Mali’s ruling junta on Monday announced a delay to a presidential election scheduled for February that was aimed at returning civilian leaders to power in the jihadist-hit West African nation.The two rounds of voting — initially set for February 4 and 18, 2024 — “will be slightly postponed for technical reasons”, government spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga …

Mali’s junta delays February presidential electionMon, 25 Sep 2023 16:21:42 GMT Read More »

France is finally facing up to reality by withdrawing both its ambassador and military from Niger two months after a coup ousted the pro-Paris president, but the pullout marks the most severe setback yet for President Emmanuel Macron’s Africa policy, observers say.Macron had staked France’s strategy in the Sahel region of Africa on the political …

Macron bows to inevitable in Niger with worst Africa setbackMon, 25 Sep 2023 16:16:21 GMT Read More »

Three years ago, Peacemaker Azuegbulam lost his left leg when his Nigerian army unit came under fire from Boko Haram jihadists in the north of the country.Now Azuegbulam is an African champion.Last month, Azuegbulam won gold in the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany — the first Nigerian and the first African to secure the top …

Nigerian scores Africa’s first Invictus gold medalMon, 25 Sep 2023 12:37:56 GMT Read More »

Benin trader Antoine Djanta lost four members of his family at the weekend when an illegal fuel depot near his home exploded into a massive fire that killed 34 people.Like many others in this border community, he lives off the contraband fuel trade with neighbouring Nigeria, a business that has now brought tragedy to the …

Fuel blaze brings tragedy to Benin border townMon, 25 Sep 2023 12:09:39 GMT Read More »

Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah joined an exclusive group when he opened the scoring in a 3-1 Premier League victory over West Ham United at the weekend.He became only the fifth player to either score or assist a goal in each of his team’s first six league games of a season after David Beckham, …

African players in Europe: Salah joins exclusive groupMon, 25 Sep 2023 11:56:33 GMT Read More »

After Mali, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic, France is being forced to withdraw troops from yet another former African colony that pivoted to Russia after souring on Paris: Niger.Faced with growing anti-French sentiment since a military takeover in Niger in July, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to bring home 1,500 counter-terrorism …

‘France out!’ when former colonies give Paris the bootMon, 25 Sep 2023 11:08:49 GMT Read More »

The July 26 coup in Niger unleashed a power struggle that remains unresolved between the new military leaders and the ECOWAS regional bloc backed by several Western nations demanding the elected president’s return.But France’s decision to pull out its ambassador and then troops by the end of the year could now help to break the …

Niger power struggle grinds on two months after coupMon, 25 Sep 2023 07:27:56 GMT Read More »

A performer on a wheelchair, another who is blind and a third with Down syndrome share the stage for a pioneering new dance show seeking to push the boundaries in Tunisia.Choreographer Andrew Graham says “the show is not about disability at all” but rather a celebration of diversity and inclusion that also involves migrants and …

‘Break down walls’: Tunisia dance show celebrates diversityMon, 25 Sep 2023 01:46:35 GMT Read More »

President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday announced that France would withdraw its ambassador from Niger, followed by the French military contingent in the coming months, a move welcomed by Niger’s military leaders as a “step towards sovereignty”.Macron’s announcement comes two months after a coup in the west African country that ousted the pro-Paris president.”France has decided …

France withdrawing ambassador, troops from Niger after coup: MacronSun, 24 Sep 2023 23:19:57 GMT Read More »

Fly-half Handre Pollard, back from injury and called up to the South Africa World Cup squad last week, is likely to play in their final pool game against Tonga, director of rugby Rassie Erasmus said on Sunday.The 29-year-old, who was a key part of the World Cup winning team in 2019, was initially ruled out …

Pollard in line to play for South Afria against TongaSun, 24 Sep 2023 19:14:45 GMT Read More »