AFRICA

Cairo, Egypt | AFP | An Egyptian court Wednesday upheld a life sentence passed in 2016 against Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie over deadly clashes following Islamist president Mohamed Morsi’s ouster, judicial officials said. The court of cassation, whose rulings can not be appealed, upheld the verdict of life terms against …

Washington, United States | AFP | The United States expressed concern on Wednesday over the political crisis in Zimbabwe, where the military has apparently placed President Robert Mugabe under house arrest. A State Department official said the US embassy in Harare has been closed to the public as a safety precaution …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP |  Zimbabwe’s military remained in control of the country on Thursday morning, with President Robert Mugabe still under house arrest and the generals believed to be negotiating the return of sacked vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa. “I think the army are in negotiations with Mugabe and Mnangagwa,” Derek Matyszak, an …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | On Harare’s streets, many expressed amazement and delight Wednesday that President Robert Mugabe’s long reign may be coming to a close, but people also admitted the future looked unstable. Mugabe, 93, has ruled Zimbabwe since 1980 — longer than many can remember — and the sudden …

Maiduguri, Nigeria | AFP | Twelve people were killed Wednesday evening after four suicide bombers struck in the regional capital of Maiduguri in northeast Nigeria, rescue workers told AFP. Two men and two women blew themselves up in the Muna neighbourhood at around 1700 GMT, the chief security officer of Borno …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Eleven people have died after a plane belonging to a safari company crashed in northern Tanzania, according to the aircraft’s owners, Coastal Aviation. “We are deeply saddened to report that eleven people have died after a single-plane accident this morning in Northern Tanzania,” the company said …

Ottawa, Canada | AFP |  Canada will boost its support for UN peacekeeping missions by mobilizing a rapid response force of 200 soldiers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday. As an initial step, Canada will send a Hercules aircraft to the UN regional support center in Entebbe, Uganda, which backs …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Eleven people have died after a plane belonging to a safari company crashed in northern Tanzania, according to the aircraft’s owners, Coastal Aviation. “We are deeply saddened to report that eleven people have died after a single-plane accident this morning in Northern Tanzania,” the company …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Dozens of people were arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, following warnings from authorities that they would break up planned protests against the extended rule of President Joseph Kabila. The Lucha citizen movement said at least 27 were detained by police in …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Emmerson Mnangagwa appears well-placed to return to a leading role in Zimbabwe following the army’s takeover in response to President Robert Mugabe’s sacking of the former vice president. Nicknamed “Ngwena” (The Crocodile) because of his fearsome power and ruthlessness, the 75-year-old has a reputation for taking …