French soldiers ordered out of Niger by its post-coup military rulers must now haul vast quantities of gear for hundreds of kilometres through dangerous desert known to harbour jihadist groups, with much of the hardware then set to return by sea.France this week started the pullout from Niger following the overthrow in July of pro-Paris …

France’s Niger withdrawal: painstaking overland operationThu, 12 Oct 2023 14:28:50 GMT Read More »

A Kenyan court on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit challenging a government decision to allow the importation and cultivation of genetically modified crops to help combat its food crisis.In October last year, the government lifted a decade-old ban on GM crops in response to dwindling food security following the worst drought to ravage the Horn of …

Kenyan court dismisses challenge over GM cropsThu, 12 Oct 2023 13:24:19 GMT Read More »

The International Energy Agency said on Thursday the risk of oil supply disruptions due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas is limited but that it stands ready to intervene in markets if necessary.The Paris-based agency, in addition to its analysis and advisory roles, coordinates the release of emergency stocks held by its 31 mostly …

IEA says risk of oil supply disruptions is limitedThu, 12 Oct 2023 13:16:03 GMT Read More »

A Kenyan court on Thursday barred the government from lifting a ban on logging but allowed the felling of several thousand hectares of mature forest.In July, President William Ruto ordered the lifting of the near six-year moratorium despite the concerns of environmentalists, saying it was aimed at creating jobs.The Environment and Land Court ruled Thursday …

Kenya court blocks lifting of logging banThu, 12 Oct 2023 10:54:06 GMT Read More »

As South Africa weigh up their options before naming their team for Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final against hosts France, one of the biggest questions being whispered in the galleries is: will they play the 7-1 bench? For the uninitiated this may seem to be a technical detail akin to tyre choices in Formula One but in …

South Africa toying with ‘smart’ but controversial 7-1 benchThu, 12 Oct 2023 04:03:16 GMT Read More »

When New Zealand play Ireland in the Rugby World Cup quarter finals on Saturday, Dylan Moodaley, a 32-year-old South African from Cape Town will don his favourite All Blacks t-shirt and cheer on for his country’s bitter rivals.So will most of his family — part of a sizeable minority of South Africans who, for a …

In South Africa some hearts still beat for the All BlacksThu, 12 Oct 2023 02:07:22 GMT Read More »

Niger’s military leaders have ordered the United Nations coordinator to leave the country within 72 hours, blaming the world body for hindering international recognition of the post-coup regime.The expulsion order comes a day after the United States cut off more than $500 million in assistance to Niger and as France begins withdrawing its troops after …

Niger military rulers order UN official out within 72 hoursThu, 12 Oct 2023 00:31:50 GMT Read More »

A Kenyan-led multinational force will hopefully help bring some semblance of stability to Haiti, where gang violence has escalated into a form of “urban guerrilla” warfare, the Caribbean country’s police chief tells AFP.The UN Security Council gave the green light this month for the deployment of a thousand-strong support force led by Kenyan police, after …

Haiti police chief welcomes help to beat ‘urban guerilla’ gangsWed, 11 Oct 2023 18:35:50 GMT Read More »

Vote counting was under way in Liberia on Wednesday, a day after citizens voted on whether to re-elect football legend George Weah, who is running for a second term as president.Liberians enthusiastically turned out in large numbers on Tuesday to choose their president, as well as 73 representatives from the legislature’s lower chamber and 15 …

Vote counting under way in Liberia a day after electionsWed, 11 Oct 2023 16:37:12 GMT Read More »

Mali’s ruling junta on Wednesday cancelled the authorisation given to Air France to resume flights to the country, which have been suspended for two months amid heightened tensions in the Sahel as well as between Mali and France. It comes a day after Air France announced it would resume its service between Paris Charles de Gaulle …

Mali cancels Air France clearance to resume flightsWed, 11 Oct 2023 16:01:01 GMT Read More »