Bangui, Central African Republic | AFP | Militiamen killed two police officers Thursday in the Central African Republic town of Bambari ahead of a scheduled visit by the country’s president, the government said. The attack came a day after President Faustin-Archange Touadera announced a date for African Union-brokered peace talks …
Read More »Egypt in race against time to host Africa Cup of Nations
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Chosen to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt faces a race against time to get ready for the event in five months, but experts say it will meet the challenge. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday said it selected Egypt ahead …
Read More »Sudan says 22 dead since start of protests as new demos called
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Anti-government protests that have rocked Sudan for weeks have left 22 people dead, authorities said on Thursday, as rally organisers called for fresh demonstrations. Angry crowds have staged hundreds of protests against the regime of President Omar al-Bashir after a government decision last month to …
Read More »Nigeria’s Buhari says confident of re-election victory
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said he was confident of winning a second term of office at polls next month. The 76-year-old former military ruler, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, is one of 73 candidates on the ballot at the February 16 poll. His main challenger is …
Read More »Nigerian troops retake Baga after Boko Haram attack
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerian troops were back in a strategic town on the shores of Lake Chad, military and civilian sources said Thursday, after Boko Haram attacks forced tens of thousands to flee. Fighters from the self-styled Islamic State West Africa Province overran a naval base and another housing troops from a regional …
Read More »550 million barrels of oil discovered off Ghana coast
Accra, Ghana | AFP | Norway’s Aker Energy on Thursday said it had discovered oil in commercial quantities off Ghana, which the government welcomed as a potential boost to the economy. The oil and gas operator said exploratory drilling indicated an “estimated 450-550 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe)” in the Pecan field, 166 kilometres …
Read More »EU ‘takes note’ of DRC vote result – and objections
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | The European Union said Thursday it had “taken note” of the surprise result of DR Congo’s controversial presidential election — as well as objections by the runner-up that the outcome amounted to a “coup”. A spokeswoman for the European Commission said the bloc was waiting for clarification from international observers, …
Read More »Suitcase full of cash stolen from Mugabe, court hears
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | A suitcase containing $150,000 in cash was stolen from ousted Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, a court in Harare has heard, with the suspected thieves spending the money on cars, houses and farm animals. The three accused — which include Constancia Mugabe, 50, a relative of the president — appeared before …
Read More »Madagascar’s ex-leader Ravalomanana accepts defeat
Antananarivo, Madagascar | AFP | Former president Marc Ravalomanana has accepted defeat in Madagascar’s presidential election, a day after the country’s Constitutional Court confirmed Andry Rajoelina as the new leader of the Indian Ocean island nation. Ravalomanana had lodged a complaint alleging widespread fraud in the December 19 run-off vote …
Read More »Boko Haram threatens civilians in NE Nigeria: army
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Boko Haram fighters have told civilians in northeast Nigeria to leave their homes, the army said on Thursday, as tensions mount in the long-running conflict. Army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu said there was “credible information” the jihadists had “infiltrated some villages” near the Borno state capital Maiduguri. “They have clandestinely been …
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