News stories by William Lloyd-George

ADDIS ABABA, Jun 06 (IPS) - Despite speculation that the first anti-government protest in eight years, which was held this week in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, might signal new levels of political tolerance by the government, leaders of the political party that organised the protest say this cannot be further from the truth.

ADDIS ABABA, May 17 (IPS) - Despite comments by Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn suggesting the pending withdrawal of his country's troops from Somalia, many experts have voiced doubts that Ethiopia will pull out of Somalia before it is capable of handling its security without assistance.

GOMA, DR Congo, Dic 01 (IPS) - Lined up along a dirt path that meanders its way up into the lush war-torn mountains surrounding the small town of Sake, in eastern Congo, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, hundreds of young rebel soldiers sat on the road banks in the baking sun.

ADDIS ABABA, Nov 13 (IPS) - Many were hoping that recent peace talks between the Ethiopian government and Ogaden rebels would signal an end to the gruelling 18-year-old conflict. The latest round of talks, however, dashed all dreams of peace between the two sides.

It was tough for Hassan Toure to decide to stay in his small town on the outskirts of Kidal, in northern Mali. The government troops had withdrawn on Mar. 30, and several armed groups, including militias and bandits, were operating in the region.

Since January, various groups of Tuareg rebels in Mali have come together in an attempt to administer a new northern state called Azawad.

It was the middle of the day when Tabisou, 72, suddenly saw people from her town of Amderamboukane in Mali fleeing for their lives. Her family had no time to pack their things; the fighting had already begun.

Increasing numbers of Malian women are being raped by Tuareg rebels and armed groups that have swept across the north of Mali since the beginning of year, expelling all government troops from the region.

Increasing numbers of Malian women are being raped by Tuareg rebels and armed groups that have swept across the north of Mali since the beginning of year, expelling all government troops from the region.