AFRICA

The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | War crimes judges Tuesday found a Malian jihadist guilty of destroying Timbuktu’s fabled shrines, and were set to pass sentence amid hopes the court will send a strong message to help safeguard the world’s ancient monuments. A three-judge bench began handing down its judgements …

Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Ali Bongo will be sworn in on Tuesday as Gabon’s president for a second seven-year term, his office announced, three days after his election victory was controversially validated by the constitutional court. The ceremony will be held at the seafront presidential palace in Libreville, the …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …