South Sudan: embassies warn of new violence ahead of Pope’s historic visit

British, Norwegian and the US embassies have expressed grave concerns about possible new fighting in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State just a day before the planned arrival of Pope Francis on Friday (3 February) for his first visit to the conflict-torn country. The warning by the so-called Troika Embassies about the possible fresh violence has […]

UN envoy to Libya steps down one month ahead of crucial presidential polls

UN envoy to Libya steps down one month ahead of crucial presidential polls The UN mediator in the Libyan political crisis Jan Kubis has stepped down, less than a year into the job and one month before December 24 presidential elections. A diplomat who asked not be named because not allowed to speak on the […]

Chinese workers in Africa and link with host political regimes (Ghana vs. Algeria) — study

Fresh allegation has resurfaced in Nigeria that Chinese firms operating in the West African country employ prisoners from China, but although the validity of the rumor is questionable, the presence of large numbers of Chinese workers laboring on infrastructure projects built by Chinese companies is one of the most controversial aspects of China’s economic engagement […]