Reigning champions South Africa completed their World Cup preparations with a record 35-7 rout of 14-man New Zealand as the All Blacks suffered their all-time heaviest margin of defeat on Friday.The Springboks scored five tries, through captain Siya Kolisi, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, hooker Malcolm Marx and replacements Bongi Mbonambi and Kwagga Smith — all converted …

South Africa send New Zealand crashing to record defeatFri, 25 Aug 2023 22:25:10 GMT Read More »

Reigning champions South Africa completed their World Cup preparations with a record 35-7 rout of 14-man New Zealand as the All Blacks suffered their all-time heaviest margin of defeat on Friday.The Springboks scored five tries, through captain Siya Kolisi, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, hooker Malcolm Marx and replacements Bongi Mbonambi and Kwagga Smith — all converted …

South Africa send New Zealand crashing to record defeatFri, 25 Aug 2023 21:05:24 GMT Read More »

Foreign poll observers on Friday said Zimbabwe’s presidential and legislative elections failed to conform to regional and international standards, placing in doubt the credibility of the tense vote.Zimbabweans went to the ballot box on Wednesday and Thursday in polling marred by delays. The vote took place against a backdrop of discontent at Zimbabwe’s economic crisis.Regional …

Zimbabwe vote observers find election ‘fell short’ of standardsFri, 25 Aug 2023 20:20:30 GMT Read More »

UN experts have painted a grim picture of the situation in Mali, alleging that sexual violence and other rights abuses are being used to spread terror, as the retreat of UN peacekeepers has raised fears of intensified civilian suffering.”Violence against women and girls and conflict-related sexual violence remains prevalent in Mali,” the experts, named by …

Mali civilians increasingly at risk, UN experts warnFri, 25 Aug 2023 19:56:44 GMT Read More »

West Africa’s bloc ECOWAS on Friday told Niger’s coup leaders it was “not too late” to reconsider their position as they wrangle over a return to civilian rule with the option of military force still “very much on the table”.Generals who ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in a July 26 rebellion have called for a three-year …

W.Africa bloc tells Niger coup chiefs ‘not too late’Fri, 25 Aug 2023 19:16:38 GMT Read More »

The head of Ethiopia’s violence-stricken region of Amhara, which the federal government has placed under a state of emergency, has stepped down, according to an official statement reported Friday.Amhara’s parliament “has accepted the resignation submitted by the regional president, Dr. Yilkal Kefale, and appointed Arega Kebede in replacement,” the body said in a statement reported …

Head of Ethiopia’s crisis-hit Amhara region resignsFri, 25 Aug 2023 18:07:50 GMT Read More »

Fighting in Sudan showed no signs of abating Friday as the United Nations issued a dire warning over the impact of a war it said threatens to “consume” the country.Paramilitaries launched a renewed attack on a key armoured corps base in the capital’s south, witnesses said, which the army and the Rapid Support Forces have …

No letup in Sudan fighting as UN issues dire warningFri, 25 Aug 2023 17:45:44 GMT Read More »

Amid a crowd gathered in support of Niger’s military rulers stands star-of-the-moment Sergeant Maman Sani Maigochi.In combat dress, he bobs and weaves through a choreographed routine that mixes dance and salutes and the imaginary shooting of a gun.Niger’s coup d’etat on July 26 has been backed by military and civilian musicians who are turning out …

Niger dancing to tune of coup-backing songsFri, 25 Aug 2023 14:30:54 GMT Read More »

The plane crash that reportedly killed Yevgeny Prigozhin wiped out the entire top leadership of Russian paramilitary group Wagner but its influence is set to outlive them all both at home and abroad.As a Private Military Company (PMC), Wagner showed the potential reach of mercenary outfits in taking part in conflicts well beyond its home …

Influence of Russia’s Wagner set to outlive chiefs: analystsFri, 25 Aug 2023 12:09:08 GMT Read More »

Poll observers from a regional southern African bloc SADC on Friday said certain aspects of Zimbabwe’s tense presidential and legislative elections did not conform to democratic principles.The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) cited cancellation of opposition rallies, biased state media and alleged voter intimidation among some of the issues that sullied the election.”Some aspects of …

Aspects of Zimbabwe vote ‘fell short’: regional observersFri, 25 Aug 2023 11:27:55 GMT Read More »