News Wire | Africa Archive

Pirates Hold Hostage Some Crew of Oil Tanker Off West Africa

By Jan M. Olsen | Associated Press (free)

Several members of the 16-man crew on a Liberia-flagged tanker are being held hostage by pirates who boarded the ship in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea last week, the Danish shipper that owns the vessel said Friday.

More from WPR: Why Piracy Is a Growing Threat in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea

Sudanese Officials Say 14 Workers Dead in Gold Mine Collapse

By Jack Jeffery | Associated Press (free)

At least 14 workers are dead after a gold mine collapsed in northern Sudan, mining authorities said Friday.

Sudanese Talks Hit Roadblock Over Security Sector Reform

Reuters

Talks in Sudan aimed at reaching a final agreement to name a civilian government next month and launch a new transition towards elections have hit a roadblock over the thorny issue of restructuring the military, political and military sources said.

More from WPR: Sudan’s Stalled ‘Transition’ Could Create a Failed State

Senegal’s Ousmane Sonko Given Two-Month Suspended Term for Libel

Al Jazeera (free)

A court in Senegal has handed a two-month suspended prison sentence to leading opposition leader Ousmane Sonko for libel, his lawyers said.

More from WPR: Senegal’s Democratic ‘Exceptionalism’ Is Showing Cracks