AFP Africa

The last absolute monarchy in Africa, the Kingdom of Eswatini, holds parliamentary elections on Friday, with political parties banned from contesting. The constitution emphasises “individual merit” as the basis for selecting lawmakers, who cannot be affiliated with any political group.Being in the good graces of King Mswati III, who wields absolute power, also carries much weight.- Democracy? …

Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, holds electionsTue, 26 Sep 2023 05:33:16 GMT Read More »

The lush palm groves of Karima are a long way from Sudan’s battlefields, but the war’s effects are all too present, leaving farmers struggling to find buyers for this year’s harvest.Prices have collapsed in the vital date industry, the latest economic sector to become a casualty of war in the northeast African country.Every autumn, until …

Sudan’s vital date industry struggles in war-decimated economyTue, 26 Sep 2023 03:47:53 GMT Read More »

The United States said Monday it will “evaluate” its next steps on the crisis in Niger after France announced a full troop withdrawal as demanded by the nation’s military coup leaders.France fields 1,500 soldiers in Niger as part of an anti-jihadist deployment in the Sahel region and the United States 1,100 military personnel.”While we give diplomacy …

US weighs options in coup-hit Niger after France pulloutMon, 25 Sep 2023 17:57:24 GMT Read More »

Outbreaks of dengue fever and acute watery diarrhoea have “killed hundreds” in war-torn Sudan, medics reported on Monday, warning of “catastrophic spreads” that could overwhelm the country’s decimated health system.In a statement, the Sudanese doctors’ union warned that the health situation in the southeastern state of Gedaref, on the border with Ethiopia, “is deteriorating at …

Hundreds dead from dengue fever in war-torn Sudan: medicsMon, 25 Sep 2023 17:10:37 GMT Read More »

Mali’s ruling junta on Monday announced a delay to a presidential election scheduled for February that was aimed at returning civilian leaders to power in the jihadist-hit West African nation.The two rounds of voting — initially set for February 4 and 18, 2024 — “will be slightly postponed for technical reasons”, government spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga …

Mali’s junta delays February presidential electionMon, 25 Sep 2023 16:21:42 GMT Read More »

France is finally facing up to reality by withdrawing both its ambassador and military from Niger two months after a coup ousted the pro-Paris president, but the pullout marks the most severe setback yet for President Emmanuel Macron’s Africa policy, observers say.Macron had staked France’s strategy in the Sahel region of Africa on the political …

Macron bows to inevitable in Niger with worst Africa setbackMon, 25 Sep 2023 16:16:21 GMT Read More »

Three years ago, Peacemaker Azuegbulam lost his left leg when his Nigerian army unit came under fire from Boko Haram jihadists in the north of the country.Now Azuegbulam is an African champion.Last month, Azuegbulam won gold in the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany — the first Nigerian and the first African to secure the top …

Nigerian scores Africa’s first Invictus gold medalMon, 25 Sep 2023 12:37:56 GMT Read More »

Benin trader Antoine Djanta lost four members of his family at the weekend when an illegal fuel depot near his home exploded into a massive fire that killed 34 people.Like many others in this border community, he lives off the contraband fuel trade with neighbouring Nigeria, a business that has now brought tragedy to the …

Fuel blaze brings tragedy to Benin border townMon, 25 Sep 2023 12:09:39 GMT Read More »

Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah joined an exclusive group when he opened the scoring in a 3-1 Premier League victory over West Ham United at the weekend.He became only the fifth player to either score or assist a goal in each of his team’s first six league games of a season after David Beckham, …

African players in Europe: Salah joins exclusive groupMon, 25 Sep 2023 11:56:33 GMT Read More »

After Mali, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic, France is being forced to withdraw troops from yet another former African colony that pivoted to Russia after souring on Paris: Niger.Faced with growing anti-French sentiment since a military takeover in Niger in July, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to bring home 1,500 counter-terrorism …

‘France out!’ when former colonies give Paris the bootMon, 25 Sep 2023 11:08:49 GMT Read More »