AFP Africa

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

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

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 brave tight security in ZimbabweMon, 31 Mar 2025 20:42:47 GMT

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

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

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 »

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

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 »

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

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 »

African players in Europe: Marmoush, Sarr strike in FA Cup winsMon, 31 Mar 2025 08:28:13 GMT

Egyptian Omar Marmoush and Senegalese Ismaila Sarr scored to help Manchester City and Crystal Palace secure FA Cup semi-finals places at the weekend.Marmoush netted his fifth goal for City since a January move from Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth.Back in England after Africa Cup of Nations qualifying duty, Sarr …

African players in Europe: Marmoush, Sarr strike in FA Cup winsMon, 31 Mar 2025 08:28:13 GMT Read More »

Cost of living woes fuelling fake medicine demand in NigeriaMon, 31 Mar 2025 05:52:33 GMT

A long-running struggle in Nigeria against fake medicines has become even harder because widespread economic hardship is driving up demand, experts say.The scale of the problem was highlighted in March when authorities set ablaze $645 million worth of counterfeit medicines seized in six weeks of raids in Lagos and two southern states.”What we have found …

Cost of living woes fuelling fake medicine demand in NigeriaMon, 31 Mar 2025 05:52:33 GMT Read More »

Guinea-Bissau’s under-fire leader who dodged coupsMon, 31 Mar 2025 05:47:18 GMT

Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo is confident he will easily win another term in office this year but faces claims he lacks legitimacy as his mandate has already expired.If Embalo remains in office until November, when the politically volatile nation is due to vote, he will be only the second leader since the introduction of …

Guinea-Bissau’s under-fire leader who dodged coupsMon, 31 Mar 2025 05:47:18 GMT Read More »