AFP Africa

Control tower breakdown brings flight chaos to Paris airportSun, 18 May 2025 18:08:47 GMT

A control tower breakdown forced the cancellation of about 130 flights at Paris Orly airport Sunday, leaving thousands of passengers to scramble for alternative routes, officials said.A spokesman for Aeroports de Paris, which operates the French capital’s second busiest airport, said about 40 percent of the day’s departures and arrivals had been called off.France’s DGAC …

Control tower breakdown brings flight chaos to Paris airportSun, 18 May 2025 18:08:47 GMT Read More »

Kenyan politician, lawyer for Tanzania opposition leader arrestedSun, 18 May 2025 09:50:43 GMT

Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua, a presidential candidate who also represents opposition figures on trial in neighbouring countries, was arrested in Tanzania on Sunday, a spokesperson told AFP. Karua has been representing Tanzanian opposition leader Tindu Lissu, who is on trial for treason and faces a possible death penalty.Lissu is due in court on Monday. The trial comes …

Kenyan politician, lawyer for Tanzania opposition leader arrestedSun, 18 May 2025 09:50:43 GMT Read More »

Tunisian ‘revolution oasis’ palm grove thrives on self-ruleSun, 18 May 2025 03:52:05 GMT

Since the inhabitants of Jemna in southern Tunisia wrested control of their 100-year-old palm grove from the state during the 2011 Revolution, residents say their lives have radically improved.The desert town — where the palms produce some of the North African country’s finest dates — ejected businessmen tied to the old regime when the uprising …

Tunisian ‘revolution oasis’ palm grove thrives on self-ruleSun, 18 May 2025 03:52:05 GMT Read More »

Nigeria’s Nollywood finally makes it into Cannes arthouse film foldSat, 17 May 2025 09:54:47 GMT

It has taken nearly 80 years, but a Nigerian movie will finally be screened in a hallowed official slot at the Cannes film festival Sunday.After decades of being written off for its cheap and cheerful crowd-pleasers, Nollywood — the frenetic film industry based in Lagos which churns out up to five films a day — …

Nigeria’s Nollywood finally makes it into Cannes arthouse film foldSat, 17 May 2025 09:54:47 GMT Read More »

Musk’s xAI blames ‘unauthorized’ tweak for ‘white genocide’ postsSat, 17 May 2025 01:41:40 GMT

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup has blamed an “unauthorized modification” for causing its chatbot Grok to generate misleading and unsolicited posts referencing “white genocide” in South Africa.The chatbot, developed by Musk’s company xAI, ignited controversy this week by answering multiple user prompts with right-wing propaganda about the purported oppression of white South Africans.”How many times …

Musk’s xAI blames ‘unauthorized’ tweak for ‘white genocide’ postsSat, 17 May 2025 01:41:40 GMT Read More »

Chad’s ex-prime minister arrested for ‘inciting hatred’Fri, 16 May 2025 19:41:21 GMT

Chad’s former prime minister and opposition leader Succes Masra was arrested early Friday accused of inciting hatred in connection with deadly clashes in the southwest, the public prosecutor said.Masra, who served as premier from January to May last year, faced off against President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno in presidential elections a year ago.One of Deby’s …

Chad’s ex-prime minister arrested for ‘inciting hatred’Fri, 16 May 2025 19:41:21 GMT Read More »

Ivory Coast opposition leader calls for ‘credible’ voteFri, 16 May 2025 16:21:39 GMT

The leader of Ivory Coast’s main opposition party on Friday called for an “inclusive, transparent and credible” presidential election, although he is barred from standing due to a dispute over his nationality.The west African country must show that it has reached “a sufficient level of political maturity to stop excluding presidential candidates”, Tidjane Thiam said …

Ivory Coast opposition leader calls for ‘credible’ voteFri, 16 May 2025 16:21:39 GMT Read More »

Jihadists kill troops, fishermen in northern NigeriaFri, 16 May 2025 15:21:35 GMT

Twin jihadist attacks across Lake Chad killed at least 22 people in Nigeria, sources told AFP Friday, with Boko Haram killing more than a dozen civilians and Islamic State West Africa Province raiding a military base.The attacks come as Nigeria’s embattled northeast — facing an insurgency that since 2009 has killed 40,000 and displaced two …

Jihadists kill troops, fishermen in northern NigeriaFri, 16 May 2025 15:21:35 GMT Read More »

Gabon’s ousted leader and family ‘released’ and in AngolaFri, 16 May 2025 15:12:57 GMT

Gabon’s former leader Ali Bongo Ondimba, who was detained after being ousted in a 2023 coup, has been released and has gone to Angola with his family, the Angolan presidency said Friday.Bongo, whose family ruled oil-rich Gabon for 55 years, had been under house arrest in the capital Libreville since being overthrown in August 2023.His …

Gabon’s ousted leader and family ‘released’ and in AngolaFri, 16 May 2025 15:12:57 GMT Read More »

Ramaphosa’s talks with Trump chance to reset tattered tiesFri, 16 May 2025 13:00:37 GMT

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa travels to the United States next week to meet Donald Trump in a bid to rescue deteriorating relations with a vital and increasingly critical trade partner.Ramaphosa will need to work his skills as a negotiator when he sits down with Trump Wednesday — and an invitation for the US president …

Ramaphosa’s talks with Trump chance to reset tattered tiesFri, 16 May 2025 13:00:37 GMT Read More »