- Former Mauritanian minister Isselmou Ould Abdelkader, who was arrested for allegedly criticising country's military regime, was last Sunday charged with two counts of allegedly "lying" and "undermining morale of the army".
Media reports show that if found guilty of charges, Mr Abdelkader, who is now an independent could face five years in jail.
Reports further show that he also faces an additional two years for peddling falsehoods. Mr Abdelkader has since been sent to a civilian prison in Nouakchott.
Former minister in regime of deposed president Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was arrested on 21 October, following allegations he made that members of Presidential Security Unit (BASEP), who staged a 6 August coup were foreign mercenaries.
Mr Abdelkader reportedly made this comment on Mauritanian state television programme "Point Lumineaux".
Two of station's staff members, Sidi Ould Lemjad, host of programme, and Limam Cheikh Ould Ely, director of Mauritania TV, were reportedly dismissed on 9 October. In addition, Mr Cheikh Ould Ely is said to have been arrested and questioned by National Gendarmerie on 22 October.
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has thus condemned these acts of repression of free speech in Mauritania and called on authorities to unconditionally release Mr Abdelkader as well as reinstate two dismissed staff members.
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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