Nigeria's Ogoni people are divided over Shell Oil's agreement to pay $15.5 million as an out-of-court settlement rather than face a trial over accusations that it was complicit in rights abuses in the Niger Delta in the 1990s. The families of nine people executed in 1995—including famed writer writer Ken Saro-Wiwa—accused Shell of collaborating with the military regime of Gen. Sani Abacha to silence the activists for protesting against the oil company's environmental practices.

Our May issue featured "The Voice of Free Somaliland," an interview with Dr. Saad Noor, North American representative of the Republic of Somaliland—a stable, secular de facto independent country in what is known in the media (none too accurately) as "Somalia." Our May Exit Poll was: "Did you know before you read it here that one-third of Somalia is a peaceful independent republic, Somaliland? If not, will you please make a small donation to help keep us alive?" We received three responses (which we hope does not indicate that we have only three readers). The results follow:

Sudanese Interior Minister Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamad says that at least 244 people have been killed in clashes between two Arab tribes in southern Sudan this week. The victims include 75 members of Sudan's security forces, mobilized to the region in reaction to the violence. Last weekend, fighting broke out between the Misseriya and the Rizeqat tribes on the border of the regions of Darfur and South Kordofan. The two tribes have repeatedly clashed over the scarce drinking water for their herds. (Radio Netherlands, May 29; Reuters, May 27)

Niger's President Mamadou Tandja dissolved parliament May 25, a day after the constitutional court turned down his bid to extend his term. Tandja, 70, was elected in 1999 and had promised to quit at the end of his term later this year, but flipped, even trying to hold a referendum to confirm him for a third term, claiming wide support from Niger's people. In January, Niger set a December deadline for general elections. The opposition warns of a step towards dictatorship. (Afrol News, May 26)

Rwandan Hutu militant Desire Munyaneza was convicted by the Superior Court of Quebec May 22 on seven counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes under Canada's new Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act. Munyaneza is the first person to have been charged under the act, which Canada ratified in 2000 in order to fulfill its obligations to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

More than a dozen Ethiopian military trucks crossed the border into Somalia May 20, setting up a checkpoint at Kalabeyrka, according to the governor of Hiran region, Sheik Abdirahman Ibrahim Macow. Ethiopian forces, which had withdrawn from Somalia in January, returned days after an Islamist militia took over three towns, expanding its control over a large part of the country. (NYT, May 19)

Bahar Idriss Abu Garda, leader of Darfur's United Resistance Front, appeared before the International Criminal Court at The Hague May 18 to face war crimes charges over an attack that killed 12 African Union (AU) peacekeepers in September 2007. He is the first suspect to appear before the ICC regarding the Darfur conflict. Abu Garda, 46, turned himself in voluntarily a day earlier to face the charges.

Thousands fled their homes in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, on May 11 after at least 35 people were killed over the weekend, while masked Islamist fighters were seen heading toward the city. People fled in taxis and pickup trucks stacked with suitcases, mattresses, furniture and other belongings. The local Elman Human Rights Organization said 17,200 people had fled the capital since Saturday May 9. (AP, May 11)