How to Ensure Lasting Peace in South Sudan | TIME

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South Sudan is among the more tragic examples of how the United States has failed to uphold the CSPA and protect children from exploitation and harm.

The fledgling country is among the most corrupt in the world. Local power brokers—including President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar, the leaders of rival factions now engaged in a 3-year-old civil war—have used their positions to plunder the country of its wealth, while subjecting their citizens to one of the most hellish humanitarian disasters on earth.

Among their many crimes, South Sudan’s security forces have been known to recruit child soldiers since the country gained independence in 2011, but recruitment increased rapidly once hostilities began between the government’s Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and various rebel groups associated with the opposition in December 2013.

According to the United Nations, coercion—including threats of violence against family members and attacks on villages—is widely employed to force children into combat. In 2015 alone, recruitment efforts affected more than 2,500 children. The SPLA and other government-supported armed groups were responsible for the majority of those cases. And despite appearing on the CSPA list since 2012, the U.S. government has withheld only $1.2 million of security assistance, while providing $99 million.

Obama’s failed policy on South Sudan

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[Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said] that Somalia “has become one of the few countries to have managed to reduce the threat of terrorism and it will get rid of the al-Shabaab tumor soon.” 

Over 20,000 troops are stationed in Somalia as part of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) fighting the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Shabaab movement, which was created at the beginning of 2004.

The Somali president stressed on the importance of also fighting al-Shabaab’s ideas.

“The tools [to win] this war will come through encouraging education and opening scientific and intellectual centers to fight the terrorists’ ideas, as well as fighting against poverty, which indeed feeds the ideas of extremism,” he said.

“I think this can be accomplished by providing the required development for the country’s economy, which enables us to create job opportunities for the young people [in order] to dry up the sources of terrorism in our country,” he added.

Somali president: We will get rid of al-Shabaab tumor

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At least six people killed in attack on residential building in border region often targeted by Somali armed group.

Al-Shabab blamed for attack in northeast Kenya – News from Al Jazeera

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Concerns are emerging after photographs emerged of alleged al Shabaab militants supplying food to residents of areas they control in southern Somalia.

…The act by the militants has caused outrage on social media with many wondering how the terror group could bring in such large amounts of food into the area without detection from the Somali government and the African Mission to Somalia (Amisom) forces.

Al-Shabaab militants cause outrage over food supply ▷ Tuko.co.ke

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An inclusive and credible dialogue among Congolese stakeholders is the only realistic way to defuse political tensions, overcome the electoral impasse and prevent violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where public discontent is being fueled by delays in the electoral process and shrinking democratic space, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson warned today.

United Nations News Centre – Political crisis has put long-term stability of the DR Congo at risk, warns UN deputy chief, urging dialogue

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Kenya says years of hosting refugees ‘have come to an end’

Oy!

Uganda bans live media coverage of opposition protests against February’s re-election of President Yoweri Museveni, extending his 30 years in office.

Uganda bans media coverage of election result protests – BBC News

Uh-oh.

Nigeria’s army says 800 militants from the Islamist Boko Haram group who have surrendered and shown remorse are to be rehabilitated into society.

Nigeria Boko Haram militants offered olive branch by army – BBC News

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In northeastern Nigeria, this is a familiar story. When Boko Haram struck on Wednesday, only the fine details were altered.

Boko Haram has lost its fearsomeness – TheCable

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Pair of suicide bombers attack worshippers during dawn prayers at mosque in stronghold of Boko Haram Islamic extremist group.

Female bombers unleash carnage on Nigerian mosque – CBS News

sigh….