East Africa

Polls opened on Wednesday for Ethiopia’s Sidama people to vote on self-determination in a referendum closely watched by other ethnic groups also seeking more autonomy since reforms by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed shook up the national power balance.The special...

The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on Kenya’s former attorney general, Amos Sitswila Wako, accusing him of involvement in “significant” corruption, according to a statement from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.Wako, who was attorney general during Kenya’s...

Uganda on Tuesday protested to Rwanda over the killing of two of its nationals by Rwandan security personnel and demanded that they be punished in a further sign of fraying relations between the neighboring states. The two Ugandans were shot...

Rwandan police officers shot dead two Ugandans on Sunday in the north-western Nyagatare district amid border tension between the two East Africa neighbours.The two suspects were shot for "illegally crossing the border and assaulting police officers", Rwandan police say.Rwanda...

Pope Francis said on Sunday he wanted to make his postponed visit to South Sudan next year, and he urged the country’s leaders to overcome their divisions and bring an end to the suffering of its people.Francis spoke of...

US President Donald Trump has told ministers from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan that he would "cut the ribbon" at the inauguration of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam when it is completed, an Ethiopian minister says.Sileshi Bekele, Ethiopia's minister...

The US has said it is disappointed at the failure of South Sudan's leaders to agree to form a power-sharing government.The Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy, questioned whether President Salva Kiir and his rival Riek...

A former death row inmate in Kenya has told the BBC of his joy at having graduated with a law degree from the University of London.William Okumu, one of several inmates or former inmates who graduated at a ceremony...

The Tanzanian authorities have banned commercial activities inside Nduta refugee camp, in the north-west region, which hosts more than 73,000 Burundian refugees.The refugees say the ban, together with the demolition of the main market over the weekend, is part...

Uganda’s government is denying that it intends to introduce a bill targeting homosexuals, dismissing claims by a senior official who wants such legislation Associated Press reports.Esther Mbayo, minister in charge of the presidency, said in a statement Monday that...