Peace talks aimed at solving Burundi’s year-long crisis resumed on Saturday in Tanzania, but with the opposition barred from the meeting, there was little hope it would help strike a deal. The talks in the northern town of Arusha brought together Burundian government officials, diplomats and civil society representatives.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki of Kenya as the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS). Lieutenant General Ondieki will replace Lieutenant General Yohannes Gebremeskel Tesfamariam of Ethiopia, who will complete his …

South Sudan’s transitional government has agreed on the release of prisoners of war from both sides of the more than two-year conflict, Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth said. Lueth announced the decision to reporters in the capital, Juba, on Friday, without specifying when the releases will take place nor the …