Security concerns built Thursday ahead of planned protests in coup-hit Niger, with France demanding safety guarantees for foreign embassies as some Western nations reduced their diplomatic presence.Britain and the United States announced the pulling back of embassy personnel in Niger as a precaution a week after the internationally condemned toppling of elected President Mohamed Bazoum.The …

Western security worries grow in coup-hit NigerThu, 03 Aug 2023 08:32:44 GMT Read More »

From doctored photos making small crowds big to posts praising government accomplishments that never were, WhatsApp has become the channel of choice for disinformation in Zimbabwe before this month’s elections.The landlocked southern African country heads to the polls on August 23 to elect the president and legislature in what analysts expect to be a tense …

Zimbabwe election disinformation spreads on WhatsAppThu, 03 Aug 2023 06:41:23 GMT Read More »

West Africa’s regional bloc on Wednesday said a military intervention in junta-ruled Niger was “the last resort” as Nigeria cut electricity supplies to intensify pressure on the country’s coup leaders.As ex-colonial power France sent in a fifth plane to evacuate its citizens, coup leader General Abdourahamane Tiani insisted they had no reason to quit the …

W. Africa bloc says military intervention in Niger ‘last resort’Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:21:23 GMT Read More »

Double world champion swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui said Wednesday he wants to become Tunisia’s greatest ever Olympian at the Paris Games next year.The 20-year-old, who captured the 800m and 1,500m freestyle golds at the world championships in Japan last week, said he wants to “break the record for the Tunisian having the most medals and break …

Swim king Hafnaoui wants to be Tunisia’s greatest OlympianWed, 02 Aug 2023 22:34:28 GMT Read More »

West Africa’s regional bloc on Wednesday said a military intervention in junta-ruled Niger was “the last resort” as Nigeria cut electricity supplies to intensify pressure on the country’s coup leaders.And as ex-colonial power France sent in a fifth plane to evacuate its citizens, coup leader General Abdourahamane Tiani insisted they had no reason to quit …

W.Africa bloc says military intervention in Niger ‘last resort’Wed, 02 Aug 2023 21:55:52 GMT Read More »

Tunisian President Kais Saied fired his prime minister Najla Bouden without explanation late Tuesday. Why did he do this, and what are the implications for the debt-ridden North African country?Why was Najla Bouden sacked?Media reports say Saied was unhappy with her handling of the shortage of flour, and therefore of bread in government-subsidised bakeries.”This administration …

What’s next after Tunisia’s Saied sacked his PM?Wed, 02 Aug 2023 16:32:53 GMT Read More »

Desperate to check on her elderly mother amid the chaos of Sudan’s war, Amal Hassan left her family home in the capital Khartoum on May 30.She has yet to return.Her husband and three children in Omdurman — part of greater Khartoum — are among the hundreds of Sudanese families desperate for news of loved ones …

Grave fears for missing women, girls in war-torn SudanWed, 02 Aug 2023 15:48:53 GMT Read More »

Senegal on Wednesday suspended TikTok, saying the video-sharing platform had been used to fan violence sparked by the detention of opposition figure Ousmane Sonko.Authorities had already cut mobile data access on Monday, with several human rights groups denouncing the measure — as well as the dissolution of Sonko’s party.”The TikTok application is the social network …

Senegal suspends TikTok after unrestWed, 02 Aug 2023 15:41:24 GMT Read More »

The UN sounded the alarm Wednesday of impending famine in Sudan, where months of war have hit food supplies and pushed nearly four million people to flee the fighting.”Over 20.3 million people, representing more than 42 percent of the population in the country, are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity,” the UN’s Food and …

Soaring hunger in Sudan as nearly 4 million displaced: UNWed, 02 Aug 2023 15:30:53 GMT Read More »

Senegal has been plunged into uncertainty over who could become the next president, seven months ahead of elections, after the incumbent confirmed he would not run and his chief opponent was indicted.President Macky Sall, who is coming to the end of his second term, and firebrand opposition politician Ousmane Sonko had been widely seen as …

No clear front-runners seven months out from Senegal electionWed, 02 Aug 2023 14:53:35 GMT Read More »