April 2006 in Africa

__NOTOC__

Events in Africa

"This page deals with April 2006 events in or of interest to the continent of Africa."

6 April 2006 (Thursday)

* The ferry "Al Baraqua II", carrying passengers to a religious festival in Tadjoura, capsized in the Gulf of Tadjoura shortly after departing Djibouti's capital city. Latest reports state 109 people have drowned.( [http://www.andnetwork.com/app?service=direct/1/Home/$StorySummary$0.$DirectLink$1&sp=l28726 African News Dimension] )

7 April 2006 (Friday)

* The opposition Oromo National Congress sacks its Secretary General, Bonna Tadesse, after repeatedly found communicating with individuals dismissed from the party.( [http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=14932 Sudan Tribune] )

9 April 2006 (Sunday)

* Nigerian President Obasanjo and the Republic of Congo president Denis Sassou-Nguesso host talks in Abuja between the rival groups in Darfur hoping to accelerate the peace process. Sudanese attendees include Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, Minni Arcua Minnawi head of the most powerful faction of the divided Sudan Liberation Army, and Khalil Ibrahim, leader of the smaller Justice and Equality Movement.( [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4892468.stm BBC news] )( [http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=14949 Sudan Tribune] )
* The Awash River floods in eastern Ethiopia, displacing 7,000 people in the Afar Region and 3,000 more in the Shinile Zone of the Somali Region. ( [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/bc45e75102292b455978881b20e78b89.htm IRIN] )

10 April 2006 (Monday)

* Sudan’s oil minister on Monday opened its newest oil pipeline, which will raise national production to 500,000 barrels per day. The pipeline will carry petroleum from fields in the Upper Nile wilayat, which are operated by Petrodar (a consortium formed primarily by the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation and Malaysia’s Petronas, with smaller shares for Sudan’s Sudapet, China’s Sinopec and the Al Thani family of the United Arab Emirates), north to Port Sudan.( [http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=14988 Sudan Tribune] )

18 April 2006 (Tuesday)

* The Ethiopian government announces that it will initiate construction of three hydroelectric dams at a cost of US$ 1.4 billion, hoping to generate millions of dollars in foreign currency by selling excess electricity to neighboring Sudan, Djibouti, and Kenya. These dams are expected to produce a total of 1,155 megawatts; Ethiopia currently generates 800 megawatts for domestic use from four existing dams.( [http://www.eitb24.com/portal/eitb24/noticia/en/life/1-4-billion-cost-ethiopia-building-three-hydropower-dams?itemId=D25870&cl=%2Feitb24%2Fsociedad&idioma=en eitb24] )