• The UN Ambassador to Burundi, Michel Kafando, announced this resignation from the post he has held for two years, amid concerns over the impartiality of elections set for 2020.
• On 24 October 2019, Reporters Without Borders called for the release of four journalists and their driver, who were arrested while covering a deadly clash between Burundi security forces and rebels from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The journalists, who work for Iwacu were arrested in north-western Burundi.
• On 28 October 2019, the UN Refugee Agency repeated its call to ensure that refugee returns from Tanzania to Burundi remain voluntary and not under pressure, following a bilateral agreement between the two governments in August this year to increase return rates.

• UN Deputy Humanitarian Chief called for support to Djibouti as it strives to address the effects of climate change. 

• Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.
• The ethnic conflict continues in Ethiopia, and 67 people were reported killed in two days of protests this week in the Oromia region. The ACHPR also raised concern over the escalating ethnic violence in the country.

• Eritrean athletics are using sports to raise awareness about the human rights violations in the country.
• The German Foreign Ministry has defended the importance of press freedom after Berlin’s ambassador to Eritrea was summoned over DW’s (Germany’s state-owned international broadcaster) media coverage of the country. Eritrea says it is being misrepresented.

• The Sengwer community demanded recognition to their ancestral land. The community says it faces threats of eviction as Kenya’s government takes over conservation of the country’s forests and water supplies.
• Kenya’s Defenders Coalition has raised concern over increased harassment and escalating impunity of violation against HRDs. On 7 October 2019, 13 HRDs were arrested in Mombasa for protesting the monopoly of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in transportation of goods and were accused of causing disturbance and incitement to violence. On 9 October 2019, four HRDs were arrested following their participation in a peaceful protest in Nairobi to condemn escalating youth unemployment in the country.

• On 15 October 2019, Rwanda deported an evangelical Pastor accusing him of hate speech and violations following his criticism of the Rwandan government’s decision to allow access to abortion and birth control, and for teaching evolution. The Pastor, Rev. Greff Schoff, was arrested in Kigali, and later deported together with his family.

• Somalia and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have called on national security forces to strive to protect children in combat zones as they fight Al-Shabaab militants. This month, Somalia renewed its commitment to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers by signing a roadmap detailing measures and practical actions to prevent violations against children, release children associated with armed forces, and reintegrate them into communities.
• On 18 October 2019, the Somali government unveiled historic monuments that were damaged and destroyed during years of civil war as part of efforts to revive the country’s cultural heritage.
• On 31 October 2019, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, commended African Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) for child protection efforts for children in conflict.

• A Human Rights Knowledge Center has been launched at El Fasher University in North Darfur, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• Hundreds of Sudanese activists took to the streets to demand the disbandment of former President Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party.
• Sudan’s interim government is seeking to be removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. According to Sudanese officials the move would help Sudan overcome economic challenges after al-Bashir was overthrown in April 2019.
• On 31 October 2019, the UN extended Darfur peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) for a year,following recommendations from the government in Khartoum.

• The UN Security Council (UNSC) has called on South Sudanese Leaders to speed up of the peace deal process in the country. The 15 members of the UNSC urged leaders to expedite implementation of the 2018 peace agreement aimed at ending six years of ongoing conflict. Further, South Sudanese women are calling on political leaders to meet their commitment to ensure 35 percent women representation in the new transitional government, and urge each other to actively participate in the peace process to protect their collective interests.
• In a letter to both the government and the African Union (AU) dated 30 September 2019, Human Rights Watch urged South Sudan and the AU to set a meeting to discuss war crime courts, saying that they should urgently clarify plans to set up the proposed hybrid court for wartime atrocities.
• Three workers for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) were killed in South Sudan during fighting between government forces and National Salvation Front (NAS) rebels. Following the killing of the three workers, IOM has suspended Ebola screening at the South Sudan and DRC border.
• Amnesty International has raised concern over the crippled justice system in the South Sudan, saying it fuels impunity for crimes against humanity. The report, launched on 7 October 2019, says only one case has been prosecuted since the civil war broke out in 2013.
• On 31 October 2019, two female journalist were attacked by an army official while covering a presidential function. The South Sudan Peace Defense Forces (SSDPF) had invited the press to cover its annual meeting presided over by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Salva Kiir.
• Associated Press (AP) journalist Sam Mednicks’s accreditation was revoked by The South Sudan Media Authority and she was asked to leave the country. The South Sudanese officials objected to a story Mednick wrote earlier this month that said tensions were rising in the capital ahead of the formation of a unity government.

Tanzania

• On 15 October 2019, Human Rights Watch reported that Tanzanian authorities unlawfully coerced more than 200 unregistered asylum seekers into returning to Burundi by threatening to withhold their legal status in Tanzania.
• The Tanzanian Cartoonist Idris Sultan was arrested for Magufuli face-swap. Idris’ lawyer said he was being held under the controversial Cybercrimes Act, which forbids using a computer system to “impersonate” someone else.

• Attacks on the LGBT+ community in Uganda has intensified recently. On 5 October 2019, Brian Wasswa, a paralegal and LGBT+ community member, was murdered in his home in Uganda. On 24 October 2019, 16 Ugandan LGBT+ activists were subjected to forced anal examinations after being arbitrarily arrested. Several human rights organisations condemn the murder, and the general attack on the community, urging the government of Uganda to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of LGBT+ persons in the country.  On 12 October, government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo tweeted that the government did not intend to introduce any new law with regards to regulation of LGBT+ activities in Uganda.