February 18, 2013.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.

Making headlines:

City of Johannesburg transport MMC Rehana Moosajee steps down.

The US is wary of a 'terrorist' threat in Africa as Senegal detains terrorist suspects.

And, the UN says a delayed Congo peace deal is scheduled to be signed on February 24.

A statement from the mayors' office says Johannesburg member of the mayoral committee Rehana Moosajee has resigned. Moosajee was transport MMC in the City of Johannesburg.

Spokesperson for the mayor's office Fred Makoko said Councillor Moosajee cited personal reasons for her resignation. He added that under her leadership Johannesburg created a transport system that is the recipient of many awards across the globe.  Africa’s first bus rapid transit system – Reya Vaya transports approximately one-million passengers a month, and is operated by among others, local taxi drivers and owners.

Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau thanked Moosajee for serving the city "with diligence and energy". Moosajee’s resignation takes effect as of March 1.

Christine Walters who was previously member of the mayoral committee for community development as well as for infrastructure and services has been appointed to take over.

 

The Senegal government says that it has detained a Mauritanian and a Malian for suspected terrorist links.  A top US defence official called for international teamwork to counter a growing presence of al Qaeda and its allies in Africa.

A Senegalese Justice Ministry adviser, Macoumba Mbodj, said the suspects are in custody for criminal conspiracy in collusion with terrorist organisations, aimed at undermining the country's military situation and its economic interests.

The United States and African governments are backing a five-week-old French military campaign against Islamist rebels in Senegal's neighbour, Mali, calling it a blow against jihadists who threaten attacks in Africa and elsewhere.

Mbodj said an investigation was continuing; however, he withheld further details. He wouldn’t comment on Senegalese media reports saying the detained Mauritanian was a member of al Qaeda who was trying to recruit young men to fight in Mali.

 

The United Nations says a delayed UN-mediated peace deal aimed at ending two decades of conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (or DRC) is due to be signed in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on February 24.

This comes after African leaders failed to sign the deal last month, owing to the concerns of some countries over who would command a new regional force that would be deployed in eastern DRC to take on armed groups operating in the conflict-torn region.

The so-called ‘intervention brigade’ would be contained within the existing UN peacekeeping force in DRC, known as the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC, commonly known as Monusco. Envoys said a new Security Council resolution would be needed to approve the intervention unit and was likely to be supported by the 15-member council.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon sent out invitations on Friday for the February 24 signing ceremony and intended to travel to Ethiopia for the event. His spokesperson, Martin Nesirky, said "all the invited presidents have committed to either be there or delegate power to sign."

 

Also making headlines:

South African opposition parties say they could work with Mamphela Ramphele should she enter politics.

The top Tuareg officer in Mali's army urges France to keep its forces in Mali for as long as it takes to drive out Islamist rebels for good.

And, thousands of Islamists rallied in Cairo on Friday in support of Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi.
 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today