Mogadishu, Somalia | AFP | At least 11 people were killed Saturday in an attack on a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu that was swiftly claimed by Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shabaab militants. The assault, the latest in a series by the Islamist group targeting hotels and restaurants, began when a suicide …
Read More »Algerians celebrate return of social media after blackout
Algiers, Algeria | AFP | Algerian internet users flocked back to social media on Friday following several days of blackout as the government sought to prevent a repeat of leaks of high school test papers. A leak of the papers on social media meant 555,000 out of 800,000 high school …
Read More »UPDF: Uganda to be out of Somalia ‘by 2017’
Kampala, Uganda | AFP | Uganda, the largest contributor to an African Union mission fighting jihadists in Somalia, will pull out its troops from next year, the head of the military said Thursday. Uganda was the first country to send soldiers to Somalia, spearheading the African Union Mission in Somalia …
Read More »Nigeria demoted, Uganda stays in Pot 4 for Africa World Cup draw
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | FIFA have altered the seeding for the 2018 World Cup Africa group draw in Cairo Friday with Egypt, Guinea and Cameroon promoted and Tunisia, Nigeria and Mali demoted. Egypt are now among the top seeds and Guinea and Cameroon are second seeds ahead of …
Read More »Uganda’s renewable energy investment gets world recognition
Uganda’s recent strong focus on improving her energy potential has been recognized, with the country now ranked third in Africa for providing the right environment to attract investment. Financial advisors Fieldstone Africa have categorized Uganda among “The Big Five” in Africa “where an investment of time and capital in a …
Read More »Bemba: from wealthy DR Congo VP to war criminal
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Jean-Pierre Bemba, the ex Congolese vice-president handed an 18-year-jail term Tuesday for “cruel” rapes and murders in neighbouring Central African Republic, was once a towering figure in business and politics. Bemba, a once feared warlord now aged 55, was sentenced after being found guilty …
Read More »Nestle to offer jobs training to 300,000 African youths
Abidjan, Ivory Coast | AFP | Swiss company Nestle will offer on-the-job training for 300,000 African youths to offset high unemployment that poses “severe economic and social challenges” for the continent, the company announced Tuesday. “We’re going to create more than 3,000 internships and apprenticeships in African countries by the …
Read More »Nigeria to stop defending naira
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria signalled Wednesday it will ease currency controls, opening the door to a plunge in the value of the naira, after the restrictions were blamed for stifling the economy. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele said in a televised speech from Abuja that …
Read More »KENYA: CORD, Jubilee lawmakers held for hate speech
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Eight Kenyan politicians are behind bars on suspicion of hate speech in the latest sign of rising political tensions a year ahead of elections. Three lawmakers from the ruling Jubilee party, and four plus a senator from the opposition CORD alliance, were ordered to be …
Read More »Kenyan new Great Lakes chief, Kazibwe campaigns in Luanda
Ambassador Zachary Muburi-Muita, Kenya’s candidate for the post of Executive Secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), has been endorsed by the heads of state. Confirmation of a new chief was one of several ICGLR decisions taken their 6th Ordinary Heads of State and Government …
Read More »