Africa: JOINT STATEMENT – Decriminalization of LGBTQ+ People Saves Lives

Kenyan free-speech advocates have criticized the arrest of author Webster Ochora Elijah for publishing an unauthorized biography of Charlene Ruto, daughter of President William Ruto. Accused of impersonation for "misusing" her name without permission, he pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. Critics argue that the prosecution undermines free expression, as the book's contents were not challenged, and emphasize that public figures should expect scrutiny; similar instances in the past have raised concerns about...

Nobody in South Africa knows the whereabouts of James Neo Tshoaeli, nicknamed Tiger, who has evaded police since his escape from custody after being linked to illegal mining operations where 78 corpses were found. His family in Lesotho, including his mother and younger brother, have not seen him in eight years and are deeply concerned for his safety, given the dangerous nature of illegal mining. Local miners describe him as a middle manager rather than...

Five members of a UN aid convoy were killed in an attack near el-Koma, North Darfur, as they attempted to deliver food and nutrition supplies to the famine-stricken city of el-Fasher. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the regular army have accused each other of using drones in the assault, while the UN has called for an investigation into the incident. The ongoing civil war in Sudan, which began in 2023, has led to...

A Kenyan activist, Boniface Mwangi, has recounted his harrowing experience of alleged sexual torture while detained in Tanzania last month after showing solidarity with opposition politician Tundu Lissu. He described being stripped, beaten, and assaulted, and claimed he was threatened with footage of the abuse being leaked if he spoke out. The Tanzanian police chief dismissed Mwangi's allegations as hearsay, while rights groups have called for investigations into the reported abuses amid growing repression by...

SummaryIn Kampala, Uganda, two individuals labeled as "armed terrorists" were killed by a counter-terrorism unit during Martyrs Day celebrations, which honor 19th-century Christian martyrs. One of the assailants was a female suicide bomber, reportedly linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), known for previous attacks on public gatherings and places of worship. Despite a reported explosion near the Munyonyo Martyrs' Shrine, no other casualties occurred, and authorities remain on heightened alert amid ongoing threats from...

Nafisa Salahu's near-fatal childbirth experience in Nigeria, where a woman dies every seven minutes due to complications, highlights the country's alarming maternal mortality rate, which accounts for 29% of global maternal deaths. Contributing factors include inadequate healthcare infrastructure, a shortage of skilled professionals, and cultural distrust of medical facilities, leading many women to seek traditional remedies. As a result, while urban women may access better care, many rural women remain vulnerable to preventable deaths during...