Sudan, Lebanon, Cameroon

Today's three stories you should know.

Sudan

Stories of slaughter continue to come out of Sudan. Reuters today reported that hundreds of men were rounded up near the city of el-Fasher, taken to a reservoir and shot dead as their killers shouted racial slurs. A witness said he had been released because one of the gunmen recognised him from their schooldays. Four witnesses and six aid workers interviewed by Reuters told similar stories of men being separated from women in villages and taken away before gunshots rang out. Separately, the UN human rights office shared accounts of civilians and unarmed fighters being executed. The ethnically-motivated reprisals have been ongoing since the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, which has been at war with Sudan’s army for two and a half years, captured el-Fasher on Monday after laying siege to it for 18 months, forcing many of its people into starvation.

More from Reuters here.

Lebanon

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said his government is willing to talk to Israel about its continued bombing campaign in southern Lebanon but that the talks must be mutual. Despite a ceasefire deal signed almost a year ago, Israel has violated it hundreds of times with attacks on what it says are Hezbollah targets. It has also kept troops inside Lebanese territory. Lebanon’s government, though, says Israel has hit civilian areas and destroyed non-Hezbollah infrastructure. Aoun said he has asked the Lebanese army to “confront any Israeli incursion” into southern Lebanon “in defense of Lebanese lands and the safety of citizens.” Hezbollah commended that position and said it was ready to build on it.

More from AP here.

Cameroon

Cameroon’s opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary said today that soldiers loyal to him have taken him to a secure location as he continued to protest the results of an election that returned 92-year-old President Paul Biya to power for another seven-year term. Street protests have erupted in several cities and security forces are reported to have shot at least 23 people dead and detained more than 500. Bakary’s claim that he is being protected by members of the army has prompted speculation of a split in the military. The opposition leader has called for a three-day national lockdown beginning on Monday, urging people to stay at home.

More from Africa News here.