Rodrique Ngowi
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/ 29 September 2004

Kenya pushes for ban on lion hunts

Kenya is pushing for an international ban on trade in lion trophies and skins, arguing that the number of the animals has declined sharply over the years as a result of hunting, loss of habitat and lack of prey. ”The number of lions in Africa has declined by between 30% and 50% in the past 30 years,” said Edward Indakwa, spokesperson for the Kenya Wildlife Service.

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/ 22 July 2004

Kenyan Muslims plead for hostages

Relatives and Muslim leaders appealed to Iraqi militants on Thursday to release three Kenyan truck drivers they took hostage, saying the men are good Muslims who went to Iraq to earn a living for their families. A militant group calling itself The Holders of the Black Banners announced on Wednesday it has taken the men hostage.

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/ 2 June 2004

Heavy fighting in Bukavu

Heavy fighting broke out early on Wednesday as Congolese troops and fighters loyal to a renegade commander battled for control of the centre of the troubled Congolese city of Bukavu, residents said. United Nations peacekeepers were blocking the advance into Bukavu of the bulk of troops loyal to Nkunda, UN spokesperson Sebastien Lapierre said.

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/ 1 June 2004

Shaky ceasefire fails in DRC

Congolese soldiers fought troops loyal to a renegade commander near the eastern town of Bukavu on Tuesday, breaking a shaky ceasefire and spurring United Nations peacekeepers to try to negotiate an end to the violence, a UN spokesperson said. Fighting broke out again on Tuesday near the airport, which is controlled by UN forces.

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/ 4 May 2004

Gold, monkey meat: All for sale at a refugee camp

Gold dealers buy flakes of the precious metal from small-time miners. Hunters peddle monkey meat to mothers with families to feed. And women hawk everything from soap, to vegetables, to pirated CDs. Nestled in the corner of a muddy camp for thousands displaced by tribal fighting, this bustling market is an unlikely success story in a land devastated by decades of ruinous dictatorships and civil war.