Somalia’s cabinet and lawmakers on Wednesday endorsed a major defence deal with Turkey, with Mogadishu locked in a dispute with Addis Ababa over a maritime agreement it says threatens its sovereignty.Under the 10-year pact, close ally Turkey will help defend Somalia’s long coastline and also rebuild the naval forces of the fragile Horn of Africa …

Somalia endorses defence deal with TurkeyWed, 21 Feb 2024 15:19:12 GMT Read More »

Families of several jailed Tunisian opposition figures on Wednesday called for their release, including a number of detainees on hunger strike.Since February 2023, more than 20 opposition figures, whom Tunisian President Kais Saied has dubbed “terrorists”, have been held on suspicion of involvement in “conspiracy against the internal and external security of the state”.Among them …

Families demand release of jailed Tunisian opposition figuresWed, 21 Feb 2024 14:41:32 GMT Read More »

Fifteen candidates in Senegal’s delayed presidential election have accused President Macky Sall of “ill will” and said they will take action to ensure a new poll date is swiftly established.The announcement came as the civil society collective Aar Sunu Election (Protect Our Election) said it had organised a new rally for Saturday.The collective is calling …

15 Senegal candidates decry delay in setting new poll dateWed, 21 Feb 2024 12:37:03 GMT Read More »

Dancers and drummers swarmed the Saudi delegation from the moment they touched down in Somalia’s capital to launch new aid projects, part of the kingdom’s ramped-up outreach to the African nation.Yet as they politely applauded agreements to provide stationery for schoolchildren and watering points for livestock, some Somali officials made clear they hoped Saudi engagement …

Gulf heavyweights vie for influence in African ‘backyard’Wed, 21 Feb 2024 06:29:05 GMT Read More »

A record drought wiped out nearly half of Iido Abdikarin Abdille’s herd in northern Somalia, but a livestock insurance programme is helping to ease the financial burden on pastoralists like her.Since her father’s death in 2010, the 34-year-old has taken on the responsibility of looking after her unwell mother as well as her own two …

Livestock insurance offers hope to drought-hit SomalisWed, 21 Feb 2024 06:15:57 GMT Read More »

Three decades after the advent of democracy, South Africa will go to the polls on May 29 for general elections and perhaps the first serious challenge to ANC rule.Opinion polls suggest President Cyril Ramaphosa’s party may win less than 50 percent in nationwide elections for the first time and may be forced to share power.In …

South Africa sets stage for May 29 general electionTue, 20 Feb 2024 19:12:52 GMT Read More »

The funeral for  world marathon record-holder Kelvin Kiptum, who was killed in a car crash, has been brought forward to Friday, Kenya’s athletics federation said.Kiptum’s death at the age of 24, just a few months after he smashed the world marathon record and before the Paris Olympics, shocked his home country and the world of athletics.”Kelvin …

Kenya marathon star Kiptum’s funeral brought forward to FridayTue, 20 Feb 2024 19:10:01 GMT Read More »

For 10 years, Chadian biomedical science graduate Nan-Arabe Lodoum has relied on odd jobs to get by but clings to his dream of becoming a civil servant.The 34-year-old is far from alone.Studying certain subjects with a selective entrance exam in Chad is supposed to guarantee a job in the public sector later on.But mass youth …

Chad’s unemployed graduates cling to public sector dreamTue, 20 Feb 2024 13:14:18 GMT Read More »

A second trial of four Egyptian security officers accused of kidnapping and brutally murdering an Italian student in 2016 opened in Rome Tuesday with his parents vowing to uncover the truth.Giulio Regeni, 28, had been conducting academic research when he was abducted in January 2016. His body was found nine days later, dumped on the …

Family of murdered Italian student in Cairo seek justice in new trialTue, 20 Feb 2024 11:49:54 GMT Read More »

A second trial of four Egyptian security officers accused of kidnapping and murdering an Italian student in 2016 began in Rome Tuesday, as Italy once again attempts to secure justice in the brutal killing.Giulio Regeni, 28, had been conducting research when he was abducted in January 2016. His body was found nine days later, dumped …

Fresh trial opens over Italian student’s murder in CairoTue, 20 Feb 2024 09:52:31 GMT Read More »