Zimbabwe pastor charged with subversion: Lawyers
A Zimbabwe lawyers' group says a prominent pastor and activist has been charged with subverting a constitutional government amid a crackdown on protests against a dramatic fuel price increase.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights says in a statement that police have added the new charge against Evan Mawarire, who is among the more than 600 people arrested this week.
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US alarmed as Zimbabwe targets, beats activists amid unrest
The US embassy in Zimbabwe says it is "alarmed" by credible reports that security forces are targeting and beating activists and labour leaders. A local doctors' rights group says it has treated 68 gunshot cases.
The US statement on Thursday also urges Zimbabwe's government to restore access to social media as the country faces its worst unrest since deadly post-election violence in August. Zimbabweans this week heeded a nationwide stay-at-home call after the government dramatically increased fuel prices in the economically shattered country.
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Ailing Gabon president returns to Morocco for rehabilitation
Gabon's ailing President Ali Bongo Ondimba has returned to Morocco to continue his recovery after a brief visit home, an official and a relative said on Thursday.
The relative said Bongo returned to Morocco late on Tuesday after swearing in a new government. A Cabinet member confirmed it. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
The Cabinet member said Bongo's recovery from a reported stroke has been strong.
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Mozambique ruling party grapples with state debt scandal
When former Mozambican finance minister Manuel Chang was arrested at Johannesburg airport over the Christmas holidays, it triggered a political crisis ahead of the country's elections later this year.
Chang was detained over alleged secret loans to state companies totalling $2bn in a widening scandal that is set to shake the Frelimo party that has ruled since 1975.
Currently held in custody, he is due back in court in Johannesburg on Friday over a US request for South Africa to extradite him on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering.
The case could blow open the extent of government corruption in Mozambique, which relies on donor aid and is one of the world's poorest countries.
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Kenyan police say 11 arrested after deadly hotel attack
Kenyan authorities on Thursday arrested nine more people for their alleged involvement in the deadly extremist attack on a luxury hotel complex in Nairobi this week, bringing the total number of suspects detained to 11, police said.
The suspects, "are being questioned on their specific roles in the terrorist attack" at the dusitD2 complex on Tuesday, said a police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. Two people were taken into custody on Wednesday.
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