. The bill outlaws identifying as LGBTQ+, and suggests life sentences for convicted homosexuals as well as the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” a sweeping term … Read More “Global scientists urge Uganda’s president to veto anti-LGBTQ bill | CNN” »
CNN — Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has said that “substantial elements” of a draconian anti-LGBTQ bill being considered by its parliament “have been modified” after an intervention by his government. Akufo-Addo made the disclosure Monday at a joint press conference with US Vice-President Kamala Harris, who’s on a tour of the West African country. He … Read More “Ghana’s president softens country’s stance on draconian anti-LGBTQ bill as Kamala Harris visits | CNN” »
CNN — Ugandan lawmakers on Tuesday approved some of the world’s harshest anti-gay laws, making some crimes punishable by death and imposing up to 20 years in prison for people identifying as LGBTQ+. The new legislation constitutes a further crackdown on LGBTQ+ people in a country where same-sex relations were already illegal – punishable by … Read More “Uganda parliament passes bill criminalizing identifying as LGBTQ, imposes death penalty for some offenses | CNN” »
CNN — The United Nations and United States on Wednesday added to international outrage over a hardline bill passed by Ugandan lawmakers that criminalizes simply identifying as LGBTQ+, prescribes a life sentence for convicted homosexuals and a death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality.” The UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights asked Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni not … Read More “UN and US join chorus of condemnation against Uganda’s hardline anti-LGBT bill | CNN” »
Bayelsa, Nigeria CNN — Nigeria’s southern Bayelsa state is officially nicknamed the ‘glory of all lands.’ But much of it is now a river that has driven entire communities away from their homes. Desperate to survive, many locals fleeing raging floods which have wrecked their homes and livelihoods are also forced to depend on floodwater … Read More “Displaced by devastating floods, Nigerians are forced to use floodwater despite cholera risk | CNN” »
CNN — Asmani Dadi had heard rumors about the insurgents. Then, one day, they came true. It was July 2020 and Dadi was a student in the town of Mocímboa da Praia, northern Mozambique. “They came … from the forest and began to kill people. When they found children, … they stole them back to … Read More “ISIS-linked militants are threatening huge natural gas reserves the world needs badly right now | CNN” »
Editor’s Note: Nsenga K. Burton, PhD (@Ntellectual) is a professor, film producer, journalist and cultural critic. She is co-director of the Film and Media Management Concentration at Emory University, founder of The Burton Wire (a news blog covering news of the African Diaspora) and a recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the … Read More “Opinion: What the calls to boycott ‘The Woman King’ are really saying | CNN” »
CNN — An animal sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing demands for ransom money, after kidnappers abducted three of its baby chimpanzees. “This is the first time in the world that baby apes were kidnapped for ransom,” Franck Chantereau, founder of the sanctuary where the kidnap took place, told CNN on … Read More “Three baby chimps were kidnapped from a sanctuary. Their abductors are demanding a ransom | CNN” »
