AFP Africa

BRICS leaders announced on Thursday the “historic” admission of six new countries from next year as the club of large and populous emerging economies seeks to reshape the global order.The BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — agreed at their annual summit to make Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the …

BRICS announces ‘historic’ admission of six new membersThu, 24 Aug 2023 10:02:31 GMT Read More »

Five key facts about Gabon, where presidential, legislative and municipal elections take place on Saturday:- The Bongos -The central African state has been run by one family for more than 55 years.President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who is seeking a third term, took over when his father Omar died in 2009 after nearly 42 years in …

Gabon: Five things to knowThu, 24 Aug 2023 06:20:32 GMT Read More »

For years, Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba struggled in the shadow of his charismatic father Omar, who ruled the oil-rich central African country for more than four decades.Then nearly five years ago came a stroke that sidelined him for months, spurred rumours about his fitness for office and fuelled a minor attempted coup.Today, Bongo’s doubters …

Ali Bongo, Gabon’s political phoenixThu, 24 Aug 2023 06:15:57 GMT Read More »

Voters in Gabon head for the polls on Saturday with President Ali Bongo Ondimba eager for a clear victory after a seven-year term in which health problems fuelled attacks on his fitness to govern.The small oil-rich central African state has been ruled by Bongo since 2009, when he was voted in to succeed his father …

Gabon’s Bongo seeks election triumph after stroke recoveryThu, 24 Aug 2023 06:08:15 GMT Read More »

Zimbabwe’s president Wednesday extended voting by another day after long delays marred the start of balloting in key districts and sparked opposition accusations of “rigging” and “voter suppression”.As polling began to close in some voting stations, it was only starting in others, prompting opposition accusations of vote manipulation after a campaign marked by tension and …

Zimbabwe high stakes vote spills into day two as opposition alleges riggingWed, 23 Aug 2023 21:39:08 GMT Read More »

For the fourth straight day Wednesday, Sudanese paramilitaries fought the regular army in Khartoum for control of a key armoured corps base in the capital’s south, witnesses said.Fighters from Mohamed Hamdan Daglo’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began their assault on the vast strategic compound on several fronts on Sunday.Residents of Al-Shajara, the neighbourhood where the …

Sudan paramilitaries press assault on armoured corps baseWed, 23 Aug 2023 19:39:45 GMT Read More »

Zimbabwe’s opposition leader on Wednesday accused the ruling ZANU-PF government of “rigging” and “voter suppression” as long delays marred the start of balloting in key districts in Zimbabwe’s high stakes elections.As polling began to close in some voting stations, it was only starting in others prompting opposition accusations of vote manipulation after a campaign marked …

Zimbabwean opposition leader alleges rigging in high stakes voteWed, 23 Aug 2023 18:46:55 GMT Read More »

BRICS leaders have agreed to expand the club of major emerging economies and adopted conditions for entry, South Africa said Wednesday, as the bloc pursues greater clout to shape the world order.Calls to enlarge the BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — has dominated the agenda at its three-day summit in Johannesburg …

BRICS leaders agree to expand membership at summitWed, 23 Aug 2023 18:31:00 GMT Read More »

An influential Senegalese religious leader has joined calls for detained opposition leader Ousmane Sonko to end a hunger strike, an official from his political coalition told AFP.A presidential candidate and head of state Macky Sall’s fiercest critic, Sonko has faced a string of legal woes since 2021 that he claims are aimed at keeping him …

Senegal religious leader asks politician to end hunger strikeWed, 23 Aug 2023 16:45:42 GMT Read More »

The five BRICS nations are open to expanding the club to new members, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Wednesday, as it pursues greater clout in shaping the world order.Calls to enlarge the BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — has dominated the agenda at its three-day summit in Johannesburg and exposed …

BRICS leaders weigh expanding membership at summitWed, 23 Aug 2023 15:29:11 GMT Read More »