Rebels in South Sudan killed hundreds of people because of their ethnicity after the rebels invaded the oil-rich city of Bentiu. The victims were killed in a mosque, church and hospital, among other places, the United Nations said. Additionally, some people used the radio to call for men from one community to rape women from another. Those killed were of non-Nuer descent. Fighting in South Sudan broke out in mid-December, and a political dispute between President Salva Kiir, from the Dinka ethnicity, and former Vice President Riek Machar, from the Nuer ethnicity, is behind the conflict.
Sudanese authorities have failed to provide justice for scores of civilians killed in anti-government protests in September. Sudan needs to address evidence that its forces killed scores of people during protests, and arbitrarily arrested and tortured detainees. Instead of investigating these crimes, it’s using brutality and violence to silence perceived opponents.
An international pact designed to stem tensions in Ukraine came under tremendous strain last weekend after a shootout near Slavyansk, a Ukrainian city controlled by pro-Russian separatists, left at least three dead. Russia said the events showed Kiev did not want to control "extremists", Ukrainian officials said the shootout was a "crude provocation" on the part of Russia. US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Ukraine on Monday, allegedly to announce a US support package.
Local issues are fueling Nigeria’s violence, including the recent bombing of a bus station and the kidnapping of more than 100 school girls, allegedly committed by Islamic militants Boko Haram.
