Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza is an evangelical who believes he was chosen by God to rule the east African nation, and plans to do so for as long as possible. The 54-year-old former rebel is seeking to extend his rule with a raft of constitutional …
Read More »Burundi to hold referendum to extend Nkurunziza rule
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Burundians on Thursday will vote in a referendum on sweeping constitutional reforms that would shore up the power of President Pierre Nkurunziza and enable him to rule until 2034. With opponents cowed, beaten, killed or living in exile, there seems little doubt the amendments will …
Read More »US first lady Melania Trump hospitalized with ‘benign’ kidney condition
Washington, United States | AFP | US First Lady Melania Trump had surgery Monday for what aides called a “benign” kidney condition, and will remain in hospital for the rest of the week. The Slovenia-born wife of Donald Trump underwent an embolization procedure, said her communications director Stephanie Grisham. “The …
Read More »Sudan’s Bashir names new oil, foreign ministers in major reshuffle
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday appointed new oil and foreign ministers in a major cabinet reshuffle that saw four other ministers changed amid a worsening economic crisis, state media reported. The reshuffle comes weeks after Bashir sacked his previous foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour following …
Read More »S.Africa recalls Israel ambassador over Gaza deaths
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa recalled its ambassador to Israel on Monday after at least 52 Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forces during protests over the US embassy opening in Jerusalem. “Given the indiscriminate and grave manner of the latest Israeli attack, the South African …
Read More »Mao reveals what is killing DP
But will big youth wing revival meeting save it? Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | Uganda’s oldest party, the Democratic Party is organising a revival meeting for its youth wing, the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) on May 23 in Kampala. Tadeo Kawuki, UYD Deputy Head of Publicity says they are …
Read More »Africa’s need for messiahs
Inside our belief that the salvation of our nations will come from the actions of one great man THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | If you follow discussions on politics in Uganda, or Africa generally, one factor is given as the cause of the slow rate of development – …
Read More »Museveni’s hand in Amongi lands saga
Tainted minister handling big deals for President Kampala, Uganda | HAGGIA MATSIKO | Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | That drama that played out on May 8 when Betty Amongi, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, appeared before the Land Inquiry sitting in Kampala left one question: What would President …
Read More »Guinea opposition to resume protests over contested vote
Conakry, Guinea | AFP | Guinean opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo on Thursday said protests would resume next week over disputed local elections in February as he called off negotiations with the government. Demonstrations over the results of that vote have claimed at least 15 lives. The opposition was …
Read More »Sierra Leone new president announces free education for kids
Freetown, Sierra Leone | AFP | Sierra Leone’s new President Julius Maada Bio on Thursday announced the introduction of free education for both primary and secondary school age children, in line with a major campaign pledge. “Free education will be introduced effective September 2018 for all primary and secondary schools …
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