London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May said Robert Mugabe’s resignation on Tuesday gave Zimbabwe “an opportunity to forge a new path free of the oppression that characterised his rule,” and declared Britain stood ready to help. “In recent days we have seen the desire of the …
Read More »MTN looks to cut ‘excessive’ licence fee in Benin
Cotonou, Benin | AFP | South African mobile phone giant MTN is in talks with Benin’s telecoms regulator after its subsidiary was slapped with a bill of more than $200 million. The regulator (Arcep) wants MTN Benin to pay 134.4 billion CFA francs — the equivalent of $213 million (205 million …
Read More »African leaders driven from power
Paris, France | AFP | Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, who resigned on Tuesday, is the latest in a long list of African leaders forced from power by coups, rebels and popular uprisings since 2010. Aged 93, Mugabe stepped down days after a military takeover and following unprecedented demonstrations against his rule. – …
Read More »What now after Mugabe resignation?
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Robert Mugabe shocked Zimbabwe and the world when he resigned as president on Tuesday, ending his 37-year grip on power. It also plunged the nation into uncertainty, raising institutional questions over succession although the military will likely retain power for now. Speaking to AFP, Derek …
Read More »Chad denies US claim its president took oil bribe
N’Djamena, Chad | AFP | Chad’s government on Tuesday denied allegations by US investigators that President Idriss Deby received a $2 million (1.7 million euros) bribe for oil rights in the country. “Faced with this umpteenth false allegation, the government of Chad formally refutes this shameful fabrication,” the government said in …
Read More »Mnangagwa to take charge of Zimbabwe
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose sacking as vice president sparked the crisis that led to Robert Mugabe’s resignation, could be named as the country’s new leader on Wednesday, a ruling party spokesman told AFP. “I believe that the fired vice president Mnangagwa, who the party central committee …
Read More »After Mugabe: the oldest world leaders
Paris, France | AFP | Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, 93, was until his resignation on Tuesday the oldest serving head of state in the world. He leaves behind around a dozen world leaders who are in power in their eighties and nineties. – Two rulers over 90 – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth …
Read More »Robert Mugabe resigns
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Robert Mugabe resigned as president of Zimbabwe Tuesday, parliament speaker Jacob Mudenda announced, bringing the curtain down on a 37-year reign. Mugabe was swept from power as his autocratic rule crumbled within days of a military takeover. “I Robert Gabriel Mugabe in terms of section 96 …
Read More »Zimbabwe crisis: What we know
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe is locked in one of its worst political crises since independence with strongman Robert Mugabe refusing to resign despite a military takeover, mass street protests and possible impeachment. Here is a snapshot of the ongoing turmoil: – Vice president sacked – November 6: Mugabe …
Read More »Kenya summons Tanzanian envoy over cow row
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | AFP | Tanzania’s ambassador was summoned to explain why Kenyan cows had been forcibly auctioned after crossing into Tanzania, officials said, the latest development in a spat between the east African neighbours. In October, Tanzania seized and sold 1,300 Kenyan cattle which had been driven …
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