FACTBOX-Human rights still poor in Africa, US says

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Human rights remained poor in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa in 2008, according to the U.S. State Department's global survey released on Wednesday.

Following is a summary of some of its findings:

SUDAN

The government's human rights record remained poor as it bombed villages, killed civilians and collaborated with militias in the troubled Darfur region, and rebel groups there continued to commit serious abuses as well. Both sides beat and raped civilians, recruited child soldiers and harassed aid groups. Serious abuses continued in the country's southern region as well, including extrajudicial killings and beatings.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

The government's human rights record remained poor. Internal conflicts had an extremely negative effect on security and human rights during the year. Government control over many regions remained weak, and civilian authorities generally did not control the security forces, which committed unlawful killings, torture and rape, recruited child soldiers and forced civilian labor. Life-threatening conditions persisted in prison facilities. Armed groups continued to commit serious abuses, some of which may have constituted war crimes.

ZIMBABWE

The government continued to engage in the pervasive and systematic abuse of human rights, which increased during the year. President Robert Mugabe's ruling party manipulated the political process through violence, corruption and intimidation. Unlawful killings and motivated abductions increased and prison conditions were life-threatening. The government continued to evict citizens and demolish homes and marketplaces and repress freedom of speech, press and assembly, and it worsened food insecurity by blocking aid groups' operations.

ETHIOPIA

Continued fighting between government forces and an insurgent movement in the Ogaden region resulted in allegations of abuses by all sides, including diversion of food aid. There were fewer reports of extrajudicial killings but abuses persisted. Other reported violations include arbitrary arrest, poor prison conditions, torture and beatings, police and judicial corruption, and restrictions on freedoms of assembly and the press and exploitation of women and children.

SOMALIA

The country's poor human rights situation deteriorated further during the year, exacerbated by the absence of effective governance institutions and rule of law and the widespread availability of weapons.

SOUTH AFRICA

The government generally respected the rights of its citizens but violations included use of excessive force by police, vigilante and mob violence, severe overcrowding of prisons, pervasive violence against women, and child labor.

NIGERIA

The government's human rights record remained poor and officials at all levels continued to commit serious abuses. Security forces acted with impunity and committed extrajudicial killings, torture and rape, and arrested citizens arbitrarily. Corruption, vigilante killings, forced labor and restrictions on freedoms of speech and assembly remained problematic.

(Reporting by Andy Sullivan in Washington; Editing by Bill Trott)

Source:Reuters