At least 239 killed in protests since last week over murder of popular ethnic Oromo singer Haacaaluu Hundeessaa. The death toll from demonstrations and ethnic violence that erupted in Ethiopia last week following the murder of a popular singer from the Oromo ethnic group has risen to 239, according to police. Pop star Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, a hero to many Oromo who saw him as the voice of their marginalisation, was shot dead by unknown attackers on June 29, heightening ethnic tensions threatening the country's democratic transition. Protests broke out in the capital Addis Ababa, as well as the surrounding Oromia region which is the homeland of the country's largest ethnic group, who have long felt economically and politically sidelined in the diverse nation. Officials have attributed the deaths to a combination of lethal force by security officers and interethnic violence. "Due to the unrest that occurred in the region, nine police officers, five militia members and 215 civilians have lost their lives," acting Oromia police commissioner Mustafa Kedir said on state television on Wednesday. Police in Addis Ababa had previously reported 10 deaths in the capital. The total death toll is an increase from 166 fatalities reported last weekend. Mustafa also said there had been "extensive damage and looting" of government and private property. "To control this unrest, more than 3,500 suspects have been arrested. They were anti-peace elements who carried out attacks using the artist's death as a pretext to dismantle the constitutional system by force," he said. "The Oromo population should be inclusive of other ethnic groups that live among it." Ethnic Tensions Haacaaluu's killing tapped into grievances fuelled by decades of government repression and what the Oromo describe as their historic exclusion from political power. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed - the country's first Oromo leader - said the murder was "an evil act". But he added that the subsequent violence represented "coordinated attempts" to destabilise the country. Simmering ethnic tensions in the country of more than 100 million people have posed a major challenge to Abiy, whose efforts to loosen the reins of iron-fisted rule and open up the democratic space have led to increased jockeying for power and influence. Abiy, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for ending a long-running conflict with neighbouring Eritrea, has been accused of reverting to the tactics of his predecessors, with a wave of arrests of prominent opposition politicians during the last week's protests. Five senior members of the Oromo Liberation Front were arrested, including Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba from the Oromo Federalist Congress. Eskinder Nega, a longtime government critic who had recently spoken out against government policies he argues favour the Oromo, was also arrested. Haacaaluu, 36, was buried on Thursday under heavy police and military presence in his hometown of Ambo, about 100km (62 miles) west of Addis Ababa. He is survived by his wife and two children. Free and fair elections planned for August have been postponed due to the coronavirus epidemic, as Ethiopia prepares for its democratic transition under Abiy, who is facing the deadliest protests since he took power in 2018. SOURCE: AL JAZEERA

Police confirm at least 166 deaths in violent protests over killing of popular Oromo singer Haacaaluu Hundeessa. At least 166 people have died during violent demonstrations that roiled Ethiopia in the days following the murder of popular singer Haacaaluu Hundeessa, police said. "In the aftermath of Hachalu's death, 145 civilians and 11 security forces have lost their lives in the unrest in the region," said Girma Gelam, deputy police commissioner of Oromia region, in a statement on the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate on Saturday. Another 10 people are known to have died in the capital, Addis Ababa. Girma said a further 167 had "sustained serious injuries" and that 1,084 people had been arrested. Pop star Haacaaluu, a member of the Oromo ethnic group, Ethiopia's largest, was shot dead by unknown attackers in Addis Ababa on Monday night, heightening ethnic tensions and threatening the country's democratic transition. Five people have been arrested in connection with his killing. Officials have repeatedly suggested the Oromo Liberation Front, a rebel group, and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, an opposition party, were implicated. Officials have attributed the deaths to a combination of lethal force by security officers and inter-ethnic violence. Girma added that the violent unrest had now "completely stopped". Last week, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Haacaaluu's killing and the subsequent violence represented "coordinated attempts" to destabilise the country. Three high-profile opposition leaders - including former media mogul Jawar Mohammed - have been arrested in connection with the unrest, though officials have provided few details about the cases against them. Haacaaluu, 36, the Oromo-language singer and song writer was buried on Thursday under heavy police and military presence in his hometown of Ambo, about 100km (62 miles) west of Addis Ababa. He is survived by his wife and two children. Haacaaluu's music gave voice to Oromos' widespread sense of economic and political marginalisation during years of anti-government protests that swept Abiy to power in 2018. SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

Displaced children at a camp near Kadugli, the capital of Sudan's South Kordofan state, in May. (Ashraf Shazly/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images) 5/30/2018 - A child born the year South Sudan achieved But the children of South Sudan cannot wait. Seven million South Sudanese need humanitarian assistance. The United States has supported South Sudan since the beginning.

