Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Across Africa, the approaching presidency of Donald Trump has provoked deep uncertainty over how the United States will pursue policies ranging from counter-terrorism and trade, to aid and climate change. Many African countries had high hopes that Barack Obama would bring transformative benefits to …
Read More »Canada eyes three years of UN peacekeeping in Africa
Ottawa, Canada | AFP | Canada is planning to send 600 troops on a UN peacekeeping mission to Africa for three years, a spokesperson for the defense minister told AFP Friday. However, the plan still requires cabinet approval, said Jordan Owens, the spokeswoman for Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan. In a …
Read More »In Africa, little enthusiasm for US vote after Obama
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | “The dream becomes reality”, “Our son, our hope”: the headlines in the Kenyan press in 2008 captured pride and excitement after the election of Barack Obama. Eight years later, enthusiasm for the outgoing president has faded on a continent that he is accused of forsaking. …
Read More »African states demand UN suspend LGBT expert
United Nations, United States | AFP | African countries on Friday demanded that the appointment of a new UN expert on LGBT rights be suspended, saying his mission to report on anti-gay violence had nothing to do with human rights. The UN Human Rights Council in late September appointed international …
Read More »Elephant poaching costs Africa tourism $25 million
Paris, France | AFP | Stopping the killing of elephants for their tusks could add some $25 million (23 million euros) to Africa’s annual tourism income, more than offsetting the anti-poaching spend, a study said Tuesday. While the figure pales in comparison to the estimated value of the black market …
Read More »COMMENT: ICC is the best protection for Africa’s leaders
COMMENT: By Martin M. Lwanga Politics in Africa tends to be a zero sum game where the losers need an ICC to protect their rights The recent decision by the President of Burundi, Peirre Nkurunziza, to sign legislation enabling Burundi to withdrawal from International Court Criminal Court (ICC), followed by …
Read More »Advantage Mazembe after away draw in final
Blida, Algeria | AFP | Reluctant favourites TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo are poised to win the CAF Confederation Cup after drawing 1-1 at Mouloudia Bejaia of Algeria Saturday in the first leg of the final. Jonathan Bolingi, one of four Congolese in the Mazembe starting line-up, …
Read More »Kenyatta in Sudan as African decisions loom on ICC
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta began a two-day visit to Sudan on Saturday, just days after Khartoum issued a call to all African countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court. Sudan has urged African members to quit the Hague-based ICC which it said was a …
Read More »Prosecutor Bensouda vows to press on despite Africa ICC withdrawals
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor has described decisions by three African countries to withdraw as a “setback”, as she vowed that the tribunal will continue its work on the continent. “You could expect a setback as the ICC started to make more progress,” …
Read More »Severe southern African drought to worsen
Maputo, Mozambique | AFP | The impact of the most severe drought to hit southern Africa in 35 years is expected to worsen in the coming months, a UN climate envoy warned Friday. “The crisis has yet to peak,” Macharia Kamau, special envoy on El Nino and climate, said at …
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