20 December 2021
Egypt: Among the “tens of thousands of government critics, including activists and human rights lawyers, (who) have been detained arbitrarily” according to human rights groups is prominent human rights activist Alaa Abdel Fattah. Detained – in conditions that mock of human rights – since September 2019, he has now been sentenced to 5 years in prison because he is said to have spread false news. According to human rights groups, “the charges (are) spurious and the trial a sham”. According to Human Rights Watch, “the trial (…) had been marred by numerous fair trial and due process violations”.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59730354
19 December 2021
Sudan: Protests against the army staying in power have mobilised hundreds of thousands across Sudan and especially in Khartoum. The security forces responded with tear gas.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59719765
Central African Republic: The EU, which this week decided sanctions against the Russian mercenary group Wagner that it accuses of human rights abuses in CAR, has suspended its military training mission because of government troops’ links to Wagner. “Wagner operatives, as well as government forces, have raped and robbed unarmed civilians in the country's rural areas, the UN and French say.” In Africa, Wagner is also active in Libya, Sudan, Mozambique and maybe soon in Mali. In CAR, where they have been present since 2017, there may be more than 2,000 Wagner mercenaries according to the UN, though Russia admits to only 550.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59699350