AFP Africa

An attack by jihadist group Boko Haram killed around 40 Chadian troops overnight near the Nigerian border, prompting an army operation to hunt down the militants, the government and local sources said on Monday.Members of Boko Haram targeted a garrison housing more than 200 Chadian soldiers late Sunday in the Lake Chad region, an area …

Chad hunts attackers after 40 killed in Boko Haram raidMon, 28 Oct 2024 18:24:39 GMT Read More »

French President Emmanuel Macron landed in Morocco’s capital Rabat on Monday for a three-day state visit aimed at mending relations with the North African country after years of tensions.His trip comes following an invitation in late September by King Mohammed VI who had called the visit an opportunity for “a renewed and ambitious vision covering …

France’s Macron in Morocco for a diplomatic resetMon, 28 Oct 2024 16:07:00 GMT Read More »

The people of conflict-torn Sudan are living a “nightmare” of hunger, disease and massive ethnic violence, particularly in Darfur, the UN secretary-general warned on Monday. War has raged since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under the country’s de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by his …

UN chief says Sudan is enduring ‘nightmare’ of hunger, violence, illnessMon, 28 Oct 2024 14:45:10 GMT Read More »

Bryan Mbeumo, Nicolas Jackson and Mohamed Salah — the leading African challengers for the Premier League Golden Boot award — all scored at the weekend.Cameroon international Mbeumo netted twice for Brentford in a 4-3 win over Ipswich, Senegalese Jackson helped Chelsea beat Newcastle 2-1 and Egyptian Salah equalised for Liverpool in a 2-2 draw at …

African players in Europe: Golden Boot contenders all scoreMon, 28 Oct 2024 12:28:45 GMT Read More »

Every rainy season for the past 12 years, floods have swept through 67-year-old Idris Egbunu’s house in central Nigeria.It is always the same story — the Niger River bursts its banks and the waters claim his home for weeks on end, until he can return and take stock of the damage.The house then needs cleaning, …

Climate change-worsened floods wreak havoc in AfricaMon, 28 Oct 2024 07:04:22 GMT Read More »

Botswana’s upcoming presidential election is shaping up to be its most competitive yet, with the ruling party facing a challenge from smaller rivals boosted by the vigorous support of an embittered ex-president.The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has governed since independence from Britain in 1966 and its candidate, Mokgweetsi Masisi, is the favourite to win.There are …

The four candidates vying to be Botswana’s presidentMon, 28 Oct 2024 06:22:24 GMT Read More »

Botswana holds a presidential election this week energised by a campaign by one previous head-of-state to unseat his handpicked successor whose first term has seen rising discontent amid a downturn in the diamond-dependent economy.The charismatic Ian Khama dramatically returned from self-exile six weeks ago determined to undo what he has called a “mistake” in handing …

Botswana vote shaken up by angry ex-president, disillusionMon, 28 Oct 2024 06:19:09 GMT Read More »

World champions South Africa were hit by another withdrawal on Sunday before a November tour of Britain when utility back Damian Willemse pulled out due to a groin injury, SA Rugby said.Prop-hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels was ruled out last week by an ankle injury ahead of Tests against Scotland on November 10, England six days later …

Injured Springbok Willemse to miss November TestsSun, 27 Oct 2024 21:32:40 GMT Read More »

In Morocco’s southeastern desert, a rare downpour has brought lakes and ponds back to life, with locals — and tourists — hailing it as a gift from the heavens.In Merzouga, an attractive tourist town some 600 kilometres (370 miles) southeast of the capital Rabat, the once-parched golden dunes are now dotted with replenished ponds and …

Rare Sahara floods bring Morocco’s dried-up south back to lifeSun, 27 Oct 2024 03:41:57 GMT Read More »

The Commonwealth’s 56 members agreed the “time has come” for talks about the legacy of the “abhorrent” transatlantic slave trade Saturday, in a landmark summit declaration that raised the prospect of future reparations.Gathering in Samoa, leaders from Britain and dozens of former colonies held lengthy and occasionally tense talks over one of the most sensitive …

Commonwealth agrees ‘time has come’ for talks on legacy of slaverySat, 26 Oct 2024 20:10:53 GMT Read More »