Turning a desert into an oasis: Maroccan scientists transform fog into drinking water
19/07/2025
EYE ON AFRICA: South Africa to fight hunger on Mandela Day
Africa
17/07/2025
France ends military presence in Senegal
Africa
17/07/2025
France returns military base to Senegal marking the end of its presence in West Africa
Africa
14/07/2025
Nigeria's former president Muhammadu Buhari dies at 82
Africa
08/07/2025
Death toll from Kenya's latest anti-government protest surges to 31
Africa
07/07/2025
Kenya: Police use whips and tear gas against protesters
Africa
07/07/2025
Water cannon and whips: Police in Nairobi clash with protesters
Africa
06/07/2025
Africa Fashion Up 2025: Hawi Sisay Midekssa shares her creativity and expertese
Africa
02/07/2025
'Horrific': Ailing author Sansal 'caught up' in ever-escalating Franco-Algerian diplomatic fallout
Africa
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Anxiety and pride among Cambodia's future conscripts
"My family is poor. If I am called in for the service, I am worried that my family might face financial issues," 25-year-old tuk-tuk driver Voeun Dara told AFP in Phnom Penh. "It is worrisome for me." Citing rising tensions with Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Manet says Cambodia will next year activate a long-dormant law requiring citizens aged 18 to 30 to enlist in the military. Hun Manet has proposed conscripts serve for two years to bolster the country's 200,000 personnel after a territorial dispute boiled over into a border clash, killing one Cambodian soldier in late May. Graphic design student Ray Kimhak's brother-in-law, a volunteer soldier, has already been deployed to the countries' 800-kilometre-long (500-mile) border. But the 21-year-old says he would gladly join him if compelled by conscription. "He said it was a bit difficult to sleep in the jungle, and it rains a lot. But these difficulties don't discourage me at all," Ray Kimhak told AFP at his university in the capital. "We are ready to protect our territory because when it is gone, we would never get it back." 'We should be ready' Cambodia's conscription law dates back to 2006 but has never been enforced. Hun Manet has said it will be used to replace retiring troops, though it is unclear how many citizens are set to be called up. The country of 17 million has a long and dark history of forced enlistment. Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge communist regime, which ruled from 1975 to 1979, conscripted fighting-aged men, and sometimes children, into its ranks as it perpetrated a genocide that killed two million. One 64-year-old who was conscripted by the Khmer Rouge at 17 told AFP he supported the government's decision, despite standing on a landmine during his time as a soldier. "I was forced to be a soldier by Pol Pot," he told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity from the Thai border town of Sampov Lun. "Being a soldier is not easy, but I support the government's plan of military conscription in the face of a border dispute with Thailand. We need to protect our land." Under the newly activated conscription legislation, those who refuse to serve in wartime would face three years in prison, while peacetime refuseniks would face one year behind bars. Sipping green tea at a cafe, 18-year-old IT student Oeng Sirayuth says he fully supports Hun Manet's call to arms. "We should be ready, because tension with our neighbouring country is growing," he said. But personally he hopes for a deferral as he finishes his studies. "I am a bit reluctant because I have never thought that I will have to join the military service," he said. "I think 60 percent of young people are ready to join the military, so these people can go first, and those who are not yet ready can enter the service later." Under the modern-day conscription legislation, women will be allowed to opt for volunteer work rather than military service. But 23-year-old internet provider saleswoman Leakhena said she stands ready to serve on the frontlines. Last month her family delivered donations to Cambodian soldiers patrolling the border, where tensions have spiked with Thailand over a disputed area known as the Emerald Triangle. "We have to do something to protect our nation," said Leakhena, speaking on the condition that only her first name was revealed. "I feel proud for our soldiers. They are so brave," she added. 'Trust needs to be earned' Cambodia allocated approximately $739 million for defence in 2025, the largest share of the country's $9.32 billion national budget, according to official figures. Hun Manet has pledged to "look at increasing" the defence budget as part of reforms to beef up the military. But one young would-be conscript urged the government to defer its plans as the country recovers its finances from the Covid-19 pandemic. "Our economy is still struggling," said the 20-year-old fine art student, who asked not to be named. "We are in the state of developing our country, so if we enforce the law soon we might face some problems for our economy." Political analyst Ou Virak also said Cambodia's military faces challenges from within as it seeks to win buy-in from a new generation of conscripts. "Military training, chain of command, and military discipline are all issues that need to be addressed," he told AFP. © 2025 AFP
France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
