It was one of the great horrors of the last century. On 7 April 1994, the small central African country of Rwanda descended into an orgy of slaughter and genocide. On the orders of government ministers, the country's majority Hutu population turned on its Tutsi minority, killing 800,000 men, women and children in the course of 100 days. With nowhere to run, an estimated 75 per cent of the Tutsi population was hacked or beaten to death in towns and villages across country by former friends and neighbours. Hutus who failed to take part in the genocide were told they would also be killed and some 30,000 moderate Hutus were also murdered. "If the pictures of tens of thousands of human bodies being gnawed on by dogs do not wake us out of our apathy, I do not know what will", said the then Undersecretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan in the aftermath of the slaughter. Mr Annan died last year but his message was heard and … [Read more...] about From horror to health: How Rwanda rebuilt itself to become one of Africa’s brightest stars
Africa
Cleckheaton man gored by elephant in Africa
A CAMPING expedition in Africa turned into a nightmare for a Scholes man after he was gored by a rampaging elephant. Jonathan Sykes, 24, of Scholes Lane, who was working with a charity to help build a school in Kenya, was knocked to the ground by the elephant's trunk after it charged at him and his friends. He curled up into a ball and played dead, hoping the beast would go away, but it gored him in the leg with its tusk. Jonathan said: "It was a pretty terrifying experience. "We'd gone out into the bush as a bit of a treat after working on the school and one of the guides had seen an elephant and asked if we wanted to go and look at it. "We saw it through the bush but then it disappeared and we thought it had gone." Suddenly, the elephant came out of the bush and charged at the group. "It made a loud trumpeting sound and came at us with its ears out," said Jonathan. "We all turned and ran away, but when I looked round it was still charging at us and I was at the back of the group. "I … [Read more...] about Cleckheaton man gored by elephant in Africa
Rhino poacher trampled to death by elephants then eaten by lions at Kruger National Park in South Africa
A POACHER hunting rhinos in the Kruger National Park met a grisly end after being trampled to death by an elephant and then eaten by a pride of hungry lions. Four other poachers who fled the game reserve in South Africa in terror were picked up by police and explained how a member of their gang had been killed. They described how an angry elephant surprised them as they stalked endangered rhino and stamped their friend to death giving them a chance to run for safety. Kruger Park Rangers immediately set out for the area known as Crocodile Bridge and sent up their airwing in a bid to find the dead man’s remains before it got dark. KNP ranger Don English led the team out again at first light on Wednesday to recover the body. But with no luck the police officers in the case re-interviewed the captured poachers to try and get more detail as to where the elephant attacked and killed their friend. ONLY HEAD LEFT BEHIND They found what was left of the poacher on Thursday but it appeared … [Read more...] about Rhino poacher trampled to death by elephants then eaten by lions at Kruger National Park in South Africa
South Africa Downgrades Diplomatic Ties With Israel
Lindiwe Sisulu, South Africa's minister of international relations and cooperation, has announced that the country will not be replacing its departing envoy to Israel, thereby practically downgrading its diplomatic mission and leaving only consular functions to its mission in Tel Aviv. © AFP 2019 / MENAHEM KAHANAIDF Provides Military Training to African States in Bid to Boost Ties – Report The move comes in wake of a recent statement by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who said that the country's government is "in the process" of fulfilling a December 2017 decision by the governing African National Congress Party to reduce the country's diplomatic presence in Israel. The original decision was made in support of the Palestinians and in protest against alleged "human rights abuses and violations" by Israel. South Africa withdrew its ambassador in May 2018, following clashes … [Read more...] about South Africa Downgrades Diplomatic Ties With Israel
A taste of Africa comes to Deddington
The musical work of the late David Fanshawe, called ‘African Sanctus’, will be performed in Deddington this weekend by the highly acclaimed Chipping Norton Choral Society. David Fanshawe, who died in 2010, was a musical visionary who travelled around Africa recording the music he heard for posterity. He then combined these recordings of African music and sounds with classical choral music to create incredibly haunting, emotional new pieces of music.Conductor Peter Hunt said: “David was an exceptional man, well ahead of his time in fusing musical styles and sounds to create something new and magical, an approach we take for granted nowadays. “African Sanctus is a challenge and a joy to perform, and it should give the audience a thrill to hear this entrancing, evocative music performed in Deddington church where the acoustics are so good.”David Fanshawe attended every concert where African Sanctus was performed, and his widow, Jane Fanshawe will be the … [Read more...] about A taste of Africa comes to Deddington