- A Bujumbura court cleared the former President of Burundi and four others accused of treason charges. Domitien Ndayizeye and others were charged with plotting to assassinate current President Pierre Nkurunziza.
President Nkurunziza, who was a former rebel leader, took over power from Mr Ndayizeye after he had won an election by a landslide. Mr Ndayizeye served as an interim leader of Burundi but stepped down from power after the elections his transitional government organised in 2005.
However, the court convicted two others, including an ex-rebel leader, Alain Mugabarabona, to serve between 15 and 20 years in prison. Mr Mugabarabona, a leader of the National Liberation Forces, was accused of being the ring leader of the alleged plot.
He had earlier spoken to local radio stations through a cell phone, accusing presidential police and intelligence agents of torturing him as well as threatening him with death. Mr Mugabarabona said there has not been any coup plot in the country. Rather, he said, it was an invention of security forces.
"Everything I accused former President Domitien Ndayizeye, former Vice-President Alphonse-Marie Kadege and the others of was extorted by torture and threats," the former rebel leader confessed.
The former Burundian leader had always maintained that he was innocent of any coup charges, saying he instead had plaid a vital role in introducing democracy in the war-ravaged 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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