Abidjan, Ivory Coast | AFP | Vieux-Pere runs his fingers through his patchy hair as he remembers escaping being lynched. “The locals caught me and hit me everywhere, I still have scars on my skull,” he says. “That’s why I can’t get my hair right,” he says with a laugh. For …
Read More »Jubilant crowds dub Kenya’s top judge ‘an African hero’
Kibera, Kenya | AFP | “Baba! Baba!” the men cried, screaming out the nickname of Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga as they rolled about in the middle of a road, clutching a campaign poster with his picture on it. Moments earlier a man in a full gorilla suit zipped by …
Read More »Kenya’s electoral board to make ‘changes’ ahead of new vote
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s electoral commission vowed Friday to make staff changes ahead of a new presidential vote ordered by the Supreme Court, which said it had failed to conduct a valid election last month. Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati took note of …
Read More »Kenyatta ‘disagrees’ with court’s poll ruling but ‘respects it’
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said today that he disagreed with a Supreme Court decision invalidating his re-election and calling for fresh elections, but vowed to respect it. “I personally disagree with the ruling that has been made today but I respect it,” he said, adding …
Read More »‘A Nasty Boy’ tests Nigeria’s masculinity
Make no mistake Nigeria’s “A Nasty Boy” is not a gay online magazine. Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | In a country where homosexual acts can be punished with 14 years in prison, this provocative website featuring photos of men in mini-skirts is simply “pushing the boundaries and exploring masculinity”. Richie Akuson, …
Read More »Colombia FARC rebels reborn as ‘revolutionary force’ party
Bogota, Colombia | AFP | Colombia’s FARC former guerrilla force on Thursday re baptized itself the Common Alternative Revolutionary Force, as it transformed into a political party following its disarmament. In spite of earlier resistance from some members of the movement, the name retains the revolutionary spirit of the communist guerrilla group, which …
Read More »Kenya opposition hails ‘historic’ decision overturning poll
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga on Friday hailed as historic a court decision nullifying an election won by President Uhuru Kenyatta and calling for a re-run. “This is a historic day for the people of Kenya and by extension for the people of the continent …
Read More »Shock as Kenya court cancels election result, demands re-run
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s Supreme Court on Friday ordered a new presidential election after annulling the results of last month’s poll in a shock decision in favour of the opposition. Joyous celebrations erupted outside the court and in Nairobi slums after the second term victory of President Uhuru …
Read More »Kenya Supreme Court orders re-run of poll
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s Supreme Court on Friday ordered a new presidential election within 60 days, in a shock ruling cancelling the results of last month’s poll over widespread irregularities. Chief Justice David Maraga said a majority decision by the panel of six judges, with two dissenting, found that …
Read More »In inflation-hit Egypt, Eid sacrifices are a luxury
Menufia, Egypt | AFP | The cattle traders in the Ashmun market, north of the capital Cairo, jostled to lure customers into buying a buffalo or a sheep for Eid al-Adha, the annual Muslim holiday when custom requires a sacrifice. But this year, with inflation in Egypt hitting record highs, customers …
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