Orthodox Ethiopians on Wednesday marked the beginning of Meskel, one of the holiest celebrations in the Christian tradition followed in this devout nation riven by ethnic and political violence.Among Orthodox believers in Ethiopia and its neighbour Eritrea, Meskel commemorates the discovery by Saint Helena in Palestine in the fourth century of the “true cross” upon …

In a divided Ethiopia, the Orthodox mark Meskel celebrationWed, 27 Sep 2023 19:54:56 GMT Read More »

Fly-half Handre Pollard, back from injury and called up to the South Africa World Cup squad last week, will start for the Springboks in their final pool game against Tonga in Marseille on Sunday.It will be Pollard’s first Bok appearance since playing against Australia in Adelaide before injury forced him out of the subsequent 16 …

Pollard to start for South Africa in World Cup against TongaWed, 27 Sep 2023 17:07:54 GMT Read More »

Tanzania has culled millions of quelea birds to prevent them from destroying rice fields, using drones and planes to monitor commercial farms, the country’s plants and pesticides watchdog said Wednesday.The Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA) which is also responsible for controlling desert locusts, killed five million quelea birds in the northern region of …

Tanzania kills millions of birds to save rice fieldsWed, 27 Sep 2023 12:48:56 GMT Read More »

France’s ambassador to Niger left the capital Niamey early Wednesday, after weeks of tensions between Paris and the post-coup regime in the West African country who demanded his expulsion.”The ambassador and six colleagues left Niamey around 4:00 am (0300 GMT),” a diplomatic source from the French embassy said.A source in the Niger interior ministry confirmed …

French ambassador to Niger leaves after weeks of tensionWed, 27 Sep 2023 10:28:07 GMT Read More »

At Omar Bongo University in Gabon’s capital, student Nathan Ovono Obiang is as absorbed by what’s going on in his post-coup country as he is in his maths lessons.”I don’t see any prospects, but we are aware that things can’t change from one day to the next,” the 25-year-old, who is in the third year …

Students see glimmer of hope in post-Bongo GabonWed, 27 Sep 2023 08:25:12 GMT Read More »

Morocco has voiced ambitious plans to become North Africa’s top player in the emerging “green hydrogen” sector, with plans to export the clean-burning fuel to Europe.Hydrogen is seen as a clean energy source that can help the world phase out fossil fuels and reduce atmospheric carbon emissions in the battle to slow global warming. Morocco, which …

Morocco aims to become key player in green hydrogenWed, 27 Sep 2023 03:12:06 GMT Read More »

French media outlet Jeune Afrique protested Tuesday after Burkina Faso’s junta-led government suspended its print and online operations in the country after the publication of two articles about tensions within the military.Since taking power in a coup in 2022, the junta has suspended multiple TV and radio stations and expelled foreign correspondents, especially from French …

French news outlet Jeune Afrique protests Burkina suspensionTue, 26 Sep 2023 20:34:54 GMT Read More »

Kehinde Wiley made his name painting ordinary African-Americans in classical European style, but after a high-profile commission from Barack Obama he is focusing on a different form of black power with a new show looking at African leaders. Wiley’s portraits borrow the codes of Old Master paintings usually associated with kings and religious saints, often setting …

Kehinde Wiley: black power painterTue, 26 Sep 2023 14:11:58 GMT Read More »

Niger’s coup leaders are demanding a “negotiated framework” for former colonial ruler France to withdraw its troops, which Paris says will be completed by the end of the year.The new military regime said in a statement read out on national TV late on Monday that the timeframe for the pullout “must be set out in …

Niger regime wants ‘negotiated framework’ for French army pulloutTue, 26 Sep 2023 13:49:45 GMT Read More »

Nigeria, a nation of conflicts, corruption and poverty? That narrative is what a new breed of local media created by young Nigerians hopes to counter by getting away from the stereotypes they say are too often perpetuated by the foreign press.Over the last decade, several online publications such as The Republic, Culture Custodian and Stears Business …

Nigeria’s new media seeks to cover Africa’s ignored storiesTue, 26 Sep 2023 12:40:42 GMT Read More »