A Burundi court has sentenced nine people for participating in the murder of albinos, and then selling their body parts for witchcraft potions in neighboring Tanzania, the BBC reports. One person was sentenced to life in prison and the rest were sentenced to serve between one and 15 years in jail for the murders of at least 12 albinos in the east African nation. The court also acquitted three other suspects in the killings. In recent years, there has been a surge in albino killings the region due to the fact that some witchdoctors have claimed that good luck potions made with albino body parts are strengthened. This is the first trial of albino murderers since the surge of killings took place in 2007, reports the BBC. In Tanzania, although at least 200 people have been arrested for trading albino body parts, no one has been convicted. An albino rights organization in Burundi says that the response from authorities is improving, but could be better.

Voters Head to the Polls in Malawi 
Millions of voters cast their ballots Tuesday in Malawi’s general election, reports the BBC. The nation is electing a president and a new parliament. While there are seven presidential candidates, most consider to two main contenders being current President Bingu Wa Mutharika and John Tembo leader of the Malawi Congress Party. With a large voter turnout (6 million votes cast at nearly 4,000 polls) many are expecting the results to be close. The results of the vote are expected by Thursday. Mutharika’s predecessor, Bakili Muluzi (who has already served two terms as president) recently threw his support behind Tembo after a court ruled he could not run for a third term, reports the news service. Because of a disagreement with Muluzi, his former supporter, Mutharika quit the United Democratic Front to form his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party in 2005.
 
 

Accused Albino Killers on Trial
Eleven people accused of killing 12 albinos are on trial in Burundi, reports the BBC. All of the defendants have denied murder charges and if they are found guilty, they face life in prison. In recent months, murders of albinos in East African nations have increased, with 50 people losing their lives, BBC reports. Albino body parts taken from Burundi are sold in nearby Tanzania, authorities say. Witchdoctors have claimed that potions that include albino body parts will bring clients success and good luck. While officials in Burundi are starting to crack down on the killings, more can be done says an organization fighting for albino rights.

Tanzania Witchdoctors Arrested
On the heels of yet another albino murder, three Tanzanian traditional healers have been arrested by authorities. When they were arrested, they were traveling in a car using a public address system to announce that they were still in business, reports the BBC, despite a government ban. Tanzania’s government banned their practice to prevent the murders of albinos, whose body parts are sometimes used in potions. The people who kill albinos sell their body parts (hair, skin, limbs and more) to the witchdoctors to make the potions that, they believe, will make people rich. Not too long ago, a 14-year-old albino girl was murdered. There have been 45 albinos murdered in the nation since 2007. In the past year, 200 people have been arrested in connection with the albino killings, reports the news service. There are an estimated 200,000 albinos in Tanzania out of a total population of 40 million people.  

The Mother of Nigerian Sextuplets Dies
Just a few days after giving birth to sextuplets, Nigerian mother Ajoke Bello passed away due to complications, reports the BBC. On Thursday, Bello, 32, had a Caesarean section and gave birth to six babies, three boys and three girls. The babies, born in stable condition, were conceived naturally. Unfortunately, their mother suffered excessive bleeding after birth and passed away early Sunday morning. “It was an unfortunate incident. The doctors and nurses at the hospital put in their best to ensure that the woman lived,” said an official from the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital. “She was under close monitoring as the medical team did not leave any stone unturned to ensure that she was alive,” he said. Charities have been making donations for the babies and a local leader visited Bello Saturday assuring her that the government will do whatever it can to help her family, reports the BBC. Behind India, Nigeria has the second highest rate of maternal mortality, according to stats from the World Health Organization.