released - The African Mirror

Mar

2024

Detained Congolese journalist Bujakera has been freed, lawyer says

STANIS Bujakera, a journalist detained since last September in the Democratic Republic of Congo on charges of spreading false information, was released, his lawyer said. The lawyer, Yana Ndikulu, said Bujakera - who works for international media including Reuters and Jeune Afrique - was released on Tuesday evening from the prison in the capital Kinshasa where he was being held. "Our client is free," Ndikulu said. Bujakera told Reuters the director of the prison had told him he was free to leave shortly after 21:30 local time (2030GMT). A court in the capital Kinshasa on Monday had found Bujakera guilty of spreading…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

Ethiopian police release French journalist after a week, employer says

NEWS

FRENCH journalist Antoine Galindo was released by Ethiopian police on Thursday after a week, his employer said. He was arrested last Thursday while on assignment in the country's capital Addis Ababa on charges of "conspiracy to create chaos". Galindo has left for France and is due to arrive on Friday, the publisher of Africa Intelligence, Quentin Botbol, said in an emailed statement. Human rights activists have repeatedly criticized Ethiopia's restrictions on press freedom, particularly in response to critical coverage of conflicts and security crises. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said at least eight Ethiopian journalists have been detained since August.…

Jan

2024

By The African Mirror

Explainer: What will happen to Oscar Pistorius when he is released from jail?

NEWS

FORMER Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius will be released from prison on Friday after he was granted parole nearly 11 years after killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Here is a look at what will happen to Pistorius after his release under South Africa's so-called restorative justice programme. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PISTORIUS AFTER HIS RELEASE? Pistorius - known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs - became eligible for parole in March 2023 after he had served half of his 13 years and five months sentence for murder. He was granted parole on November 24, to take effect on January 5.…

Dec

2023

By The African Mirror

Two South Koreans released after being kidnapped in Nigeria

NEWS

TWO South Koreans kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria earlier this month have been released safely, Seoul's foreign ministry said. The two men were taken after gunmen ambushed their convoy in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta on December 12, killing four soldiers guarding the group and two civilian drivers. "On Friday, we secured custody of the two abducted Korean citizens," the ministry said in a statement. "Both people are currently in good health, and after a hospital checkup, they moved to a safe area and spoke with their families." Attacks by militants in the Niger Delta have dwindled over the years. But the region…

Sep

2023

By PHIL STEWART and IDREES ALI

Travis King: U.S. soldier released by North Korea arrives in Texas

WORLD

U.S. Army Private Travis King landed at a U.S. military base in Texas early after being expelled from North Korea following his surprise dash across the heavily militarized border two months ago, a U.S. defense official told Reuters. King arrived on a U.S. military flight, landing at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston at about 0530 GMT, the official said. Television footage showed a group of people leaving a plane at the base at that time. King is expected to undergo a medical review at Brooke Army Medical Center, a hospital at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. Basketball star Brittney Griner…

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

ICRC says 125 detained Sudanese soldiers released

NEWS

THE International Committee of the Red Cross said it had facilitated the release of 125 Sudanese soldiers held by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that has been fighting Sudanese forces since April. The soldiers' release, which occurred on Wednesday, followed a request by the parties to the conflict, ICRC said. "We stand ready to act as a neutral intermediary for the release of detainees from all sides of the conflict whenever requested," Jean-Christophe Sandoz, ICRC's head of delegation in Sudan, said in a statement. The war between Sudan's army and the RSF has caused a major humanitarian…

May

2023

By The African Mirror

Al Jazeera journalist freed from pretrial detention in Egypt

MEDIA FREEDOM

AN Al Jazeera correspondent has been released from about four years' pretrial detention in Egypt, his wife said in a tweet. Egypt's Press Syndicate head Khaled Elbalshy confirmed to Reuters that the Qatar-based television network correspondent Hisham Abdel Aziz had returned home on Sunday evening. Last September, Egyptian authorities also released Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Al Nagdy from detention as President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made his first visit to Doha since the two countries restored relations. Sisi led the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi in 2013, after which Egypt accused Al Jazeera of being a mouthpiece for the…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Freed ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero Rusesabagina leaves Kigali, reaches Qatar

NEWS

IMAD CREIDI and PHILBERT GIRINEMA PAUL Rusesabagina, who was portrayed as a hero in the film "Hotel Rwanda" about the 1994 genocide, has arrived in Qatar after being released from prison in Rwanda last week, Rwanda's government spokesperson said. Rusesabagina, a U.S. permanent resident, was sentenced in September 2021 to 25 years over his ties to a group opposed to Rwandan President Paul Kagame that has an armed wing. He was released on Friday after his sentence was commuted following months of negotiations between Washington and Kigali. Washington's historically close ties with Rwanda have been strained by Rusesabagina's detention and by U.S.…

Dec

2022

By The African Mirror

Brittney Griner released from Russian custody in prisoner swap with Viktor Bout

WORLD

NANDITA BOSE and HUMEYRA PAMUK U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been released in a prisoner swap with Russia in exchange for Viktor Bout, a former arms dealer, and was heading back to the United States, ending what President Joe Biden called months of "hell" for her and her wife. The swap was arranged after talks spanning months during a time of high tensions between the two countries in the wake of Russia's February invasion of Ukraine. The exchange took place in the United Arab Emirates at Abu Dhabi airport, where the two walked past each other on a tarmac, a U.S. administration…

Sep

2022

By The African Mirror

Egypt frees detained Al Jazeera journalist -Al Jazeera

MEDIA FREEDOM

EGYPTIAN authorities have released Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Al Nagdy from detention, the pan-Arab, Qatar-based television network reported, quoting Al Nagdy's lawyer. The move comes as Egypt's president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi visits Doha, his first since the two countries restored relations last year following a regional diplomatic rift. The visit comes as Egypt seeks further financial support and investment to cushion an economic shock caused by the war in Ukraine. Thomson Reuters Foundation