- A Sudanese court has condemned nine rebels to death today for their involvement in the May 2008 attack in Sudan’s capital Khartoum that killed more than 220 civilians. The latest sentencing has raised the number to 91 of the members of Justice and Equality Movement sentenced to death.
According to local reports, two other men were acquitted and another was given a five-year sentence for having given the other accused a place to hide.
Judge Awkesha Mohammed Awkesha found the nine men guilty of terrorism, murder and destroying public property during the unprecedented attack on the capital's twin city of Omdurman in last year.
The rebels had traveled for more than 1,000 kilometers from conflict-torn Darfur in western Sudan to Omdurman, just across the Nile from the presidential palace, which was the closest attack to presidential palace since the Darfur conflict started six years ago.
Special tribunals set up in the wake of the attack have been judging the alleged rebels in batches over the last few weeks, usually handing out sentences around 10 years to death at a time.
The defense lawyers for the accused have argued that the special courts are unconstitutional and have not guaranteed their clients legal rights, also vowing to appeal the death sentences.
Under the Sudanese law, any death sentence must be ratified by an appeal court and the high court. All death warrants must then be signed and approved by President Omar al-Beshir, who is also facing a warrant of arrest by the International court issued in March this year.
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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