AFRICA

Rabat, Morocco | AFP |  Morocco’s king has cancelled plans to attend a West Africa summit this weekend in Liberia due to the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the foreign ministry has said. The North African country is hoping to join the Economic Community of West African States …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP |  South Africa’s ruling ANC party on Friday asked the government to explain leaked emails detailing alleged bribes and corruption, as President Jacob Zuma faced a fresh wave of scandal. Thousands of emails have emerged in the local press exposing alleged misconduct over lucrative government …

Juba, South Sudan | AFP |  Fifteen children died in South Sudan after receiving contaminated measles vaccines that had not been properly refrigerated, and were mixed using the same syringe for four days. In addition to the blunders handling the vaccine, Health Minister Riek Gai Kok said that two children, …

Niamey, Niger | AFP |  At least 44 Libya-bound migrants, including women and babies, died of thirst after their vehicle broke down in the scorching Sahara desert of northern Niger, local officials said Thursday. “The number of migrants who died in the desert is 44 for now,” said Rhissa Feltou, …

Barclays PLC sells 33.9% more shareholdings in Barclays Africa London based Barclays PLC on June 01 shed 33.7% more shareholdings in Barclays Africa Group to equity investors at South African Rand R37.7bn, further reducing its stake in the latter company. The lender sold 285.7million Barclays Africa ordinary shares reducing its …

Tunis, Tunisia | AFP |  A court in northern Tunisia handed one-month jail terms Thursday to four men for eating in public during the Muslim dawn-to-dusk fasting month of Ramadan, a spokesman said. The four had been “eating and smoking in a public garden, a provocative act during Ramadan”, which …

Barclays PLC has announced its intention to sell 187 million ordinary shares in Barclays Africa Group, which represents approximately 22% of Barclays Africa’s issued share capital. This follows receipt of the required regulatory approvals, including approval from the South African Minister of Finance, for Barclays PLC to reduce its shareholding …

Kampala, Uganda | AFP |  Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has ordered an investigation into possible collusion between the country’s wildlife agency and two Chinese diplomats in the trafficking of ivory. Poaching has risen sharply in recent years across Africa, fuelled by rising demand in Asia for ivory and rhino horn, …

COMMENT: Providing security and fighting al-Shabaab isn’t enough – AMISOM can do much more in Somalia By Meressa K Dessu and Omar S Mahmood Addis, Ethiopia| ISSAFRICA|  The mandate of the African Union (AU) Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) officially expires today, 31 May. Although the AU Peace and Security Council …

Mombasa, Kenya | AFP |  Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday inaugurated a Chinese-built railway, the country’s biggest infrastructure project since independence that is aimed at cementing its role as the gateway to East Africa. The boxy red-and-white diesel train left from a gleaming new terminal in the port city …