AFP Africa

The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius blocked access to social media on Friday, just days ahead of a general election, as tensions mounted over a wire-tapping scandal.Mauritius has been gripped by the release of secret recordings of phone calls by politicians, journalists, members of civil society and even foreign diplomats that began to emerge online …

Mauritius blocks social media amid wire-tapping scandalFri, 01 Nov 2024 14:43:59 GMT Read More »

Botswana’s opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) has won a majority in parliament and can form the next government, the electoral commission announced Friday, marking a historic defeat for the party that had governed the diamond-rich country for nearly six decades.Outgoing president Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat in Wednesday’s general election and said his administration would …

Botswana opposition wins election in historic turnaroundFri, 01 Nov 2024 13:29:59 GMT Read More »

Kenya plans to re-introduce some of the tax hikes that sparked deadly protests earlier this year, the government announced Friday, while a new deputy president was sworn in after weeks of drama.President William Ruto scrapped an unpopular finance bill in June after the protests. Rights groups accused police of a brutal and illegal crackdown that led …

Kenya reintroduces tax reforms with new deputy presidentFri, 01 Nov 2024 10:37:26 GMT Read More »

Abraham Kithure Kindiki, who is being sworn in Friday as Kenya’s new deputy president, is an academic turned politician who was thrust into the limelight when he defended his boss President William Ruto at the International Criminal Court.The 52-year-old millionaire served as interior minister for more than two years before taking over as deputy president …

Kenya’s Kindiki: soft-spoken academic turned political heavyweightFri, 01 Nov 2024 09:01:25 GMT Read More »

Who starts at fly-half and scrum-half will command most attention when world champions South Africa launch a three-Test tour of Britain on November 10 against Scotland in Edinburgh.   Creative Manie Libbok and ace goal-kicker Handre Pollard are the rivals for the playmaker role while Jaden Hendrikse, Cobus Reinach and Grant Williams eye the No. 9 …

Spotlight on half-backs as Springboks eye tour sweepFri, 01 Nov 2024 08:59:40 GMT Read More »

Botswana’s president conceded defeat on Friday after his party which has governed the diamond-rich African country for nearly six decades suffered a resounding defeat in general elections.”I wish to congratulate the opposition on their victory and concede the election,” President Mokgweetsi Masisi told reporters at a press conference.Masisi said he had already spoken to the …

Botswana leader concedes defeat after party drubbed in electionFri, 01 Nov 2024 08:11:07 GMT Read More »

The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius blocked access to social media on Friday, just days ahead of a general election, as tensions mounted over a wire-tapping scandal.Mauritius has been gripped by scandal since secret recordings of phone calls by politicians, journalists, members of civil society and even foreign diplomats began being leaked online last month.”Following …

Mauritius blocks social media after wire-tapping scandalFri, 01 Nov 2024 07:42:26 GMT Read More »

Turkey is expanding its reach into Africa, banking on its defence projects and widespread trade network, its prospects enhanced by the lack of colonial history weighing on Europe, diplomatic sources say.Speaking ahead of a ministerial meeting at the weekend in Djibouti, a diplomatic source in Ankara said Turkey was a “sought-after partner” in Africa thanks …

Turkey moves to broaden its Africa reachFri, 01 Nov 2024 07:16:07 GMT Read More »

Khadir Ali and his family managed to survive a harrowing paramilitary attack in war-torn Sudan. But by the time they got to safety, he realised that one person was missing.”We escaped in total chaos — there was gunfire coming from every direction,” said the 47-year-old civil servant of the October 22 Rapid Support Forces attack …

Dead or alive? Scores missing after Sudan attacksFri, 01 Nov 2024 01:54:47 GMT Read More »