Serowe, Botswana | AFP | President Ian Khama of Botswana this week wrapped up a national “farewell tour” before he stands down on Saturday in a power transfer designed to stress his statesmanship and the country’s stability. Khama has visited all of Botswana’s 57 constituencies since December, bidding a long goodbye …
Read More »Kenya expels opposition firebrand Miguna Miguna, again
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | An outspoken member of the opposition alliance was Wednesday expelled from Kenya for the second time in two months, his lawyer told AFP. Miguna Miguna, a firebrand member of the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition, was forced onto an international flight to Canada last month. …
Read More »Trump says ‘good chance’ Kim will give up nukes
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump, who has agreed to meet with Kim Jong Un, said Wednesday there is a now a good chance the North Korean leader will give up his country’s nuclear weapons. “For years and through many administrations, everyone said that peace and …
Read More »Mozambique makes ‘big strides’ in long-stalled talks
Maputo, Mozambique | AFP | Mozambique’s three main political parties agreed Tuesday to go ahead with constitutional reforms that will decentralise power as part of efforts to consolidate peace between the government and former rebels. “We have made significant strides,” said Margarida Talapa of the ruling Frelimo party after it …
Read More »UN strengthens role of DR Congo mission in elections
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council on Tuesday tasked its huge peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo with helping to prepare elections meant to end President Joseph Kabila’s rule. The council unanimously adopted a resolution presented by France that renews the mandate for …
Read More »Ethiopia’s ruling party picks ethnic Oromo, Abiy Ahmed, as PM
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia’s ruling coalition on Tuesday elected as leader Abiy Ahmed, from the country’s largest ethnic group the Oromo, paving the way for him to become prime minister, state media reported. As the leader of the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), Abiy is set …
Read More »Israel’s Netanyahu discharged from hospital after tests
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was discharged from hospital in Jerusalem on Tuesday after being admitted with a case of “high fever”, his office said. The 68-year-old premier, who underwent tests in the Hadassah hospital, was also suffering from a “cough”, the office said in a …
Read More »Four top activists held after Niger protest violence
Niamey, Niger | AFP | Four leading opposition and rights figures are being held in Niger prisons following a banned weekend demonstration that turned violent in the capital Niamey, media reports said Tuesday. They were among 23 people arrested after the protest Sunday against new taxes degenerated into clashes between …
Read More »UN strengthens role of DR Congo mission in elections
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously backed a resolution that tasks the peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo with helping to prepare elections and avoid deadly violence. France presented the measure that renews the mandate for MONUSCO, the UN’s biggest …
Read More »Columnists quit Kenyan media group over freedom crackdown
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Eight prominent columnists working for Kenya’s biggest media group quit Tuesday over what they said was increased meddling by government and a loss of media freedom at its outlets. The columnists include George Kegoro, executive director of the Kenyan Human Rights Commission; Lynne Muthoni Wanyeki, …
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