TRIAL BEGINS OF CENTRAL AFRICAN EX-PRESIDENT BOZIZE OVER WAR CRIMES. (PHOTO).

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 Trial begins of Central African ex-president Bozize over war crimes A UN-backed court in the the Central African Republic will on Tuesday begin the trial in absentia of former president Francois Bozize, over crimes against humanity committed between 2009 and 2013. The alleged crimes committed by members of Bozize's security forces include murder, enforced disappearance, torture and rape. Bozize, 79, who seized power in a 2003 coup before being overthrown 10 years later by rebels, has been living in exile in Guinea-Bissau since March 2023. But three of his former senior military officers, Eugene Barret Ngaikosset, Vianney Semndiro and Firmin Junior Danboy, are all in pre-trial detention in the Central African Republic. Crimes against humanity The case will be heard by the Special Criminal Court (SCC), a hybrid jurisdiction located in the capital Bangui with Central African and foreign judges. In February 2024, the SCC issued an international arrest warrant for the former president ...

SOMALIA, ETHIOPIA TO RESUME TALKS ON PORT DEAL UNDER TURKISH MEDIATION,ANKARA SAYS.(PHOTO).


 Somalia, Ethiopia to resume talks on port deal under Turkish mediation, Ankara says

The foreign ministers of Somalia and Ethiopia will meet in Ankara next week to discuss disagreements over a port deal Addis Ababa signed with the breakaway region of Somaliland earlier this year, Turkey's foreign minister Hakan Fidan said, Reuters reported.


Turkey is now mediating talks between the east African neighbours, whose ties became strained in January when Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland, in exchange for recognition of its independence.


Mogadishu called the agreement illegal and retaliated by expelling the Ethiopian ambassador and threatening to kick out thousands of Ethiopian troops stationed in the country helping battle Islamist insurgents.


Somali and Ethiopian foreign ministers met in Ankara last month along with Fidan to discuss their disagreements, and agreed to hold another round of talks.


At a news conference in Istanbul, Fidan said a second round of talks between Somalia and Ethiopia will take place in Ankara next week.


Fidan's announcement came a week after he visited Addis Ababa and met Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.


"We discussed these issues with Prime Minister Abiy in detail," Fidan said.


"Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia would come to an end with Ethiopia's access to the seas through Somalia as long as Ethiopia's recognition of Somalia's territorial integrity and political sovereignty is secured."


Turkey has become a close ally of the Somali government in recent years. Ankara has built schools, hospitals and infrastructure and provided scholarships for Somalis to study in Turkey.


In 2017, Turkey opened its biggest overseas military base in Mogadishu. Earlier this year, Turkey and Somalia signed a defence and economic cooperation agreement.


Ankara is also set to send navy support to Somali waters after the two countries agreed Ankara will send an exploration vessel off the coast of Somalia to prospect for oil and gas.

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