AFP Africa

Niger’s junta said Tuesday it had freed around 50 people, including ministers from the government it toppled in July 2023, in line with recommendations of a “national conference” in February.Those freed include former ministers, a diplomat, a journalist and soldiers accused of a coup bid in 2010. However ousted former president Mohamed Bazoum is still …

Niger junta frees ministers of overthrown governmentTue, 01 Apr 2025 23:45:03 GMT Read More »

The recent pardon handed down to former Guinean dictator Moussa Dadis Camara over his role in a 2009 massacre “is an affront to justice,” rights organisations said Tuesday.Camara, jailed for 20 years over a 2009 massacre, was pardoned last week for “health reasons” by the west African country’s junta leader, with a rights body Saturday …

NGOs slam pardon for Guinea ex-dictatorTue, 01 Apr 2025 17:11:11 GMT Read More »

Lawyers for the family of accused former Gabon president Ali Bongo Ondimba on Tuesday slammed what they termed French “silence” over alleged torture suffered during a “cruel and illegal detention.”Former first lady Sylvia Bongo and her son Noureddin have been in custody since an August 2023 coup brought to power Brice Oligui Nguema, toppling the …

Bongo family lawyers slam French ‘silence’Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:30:48 GMT Read More »

Veiled women ululated as the blare of trumpets and booms of hunting guns filled the air, heralding the approach of the emir in a huge procession of horseback riders draped in colourful robes and turbans.Durbar, a festivities-filled procession held each Eid, saw Emir Hameem Nuhu Sunusi, of the Jigawa state capital Dutse, ride through his …

Trumpets, guns, horses: northern Nigeria’s Durbar ends Ramadan in styleTue, 01 Apr 2025 10:38:35 GMT Read More »

Kenya’s President William Ruto sparked protests recently after donating some $150,000 to a Nairobi church just months after saying such hand-outs fuelled corruption. Ruto’s pledge of 20 million shillings to the Jesus Winner Ministry Church led to protesters gathering there a week later, demanding the return of what they called “stolen tax money”, only to be …

Kenya president still handing cash to churches despite his own banTue, 01 Apr 2025 06:38:57 GMT Read More »

Small groups of protesters gathered under heavy security in the Zimbabwe capital Monday, heeding a call to demonstrate to demand that President Emmerson Mnangagwa leave power.The protests were called by a veteran of Mnangagwa’s own ZANU-PF party over anger at moves to keep him in power beyond the end of his term in 2028.Security forces …

Small groups of protesters brave tight security in ZimbabweMon, 31 Mar 2025 20:42:47 GMT Read More »

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged dozens of countries attending an immigration crime summit on Monday to join forces to dismantle migrant smuggling gangs “once and for all”.Starmer is seeking to crack down on would-be asylum seekers arriving in England on flimsy small boats and has brought together delegates from more than 40 nations for …

UK PM urges nations to smash migrant smuggling gangs ‘once and for all’Mon, 31 Mar 2025 14:58:47 GMT Read More »

Senegal’s parliament on Wednesday will debate a proposed revision of a law granting amnesty for deadly political violence passed by the former president, in a move prompting fierce public debate.The amnesty was granted just before March 2024 elections as president Macky Sall sought to calm protests sparked by his last-minute postponement of the vote.Critics said …

Senegal MPs to examine fiercely debated amnesty law revisionMon, 31 Mar 2025 13:49:44 GMT Read More »

The head of the junta in Burkina Faso has pardoned 21 soldiers convicted of involvement in a failed coup in 2015, according to an official decree seen by AFP on Monday.The troubled west African country has been run since September 2022 by military leaders following a coup headed by Captain Ibrahim Traore.Traore announced an “amnesty …

Burkina junta leader pardons 21 soldiers for 2015 failed coupMon, 31 Mar 2025 13:08:55 GMT Read More »

Police were out in force and businesses and offices closed in key Zimbabwe cities after authorities warned against demonstrations called for Monday to demand that President Emmerson Mnangagwa leave power.Security forces patrolled city centres after warning people to ignore a call by a faction of Mnangagwa’s own ZANU-PF party to demonstrate against the president, who …

Zimbabwe cities empty, security tight after protest callMon, 31 Mar 2025 10:21:09 GMT Read More »