The Democratic Republic of Congo gears up for elections on Wednesday that could consolidate its democracy or unleash fresh violence as political tensions threaten to boil over.Some 44 million registered voters are set to cast ballots in the vast central African nation of about 100 million people on December 20 in presidential, parliamentary, provincial and …

Tensions run high as DR Congo approaches electionSun, 17 Dec 2023 06:22:29 GMT Read More »

The latest clashes between Sudan’s army and paramilitary forces pose dire threats to civilians and relief efforts, the United States warned Saturday as it urged fighters to avoid an aid hub sheltering tens of thousands of people.Nearly half a million displaced people have sought refuge in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah state, more than 86,000 of them in …

US urges Sudan fighters to halt advance on aid hubSun, 17 Dec 2023 00:46:53 GMT Read More »

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed Italian premier Giorgia Meloni’s approach to tackling illegal migration Saturday, in a visit to Rome where they agreed to co-fund a project to help migrants return home from Tunisia.The two leaders held formal talks at Meloni’s office and the British Conservative leader also delivered a speech at a gathering …

Italy, UK leaders unite on migration, agree Tunisia dealSat, 16 Dec 2023 22:16:46 GMT Read More »

President Andry Rajoelina took the oath in a packed stadium on Saturday to start a new term as Madagascar’s leader, rebuffing an opposition boycott and international concerns over the island’s future.In front of six African presidents in the crowd of 50,000, the 49-year-old party organiser-turned-politician vowed to act with “integrity” to lift the country of …

Madagascar president starts new term amid opposition boycottSat, 16 Dec 2023 20:35:50 GMT Read More »

A section of the historic walls around the Old City of Kairouan collapsed on Saturday, killing three masons carrying out repairs on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tunisian authorities said.Two workers were also injured in the accident, which saw a 30 metre (100 foot) long section of the six metre (20 foot) high walls near …

Wall collapse kills three in Tunisia UNESCO World Heritage SiteSat, 16 Dec 2023 17:24:26 GMT Read More »

Former South African president Jacob Zuma on Saturday drove a new split in the ruling African National Congress, calling for a boycott of the party in a landmark 2024 election.Driven out of office in 2018 over corruption accusations but retaining significant influence, the 81-year-old Zuma launched an angry new attack on his successor President Cyril …

Zuma deals new blow to ANC hopes in S. Africa electionSat, 16 Dec 2023 15:33:29 GMT Read More »

DR Congo’s democracy has been backsliding ahead of elections this month, according to rights defenders, as prominent journalists languish in prison and the murder of an opposition politician remains unsolved.President Felix Tshisekedi came to power in 2019 after a campaign criticising the rights record of his predecessor Joseph Kabila, among other issues. But a slew of …

DR Congo’s democracy backsliding ahead of vote, rights groups saySat, 16 Dec 2023 10:05:24 GMT Read More »

Fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitaries engulfed the aid hub of Wad Madani Friday triggering an exodus of civilians already displaced by eight months of war, an AFP correspondent reported.When war broke out in April between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Wad Madani quickly became a safe haven …

Fighting engulfs Sudan aid hub, sparking new exodusFri, 15 Dec 2023 17:18:37 GMT Read More »

While the UN’s COP28 climate summit marked a pivot moment, when the world pledged to say “goodbye” to fossil fuels, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol told AFP on Friday, it needs to now urgently boost finance for the energy transition in developing countries.Birol welcomed the landmark agreement struck at the negotiations in the oil-rich …

‘It’s finished!’: IEA boss says COP28 bid farewell to fossil fuelsFri, 15 Dec 2023 16:41:31 GMT Read More »

Niger’s ousted president Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held in detention since a July 26 coup, must be freed immediately, the court of the West African bloc, ECOWAS, ordered on Friday.The court called for his “immediate and unconditional release” and ordered that Bazoum be reinstated, according to the judge in the case heard in Nigeria’s …

W.Africa court orders immediate release of deposed Niger presidentFri, 15 Dec 2023 12:27:53 GMT Read More »