On Africa News Focus Alex Bell speaks to Amnesty International about this week’s deadly violence in Mogadishu, Somalia, that has left more than 20 civilians dead. She also examines reports that at least 150 women, and many young children, were raped by rebel groups over a period of four days in the DRC recently. Finally Alex highlights concerns raised over South Africa’s ongoing public sector strike, that has seen thousands of workers down tools.

 

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On Africa News Focus Alex Bell focuses on the outcome of this week’s summit of government leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Namibia. Alex questions whether the body is fulfilling its mandate to protect and promote human rights and the rule of law across the region.

 

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In Africa News Focus Alex Bell highlights concerns raised by Human Rights Watch that Uganda’s notorious rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army, is continuing its “horrific campaign” of child soldier recruitment. She also speaks to South Africa’s Professional Journalists’ Association about the proposed Media Tribunal, which President Jacob Zuma has endorsed as a necessary means to regulate the media, but which has raised concerns that this is the beginning of a clamp down on South Africa’s media.

 

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On Africa News Focus Alex Bell looks at promises made this week by hundreds of al-Shabaab supporters to intensify its violent attacks against African Union troops in Somalia. Alex also highlights tensions among South Africa’s immigrant community amid rumoured threats of xenophobic attacks, as the football World Cup comes to an end.

 

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Alex Bell highlights the death of a Rwandan journalist who was shot dead by two men in front of his house this week, in an attack feared to be linked to the government. Alex looks at concern raised by African Union chief Jean Ping about Burundi’s upcoming Presidential election, amid concerns of violence. Finally Alex examines a new report detailing ongoing human rights violations in Libya, which the government has dismissed as not reflecting reality.

 

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On Africa News Focus, Alex focuses on the very first Football World Cup in Africa underway in South Africa. She looks at the excitement around the event, and also highlights the concerns over what happens when the tournament ends and the global spotlight moves away from the country.

 

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On Africa News Focus Alex Bell looks at comments by South African President Jacob Zuma that clashes in Africa are blocking development on the continent. His comments came just days before renewed fighting broke out in both Sudan and Somalia. And with the football World Cup in South Africa days away, Alex also looks at fears of intensified xenophobic violence in the country, after the tournament ends next month.

 

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On Africa News Focus Alex Bell looks at the plight of a gay couple in Malawi who were this week sentenced to 14 years hard labour, in a move that has sparked international condemnation. She speaks to Human Rights Watch about homophobia in Africa, after the group warned that recent statements by religious leaders and government authorities in Zambia was undermining that country’s fight against the HIV/Aids pandemic. Finally Alex looks at tensions in Madagascar after a mutiny by the country’s security forces resulted in a fatal gun battle on Thursday.

 

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On Africa News Focus Alex Bell looks at concerns raised by the UN refugee agency about increasingly brutal attacks by the Ugandan rebel group the Lords Resistance Army, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and the Central African Republic. Alex also looks at the recent crime wave at key tourist points in Mozambique which could threaten the country’s main industry. Finally, she examines the plight of refugees entering and living in South Africa, where reports of sexual abuse and violent attacks are on the rise in this vulnerable community.

 

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On Africa News Focus, Alex examines the ongoing abuses by Nigeria’s police force, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances and the harassment of human rights campaigners. Amnesty International’s Nigeria expert, Aster van Kregten, explains how the police force is literally getting away with murder and using public anger over high crime rates to justify their actions.’

 

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