African press review 20 January 2014

A strike in the mining sector in South Africa, religious leaders support the anti-gay law in Nigeria and Kenyan Deputy President Ruto's ICC trial set to resume in The Hague dominate the front page stories of African dailies.

A looming strike in the mining sector makes the top of page one in this morning's South African financial paper, BusinessDay.

According to the story, members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to strike at the world’s largest producer, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), in a show of hands in a stadium at the platinum belt city of Rustenburg.

Amcu in recent days voted to strike at Amplats’ rivals, Lonmin and Impala Platinum (Implats). But it appeared to be holding back until receiving a mandate from its members at Amplats.

Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa told Sunday’s rally that Amplats would be served notice of the strike on Monday and that workers would down tools on Thursday. The strike notice would be issued at all three producers, as well as in the gold sector   "everywhere Amcu has representation".

In Nigeria, The Guardian reports that several religious leaders have expressed support for President Goodluck Jonathan in the debate on the country's new law penalising same-sex relationships.

According to The Guardian, the Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Prof. Emele Uka, has commended President Jonathan for signing into law the bill against homosexuality and same-sex marriage, describing it as a bold step aimed at reforming the society along godly ethical lines.

The Muslim Students’ Association of Nigeria has also lauded the National Assembly and President Goodluck Jonathan over the passage and signing of the anti-gay bill into Law.

Also in Nigeria, according to The Daily Trust, a new national chairman of the ruling People’s Democratic Party is to be named today, following late-night discussions between President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s governors yesterday.

The new chairman will succeed Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who resigned last week in the wake of a dispute with key party stakeholders.

Last night’s meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja was convened to harmonise positions ahead of today’s national executive committee meeting of the party, which is scheduled to approve the selection of a new chairman.

Media reports at the weekend said the governors were not comfortable with the candidate preferred by the President, hence last night’s meeting was called to resolve the differences.

In Kenya, The Standard reports that Deputy President William Ruto travelled last night to the Dutch city of The Hague for his International Criminal Court trial which resumes today.

Ruto is accused of complicity in the organisation of the violence which followed the presidential election in 2007.

The trial of the Deputy President continues this week as Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda remains undecided whether to appeal the court’s decision to conditionally excuse Ruto from continuous presence at hearings.

Bensouda has also asked for the postponement of the parallel trial against President Uhuru Kenyatta to allow her seek more evidence.

On Kenyan sports pages, news that Kenya beat neighbours Uganda by 47 runs in the 2015 ICC World Cup Qualifiers in New Zealand, yesterday.That was Kenya's first win in three matches and leaves them with little hope of qualifying. Kenya play The Netherlands in their final match.

News from South Sudan dominates the front page of the Kenyan Daily Nation.

The first report says South Sudan government troops tried to force their way into a United Nations compound sheltering thousands of civilians after re-taking the town of Bor from opposition rebels, this according to a UN official.

The UN Mission in South Sudan says it faces growing threats from both sides.

Aid groups say up to 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which began on December 15. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced.

The Daily Nation also reports that South Sudanese troops were yesterday fighting to win back the oil town of Malakal from rebels loyal to sacked vice president Riek Machar.

Another story in the Nation reports that the lobby group, the African Human Rights Bureau, has written to the International Criminal Court requesting an investigation of claims that Ugandan forces are violating the rights of Luos on the disputed Migingo Island in Lake Victoria.

The African Human Rights Bureau wants the ICC to protect over 300,000 Luos living and fishing around Migingo and Ugingo Islands from aggression by Ugandan Forces.

The group claims that Ugandan soldiers have been perpetrating crimes against humanity including rape, persecution and torture.