Zimbabweans go to the polls on Wednesday in closely-watched presidential and legislative elections, after a campaign tainted by a crackdown on dissent, fears of vote rigging and public anger at the economic crisis.The opposition, traditionally stronger in urban areas, is hoping to ride a wave of discontent at the southern African country’s economic troubles, amid …

Zimbabwe to vote in uphill election for defiant oppositionWed, 23 Aug 2023 01:57:05 GMT Read More »

The African Union said Tuesday that it had suspended Niger’s membership in the wake of a military coup, but responded cautiously to a threatened military operation to restore its ousted president, as Nigerien TV said 12 soldiers were killed in a new attack by suspected jihadists.National guards carrying out an anti-jihadist operation in the southwestern …

African Union suspends Niger over coup as 12 troops die in attackTue, 22 Aug 2023 20:10:39 GMT Read More »

China on Tuesday threw its weight behind plans to expand the loosely-defined BRICS club of large emerging economies, which is seeking to assert its political and economic clout on the global stage.The BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which represent a quarter of the global economy, are meeting for three days …

China urges BRICS expansion at summit of emerging economiesTue, 22 Aug 2023 20:05:34 GMT Read More »

The BRICS summit opened in South Africa on Tuesday as the loosely-defined club of large emerging economies seeks to assert its voice as a counterweight to the Western-led international order.The BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa represent a quarter of the global economy, and interest in joining the group surged ahead …

BRICS summit of emerging economies begins in South AfricaTue, 22 Aug 2023 17:23:03 GMT Read More »

The African Union (AU) on Tuesday said it was suspending coup-hit Niger but responded cautiously to a threatened military operation to restore its ousted president, as Nigerien TV said 12 troops died in a new attack by suspected jihadists.National guards carrying out an anti-jihadist operation in the southwestern region of Tillaberi were ambushed on Sunday …

African Union suspends Niger over coup as 12 troops die in new attackTue, 22 Aug 2023 17:15:41 GMT Read More »

At least 23 villagers in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been killed in attacks blamed on rebels linked to the Islamic State (IS) group, monitors said on Tuesday.”The ADF are suspected of having committed” the massacre on Monday in the villages of Lintumbe, Kisanga and Matuna in Ituri province, said the Kivu Security Tracker …

Islamic State-linked rebels suspected in new DR Congo massacreTue, 22 Aug 2023 17:00:18 GMT Read More »

Ethiopia said Tuesday it would launch a joint investigation with Saudi Arabia into a Human Rights Watch report accusing the kingdom’s border guards of killing hundreds of Ethiopian migrants.The report sparked global outrage after its publication on Monday, although a Saudi government source dismissed the allegations as “unfounded.””The Government of Ethiopia will promptly investigate the …

Ethiopia unveils joint Saudi probe into alleged migrant killingsTue, 22 Aug 2023 16:30:28 GMT Read More »

The opposition in the Democratic Republic of Congo is suffering “repression” and “intimidation” four months ahead of presidential elections, Human Rights Watch (HRW) charged in a report on Tuesday.A “recent wave of arrests and restrictions on fundamental liberties is targeting opposition presidential candidates and their top officials,” said HRW senior Congo researcher Thomas Fessy.The New …

DR Congo cracking down on opposition ahead of vote: rights groupTue, 22 Aug 2023 15:37:30 GMT Read More »

BRICS leaders meeting in South Africa this week will consider expanding the five-nation bloc at a time of great interest in the group that accounts for a quarter of global wealth.Opinions differ between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa over accepting new members into the loosely-defined club of major emerging economies that is seeking …

Join the club: BRICS faces rift over push for new membersTue, 22 Aug 2023 15:07:01 GMT Read More »

Former OPEC president Diezani Alison-Madueke has been charged with bribery offences relating to her time as Nigeria’s oil minister, the UK National Crime Agency said on Tuesday.Alison-Madueke has been on bail since first being arrested in London in October 2015. She will appear in court in the British capital on October 2, the NCA said.Soon …

Ex-OPEC president facing corruption charges in UKTue, 22 Aug 2023 14:37:07 GMT Read More »