AFRICA

Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Since ascending to power in 2014, Egypt’s general-turned-president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has imposed himself as an uncontested leader, stamping out opposition despite criticism by rights groups. His government has taken no chances and arrested over 600 people after hundreds of Egyptians protested his rule last week. …

Buea, Cameroon | AFP | The mood in English-speaking Cameroon is a mix of anxiety, resignation and fatigue as the clock ticks. On September 30, the government will start hosting a national “dialogue” on the future of the anglophone territories, where separatist violence and a government crackdown have cost thousands of …

New York, US | THE INDEPENDENT | President Paul Kagame has held a meeting in New York with his Presidential Advisory Council (PAC), and hailed them for sticking with the country in its struggles to get back on its feet fully. “I sincerely want to thank all of you for staying …

Cape Town, South Africa | AFP | Prince Harry on Monday urged South African men to turn their back on toxic masculinity as his wife Meghan applauded girls for “standing up for what’s right,” as the British royal couple launched their first official tour since becoming parents in May. The pair …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Seven children died and scores were injured early Monday when a school building collapsed in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, in an accident blamed on shoddy construction. “We can confirm that we have seven fatalities,” said government spokesman Cyrus Oguna. Education Minister George Magoha said in …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The Democratic Republic of the Congo is to introduce a second vaccine next month to combat the Ebola virus, which has killed more than 2,100 people in the country, the World Health Organization said Monday. The announcement came as the aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s founding president Robert Mugabe had “advanced cancer” when he died in hospital in Singapore on September 6, the state-owned newspaper reported on Monday. The former guerilla leader, who died aged 95, came to power at the end of white minority rule in 1980 and …

Churches face competition and a troubled legacy as they grow | JOSEPH HELLWEG | Pope Francis recently completed a seven-day tour of three African countries: Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius. It was a significant trip for a number of reasons. During his visit, the pope spoke on issues of peace and …

Gabon to be first African nation paid to fight deforestation Libreville, Gabon | AFP |  Gabon will become the first African country paid with international funds to preserve its forests in an effort to fight climate change, the United Nations said Sunday. Norway will provide Gabon, which is almost 90 …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  The World Health Organization has accused Tanzania of failing to provide information on suspected cases of Ebola in the country, potentially styming efforts to curb the spread of the deadly virus. The WHO said it had learned on September 10 of a suspected case of …