The Independent

Kenya's coffee wars

09 February 2012 12:00 AM

The boom in high-grade beans should be bringing rural Africa riches. Instead, it is fuelling a lethal crimewave

Egypt's PM says US threats to cut aid won't work

08 February 2012 05:52 PM

Egypt's military-backed prime minister said today his country will not halt its crackdown on foreign-funded nonprofit groups despite what he called threats by Western and Arab countries to cut off aid, further deepening a bitter dispute that has strained ties with the United States.

Anti-gay bill brought back to Ugandan parliament

08 February 2012 12:00 AM

An MP who first tried to introduce anti-gay legislation carrying the death penalty for some homosexual acts reintroduced the bill yesterday, raising concerns among rights activists who have been fighting it.

Joyce Mujuru talks to the media after this week's inquest into the death of her husband, General Solomon Mujuru

Mugabe general 'killed in blaze' cannot be exhumed, says court

08 February 2012 12:00 AM

Mystery surrounds death of Vice-President's MP husband in suspicious fire at home

The original Khulekani Khumalo, the folk singer who, it is claimed, has returned from the dead

Witchcraft fans mob man claiming to be reincarnated singer abducted by zombies

08 February 2012 12:00 AM

A South African man who claims to be a famous Zulu folk singer returned from the dead after being held captive by zombies for the past two years has been detained on suspicion of fraud.

22,000 have fled Mali, says UN

07 February 2012 05:51 PM

About 22,000 people have fled fighting in Mali to the neighboring countries of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania, the United Nations said today.

Uganda's anti-gay bill reintroduced in parliament

07 February 2012 02:37 PM

A lawmaker in Uganda is reintroducing an anti-gay bill that received wide condemnation, including from US President Barack Obama.

Saif Gaddafi's trial could begin within weeks, says NTC

06 February 2012 12:00 AM

The trial of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi could begin "within weeks", according to the country's new Interior Minister. The former heir-presumptive in Libya has been held by anti-Gaddafi forces in the western town of Zintan since November when he was captured trying to escape through the desert.

Foreigners among 43 NGO workers to be tried in Egypt

06 February 2012 12:00 AM

Judges in Egypt are to put on trial 43 workers of non-government organisations, including 19 Americans and other foreign staff, for allegedly being involved in banned activities and illegally receiving foreign funds.

Rebels killed in clashes in Timbuktu

06 February 2012 12:00 AM

Mali's defence ministry says the armed forces have killed about 20 northern separatist rebels and taken a dozen more prisoner during two days of clashes in the Timbuktu region.

ANC expels youth leader Julius Malema

05 February 2012 12:00 AM

South Africa's firebrand youth leader Julius Malema yesterday lost his appeal against expulsion from the ruling ANC party. An appeal panel upheld the party's decision in November to eject Mr Malema, the Youth League president, for five years, after finding him guilty of bringing the movement into disrepute. The decision is a blow to the political ambitions of the 30-year-old, who has been a critic of the ANC leadership and courted controversy with his lifestyle and views. He is also facing a criminal investigation into his finances. After the appeal ruling, party officials granted Mr Malema another chance to challenge the decision, but, following the panel's unanimous verdict the decision appears unlikely to change.