South Africa
Gender activists are describing a new sexual offences bill, expected to be tabled in the South African parliament this week, as a step backwards in terms of rape survivors' ability to protect themselves from HIV infection.
10 May 2006 - Plusnews
South Africa
South Africa's former deputy president, Jacob Zuma, was acquitted of rape on Wednesday, a verdict met with wild celebrations by supporters outside the Johannesburg High Court and dismay by women's rights activists.
9 May 2006 - IRIN
Sierra Leone
A pioneering information campaign, better health services and support from army wives are coming together to help Sierra Leone's armed forces fight HIV/AIDS.
9 May 2006 - Plusnews
Zimbabwe
Journalists in Zimbabwe have little to celebrate on World Press Freedom Day: their basic rights have been systematically "criminalised", according to regional watchdog, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).
4 May 2006 - IRIN
Somalia
Stigma and discrimination is hampering the fight against HIV/AIDS in the self-declared republic of Somaliland.
2 May 2006 - Plusnews
Swaziland
The Swazi media has launched an attack on the country's exploitative moneylenders, often the only source of finance for the poor, and in doing so has exposed the extent of the practice.
26 April 2006 - IRIN
Liberia
Liberia's new peacetime government is alarmed at the rapidly rising rate of HIV and AIDS infections, which is now a "serious problem", according to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
25 April 2006 - IRIN
Benin
Boni Yayi, the former banker and political novice who will be sworn in as Benin's new president this week following a landslide election victory, has promised sweeping change for the tiny West African nation "with the blessing of God."
6 April 2006 - IRIN
Kenya
The Kenyan coast is sitting on a time bomb, with a number of tourists visiting the destination ostensibly to have sex with children.
31 March 2006 - Fred Oluoch
Africa
Although more than 1200 traditional plant species are used as a first-line treatment for malaria by 25% of people in malaria-endemic countries (and up to 75% in some areas), only six traditional herbal antimalarials have been investigated in controlled clinical trials. Besides, there seems to be little interest in funding this type of work.
30 March 2006 - Zachary Ochieng
Liberia-Nigeria-Sierra Leone
UN peacekeepers delivered handcuffed former Liberian president Charles Taylor into the custody of a UN-backed Special Court in Sierra Leone on Wednesday where he will be the first former African head of state to face prosecution for war crimes.
30 March 2006 - IRIN
South Africa
For the last 10 years Anna Ngabayena has been haunted by her past. The memories of the violence she encountered as a foot soldier in the African National Congress (ANC) struggle against apartheid have plagued both her dreams and waking life.
29 March 2006 - IRIN
Kenya
Residents of the eastern Kenyan town of Makindu are grappling with hunger and HIV/AIDS.
29 March 2006 - Plusnews
Lesotho
The increasing rate at which children are being orphaned and abandoned in Lesotho has called for concerted action to regulate institutions that purport to be taking care of children
17 March 2006 - Clelia Barbadoro
Kenya
The holier than thou attitude of the Western powers is fast causing them friction on the African continent. Many of these countries tired of having democracy, corruption and good governance preached to them are turning mostly to China as a replacement of these traditional international relations
17 March 2006 - Fred Oluoch