Egypt legal reform raises fears over right to fair trial
The legislation, currently awaiting approval by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, is being promoted by the government as a step toward streamlining legal procedures, from arrest to trial. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has told the UN Human Rights Council it would bring a "legislative revolution to criminal justice" in Egypt. Ihab al-Tamawy, the head of the parliamentary subcommittee charged with drafting the new code, told AFP it "introduces a set of new guarantees" on Egypt's notorious pretrial detention system, as well as the role of the public prosecution. But critics say the bill risks codifying repressive practices that have long eroded due process in the country. According to rights defenders, the law expands the powers of police and prosecutors and limits the role of defence lawyers, undermining judicial oversight and the right to a fair trial. In one of the new provisions that have come under scrutiny, public prosecutors will be able to order travel bans without a warrant "in cases of emergency". The law will also allow police to enter homes without an arrest warrant in cases of "distress" or "danger", which are not clearly defined. In April, UN rights chief Volker Turk "raised concerns" over the law and called on Sisi to "consider carefully" before signing it into force, "to ensure that it fully complies with Egypt's international human rights obligations". Right to fair trial Egypt currently ranks 135th out of 142 countries on the World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index. In the latest UN review of its rights record in January, Egypt faced accusations of "systemic and widespread" rights violations, including torture, enforced disappearances and unfair trials. In recent years, Egypt has been accused of formalising into normal law exceptional measures previously allowed in states of emergency. According to prominent human rights lawyer Khaled Ali, the law "does not truly combat corruption, expands the powers granted to the police and prosecution and undermines the role of defence lawyers," which he said is "essential to a fair trial". Along with 15 other independent lawyers, Ali submitted 176 proposed amendments to the law, none of which were adopted. Mahmoud Shalaby, Egypt researcher at Amnesty International, told AFP the bill "codifies practices that were already taking place outside the boundaries of the law, and grants them legitimacy in an attempt to improve Egypt's image". According to Karim Ennarah, research director at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), the new changes will come at the expense of investigations, defendants and their lawyers. Under the new law, defence lawyers can be denied access to case files and witnesses -- "practices already common, but that will now become legal," Ennarah said. 'Recycling' The law will also expand remote trials, which Ennarah describes as "rushed" virtual hearings, where dozens of jailed defendants are corralled behind a screen on a video call with a judge. Remote trials "undermine two fundamental principles of a fair trial", according to Ennarah, namely "the defendant's right to meet privately with their lawyer, and their right to appear before a judge" to assess any harm or abuse inflicted upon them. Egypt is routinely criticised for the widespread use of pretrial detention, a phenomenon that proponents say is addressed under the new law. While the maximum period for remand detention will be reduced from 24 to 18 months, Amnesty International has warned the law "provides no safeguards against abusive prolonged pretrial detention". According to Shalaby, many of Egypt's estimated tens of thousands of political prisoners are victims of a practice known as "recycling" detainees. Under the much-maligned "revolving door policy", prisoners are often handed new charges instead of being released, restarting the clock on their remand period. Another issue, he says, is that when the law goes into effect, citizens will no longer be able to sue "in case of violations during their arrest or detention". In 2024, EIPR documented 10 cases of torture-related deaths in detention facilities. © 2025 AFP
France 24
10 hours ago
- France 24
DRC and M23 rebels sign ceasefire deal
Also, in Tunisia in may 2024, just two months after giving birth for the second time... the Tunisian activist Cherifa Ria-hi was detained for harbouring illegal immigrants. More than a year later, she remains behind bars without charge. She has now become a symbol of what rights groups say is increasing repression of civil society by President Kais Saied... who has been ruling with unchecked power since disolving pariliament four years ago. Laurent Berstecker has more details. Finally, in Senegal Tangy and rich in vitamin C, Madd is much more than just a wild fruit in southern Senegal. Eaten fresh or processed, it's a crucial source of income for thousands of families who live off its harvest in the region of Casamance. Thanks to a 2024 Protected Geographical Indication Madd is becoming more widely available. Backed by the World Intellectual Property Organization, the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation and The French Development Agency, this classification brings new hope to an entire community. In the village of Thiobon - a village over 450 kilometers south of Dakar - are those sustaining this sector.
