POLITICS-LIBERIA: Former Rebels Surrender Weapons in Return for Money

After four months of uncertainty and anxiety, the 15,000-strong UN troops in war-ravaged Liberia this week resumed a six-month campaign to disarm tens of thousands of fighters. The 15-million-dollar exercise is designed to end the country’s 14-year brutal civil war.

DEVELOPMENT-LIBERIA: Public Frustrations Spark Mob Justice

The guns in Liberia's civil war have been silent for several months now, as the country makes tentative efforts to establish lasting peace. But in many respects, inhabitants of the capital - Monrovia - have simply exchanged one sort of war for another: the battle against criminal activity.

POLITICS: World’s Promises Failing Ethnic Groups in Sudan

One week after world leaders warned of another 'Rwanda' in the making, pro-government forces reportedly continue attacks on indigenous groups in Sudan's Darfur region and the African nation's government is refusing access to human rights investigators.

POLITICS-SUDAN: Mounting Concern Over Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur

Pressure on Sudan's government to cease military activities in the western state of Darfur and open the region to relief shipments for hundreds of thousands of displaced people has grown sharply in recent days, with strong statements issued by both the White House and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

RIGHTS: Could U.N. ‘Special Adviser’ Prevent Future Genocide?

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has admitted he could have done more to stop the genocide of about 800,000 Rwandans exactly 10 years ago, says he is determined to prevent a similar tragedy in the future.

RIGHTS: Sudan Genocide Echoes Rwanda, Experts Say

The United Nations and aid and human rights groups are warning that the international community is about to witness a genocidal massacre on the scale of the Rwanda ethnic slayings that killed up to 800,000 people exactly one decade ago.

POLITICS-SUDAN: Coup Plot Threatens Peace Talks

The arrests of army officers for allegedly attempting to overthrow the government of President Omar Hassan al Bashir in Sudan have caused a wave of panic over the future of peace talks underway in neighbouring Kenya.

POLITICS-AFRICA: Dogs of War to Nip at Heels of Continental Parliament

When the new Pan-African Parliament is inaugurated in Ethiopia next week, it will confront a host of challenging issues - not least the role of mercenaries in Africa.

RIGHTS-SIERRA LEONE: ‘Putting People on Trial May Ignite Fresh Conflict’

Sierra Leone's war crimes court has opened in the capital Freetown to try persons who bear the greatest responsibility for the atrocities committed during the country's 1991-1999 conflict.

POLITICS-LIBERIA: Armed Militias Call for Resignation of Interim Leader

Liberia’s war-wearied civilians fear a return to hostilities as politicians squabble within the transitional government and the United Nations takes its time in deploying peacekeepers around the country.

RIGHTS-LIBERIA: Armed Militias Terrorise Civilians in the Countryside

Armed militias continue to violate human rights and international humanitarian law, despite the progress being made to end Liberia's 14-year conflict, a human rights lawyer says.

SPECIAL REPORT: Small Arms Feeding Big Conflicts

A conviction for selling weapons to left-wing guerrillas in Colombia could mean 20 years in prison for Vladimiro Montesinos, who was right-hand man of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori.

POLITICS-UGANDA: LRA Victims Hope for a Sudanese Peace Dividend

The signing of a wealth-sharing agreement earlier this month between Sudanese officials and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army was hailed an important step towards peace in that country. Now, hopes are growing that the accord might also spell the end of another conflict: that in northern Uganda.

POLITICS: Rich Avoid Peacekeeping for the Poor, Says U.N.

Western nations are increasingly shying away from peacekeeping operations, particularly in Africa, according to U.N. officials and diplomats here.

POLITICS-SIERRA LEONE: Disarmed, Demobilised – and Desperate

A lengthy disarmament programme has wrapped up in Sierra Leone, with organisers giving themselves a pat on the back: "I think that the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants have been a success," says Francis Kaikai, Executive Secretary of the programme.

CORRUPTION-MALAWI: ‘Fat Cats’ Still Bask in Glory

Corrupt 'fat cats' continue to walk around with their heads held high even though they have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

POLITICS-EAST AFRICA: New Peace Envoy Faces Blunt Rejection

The United Nations is meeting stiff resistance in its appointment of a special envoy to help end a border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

POLITICS: Ethiopian-Eritrean Peace Process ‘Under Severe Stress’

The greatest irony in the peace process between

POLITICS-LIBERIA: Disarmament Kicks Off On A Chaotic Note

The disarmament and reintegration of 40,000 Liberian combatants started off on a chaotic note Sunday when hundreds of angry fighters went on the rampage, shooting at random in demand for benefits in exchange for the surrender of their weapons.

POLITICS-LIBERIA: Delicate Process of Disarmament Gets Underway

Liberia's tortuous road to peace entered a crucial stage this week, when the United Nations launched a 15 million dollar programme to disarm over 40,000 combatants and reintegrate them into civilian life.

POLITICS-BURUNDI: African Leaders Push for Final Peace Deal

Burundi's largest rebel group is locked into that country's transitional government and peace process after a signing ceremony before regional leaders in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, at the weekend.