Eight years ago, Reed Brody stumbled upon the records of one of Africa's most brutal leaders, Chad's Hissène Habré. Now, two decades after he fell from power, Habré finally faces charges for his crimes -- if, that is, the trial actually happens.

An international initiative that seeks to promote more openness about how countries profit from their oil, gas, and mining resources should not weaken its modest membership standards because governments are unable or unwilling to meet them.  Twenty of the 22 current candidates to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) have not fulfilled the basic requirements to have their candidacy assessed by today's deadline, raising serious doubts about their commitment to disclose their revenues from oil, gas, and mining.

Nigeria’s acting president should make sure that the massacre of at least 200 Christian villagers in central Nigeria on March 7, 2010, is thoroughly and promptly investigated and that those responsible are prosecuted. The acting president should also ensure that the military and the police act swiftly to protect civilians of all ethnicities at risk of further attacks or reprisal killings, including by conducting regular patrols throughout the vulnerable region.

The Ethiopian government should urgently initiate an independent investigation into the murder of an opposition candidate for parliament and bring those responsible to justice.

Guinea’s new transitional government should take concrete steps to ensure redress for victims of the September 2009 massacre of more than 150 opposition supporters in a stadium in the capital, Conakry. The government should also locate the bodies of those still missing and suspend officials implicated in the massacre and its aftermath.

Human Rights Watch writes to Guinea's Interim President Brigadier General Sékouba Konaté and Transitional Prime Minister Jean-Marie Doré to urge them to use their time in office to take concrete steps to address the longstanding culture of impunity and violence which has in recent years blighted the lives of hundreds of Guinean citizens, and torn apart the lives of thousands more.

The European Union Election Observation Mission to Sudan should consider the impact of ongoing human rights abuses and insecurity on the elections process.

Human Rights Watch writes to the EU Election Observation Mission to Sudan to urge them to consider the impact of ongoing human rights abuses and insecurity on the elections process.