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Libya arrests two over alleged conversion attempts

Libyan security forces have arrested two American citizens for allegedly trying to convert Muslims there to Christianity.

Neither have been named by the authorities. Both are reported to have worked at the same private language school in the capital Tripoli.

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One of the men is accused of working as a missionary for the Assemblies of God organisation - based in the US state of Arkansas.

Two Libyans were also arrested on similar charges. Islam is the state religion of Libya.

While Christians are free to worship there, attempting to convert Muslims to other faiths is banned.

Press freedom in Algeria curbed further

Press freedom in Algeria has been further restricted following a law passed by the country’s parliament.

The measure tightens media ownership rules and empowers courts to force journalists to reveal their sources.

Domestic media outlets will be banned from receiving overseas funding and dual-nationals prevented from owning press or broadcasting companies.

Algeria ranks 134 out of 180 countries in the latest Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index.

Chamisa to stand against Mnangagwa in Zimbabwe vote

Zimbabwe’s main opposition party says it is expecting Nelson Chamisa to stand for a second time against Emmerson Mnangagwa in presidential elections.

The Citizens Coalition for Change said Mr Chamisa - who’s a lawyer and a Christian minister - was the only nominee and would be vetted before being formally announced as a candidate.

The party has accused the governing

Zanu-PF party of carrying out a crackdown on its political opponents ahead of the election which is due in August.

Some opposition campaign rallies have been banned by the police.

Last week Mr Chamisa accused the government of weaponising the law and unjustly incarcerating a CCC lawmaker, Job Sikhala, who has been in prison since June after being accused of publishing falsehoods.

DR Congo president rules out talks with M23 rebels

The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo has ruled out political negotiations with the M23 rebel group.

As part of an internationally brokered peace deal the group has been withdrawing from areas it had captured.

President Félix Tshisekedi said according to the agreement the M23 rebels are to demobilise before returning to civilian life.

The group - which is widely reported to be backed by Rwanda - had previously said it was expecting negotiations with the Kinshasa government.

Correspondents say with the president ruling that out, the peace process could stumble.

Over the last 18 months around three quarters of a million people have been displaced by the fighting.

At least 25 dead after Sfax boat wreck - officials

Tunisian officials say 25 people are now known to have died after their boat was wrecked off the port city of Sfax on Wednesday.

Seventy-two of the 110 onboard were rescued. Several are missing.

All of them were from sub-Saharan Africa. Tunisia has taken over from Libya as the main departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East.

The Tunisian National Guard says 14,000 migrants have been rescued in the first three months of this year – five times more than in the same period last year.

Kenyan LGBT activist to re-hoist pride flag on mountain

An activist who raised a rainbow flag on one of Kenya’s highest peaks, says she will climb up the mountain again to hoist it after it was taken down by traditional elders.

Juelz Nimo, was part of a team that climbed Mt Kenya in 2019 as part of a campaign to raise awareness on the safety of LGBTQ people and other human rights defenders.

But the flag was this week taken down and burnt by traditionalist elders, who claimed it desecrated the mountain which is considered a holy site by communities in central Kenya.

Nimo told the BBC that raising the flag again at the third highest peak of the mountain would be a sign of defiance in the face of growing hate against the gay community in Kenya.

On Wednesday, Kenyan MPs passed a motion to ban public debate and promotion of same sex relations in the country.

The vote was adopted by acclamation in the national assembly which had just slightly above the required quorum of 50 legislators.

But the resolution is largely symbolic and non-binding as it would require a bill to be drafted for it to become law.

The motion was tabled by Mohammed Ali, a former investigative journalist, who claimed that the LGBTQ community was growing in the country due to publication and broadcast of books and media promoting same sex relations.

During the motion’s debate MPs called for stiffer penalties against people in same sex relations.

Mozambique authorities seize drugs in banana truck

Police in Mozambique have seized 124kg (19.5 stone) of hard drugs hidden in a truck carrying bananas at the border with South Africa.

According to police, a drug that was presumed to be methamphetamine was found.

The truck was driven by a South African who managed to escape, however, the police are in possession of his documents and say they are on the hunt or the man.

Ethiopia rights body calls for probe on Amhara killings

Ethiopia’s state-linked rights watchdog has called for investigations into the killing of civilians and humanitarian workers during recent protests in Amhara region.

The killings were reportedly carried out by security forces and other unknown people

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said that worsening insecurity could lead to abuse of rights and urged security forces against using excessive forces.

Protests in Amhara began last week in opposition to moves by federal authorities to dissolve a regional paramilitary unit.

The government says the unit will be integrated with the army or police to create a unified force, but opponents argue its dissolution could leave the region vulnerable to attacks by neighbours.

Many of the major cities in the region appeared to have returned to normalcy on Wednesday afternoon after days of protests, with businesses and offices reopening.

A resident in the regional capital, Bahirdar, has told the BBC that the reduced protests could be linked to the upcoming Ethiopian Easter to be celebrated this Sunday.

Source: BBC

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