Quito, Ecuador | AFP |  Lionel Messi scored a brilliant hat-trick as Argentina sealed their place at the 2018 World Cup with a 3-1 victory over Ecuador here Tuesday. Barcelona superstar Messi single-handedly rescued Argentina’s World Cup hopes as the South American giants came from behind to win in Quito. …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP |  Ethiopia will devalue its currency by 15 percent in a bid to boost demand for its major exports, a state-run media outlet reported Tuesday. Africa’s second most-populous country is also one of its best economic performers, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimating in …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga withdrew Tuesday from a re-run of the presidential election, saying electoral officials had failed to make necessary reforms. “After deliberating on our position in respect of the upcoming election… we believe that all will be best served by (the party) vacating …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga’s withdrawal Tuesday from a re-run of the presidential election is the latest in a series of dramatic developments over the disputed vote: – Tense vote – Kenyan voters turn out in large numbers on August 8 after a tight race …

Entebbe, Uganda | NBI |  Ministers in charge of Water Affairs from the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) member states are due to meet on Thursday October 12, 2017 to discuss and consider approval of key NBI reports and plans, among which is the NBI 10-Year Strategy. The strategy translates the NBI Shared …

Rabat, Morocco | AFP |  Engineers in Morocco are preparing to test the Arab world’s first high-speed railway this week with trains reaching 320 kilometres (200 miles) per hour, the country’s rail office said Monday. One train reached 275 kph (170 mph) on Monday along a stretch of track between …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP |  Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe on Monday stripped one of the top candidates to succeed him of a cabinet post, as the battle to replace the long-ruling leader intensifies. Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who also doubled as minister of justice, was replaced as minister by ruling ZANU-PF …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  The Aga Khan has been decorated with the “Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa” medal by President Yoweri Museveni at Uganda’s 55th Independence Day anniversary celebrations on Monday. At the celebrations held in Bushenyi in South Western Uganda, The Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Kenyan police lobbed tear gas at opposition supporters who protested around the country on Monday to demand a reform of the election commission before new polls are held later this month. Thousands gathered in the capital and the western opposition stronghold Kisumu, while smaller demonstrations …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Ugandans are celebrating their 55th Independence Day in Bushenyi. At the celebrations, President Yoweri Museveni decorated Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, The Aga Khan IV with the Grand Master Medal. The Aga Khan was honoured for his social and economic contribution to the developmet of …