In This Issue:

- Leading the News

- United States – Africa Relations

- North Africa

- East Africa

- West Africa

- Sub-saharan Africa

- General Africa News

- Excerpt from Leading the News:

..Egypt

- On April 28th, an Egyptian Court sentenced Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie and 682 supporters to death in a mass trial. Following the announcement of the death sentences, Islamist groups in Egypt aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood issued a call for Egyptians to protest the sentences in the streets of Cairo.

On April 28th, the Office of the White House Press Secretary issued a press statement on mass trials and sentencing in Egypt. The White House expressed deep concern for the continued use of mass trials, and in particular the issuing of the death sentence against 683 defendants. Noting that a fair and transparent criminal justice system free of intimidation and political retribution is an important part of any democracy, the White House called on the Egyptian Government to end the use of mass trials, reverse this and previous mass sentences, and to ensure that every citizen is afforded due process.