AFRICA

Tarhuna, Libya | AFP | Stretching as far as the eye can see, groves of gnarled olive trees in northwest Libya have proudly withstood the country’s devastating conflicts. But the industry of extracting olive oil, often dubbed “green gold”, is now under threat after Libyan authorities halted exports in a …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | DR Congo on Wednesday announced that key elections due to take place nationwide on December 30 would be postponed to March in two regions troubled by violence. However, the delay will not affect the nationwide timetable for the presidential ballot, which is being held …

Kano, Nigeria | AFP | Boko Haram jihadists ambushed a military convoy in northeastern Nigeria, killing 13 soldiers and a policeman, the army said Wednesday. But an officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the militants had overrun an army base, and put the death toll at 18. An army …

Nigeria resolves $8 bln row with MTN Lagos, Nigeria | AFP |  Nigeria said it has resolved a dispute with Africa’s largest mobile operator over $8.13 billion (6.96 billion euros) which it accused MTN of illegally repatriating to South Africa. Africa’s biggest telecoms market Nigeria shocked MTN and foreign investors …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia’s parliament on Tuesday approved the creation of a reconciliation commission as the government seeks to end intercommunal ethnic violence, state-affiliated Fana radio said. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has won international praise for his reformist agenda since coming to power in April, including allowing …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Four activists of the opposition Filimbi movement were freed in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday after a year in prison, local media reported, days before a much-delayed presidential election. The group’s coordinator Carbone Beni and three of his colleagues were released from …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mi Youren, a 68-year-old pensioner from Jinan, China was watching Animal World on TV when he saw the African leopards chasing antelopes and got an idea. Today, he loves nothing more than to put on a goofy tight leopard costume complete with tail and pointy …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The first-ever Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) to be held on the continent was held in Cairo, Egypt, between Dec.11-17, with the President of the African Export-Import Bank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, calling for the implementation of initiatives that will add meaning to that African Continental Free …

Antananarivo, Madagascar | AFP | Marc Ravalomanana, the former Madagascar president who has sought another term, urged supporters Sunday to protest as he appeared headed for defeat in a run-off poll. “I call on all Madagascans who feel they have suffered injustice and a violation of their right to vote …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The Burundi army on Sunday said it opposed a request by the African Union that it withdraw 1,000 soldiers serving in an African peacekeeping force in Somalia by February 28. Burundi army spokesman Colonel Floribert Biyereke said in a statement that the military would ask …