CNN- More than 52 people were killed in a stampede in central Ethiopia after police fired warning shots at a holy festival Sunday, Communications Minister Getachew Reda said. “Troublemakers” at the Oromo Irreechaa festival in Bishoftu physically attacked elders who were making their way to the stage to say their blessings for the new year, Reda said. Police fired warning shots… Read more »
CNN- The Sudanese government has been accused of using chemical weapons against the people of Darfur, according to a report released by Amnesty Internationalon Thursday. The attacks targeted civilians and may constitute a war crime, the report said. The Sudanese government has denied the allegations, calling them “rumors.” Amnesty says it has new evidence abuses persist in a war that… Read more »
Council on Foreign Relations- The Nigeria Security Tracker shows a significant fall in Boko Haram activity over the past year. Following peaks in 2014 and 2015, the levels of violence associated with Boko Haram have returned to the level of 2011. The self-proclaimed Islamic State apparently demoted Abubakar Shekau from his leadership position of the organization’s West African province. Shekau ostensibly accepted… Read more »
Global Risk Insights- South Africa is facing increasing instability as student protests sweep across the country, leading to violent clashes with police. The unrest began last week, and has continued to intensify in response to government plans to raise tuition fees by up to eight percent in 2017. Currently, only nine of the country’s 26 universities are operating, with student… Read more »