- Supreme Court in Burundi has sentenced the former Chairman of President Pierre Nkurunziza's ruling Forces for the Defence of Democracy [FDD] to 13 years behind bars.
Hussein Radjabu had been found guilty of attempting to “recruit former rebels with the aim of destabilising the state" and insulting President Nkurunziza, referring to him as an "empty bottle."
The party's ascension to power after winning an election three years ago nailed Burundi's 12-year civil conflict, which killed more than 300,000 people.
A rift between President Nkurunzinza and Mr Radjabu resulted to the replacement of the latter as the party Chairman in February 2007.
This followed the arrest of Mr Radjabu in April 2007 and replacement of ministers loyal to him from holding key positions.
As a key political figure, Mr Radjabu has got the support of the two third of Burundian lawmakers and the minority Muslim community. Most people believed the sentence is nothing short of "a political vendetta."
The 1993 assassination of Burundi's first Hutu President, Melchior Ndadaye, plunged the country into a civil war. A 2001 power-sharing deal, brokered by south Africa, saved the country.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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