Tens of thousands of spectators are set to attend Friday’s opening ceremony at the ninth Francophone Games in DR Congo’s capital Kinshasa, despite security and safety fears.Gathering athletes and artists from mostly-French speaking countries, the Games are being held for the first time in the central African metropolis. Some 80,000 people are due to watch an …

Francophone Games to kick off in DR Congo capitalFri, 28 Jul 2023 11:46:01 GMT Read More »

Ethiopian Airlines successfully weathered the Covid pandemic by shifting its strategy, but Africa’s only profitable carrier still faces “real challenges” in sourcing parts and staying competitive at a time of inflation, its CEO told AFP.The 2022-2023 financial year ending June 30 “was a very successful year,” Mesfin Tasew said in an interview in Ethiopia’s capital …

Ethiopian Airlines facing ‘real challenges’ despite Covid successFri, 28 Jul 2023 06:53:54 GMT Read More »

Coup leaders in Niger said Thursday they had won broad army support and called for calm, but former colonial power France said it did not consider the apparent putsch “final”.French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said there were “ways out” for coup plotters who chose to heed global condemnation of President Mohamed Bazoum’s ouster.The latest target …

France says Niger coup not ‘final’ as putschists win army backingFri, 28 Jul 2023 04:55:32 GMT Read More »

Romina Nunez scored the equaliser as Argentina roared back from two goals down to draw 2-2 and deny South Africa a landmark first Women’s World Cup win on Friday.South Africa were cruising to a first-ever win in five matches at the World Cup after goals by Linda Motlhalo and Thembi Kgatlana either side of half-time …

Argentina comeback denies South Africa first win at Women’s World CupFri, 28 Jul 2023 04:55:25 GMT Read More »

Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber will be emotional and scrum-half Grant Williams hopeful when South Africa confront Argentina on Saturday in a Rugby Championship final-round match.The match in Johannesburg will be the final Test at home for the South Africans before three warm-up games prepare them to defend the Rugby World Cup title in France …

Nienaber emotional, Williams hopeful as Springboks tackle PumasFri, 28 Jul 2023 01:12:01 GMT Read More »

Algerians in the fire-ravaged northeast were Thursday counting the cost of the blazes that killed 34 people, destroyed homes and reduced vast forest areas to scorched wastelands.The wildfires raged for days, mainly through the mountain forests of the Kabylia region on the Mediterranean coast, fanned by winds during blistering summer heat.”Many people are traumatised. Our …

Algeria counts costs after deadly wildfiresThu, 27 Jul 2023 20:48:33 GMT Read More »

Coup leaders in Niger who say they have overthrown the elected government won broad army support and called for calm on Thursday, after young demonstrators ransacked the ruling party headquarters.The latest target of a coup in Africa’s turbulent Sahel region, President Mohamed Bazoum has been confined at his residence since Wednesday by his own presidential …

Niger coup leaders win army backing and call for calmThu, 27 Jul 2023 19:59:23 GMT Read More »

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday offered free grain to six African countries as he launched a summit with leaders from the continent days after withdrawing from the Ukraine grain export deal.The two-day summit in Putin’s native Saint Petersburg is being scrutinised as a test of his support in Africa, where he retains backing despite …

Putin promises free grain at Africa summitThu, 27 Jul 2023 18:14:06 GMT Read More »

More than 900 migrants have drowned off Tunisia’s coast so far this year as they tried to reach Europe by boat, the North African country’s government said Thursday.In a warning of further tragedy, the United Nations said it was deeply concerned for the safety of hundreds of migrants stranded in Tunisia following their removal to …

Tunisia says 900 migrants drowned off its coast this yearThu, 27 Jul 2023 16:34:22 GMT Read More »

Niger’s armed forces chief on Thursday declared his support for troops who said they had overthrown the government, despite a defiant stand by the country’s elected president and an outcry from the world community.The latest target of a coup in the turbulent Sahel, President Mohamed Bazoum has been confined at his residence since Wednesday by …

Niger military chief backs coup leaders, but president defiantThu, 27 Jul 2023 16:14:33 GMT Read More »