The king does not take kindly to dissent in Africa’s last absolute monarchy.But it doesn’t stop political opponent Nomalungelo Simelane from taking a rare stand for democracy in Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland.The 44-year-old parliamentary candidate, also known as LaZwide, has been sharing her message at campaign rallies ahead of Friday’s parliamentary elections.Political parties are …

Fighting for democracy in Africa’s last absolute monarchyThu, 28 Sep 2023 12:28:18 GMT Read More »

Jacques Nienaber says he expects a “realistic performance” from Handre Pollard when the 2019 World Cup winning fly-half makes his first appearance for South Africa in 13 months against Tonga on Sunday.The 29-year-old was initially ruled out of the World Cup, but returned to competitive action earlier this month with his English club Leicester before …

Give returning Pollard time to settle back in, says NienaberThu, 28 Sep 2023 08:20:47 GMT Read More »

France’s ambassador to Niger landed in Paris on Wednesday, after weeks of tensions with the post-coup regime in the West African country who demanded his expulsion.French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna met Sylvain Itte “to thank him and his teams for his work in the service of our country under difficult conditions,” the ministry said in …

French ambassador to Niger returns to Paris after weeks of tensionThu, 28 Sep 2023 01:09:51 GMT Read More »

Burkina Faso’s military government said Wednesday it had foiled a coup attempt the previous day, almost a year after the country’s leader came to power in a coup himself.In a statement read out on state television, it said “a proven coup attempt was foiled on September 26, 2023 by Burkina Faso’s intelligence and security services.”At …

Burkina’s military govt says foiled coup attemptThu, 28 Sep 2023 01:09:16 GMT Read More »

Orthodox Ethiopians on Wednesday marked the beginning of Meskel, one of the holiest celebrations in the Christian tradition followed in this devout nation riven by ethnic and political violence.Among Orthodox believers in Ethiopia and its neighbour Eritrea, Meskel commemorates the discovery by Saint Helena in Palestine in the fourth century of the “true cross” upon …

In a divided Ethiopia, the Orthodox mark Meskel celebrationWed, 27 Sep 2023 19:54:56 GMT Read More »

Fly-half Handre Pollard, back from injury and called up to the South Africa World Cup squad last week, will start for the Springboks in their final pool game against Tonga in Marseille on Sunday.It will be Pollard’s first Bok appearance since playing against Australia in Adelaide before injury forced him out of the subsequent 16 …

Pollard to start for South Africa in World Cup against TongaWed, 27 Sep 2023 17:07:54 GMT Read More »

Tanzania has culled millions of quelea birds to prevent them from destroying rice fields, using drones and planes to monitor commercial farms, the country’s plants and pesticides watchdog said Wednesday.The Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA) which is also responsible for controlling desert locusts, killed five million quelea birds in the northern region of …

Tanzania kills millions of birds to save rice fieldsWed, 27 Sep 2023 12:48:56 GMT Read More »

France’s ambassador to Niger left the capital Niamey early Wednesday, after weeks of tensions between Paris and the post-coup regime in the West African country who demanded his expulsion.”The ambassador and six colleagues left Niamey around 4:00 am (0300 GMT),” a diplomatic source from the French embassy said.A source in the Niger interior ministry confirmed …

French ambassador to Niger leaves after weeks of tensionWed, 27 Sep 2023 10:28:07 GMT Read More »

At Omar Bongo University in Gabon’s capital, student Nathan Ovono Obiang is as absorbed by what’s going on in his post-coup country as he is in his maths lessons.”I don’t see any prospects, but we are aware that things can’t change from one day to the next,” the 25-year-old, who is in the third year …

Students see glimmer of hope in post-Bongo GabonWed, 27 Sep 2023 08:25:12 GMT Read More »

Morocco has voiced ambitious plans to become North Africa’s top player in the emerging “green hydrogen” sector, with plans to export the clean-burning fuel to Europe.Hydrogen is seen as a clean energy source that can help the world phase out fossil fuels and reduce atmospheric carbon emissions in the battle to slow global warming. Morocco, which …

Morocco aims to become key player in green hydrogenWed, 27 Sep 2023 03:12:06 GMT Read More »