African news explained

A court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has acquitted dozens of soldiers who were facing rape charges after it was alleged that that they had sexually assaulted women in Minova, in the east of the country. But the court sentenced the accused to long jail sentences for looting and wasting ammunition. Holly Dranginis, a researcher with the Enough Project, an anti-genocide group based in Washington DC, comments.

Although the world celebrated freedom of the press at the weekend, many African governments cast a baleful eye on journalists. Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta cautioned that press freedom is not absolute, urging reporters to be more responsible. In Zambia, Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda warned that the government is considering arresting reporters who harbour political motives. And in Somalia, journalists remain targets in what is the most dangerous country for reporters in Africa. The Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists, Omar Faruk Osman, says death threats come with the job.

A high-level delegation representing Christian churches arrived in Juba, In South Sudan, on Friday. The group includes leaders of ACT Alliance, an umbrella group of religious NGOs who give aid, the World Council of Churches, the All-Africa Conference of Churches and the World YWCA. Isaiah Kipyegon, a church leader, comments.

US Navy Seals have boarded and taken control of an oil tanker that had loaded crude at a Libyan port held by militias in the east of the country and escaped to sea. No one was hurt in the operation, which came at the request of both Libya and Cyprus. The oil tanker is now expected to be taken to a government-controlled port in Libya. Anas El Gomati, a Libyan analyst of the Sadeq Institute, comments about the relations between Washington and Tripoli.

In South Sudan the trial of four men for treason is slated to return to court on Wednesday. Pagan Amum, the former head negotiator for the government, Majak D'Agoot, the former deputy minister for defense, Oyai Deng Ajak, ex-National Security minister and Ezekiel Gatkuoth, former ambassador to the US have been held since December 17. One group of human rights campaigners called Justice4Juba4 have called for the men to be released due to a flawed legal system. Jason McCue from Justice4Juba4, comments on why they believe the men won't get a fair trial.