- Two East African men arrested on Saturday for being in possession of about 700kg of Elephant Tusks have pleaded guilty in a Kenyan court today.
The two men, a Kenyan and a Tanzanian, were arrested at the weekend following a tip-off that resulted in what was believed to be the largest seizure of illegal ivory in recent years, according to a Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) official. A total of 33 whole tusks and 57 pieces of tusk were found, but according to KWS officials investigations on the origins of the haul were still continuing.
Wildlife experts believe that from the mass of the haul seized, more than 70 elephants could have been killed, though the tusks were reported to appear to be old.
The men face up to a one year jail term and a fine of up to 10,000 shillings (about $125).
Kenya's elephant population is reported to have grown from about 16,000 to 27,000 since the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), banned the ivory trade in 1989.
But, according to officials, the number is far much less than the estimated 167,000 elephants that lived in Kenya in 1973, before poaching devastated the country's herds.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 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.