When compared to the rest of the continent, South Africa is leading the way in trying to deal with issues On Thursday, the Hate Crimes Working Group (HCWG) released the first hate crimes report in South Africa Africa had issues it was doing better than other African countries when it comes to hate crimes. He said many South Africans were tolerant of intolerance and that was something that needed to be addressed The point is South Africa is way too tolerant of intolerance.”

of opposition factions When the third round of talks* aimed at revitalising the chances of peace in South brutal war began in December 2013, creating the largest refugee crisis in Africa since the 1994 Rwandan Some are arguing for the African Union and the UN to take over. “It needs to happen in South Sudan; it can’t happen in Addis.” It is estimated that South Sudan has at least 40 different armed groups.

has degenerated into a chaotic and pitiless conflict that threatens to destabilize the entire Horn of Africa Hunger is spreading with up to 150 people starving to death recently in one district south of the Tigrayan described feeling abandoned not only by their government but also the world,” Laetitia Bader, the Horn of Africa

His genocide against indigenous Africans in Darfur has caused communities to suffer trauma for 18 years July 23rd featured two separate attacks – one in Nierteti, Central Darfur and another in Gereida, South

Two years ago, on November 2, 2022, in the South African capital Pretoria, a peace agreement was signed At least 600,000 people were killed during the war, according to an estimate by the African Union 's envoy for the Horn of Africa .

Experts have said that the violence in Nigeria is escalating and the government is failing to stop the violence. Nigeria is nearing a tipping point. In a column for the Christian Post, Stephen Enada said, “Nigeria has been sitting on this powder keg for a while now, with civil unrest building. Western nations have a vested interest in making sure that things get better from here.” We cannot let violence continue in Nigeria. Every single crime committed creates a devastating ripple effect that impacts more things, events, and people far and wide more than we will ever truly know – and sadly, the insurgent groups are relentless. We need to send a Special Envoy as soon as possible - before more innocent lives are lost. Invitation: Discover from the ICON founders on what we do and how you can get involved Topic: Informational Meeting Time: Jul 2, 2020 at 1:00 PM ET (US) / 12PM CT Join Zoom Meeting by copy/pasting the following link into your browser: https://systemdirect.zoom.us/j/94929951208?pwd=enZuWTN2MFBHeGs0TzhQNlBhNFVEZz09 Meeting ID: 949 2995 1208 Password: @ICONinfo1 Also, check out how you can stay informed. Visit ICONhelp.org for the latest info.

for the coming leans season suggest food stocks from the ongoing harvest will last through April in South • There remains little to no access to basic pediatric care or medical supplies in both South Kordofan Food Security and Agriculture South Kordofan January and February typically bring the bulk of the far-farm In 2018 the CU notes disparate results of the harvest across South Kordofan. Protection and security situation update South Kordofan Relative calm continues in South Kordofan,

Africa. The latter well describes South Africa twenty-three years into democracy. A Society Divided-How unequal education quality limits social mobility in South Africa, by the Department It is therefor of utmost importance that South African addresses inequalities in educational opportunity The imperative to build a reconciled South Africa and dismantle the political, economic and social culture

In looks-obsessed South Korea, many 20-something women list plastic surgery and brand-name bags as life South Korean television drew that exact parallel, noting that Kim Jong Un had sent his sister to the Kim family to visit the South since the Korean War broke out in 1950, South Koreans were enthralled. But South Korean papers marveled at Kim Yo Jong’s “humbleness.” When local journalists asked her how she felt to be in South Korea, she didn’t respond.