AFRICA

Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerians on Saturday voted for a second time in a fortnight in governorship and state assembly elections, with heightened concerns from observers of violence and an increased military presence. Elections for governors are being held in 29 of Nigeria’s 36 states, for all state assemblies, plus …

United Nations, United States | AFP | A shaky peace deal in South Sudan stands a chance of success despite delays in implementing it and many lingering unresolved issues, the UN envoy said Friday. The agreement signed in September provides for a power-sharing government that will prepare elections meant to …

Algiers, Algeria | AFP | Ailing Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Thursday warned of the risk of “chaos”, on the eve of a major planned protest against his bid for a fifth term in office. Bouteflika, 82, uses a wheelchair and has rarely been seen in public since suffering a …

Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Rights groups have gone on the offensive over the deployment of the military in Nigerian elections as a new polling day looms. With elections due on Saturday for governors in 29 states and local assemblies, campaigners say the military cast a dark shadow over last month’s …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Efforts to curb the Democratic Republic of Congo’s worst Ebola outbreak are stumbling, medical charity MSF warned Thursday, blaming the role of the security forces in the response and their “toxic” relations with local communities. Seven months into the outbreak, “the Ebola response is failing to …

  Development agencies fork out vast sums to sway African journalists to ensure coverage will be positive COMMENT | Prue Clarke | At a recent press conference, a small group of Liberian journalists made a courageous admission: they confessed they were all “on the take.” To supplement salaries as low …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | DR Congo’s recently elected president, Felix Tshisekedi and his predecessor Joseph Kabila on Wednesday said they had decided to form a coalition government following talks. Despite Tshisekedi’s election — the first peaceful transition of power since the Democratic Republic of Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960 — the …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Next week’s  Africa Now Conference organised by the African Strategic Leadership Centre in Kampala will bring together Africa’s eminent personalities and high ranking government officials to discuss critical drivers of development particularly leadership, institutions, factor endowments, human capital, trade, international relations, technology and innovation. The conference that …

Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Pan-African lender, United Bank for Africa, has unveiled a full operation in the United Kingdom, opening up trade opportunities between the continent and European nations. This follows authorization of the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for UBA (UK) Limited …

Algiers, Algeria | AFP | Police deployed Wednesday in the Algerian capital with water cannons, a day after thousands of students demonstrated against ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s re-election bid. Although the city remained calm, security forces were bracing for further protests on Friday as demonstrators have vowed to take to the streets until the 82-year-old …