October 2005 in Africa - 31 October 2005 (Monday)

31 October 2005 (Monday)

• Liberian elections, 2005: Campaigning in the run-off election has begun. (allAfrica)

• Guinea-Bissau's new president, Joao Bernardo Vieira, announces the dissolution of the government headed by his rival Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior. (allAfrica)

• Côte d'Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo begins a sixth year in office defying opposition calls that he stand down now his elected mandate is up. The elections scheduled on Sunday were cancelled due to instability. Meanwhile, rebels controlling the northern half of the country declare their leader, 33-year-old Guillaume Soro, as the new prime minister. (allAfrica)

• An official from the Mozambique's Technical Secretariat for Food Security and Nutrition (SETSAN) says that the number of people in need of food aid has almost doubled in the past six months to more than 800,000 in Mozambique due to escalating maize prices and other factors. (allAfrica)

• The African Union (AU) renews its backing for the continent's plan to enlarge the UN Security Council. (Reuters)

• The UN Environment Programme warns that most lakes in Africa are under unprecedented strain from rising populations and must be managed better if demand for fresh water is not to stir instability. (Reuters)