In Nigeria’s Muslim north, sharia police change tack on influencersFri, 24 Nov 2023 08:00:25 GMT

Tiktoker Murja Kunya once ran afoul of sharia police in Nigeria’s northwest city of Kano, where “hisbah” units enforce Islamic law that runs alongside common law.Earlier this year, the units detained Kunya and other influencers for racy media posts and parodies the agency deemed indecent.But now the morality police are trying a softer approach to …

In Nigeria’s Muslim north, sharia police change tack on influencersFri, 24 Nov 2023 08:00:25 GMT Read More »

Top producer Ivory Coast fears for cocoa output after rainsFri, 24 Nov 2023 07:16:17 GMT

“Thirty years I’ve been in cocoa — and this is the worst season yet,” said Siaka Sylla as he contemplated an almost empty warehouse at his cooperative in Ivory Coast, the world’s top producer of the bean.Following exceptionally heavy rain, this year’s overall harvest of cocoa, used to manufacture  chocolate, is set to be very …

Top producer Ivory Coast fears for cocoa output after rainsFri, 24 Nov 2023 07:16:17 GMT Read More »

S. Africa’s Pistorius in fresh parole bid decade after murderFri, 24 Nov 2023 05:16:35 GMT

South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius could be granted early release from prison on Friday, a decade after he killed his girlfriend in a crime that gripped the world.  Pistorius, 37, is to appear before a parole board at a correctional centre outside Pretoria where he is currently detained. After a hearing, the board is to …

S. Africa’s Pistorius in fresh parole bid decade after murderFri, 24 Nov 2023 05:16:35 GMT Read More »

Niger coup leader visits Mali, Burkina in first foreign tripThu, 23 Nov 2023 20:53:39 GMT

Niger’s military ruler General Abdourahamane Tiani on Thursday met with his counterparts in Mali and Burkina Faso in his first international visits since seizing power in July.Niger’s neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso — which are ruled by military leaders who seized power in 2020 and 2022, respectively — have pledged solidarity with Niger’s coup leaders.Tiani …

Niger coup leader visits Mali, Burkina in first foreign tripThu, 23 Nov 2023 20:53:39 GMT Read More »

Niger coup leader visits Mali in first foreign tripThu, 23 Nov 2023 18:19:33 GMT

Niger’s military ruler General Abdourahamane Tiani on Thursday arrived in Mali to meet his counterpart Colonel Assimi Goita in his first international visit since seizing power in July, an AFP journalist noted.Niger’s neighbours, Mali and Burkina Faso — which are ruled by military leaders who seized power in 2020 and 2022, respectively — have pledged …

Niger coup leader visits Mali in first foreign tripThu, 23 Nov 2023 18:19:33 GMT Read More »

Film star Hend Sabri quits as WFP ambassador over Gaza warThu, 23 Nov 2023 16:33:56 GMT

Tunisian film star Hend Sabri has resigned as World Food Programme goodwill ambassador in protest at what she called the use of starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza.Sabri, a leading figure in Arab cinema, said that she had decided with “a heavy heart and deep sadness” to step down after 13 years with …

Film star Hend Sabri quits as WFP ambassador over Gaza warThu, 23 Nov 2023 16:33:56 GMT Read More »

Liberian president-elect Boakai urges unityThu, 23 Nov 2023 02:09:06 GMT

Liberia’s president-elect Joseph Boakai on Wednesday called for unity to rebuild the country as he delivered  his first speech since a narrow victory at the polls.Boakai, a 78-year-old political veteran, defeated incumbent George Weah by a margin of just 20,567 ballots.Boakai captured 50.64 percent of the vote, compared with the 49.36 percent won by the …

Liberian president-elect Boakai urges unityThu, 23 Nov 2023 02:09:06 GMT Read More »

From drought to deluge: Kenyan villagers reel from floodsWed, 22 Nov 2023 15:47:13 GMT

Days after floodwaters swallowed her home in eastern Kenya, Fatuma Hassan Gumo waded through thigh-deep murky water to collect her only remaining possessions — floating utensils. Flash floods from the Tana river in Garissa, a county on the border with Somalia, forced the 42-year-old fruit vendor to flee at night from her submerged home built from …

From drought to deluge: Kenyan villagers reel from floodsWed, 22 Nov 2023 15:47:13 GMT Read More »

Pistorius lawyer eyes ‘immediate release’ if parole grantedWed, 22 Nov 2023 15:31:38 GMT

Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius said on Wednesday they hope the former South African Paralympic champion who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend a decade ago will be released immediately if granted parole later this week.Pistorius, 37, will appear before a parole board at a correctional centre outside Pretoria where he is currently detained on Friday. Asked whether …

Pistorius lawyer eyes ‘immediate release’ if parole grantedWed, 22 Nov 2023 15:31:38 GMT Read More »

Car rams supporters of Liberia’s Boakai, killing 3Wed, 22 Nov 2023 08:42:36 GMT

Celebrations of Joseph Boakai’s presidential victory in Liberia were tragically muted after a car ploughed into a crowd of his supporters in the capital Monrovia, killing three people.The suspected driver has been arrested, police said Tuesday, without specifying whether or not they believed the act was deliberate.But it revived fears of violence in the aftermath …

Car rams supporters of Liberia’s Boakai, killing 3Wed, 22 Nov 2023 08:42:36 GMT Read More »