Mogadishu, Somalia | AFP | Troubled Somalia on Monday announced it was delaying its elections for one more month to October and November due to security issues and administrative problems. Somalia’s internationally-backed government was supposed to hold national elections this year but instead scheduled a limited franchise election in which …
Read More »Uganda takes on the ‘world’s most dangerous road’
Witchcraft, poor roadwork and dangerous driving — all have been blamed for the killer highway whose users will often turn to prayer before taking the road. Mpigi, Uganda | AFP | Wearing pristine white with her woollen socks pulled high, Ugandan traffic police officer Edith Nanteza exudes natural authority at …
Read More »Kagame ready to lead Africa on SDGs
President Paul Kagame on Sept. 20, while speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, appealed to fellow leaders to foster inclusive growth and prosperity of all citizens. Kagame was chairing the 3rd board meeting for the SDG Center for Africa when he made the remarks, …
Read More »EU says Gabon court failed to address poll ‘anomalies’
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | EU monitors said Sunday that Gabon’s top court had failed to rectify vote-counting “anomalies” in fiercely-disputed elections in which President Ali Bongo extended his family’s rule in the oil-rich nation into a fifth decade. The European Union’s electoral observer mission said it “regretted” that Gabon’s …
Read More »Boko Haram leaves Nigeria a lifetime of mental trauma
Maiduguri, Nigeria | AFP | The soldier clutched his book with both hands. He shouted his name, rank and Nigerian Army number to no-one in particular. He stood up straight and ended every reply with a bark of “sah” (sir). But his eyes were fixed to a slowly cranking ceiling …
Read More »Elephants divide meeting aimed at saving species
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | The world’s biggest conference on the international wildlife trade got underway Saturday in Johannesburg, but African countries lashed out at Western charities for “dictating” how they should protect their elephants. Over the next 12 days thousands of conservationists and top government officials will thrash …
Read More »Morocco asks to rejoin African Union after 32 years
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Morocco on Friday made an official request to return to the African Union, 32 years after quitting the bloc in protest at its decision to accept Western Sahara as a member. “The Kingdom of Morocco has officially submitted a request to accede to the …
Read More »South Sudan’s Deng warns about arms embargo
United Nations, United States | AFP | South Sudan’s new vice president on Friday urged the United States not to push for an arms embargo while objecting to details of a planned UN-backed protection force in his war-scarred capital. “We are very much concerned because South Sudan does not need …
Read More »Gabon court upholds President Ali Bongo’s election win
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon’s constitutional court has upheld President’s Ali Bongo’s re-election victory, rejecting an appeal by rival Jean Ping, who had called for a recount over widespread allegations of fraud. The court, while partially changing the results of the close August 27 vote, said Bongo maintained a …
Read More »More than 100 bodies recovered from Egypt migrant shipwreck
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Rescuers recovered 53 bodies on Friday from a migrant boat that capsized off the Egyptian coast, bringing the death toll from the disaster to at least 108, a health ministry official said. “There have been 53 bodies recovered as of 11 am (0900 GMT) on …
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