Luanda, Angola | AFP | The first major scalp claimed by Angola’s new president Joao Lourenco in his war on corruption and nepotism was that of his predecessor’s daughter, who was sacked as head of the state oil company. The next big name linked to former president Jose Eduardo dos …
Read More »White House pushes back over Trump N. Korea quote
Washington, United States | AFP | The White House on Saturday denied and corrected a quote attributed to President Donald Trump that suggested he had a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. “I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-Un,” Trump was quoted as telling The …
Read More »Gabon opposition leader prevented from flying to France
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping was on Saturday prevented by the security forces from taking a flight to France over a judicial matter, he told AFP. “I was supposed to travel this evening but the security forces prevented me,” the former African Union chief told …
Read More »Trump language on Africa unacceptable, racist: Ghana
Accra, Ghana | AFP | Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo on Saturday said Donald Trump’s reported description of African nations as “shithole countries” was unacceptable, while his predecessor branded the US head of state a racist. President Akufo-Addo tweeted that Trump’s reported language was “extremely unfortunate”, adding: “We are certainly not …
Read More »Football boss Mansour says to stand for Egypt president
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | The head of Egypt’s legendary Zamalek football club, Mortada Mansour, said Saturday he would be standing in the presidential election in March. “I will be a candidate in the presidential election and I will start to collect sponsors,” he wrote on Facebook. He also confirmed …
Read More »Tanzania’s Magufuli rules out extending presidential term
Magufuli tells Tanzanians that the ongoing debate about increasing the presidential term from five to seven years displeases him Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Tanzanian President John Magufuli will not seek to extend presidential terms in the country, his party said Saturday, moving to quash calls from his own party …
Read More »At UN, diplomats are watching Candidate Haley
United Nations, United States | AFP | One year into the job, Nikki Haley stands out as the star of President Donald Trump’s administration, and diplomats say the UN ambassador is directing some of that star power into a likely White House bid. Speculation about Haley’s presidential ambitious has picked up …
Read More »THIS WEEK: South Africa’s parliament reviews Zuma’s impeachment process
THIS WEEK: South Africa’s parliament reviews Zuma’s impeachment process Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Assembly of South Africa has started the process to impeach President Jacob Zuma after the constitutional court ordered in December that they come up with rules to allow for impeachment after the same court …
Read More »ANC leader vows to ‘restore credibility’ after Zuma graft scandals
East London, South Africa | AFP | The new head of South Africa’s ruling ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa, pledged Saturday to “restore the credibility” of the party after a spate of graft scandals involving President Jacob Zuma. Zuma was replaced as party chief by his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa in December with the …
Read More »Gambia ‘suspends political events’ over clashes
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | The Gambia has suspended permission for rallies and other public political events after clashes allegedly between supporters of President Adama Barrow and those of the former regime of Yahya Jammeh. Gambian police said in a statement issued late Thursday that permits for political parties to …
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