Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital Kinshasa prevented protesters from assembling Wednesday, AFP reporters saw, after a demonstration against last week’s elections was banned.Leading opposition politicians in impoverished but mineral-rich DRC called for the protest after rejecting last week’s vote, which was marred by severe delays and bureaucratic disarray. Congolese interior minister Peter Kazadi …

Police prevent election protest in DR Congo capitalWed, 27 Dec 2023 14:37:52 GMT Read More »

Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo believes his side have the forward firepower to cope without Mohamed Salah when the Egypt star departs for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.Darwin Nunez ended a run of 12 games without a goal, while Diogo Jota came off the bench to score after a month out injured in a 2-0 win …

Gakpo backs Liverpool forwards to fill in for absent SalahWed, 27 Dec 2023 10:44:47 GMT Read More »

Sitting outside her makeshift shelter in eastern Chad, Sudanese refugee Mariam Adam Yaya warmed up tea on some firewood in a bid to quell the pangs of hunger.The 34-year-old from the Masalit ethnic group crossed the border on foot after a four-day trek with no provisions and her eight-year-old son clinging to her back.She said …

In Chad camps, survivors recount Sudan war horrorsWed, 27 Dec 2023 01:47:05 GMT Read More »

Armed groups have killed at least 160 people in central Nigeria in a series of attacks on villages, local government officials said on Monday.The toll marked a sharp rise from the initial figure reported by the army Sunday evening of just 16 dead in a region plagued for several years by religious and ethnic tensions. “As …

Attacks kill at least 160 people in central NigeriaMon, 25 Dec 2023 21:40:53 GMT Read More »

On a countryside road in battle-ravaged Sudan, the hum of a passing vehicle turns villagers’ blood cold, fearing the arrival of paramilitaries plundering their way south in their war against the army.”They’ve created a state of total panic,” said Rabab, who lives in a village north of Wad Madani, the Al-Jazira state capital and latest …

Sudanese in ‘total panic’ as paramilitaries move southMon, 25 Dec 2023 21:04:33 GMT Read More »

People donned Santa caps on beaches, ski slopes and streets around the globe on Monday to celebrate Christmas, as Pope Francis called for an end to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine that this year have cast a shadow over one of the world’s favourite holidays.Red and white Santa outfits appeared on surfers from Australia …

Pope calls for end to Gaza war as world celebrates ChristmasMon, 25 Dec 2023 17:21:57 GMT Read More »

People donned Santa caps on beaches, ski slopes and streets around the globe on Monday to celebrate Christmas, with Israel’s war on Hamas and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine casting a shadow over one of the world’s favourite holidays.Red and white Santa outfits appeared on surfers from Australia to Florida, on bicyclists in the smog-filled streets …

World celebrates Christmas in shadow of warMon, 25 Dec 2023 09:12:35 GMT Read More »

Pope Francis has kicked off global Christmas celebrations with a call for peace, as Israel’s war on Hamas and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cast a shadow over one of the world’s favourite holidays.Having said earlier in the day that he was thinking of people “who are suffering from war — we are thinking of Palestine, …

Pope kicks off Christmas celebrations in shadow of warMon, 25 Dec 2023 02:34:19 GMT Read More »

Stand-up comedy is taking Senegal by storm, with a crew of young comics gaining recognition well beyond the West African country’s borders.  Shows with names like “Dakar fait sa comedy” (“Dakar does comedy”), “Fest’ rire” (“Laugh Fest”), “Afrique du rire” (“African Laugh”) are springing up across the capital Dakar.Some comedians already enjoy millions of followers …

As Senegal catches comedy bug, young stand-ups seek wider appealSun, 24 Dec 2023 07:12:40 GMT Read More »

Dressed all in white, a man pretends to aim a slingshot towards another who, running away, tries to dodge the imaginary rock flung towards him. “Hassituha” (You Felt It), a mostly silent play from eastern Libya, symbolises both the country’s divisions between west and east, and the rebirth of Libya’s National Theatre Festival, which staged a …

Libya’s theatre stages comeback after country’s years of turmoilSun, 24 Dec 2023 03:25:06 GMT Read More »