Lack of Peace Accord Hampers Demining in Casamance - After years of delays linked to instability in strife-torn Casamance, the government finally launched a landmine clearance programme in the region in February 2008, but lack of adherence to the 2004 peace accord is hampering progress. [AA Network - Senegal]

Cassamance Displaced Fear Return - Stéphanie Malak was injured by a landmine in 1998 when her village, was attacked, allegedly by rebels from the Movement for Democratic Change (MFDC), and then mined. She fled with her family to Ziguinchor where she is trying to make ends meet. She told IRIN her story. [AA Network - Senegal]

Villagers Mutilated By Armed Men in Casamance - Armed men claiming to represent the rebel group Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) attacked twenty villagers from Tampe 15 km east of the regional capital Ziguinchor on 7 May and hacked each of their left ears with machetes, according to the victims and the Senegalese army. [AA Network - Senegal]

Darfur May Enter New Cycle of Violence, Says UN Official - The Darfur conflict could lapse soon into another major cycle of violence and large-scale human displacement unless the parties retreat from their recent state of confrontation, the top United Nations peacekeeping official told the Security Council today. [AA Network - Sudan]

More Crude Oil Discovered in Western Uganda - Tullow Oil plc, one of the two companies prospecting oil in western Uganda has announced the successful drilling of another oil well at Taitai 1 in Butiaba, Bulisa District. [AA Network - Uganda]

Project Receives '2007 Energy Globe Award' - An eco tourism project set up by the a Tunisian architect was awarded the "2007 Energy Globe Award" for the efficiency of its energy consumption and its capacity to integrate and valorise the 5 natural elements, water, air, earth, sun and wood. [AA Network - Tunisia]

Gang Demolishes Structures Over Land Controversy - Thousands of people were left homeless when property worthy millions of shillings were destroyed in Nairobi's Kangemi estate. [AA Network - Kenya]

20 Schools Get Iron Sheets - The Kamuli district local government has given 1,400 iron sheets to over 20 primary schools for roofing buildings damaged by storms in the past two years, reports Doreen Musingo. [AA Network - Uganda]

Six Women Artists Exhibit Their Works in Sidi Bou Said in Unique Collaborative Venture - Tunis , May 2008- From May 9 to 21, 2008 , six women artists will exhibit their works at the Sidi Bou Said Museum. All in all, a 100 works from Chantal Slim, Mouna Drissi Bouassida, Catherine Lemdani, Noudhar Mestiri Maherzi, Aicha Cherif and Raoudha Ben Mlouka Kochbati, will be on display at the Museum, a stone's throw from the famous "Café des nattes", where the majestic view on the Gulf of Tunis and its Mediterranean blue seas, have inspired many a painter. [AA Network - Tunisia]

43 Percent of Filling Stations Are in Maputo - There are 227 filling stations in Mozambique - but 43 per cent of them are concentrated in Maputo City, according to the Deputy Minister of Energy, Jaime Himade. [AA Network - Mozambique]

Troops Killing People 'Like Goats' by Slitting Throats - New Amnesty Report - Amnesty International today released a report revealing the dire human rights and humanitarian crisis facing the people of Somalia. [AA Network - Ethiopia]

Resettlement of IDPs Begins in Rift Valley - The resettlement of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) began on 5 May in Kenya's Rift Valley Province under a government campaign dubbed "Operation Rudi Nyumbani" (go back home). [AA Network - Kenya]

Hundreds Displaced in Fighting Over Water And Pasture - Hundreds of families have been displaced in Somalia's southwestern region of Gedo after two days of inter-clan fighting in which 13 people were killed and 24 wounded, according to locals. [AA Network - Somalia]

Excavation Works by Tunisian-French Archeological Team Shed Light on Vth Century Christian Life - Tunisian and French archeologists resumed clearing works that have recently uncovered two Christian basilicas symmetrically positioned at each end of the small ancient city of 'Aradi', located in Sidi Jdidi, in Tunisia 's Cap Bon area. [AA Network - Tunisia]

Botswana Prepares to Host Harare Refugees - Botswana is preparing for an influx of refugees fleeing the worsening political crisis in Zimbabwe sparked off by President Robert Mugabe's shock defeat in last month's elections. [AA Network - Botswana]