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Category: North Africa

World Sports: The untouchables and double standards
September 22, 2020
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| Africa, Business, East Africa, News, North Africa, South Africa, West Africa, World

The rate of corruption in sports has become a matter of concern to the general public, especially the fans. Of late, graft allegations, embezzlements and other corrupt practices have rocked the International Federation of Association Football, better known in French as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The FIFA, the highest governing body of football controls football, beach soccer, efootball and futsal. Sadly, this sports body is not the lone swimmer in the ocean of corruption; the International Association of…

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Understanding why COVID-19 is Indeed a Virus, Tearing the African Social Fabric Apart
August 20, 2020
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| Africa, East Africa, Economy, Health, News, North Africa, Politics, South Africa, West Africa, World

You may call the COVID-19 perhaps the worst pandemic of recent time, and definitely, one of the greatest health challenges the world has ever seen. That definition would not be hyperbolic because the virus has caused insurmountable damages and untold miseries, ranging from the deaths of loved ones to the collapse of the world economy.  But to some, the deadly virus is just what it is. So is the COVID-19 data. The opposite of evil. The reminiscence of anything…

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Al Hassan trial: Chief Prosecutor’s Opening Statement.
July 15, 2020
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| Africa, News, North Africa, World

Mr President, Your Honours, Ansar Dine and AQIM are still active in Mali and the Timbuktu region. They pose a grave danger to the safety of witnesses and victims. I shall therefore not go into specific detail here: you have them in the confidential version of the Trial Brief and other filings. The people of Timbuktu themselves know full well what I’m alluding to, because they have experienced these crimes and suffered physical and mental anguish as a result…

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Al Hassan trial opens at the International Criminal Court
July 15, 2020
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| Africa, News, North Africa, Politics, World

On 14 July 2020, the trial in the case The Prosecutor v. Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud opened before Trial Chamber X of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed in Timbuktu (Mali). Trial Chamber X is composed of Judge Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua, Presiding Judge, Judge Tomoko Akane and Judge Kimberly Prost. The trial’s opening started with the reading of the charges against Mr Al Hassan. The Chamber…

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Opening of the trial in the Al Hassan case: Practical information
July 10, 2020
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| Africa, News, North Africa, Politics, World

The trial in the case of The Prosecutor v. Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud will open on 14 July 2020,  before Trial Chamber X of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed in Timbuktu (Mali). Trial Chamber X is composed of Judge Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua, Presiding Judge, Judge Tomoko Akane and Judge Kimberly Prost. During these hearings, the Prosecution will deliver its opening…

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Africa and the Coronavirus pandemic: A blessing in disguise for some
July 3, 2020
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| Africa, Business, East Africa, Economy, Health, Illustrations, News, North Africa, Politics, South Africa, The Torch, West Africa, World

For several months governments across the globe have been working tirelessly to contain the Coronavirus pandemic, a crisis which has brought the entire world to a standstill.  To reduce the risk of transmission, countries have been urging their citizens to embrace the directives issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). Some of the measures in place are, wearing of masks in public places, keeping social distancing, regular washing of the hands and sanitizing of the hands using alcohol-based hand…

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ICC: Initial Appearance of Ali Kushayb scheduled for 15 June 2020
June 12, 2020
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| Africa, East Africa, News, North Africa, Politics, World

The initial appearance of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd–Al-Rahman (“Ali Kushayb”) is scheduled for Monday 15 June 2020, at 11:00 (The Hague local time) in Courtroom III of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”) before the single judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala. Mr Ali Kushayb was transferred to the ICC’s custody on 9 June 2020, after surrendering himself voluntarily in the Central African Republic, for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur (Sudan). During the initial appearance…

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ICC: Statement of the Prosecutor on the surrender and transfer of alleged militia leader, Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, alias Ali Kushayb
June 9, 2020
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| Africa, East Africa, News, North Africa, World

Today, a milestone has been reached in the Darfur, Sudan situation with the surrender and transfer of Mr Ali Kushayb, an alleged leader of the “Janjaweed” militia, to the custody of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”).  I am grateful for the cooperation of all those states, organisations and individuals who contributed to this pivotal development, in particular, the Governments of the Central African Republic, the Republic of Chad, the French Republic and the Host State, The…

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Coronavirus Pandemic: One Man’s Meat is Another Man’s poison
June 5, 2020
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| Africa, East Africa, Economy, Health, Illustrations, News, North Africa, Politics, South Africa, West Africa, World

Have you ever pondered over the adage one man’s meat is another man’s poison? If you did, how relevant is the proverb to the present coronavirus state of affairs? Like a hurricane,  the pugnacious pandemic descended, tormenting the world community with impunity. Deaths, sickness, alienation, uncertainties, poverty, joblessness, hopelessness become synonymous with the virus; and those social threats would soon metamorphose into a norm. But not everyone sees the pandemic as an existential threat. For some a few individuals,…

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The Coronavirus Pandemic Lockdown or Lock-up?
April 16, 2020
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| Africa, East Africa, Food, Health, Illustrations, News, North Africa, Politics, South Africa, The Torch, West Africa, World

You could say that the coronavirus pandemic came unannounced. Followed by preventive measures to tame the seemingly indomitable aggressive deadly virus. First, came the lockdown, initiated by various governments around the world. It was meant to last for a period of two weeks or a little more. Fair enough, to most citizens, the duration was manageable a sacrifice to make to enable their leaders to bring the spread of the volatile viral virus to a halt. Soon, that period…

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The Other Side of the Coronavirus Pandemic
April 7, 2020
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| Africa, East Africa, Economy, Food, Health, Illustrations, News, North Africa, Politics, South Africa, West Africa, World

It came like a flash of angry light and brimstone, followed by an audacious thunderous tempest. Bold and seemingly uncontrollable, leaving both the ill-prepared captain and crew members in a higgledy-piggledy state, struggling – somehow clueless – to damper the stubborn tidal tempest. Lockdown and quarantine seem the most suitable precaution for the surprised, vulnerable passengers against being snatched away by the angry tempest or from the jabbing jaw of the hungry shark. Welcome the unwelcome, unbidden coronavirus. It…

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Coronavirus: The deadly pandemic holding the world hostage
March 31, 2020
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| Africa, East Africa, Health, Illustrations, News, North Africa, South Africa, West Africa, World

The name coronavirus originated from the Latin word corona, meaning crown or halo. The new virus has wreaked havoc and caused fear in the entire globe sweeping both poor and rich countries, irrespective of race, gender, religion, social status or geographical location. What is coronavirus? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines coronavirus as a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle…

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