N’Djamena, Chad | AFP | The President of Chad, Idriss Deby, on Sunday said general elections, scheduled for 2015 but much postponed, would be held in 2018. “I am happy to announce, on the cusp of the New Year, that legislative elections will be organised in 2018,” Deby said …
Read More »Three anti-Kabila activists freed from jail in DR Congo
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Three pro-democracy activists have been released after spending five months in prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo over a protest march against President Joseph Kabila, their organisation said Friday. Jean Mulenda, Jean-Pierre Tshisitshabu and Patrick Mbuya have left Kasapa central prison in the …
Read More »Football world celebrates Weah’s Liberia election victory
Paris, France | AFP | Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba led plaudits on Friday from the world of football to George Weah after the only African to win the Ballon d’Or was elected President of Liberia. “Congratulations Mr. George” the Ivory Coast legend posted on Twitter. “Thanks Didier for your …
Read More »Liberians hopeful of first democratic handover since 1944
Monrovia, Liberia | AFP | Liberians were awaiting Wednesday the result of a presidential election they say represents far more than the choice of a successor to Africa’s first elected female head of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Sirleaf’s predecessor Charles Taylor fled the country in 2003 with hopes of avoiding …
Read More »Low turn-out as George Weah contends to lead Liberia
Monrovia, Liberia | AFP | Liberian former international footballer George Weah and Vice-President Joseph Boakai joined voters in casting their ballots on Tuesday as they went head-to-head in a delayed run-off vote for the country’s presidency. Voters were choosing a successor to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is stepping down …
Read More »Russians endorse Navalny to challenge Putin in March vote
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Thousands of Russians on Sunday endorsed the candidacy of Alexei Navalny, seen as the only Russian opposition leader who stands a fighting chance of challenging strongman Vladimir Putin in a March vote. Thousands of people who back the charismatic 41-year-old lawyer were meeting in 20 …
Read More »Ex-football star who could be Liberia’s next leader
Monrovia, Liberia | AFP | George Weah emerged from Liberia’s slums to become a superstar footballer in the 1990s, and has leveraged his status as a revered figure among the country’s young and poor in his second run for the presidency. Weah will face Vice President Joseph Boakai on December …
Read More »George Weah rallies Liberia faithful ahead of Dec 26 vote
Monrovia, Liberia | AFP | Former football star George Weah has waited 12 years to become president of Liberia, and with his dream now within touching distance fans danced and sang in support in a Monrovia stadium on Saturday. Weah goes head-to-head with Vice-President Joseph Boakai on December 26 in …
Read More »One-year countdown and high hurdles to elections in DR Congo
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | With one year until long-delayed elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the countdown officially begins Saturday for a vote which is supposed to bring about the belated departure of President Joseph Kabila. But it remains unclear if the 45 million Congolese voters who registered …
Read More »Six anti-Trump inauguration day protesters not guilty
Washington, United States | AFP | Free speech activists and opponents of Donald Trump on Friday welcomed the acquittal of six protesters charged over unrest on the US president’s inauguration day. They were among more than 200 people accused in connection with the January 20 protests, some of whom have …
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