Africa this week -- September 30, 2019
Torture House discovered in Nigeria’s northern city of Kaduna
Nigerian police rescued nearly 500 people from a building in the northern state of Kaduna. The victims were reported to have been chained, sexually abused, and tortured. Some of them were said to have been detained for several years and included children as young as five.
Swiss to auction 25 super cars seized from son of Equatorial Guinea leader
The Swiss are set to auction off 25 super cars seized from vice president Teodorin Obiang Nguema. Teodorin Nguema is also the son of Equatorial Guinea President, Teodora Obiang, who has been in power for 40 years. The cars are expected to fetch about $18 million at the Geneva auction. The cars include a Geneva golf club on Sunday are seven Ferraris, three Lamborghinis, five Bentleys, a Maserati and a McLaren. They were seized as part of an investigation into financial wrongdoing and money laundering.
Largest mosque in West Africa opens its door to worshippers
A mosque billed as the largest in West Africa is set to be inaugurated in Dakar, Senegal. The 30,000-capacity mosque named Massalikul Jinaan (meaning The Path to Paradise) took nearly a decade to build. The Senegalese President, Macky Sall, is expected to attend the inauguration.
Ghanaian security forces foil coup plot
Security forces in Ghana last week arrested five persons including a senior military officer of the Ghana Armed Forces for plotting to overthrow the government. The suspects were alleged to be part of a group called Take Action Ghana (Tag) and have been accused of manufacturing firearms and explosives. The planned operation was said to be targeted at the presidency.
Rwanda to abolish over 1000 colonial-era laws
The Rwandan government is set to abolish more 1,000 colonial laws, vestiges of German and Belgian rule from 1900-1962. Some of these laws allow for separation between white people and Rwandans and for the Catholic church to own swathes of land. One law stipulates for alcoholic drinks to be paid for at the bar rather than on a tab.
The government has hailed the abolition as one last step towards complete self-governance and autochthony.