Turkey, Iran and Morocco are vying for a greater economic and military role in Africa’s Sahel after former colonial ruler France’s forced withdrawal from the volatile region.Turkish military equipment and Moroccan and Iranian development and infrastructure projects are tempting for cash-strapped Sahelian military regimes grappling with jihadist violence. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have undergone coups …

Turkey, Iran, Morocco joust for greater role in SahelTue, 12 Mar 2024 10:27:02 GMT Read More »

After weathering a slew of health and political crises in recent years, many Senegalese are grappling with mental health issues, psychologists warn.  Even before the West African nation had fully emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic, it was rocked by violent riots in March 2021 triggered by the arrest of opposition figurehead Ousmane Sonko. Senegal has since …

Senegal’s multiple crises lead to mental scars, traumaTue, 12 Mar 2024 07:09:10 GMT Read More »

Joseph Ngono’s face lights up with a smile as he looks at his smartphone, where a payment worth $830 has just appeared in his digital wallet.Like many Cameroonians, the computer scientist pays in each week to a shared savings fund known as a “tontine” — an ancient system that start-ups are now bringing into the …

Ancient community banking enters digital age in CameroonTue, 12 Mar 2024 06:48:12 GMT Read More »

Families of more than 250 Nigerian students kidnapped from a school last week waited desperately on Monday for news about their welfare and the progress in rescue efforts four days after the attack.Gunmen on motorbikes stormed the school in Kuriga, northwestern Kaduna state on Thursday, rounding up the pupils and forcing them into the bush …

Desperate families wait on news of kidnapped Nigeria studentsMon, 11 Mar 2024 18:55:03 GMT Read More »

The face of Senegal’s anti-establishment presidential candidate was everywhere at his coalition’s first major campaign rally in the capital Dakar.  Images of Bassirou Diomaye Faye adorned T-shirts and caps, while the fervent crowd chanted his name. But the popular opposition candidate could not take centre stage on Sunday. He has  been behind bars since April 2023. Despite this, …

Jailing of Senegal opposition candidate spurs supportersMon, 11 Mar 2024 13:04:52 GMT Read More »

Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo has agreed to run for the top job again despite being disqualified by a 20-year jail sentence, his party has announced.Gbagbo was the first former head of state to go on trial before the International Criminal Court in The Hague where he was acquitted in 2019.He “agrees to be …

Ex-president Gbagbo to run for top job again, despite disqualificationMon, 11 Mar 2024 10:50:03 GMT Read More »

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins on Monday, Middle Eastern nations have announced, with the king of Saudi Arabia using the occasion to call for an end to the “heinous crimes” taking place in war-torn Gaza.Saudi Arabia said through its official SPA news agency on Sunday that the Supreme Court had announced “Monday, March …

Muslim nations announce start of Ramadan in shadow of Gaza warMon, 11 Mar 2024 02:54:39 GMT Read More »

Burundi’s main opposition party was split Sunday after a faction said they had ousted its leader, Agathon Rwasa, for failing to unify the two sides.  Rwasa was deposed as the head of the suspended National Freedom Council (CNL) at a general assembly in the north of the country, party sources and witnesses said.The 60-year-old former …

Burundi main opposition party says expels leaderSun, 10 Mar 2024 19:08:48 GMT Read More »

Chad’s junta-appointed prime minister announced Sunday that he would contest presidential elections set for May 6, just days after incumbent General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno announced his own candidacy.Succes Masra, a former opposition leader, returned from exile and signed a reconciliation deal with Deby Itno before becoming premier this year.The opposition says Masra’s candidacy is a …

Junta-nominated Chad PM says to run for presidentSun, 10 Mar 2024 17:35:10 GMT Read More »

South Africa’s opposition Inkatha Freedom Party gathered a huge crowd of supporters for the spectacular launch of its general election campaign Sunday, filling a stadium in the heartland of its Zulu base.The Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban was packed to hear party leader Velenkosini Hlabisa unveil the IFP manifesto, but the impressive show of force …

Inkatha launches South Africa vote campaign in Zulu heartlandSun, 10 Mar 2024 17:25:47 GMT Read More »