AFP Africa

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani wore a resolute expression as he took to the stage at an election rally in the northwest of the vast West African state.Tipped to win a second term in Saturday’s presidential poll, the austere-looking figure wore a traditional tunic as he promised the crowd a “resounding” victory. Ghazouani’s campaign …

Ex-security boss turned president: Mauritania’s GhazouaniThu, 27 Jun 2024 11:19:50 GMT Read More »

Months into the closure of Tunisia’s main border crossing with Libya, a haven for smugglers, shops are shuttered and unemployment has soared in the already-marginalised desert region, merchants say.Ras Jedir, in Tunisia’s south, is a major hub of informal trade between the two North African countries.The crossing has been shut since March 19, following what …

Tunisia town shuttered after Libya closes smuggler-linked borderThu, 27 Jun 2024 11:19:25 GMT Read More »

Kenya braced for fresh demonstrations Thursday under heavy security, after major concessions from the government which agreed to scrap contentious tax hikes following deadly protests that saw parliament ransacked.The rallies this month — led largely by young, Gen-Z Kenyans — caught the authorities off-guard, as President William Ruto’s government ricocheted between taking a tough line …

‘Uncharted waters’: Kenya braces for protests despite Ruto U-turnThu, 27 Jun 2024 09:12:24 GMT Read More »

South Africa demolished Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup dream in ruthless fashion on Wednesday, thrashing the minnows by nine wickets with more than 11 overs to spare to reach the final of the cricket showpiece for the first time.Left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (3 for 6) and gangling pacer Marco Jansen (3-16) spearheaded the rout of Afghanistan’s …

South Africa thrash Afghanistan to reach T20 World Cup finalThu, 27 Jun 2024 03:46:40 GMT Read More »

Kenyan demonstrators prepared to resume protests Thursday, a day after President William Ruto made a dramatic U-turn and withdrew contentious tax hikes following deadly rallies earlier in the week.The demonstrations were sparked last week by the 2024 finance bill and took Ruto’s government by surprise as the initially peaceful rallies gathered momentum across the country.But …

‘For a better Kenya’: protesters ready for new march despite Ruto U-turnThu, 27 Jun 2024 03:07:52 GMT Read More »

Kenyan President William Ruto said Wednesday that a bill containing contentious tax hikes would “be withdrawn”, dramatically reversing course after more than 20 people were killed in clashes with police and parliament was ransacked by protesters opposed to the legislation.The initially peaceful demonstrations were sparked last week by the 2024 finance bill — which politicians …

‘The people have spoken’: Kenya’s Ruto pulls finance bill after protest deathsWed, 26 Jun 2024 18:37:24 GMT Read More »

After waiting for hours outside a morgue in the capital Nairobi, gripped by protests against the Kenyan government’s controversial tax rises, Florence Onyango received the news she had been dreading.”A friend of mine died because he was demonstrating yesterday close to the parliament. He was shot in the head,” the 47-year-old told AFP, tears welling …

Kenya torn between anger and mourning after protest deathsWed, 26 Jun 2024 15:21:09 GMT Read More »

Five facts about the Islamic republic of Mauritania, a vast desert nation in western Africa that will hold presidential elections on Saturday.- Rock in volatile Sahara -Over the decades, Mauritania has been embroiled in many regional and domestic conflicts.Sharing a border with the long-disputed territory of the Western Sahara, Mauritania withdrew from its part of …

Five things to know about MauritaniaWed, 26 Jun 2024 14:35:31 GMT Read More »

Mauritanians vote in a presidential election Saturday, with incumbent Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani expected to win a second term at the helm of the West African state seen as a rock of relative stability in the volatile Sahel.  Around 1.94 million registered voters will choose between seven candidates vying to lead the vast desert …

Stable outlier in turbulent region, Mauritania heads to pollsWed, 26 Jun 2024 14:32:20 GMT Read More »

The International Criminal Court on Wednesday convicted a jihadist police chief of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during a reign of terror in the fabled Malian city of Timbuktu.Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud, 46, was found guilty of crimes including torture and outrages upon personal dignity.Presiding judge Antoine Kesia-Mbe …

ICC convicts Timbuktu jihad police chief of war crimesWed, 26 Jun 2024 14:24:43 GMT Read More »