HEALTH-ETHIOPIA: Fistula Makes Social Outcasts of Child Brides

Meseret, from the Lalibela district in northern Ethiopia, was only 13 when she became pregnant. Married at 12, her underdeveloped body was not ready for the stress of giving birth. After six days of gruelling labour her child was finally born, but it was dead.

RIGHTS-EAST AFRICA: The Church Slams Anti-Terror Bills

The Church in Africa is concerned about the U.S. pressure on African countries to introduce anti-terror legislation on pretext of fighting terrorism.

ECONOMY-SOUTH AFRICA: The Brain Drain Proves Colour-Blind

The so-called "brain drain" of professional expertise from South Africa has been a source of concern for several years now. Discussions of the trend have tended to focus on white professionals - but, it appears that black South Africans are also joining the exodus.

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-KENYA: Campaigners Seek Gov’t Participation in WSF Meetings

As dust begins to settle on the just concluded World Social Forum, some civil society activists are suggesting that governments should be allowed to participate in future meetings.

POLITICS-SOMALIA: Agreement Reached on Transitional Parliament

Somalia took an important step towards peace this week when warring leaders agreed to set up a transitional parliament to help rule the tattered nation. The Horn of Africa country has been without central government since 1991, when President Mohammed Siad Barre was deposed.

EDUCATION-UGANDA: Universal Primary Schooling Succeeds to a Fault

Martin Oketch, 13, sat his Primary Leaving Examinations in Uganda late last year. His first choice for secondary education was St Mary's College Kisubi, one of the country's best boys' schools. "I want to become a doctor like Uncle Nathan," he says, pointing to his relative.

LABOUR-SOUTH AFRICA: German and South African Unions Strengthen Ties

"We live in one world. Not in the first, second, third, fifth or sixth world," Michael Sommer, head of the Confederation of German Trade Unions, said in South Africa this week.

SPORT-AFRICA: Soccer Greats Gather for Cup of Nations

The 24th edition of Africa’s premier soccer showcase, the African Cup of Nations, kicks off Saturday in Tunisia. In the only game to be played on the first day, the hosts are tackling Nations Cup debutantes Rwanda after the opening ceremony at Rades Stadium in Tunis.

POLITICS-AFRICA: Good Governance a Key Theme of German Chancellor’s Visit

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will arrive in South Africa Wednesday for a two-day visit to the country. This forms part of a four-nation African tour - Schroeder's first since he became chancellor in 1998.

DEVELOPMENT-EAST AFRICA: Rafters Aim to Create History, Highlight Poverty

Courage, patience and determination will be the order of the day during the next eight months for seven rafters who are tackling Africa's fabled Nile River.

HEALTH-ETHIOPIA: WHO Fights Back on Issue of Malaria Drugs

A World Health Organisation official in Ethiopia has dismissed an article in a respected British medical journal that claimed the United Nations agency was undermining the fight against malaria. "The Lancet" accuses the agency of approving cheap drugs that do not work, and blocking the use of a newer - albeit more expensive - treatment to combat the disease.

POLITICS-EAST AFRICA: Illegal Border Crossings Provide New UN Headache

The problem of illegal border crossings between Ethiopia and Eritrea is adding to the woes of United Nations staff who are monitoring peace efforts between the two countries.

MEDIA-AFRICA: A Depressing Start to 2004 for African Journalists

The new year has started on a bad note for the media in Africa, with journalists under siege in various parts of the continent.

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: Kenyan Activists to Put a Priority on Affordable Housing

Kibera slum, near the Kenyan capital - Nairobi - is at a considerable distance from the Indian city of Mumbai, where the World Social Forum is scheduled to begin in just two days. Nonetheless, the 700,000 inhabitants of this slum, said to be Africa's largest, will provide one of the summit's talking points when it gets underway.

EDUCATION-KENYA: Ongoing Claims About AIDS Discrimination in Schools

A decision by the guardians of 72 HIV-positive children to sue Kenya's government for alleged discrimination in public schools appears to have struck a nerve in the East African country. AIDS organisations say this trend may be widespread, and they are calling on government to take action in the matter.

RIGHTS-KENYA: Demands for Government Intervention in Compensation Suit

Human rights campaigners in Kenya have accused government of ignoring the plight of pastoral communities that are involved in a compensation case against the British government.

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-SUDAN: Division of Wealth Smooths Way for Lasting Peace

History was made this week when Sudan's government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army signed an agreement on the thorny issue of how to share the country's wealth.

TRANSPORT-AFRICA: Too Many Air Disasters

African airlines have set an ambitious target of reducing by 50 percent the number of accidents by the year 2010.

HEALTH-AFRICA: HIV/AIDS Campaigners Invest in the Youth

The new year has begun with a small but significant contribution to the fight against AIDS, which is devastating Sub-Saharan Africa.