Middle Africa

Africa’s confirmed cases rise to 7,600, as 314 die from the coronavirus

By Stephan McCoy, 4 April 2020

The response of African governments has been to ramp up the powers of the state and impose brutal lockdowns with virtually no mass testing, contact tracing or isolation taking place.

Analysis of Congo election data points to “huge fraud” in vote tally

By Eddie Haywood, 17 January 2019

An extensive set of data leaked to the Financial Times has revealed a clear case of massive electoral fraud.

Russia postpones Syrian offensive in Idlib as NATO threatens escalation

By Alex Lantier, 15 September 2018

Turkey and the major NATO imperialist powers made clear that they are ready to counterattack against Syrian and Russian forces in Idlib.

Boko Haram escalates offensive in Nigeria’s Borno State

By Thomas Gaist, 12 January 2015

Boko Haram now controls 11 local governmental units, including some 20,000 square miles in the northern states of Yobe and Borno.

Cuts to World Health Organization budget intensify Ebola epidemic

By Thomas Gaist, 5 September 2014

Austerity measures imposed after the 2008 crisis have hampered any coordinated international response to the outbreak.

Rebel soldiers advance in Congo

By Ernst Wolff, 27 November 2012

Rebel soldiers attached to the Movement M 23 are continuing to advance in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

US threatens Rwandan President Kagame over support for Congolese rebels

By Eddie Haywood, 2 August 2012

The US Office of Global Justice warned the Rwandan government last week that it could face prosecution on war crimes charges.

Protesters in Gabon call for president to step down

By Ann Talbot, 11 February 2011

In recent weeks, protesters have taken to the streets in the African nation of Gabon, demanding that President Ali Ben Bongo Odimba resign.

Fifty years since the murder of Patrice Lumumba

By Tom Eley, 22 January 2011

The brutal murder of the leader of the Congolese anti-colonial struggle, Patrice Lumumba, remains among the most revealing crimes committed by US imperialism.

Train derails in Republic of the Congo, killing at least 60

By Scott Martin, 23 June 2010

A train derailment late Monday night in the Republic of the Congo killed at least 60 people and injured 450, highlighting the problems caused by chronic underfunding and poor maintenance of the railways.

UN denies complicity in Congo human rights abuses after leaked report

By Brian Smith, 1 December 2009

The United Nations has denied complicity in human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo after its own report was leaked to the press.

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East and Africa

25 September 2009

The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Gabonese President Omar Bongo (1935-2009)

A tool of French imperialism in Africa

By Olivier Laurent, 5 September 2009

Gabonese President Omar Bongo died on June 7 after spending nearly 42 years in power defending French imperialism's interests in sub-Saharan Africa.

Rwanda: Perpetrators of genocide jailed

By Linda Slattery, 6 January 2009

The International Criminal Tribunal to investigate the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994 against the minority Tutsis has passed a sentence of life imprisonment against General Theoneste Bagasora for his role in the slaughter.

Renewed war in Congo as conflict over minerals spirals

By Ann Talbot, 6 November 2008

An estimated quarter of a million people have been driven from their homes amid renewed fighting in Congo’s northeastern Kivu provinces as rivalries between the major powers and their local proxies have escalated in this mineral-rich area.