West Africa: France Backs Benin After Foiled Coup As Ecowas Warns of Rising Instability

[RFI] France has confirmed it provided surveillance, observation and logistical backing to Benin's armed forces during the weekend's attempted coup, stepping in at the request of the authorities in Cotonou as loyalist troops moved to regain control. Source

Africa: Why Africa's GBV Epidemic Demands Root-and-Branch Reform

[allAfrica] "Usikimye." Do not be silent. The Swahili word has become a rallying cry among survivors in Kenya, who are tired of bearing shame that is not theirs. Source

Kenya: 6 Activists Arrested in Nairobi Solidarity Protest Amid Tension in Tanzania

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Police in Nairobi on Tuesday arrested six activists who staged a protest outside the Tanzanian High Commission in solidarity with Tanzanians accusing President Samia Suluhu's administration of repression and human rights abuses. Source

Congo-Kinshasa: Piecing Together Bodies and Minds in Eastern DR Congo

[MSF] "I was born in war. It's all I have ever known," says Floribert*. The young man had been shot in the leg and was among a dozen patients recovering from ballistic trauma injuries at the Mweso General hospital, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). "I can't see peace coming any time soon." Source

Ethiopia: How Malaria Consortium Helped Ethiopia Fight Back Against Severe Malaria Outbreaks

[Malaria Consortium] In an era of climate unpredictability and emerging health threats, the ability to respond swiftly to disease outbreaks can be the difference between containment and crisis. Source

West Africa: ECOWAS Declares State of Emergency in West Africa

[Leadership] The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared a state of emergency across the region, citing rising security threats. Source

Africa: 111 Journalists Killed This Year, According to the IFJ

[IFJ] Since 1990 and the launch of its annual Killed list, the IFJ has recorded 3,156 deaths worldwide, an average of 91 deaths per year, and 859 in the last ten years Source

Tanzania: Tanzania Marks 64 Years of Sovereignty With a Call to Uphold Peace, Unity

[Daily News] Dar es Salaam -- THE President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, has urged Tanzanians to continue reminding one another of the importance of safeguarding peace, unity, and solidarity within the nation. Source

South Africa: Clinic Staff Are Extorting Immigrants to Access Life-Saving Medicines

[GroundUp] Immigrants say they are being charged for ARVs, chronic medication and baby immunisations at some Gauteng clinics Source

Africa: UN Seeks $1 Billion for 'First-Responder Fund' in Emergencies

[UN News] Countries rallied at UN Headquarters on Tuesday to shore up a key humanitarian fund that provides timely assistance for millions worldwide when conflict and climate-related disasters strike. Source

Sudan: 'All We Want for Sudan Is Peace' Say Children Fleeing Violence

[UN News] Nahed was visiting Sudan's capital Khartoum with her family to celebrate Eid, a major Islamic holiday, when the war broke out between the rival armies vying for control of her homeland. Source

Sudan: ICC Sentences Sudan Janjaweed Leader Ali Kushayb to 20 Years for Darfur Atrocities

[Dabanga] The Hague -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced former Janjaweed commander Ali Muhammad Ali Abdelrahman, known as 'Ali Kushayb' and feared in Darfur as the "Colonel of Colonels" to 20 years in prison for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in 2003-2004. The sentence, handed down on today in The Hague, follows his October conviction on 27 counts, including murder, torture, persecution, rape, and the forcible displacement of civilians. Source