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Showing posts from August 8, 2023

Rwanda genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga should be considered for release: UN Judges

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U N judges have said that Rwanda genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga should be considered for release due to his advanced age and ill health. Kabuga, who is 84 years old, has been in custody since 2020 awaiting trial for his role in the 1994 genocide. The judges said that Kabuga is suffering from a number of health conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis. They also said that he is at risk of contracting COVID-19. The judges said that Kabuga's health conditions mean that he is unlikely to be able to stand trial in the near future. They also said that his detention is no longer necessary to ensure his appearance for trial. The judges' decision has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have argued that Kabuga should be released on humanitarian grounds, while others have argued that he should remain in custody until he can stand trial. The decision is now up to the UN's International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), which is re

Niger coup: Anxiety, defiance as ECOWAS schedules meeting after ultimatum expires

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The deadline set by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the military leaders in Niger to restore the country's democratically elected government has expired, but there is no sign that the coup leaders are about to back down. In a statement released on Tuesday, ECOWAS said it was "deeply concerned" by the continued defiance of the coup leaders and that it would "take appropriate measures" to ensure the restoration of constitutional order in Niger. The coup leaders, who call themselves the National Council for the Restoration of Democracy and the State (CNRD), have said they will only hand power back to civilians after a transition period of 18 months. The CNRD has also imposed a number of restrictions on civil liberties, including a ban on public demonstrations and a curfew from 7pm to 6am. The coup has sparked widespread anxiety in Niger, where people are worried about the future of their country. In the capital, Niamey, there are long que