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Our soldiers will not always be here to protect Africa: France warns

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Our soldiers will not always be here to protect Africa: France...

Mumbere Peter - May 29, 2019

MALI France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday warned West African states against relying on French military presence...

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sky news africa During the first seven months of this year, 288 civilians were killed by government forces, more than a quarter of the total civilian deaths caused by violence, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, which collects and analyzes conflict information. The trend is specifically jarring in Burkina Faso’s east, where the number of civilians killed by government forces has swelled by almost nine times so far this year compared to the second half of last year, according to the ACLED data. The men who spoke with the AP in Fada N’gourma town said they were abducted from their homes by government soldiers backed by volunteer fighters from the local area. The military forces put the men into trucks and drove them around for hours while torturing them, the men told AP. The incident comes on the heels of a Human Rights Watch report last month that said evidence suggested the army was responsible for the large scale executions of 180 people in the country’s north found in mass graves. The majority of the victims in the graves were also ethnic Peuhl herders. The government did not respond to requests by the AP seeking comment about the alleged attacks in June. The ministry of defense has previously suggested such killings could have been carried out by groups using stolen army uniforms and equipment. Foreign embassy cables from June seen by the AP say that President Roch Marc Christian Kabore appeared defensive when questioned about the abuses. The president said security forces were having a hard time finding “real terrorists” who infiltrate communities. In June, jihadists disguised in burqas killed seven people in a village not far from Fada N’Gourma, said a high-ranking army officer who did not want to be named. Sometimes the jihadists pretend to be cattle or food traders so they can spy, he said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. Civilians trying to survive in the east say they’re caught between government and volunteer brutality, as well as jihadist attacks. Ousmane Bande lost his son in the June attacks with government soldiers, his 17-year-old nephew was killed days later at a checkpoint manned by volunteers, not far from Fada N’gourma. Wrapping his prayer beads around his fingers, he said it’s hard to see his nine grandchildren now have to grow up without a father. “I’m suffering,” he said. “The government needs to find a way to bring back peace.”

Burkina Faso army blamed for extrajudicial torture, deaths

August 24, 2020

sky news africa Second person dies from SARS-linked virus in China

Second person dies from SARS-linked virus in China

January 17, 2020

Zimbabwe's ex-president Mugabe to be buried next Sunday (Presidency)

Zimbabwe’s ex-president Mugabe to be buried next Sunday – Presidency

September 8, 2019

skynewsafrica Madagascar minister sacked over $2m sweets for 'bitter' COVID-Organics

Madagascar minister sacked over $2m sweets for ‘bitter’ COVID-Organics

June 7, 2020

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South Africa court orders ex-president to pay his legal fees

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South Africa court orders ex-president to pay his legal fees