AFRICA

Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria | AFP |  In Algeria’s disaffected Kabylie region, the brick has become the symbol of the anti-vote campaign ahead of unpopular presidential elections set for Thursday. Protesters have even bricked up the entrances to local government offices to prevent the distribution of election material in Tizi-Ouzou, a key city …

  Meteoric rise of Abiy Ahmed trying to remould Ethiopia Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP |  Abiy Ahmed, the son of poor villagers who became a spy boss, and now the man behind dizzying attempts to reform Africa’s fastest-growing economy and heal wounds with Ethiopia’s neighbours, has seen an unpredictable and …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP |  When Eritrean painter Noah Mulubrhan crossed into Ethiopia last year, he had little desire to stay — and even less of an expectation that the move would be a boon to his career. The 35-year-old was taking advantage of the sudden rapprochement between the two …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP |  South Africa’s debt-laden state power company Eskom on Monday announced it was implementing a more intense electricity rationing schedule, five days after continued rolling power cuts have plunged businesses, schools and homes into darkness. The power cuts, known as “load shedding” are implemented to …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The flashy governor of Nairobi on Monday pleaded not guilty to over 30 charges of money laundering, receiving bribes and conflict of interest in a court appearance held under tight security. Governor Mike , the latest top official to be hauled in on corruption charges in …

Kigali, Rwanda | AFP |  Rwanda on Sunday started a voluntary Ebola vaccination programme at its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo in a bid to prevent the spread of the deadly virus from its neighbour. All countries in high-risk areas, even if not hit by Ebola, had been …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The flashy governor of Nairobi was arrested Friday shortly after Kenya’s chief prosecutor ordered he be detained to face charges of economic crimes. Governor Mike Sonko is the latest in a string of top officials — including Finance Minister Henry Rotch — to be hauled in …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | The United Nations on Thursday called for some $200 million in extra funding to help four million Zimbabweans unable to buy food due to drought and triple-digit inflation. The southern African country has been hit by a poor harvest and an entrenched economic crisis that has …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  | Rwanda has added another European club to promote its tourism and products like coffee by announcing a partnership with French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The club announced today that Visit Rwanda will also be displayed at the Parc des Princes Stadium where fans of …

Washington, United States | AFP | The United States said Wednesday it would name an ambassador to Sudan for the first time in 23 years, during a visit to Washington by the country’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. The two nations will proceed with an exchange of ambassadors, Secretary of State …