AFP Africa

Prayers at home and smaller gatherings to break the fast — Muslims in a city recently captured by Rwanda-backed fighters in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo face a more subdued holy month of Ramadan this year.The M23 captured Bukavu in South Kivu province in mid-February in a lightning offensive after resurfacing in late 2021 …

Ramadan in ‘climate of war’ for east DR Congo’s MuslimsTue, 04 Mar 2025 11:56:35 GMT Read More »

Pope Francis was breathing without a mask on Tuesday after suffering two bouts of acute respiratory failure, the Vatican said as the leader of the world’s Catholics spent his 19th day in hospital with pneumonia.The 88-year-old Argentine pontiff, head of the Catholic Church since 2013, “slept all night long and continues to rest” following Monday’s …

Pope breathing without mask after respiratory attacks: VaticanTue, 04 Mar 2025 11:35:56 GMT Read More »

Pope Francis, hospitalised with pneumonia in both lungs, slept all night and was resting on Tuesday after suffering two bouts of acute respiratory failure the day before, the Vatican said.The 88-year-old was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 with bronchitis, which developed into pneumonia in both lungs, sparking alarm. On Monday, the pope “experienced …

Pope slept all night, resting after two breathing attacks: VaticanTue, 04 Mar 2025 08:52:03 GMT Read More »

Lema Tefera’s voice broke as he described losing four children to malaria in just one month — deaths that could likely have been prevented if not for the conflict in Ethiopia’s Oromia region.”There was no malaria medication and treatment in our village due to the fighting,” the farmer told AFP by phone.Africa accounts for about …

Malaria deaths soar in shadow of Ethiopia conflictTue, 04 Mar 2025 07:36:34 GMT Read More »

When the Banyene family were sent back to their home in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, all that had survived the fighting was a crumbling wall and sagging metal roof.Shell casings from automatic weapons littered the plot, leftovers from the conflict between the Congolese army and the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group that had until …

Families sent home to ruins of east DR Congo conflictTue, 04 Mar 2025 06:40:08 GMT Read More »

The trial of several prominent Tunisian opposition figures accused of national security offences is set to begin Tuesday, with rights groups denouncing the case as politically motivated.The around 40 high-profile defendants include former diplomats, politicians, lawyers and media figures, some of whom have been outspoken critics of President Kais Saied.The charges against them are “plotting …

Tunisia opposition figures go on trial on state security chargesTue, 04 Mar 2025 02:02:11 GMT Read More »

Gabon’s military leader General Brice Oligui Nguema, who led a 2023 coup to end 55 years of Bongo dynasty rule, announced Monday that he would run for president in April.Oligui had pledged to hand power back to civilians in the oil-rich central African nation after an interim period following the ousting of president Ali Bongo …

Gabon junta chief Oligui to run for presidentMon, 03 Mar 2025 19:14:55 GMT Read More »

Gabon’s General Brice Oligui Nguema has sought to carve out an image as a positive, empathetic leader, far from his military strongman profile that characterised his seizure of power.Many Gabonese first saw Oligui on television when, as head of the elite presidential guard, he was triumphantly carried aloft by his troops hours after veteran president …

Gabon’s leader Oligui Nguema, a strategist for powerMon, 03 Mar 2025 18:01:03 GMT Read More »

Waxing down his board at the beach where he grew up, Souleymane Sidibe is determined to show the judges in Ivory Coast’s first surfing competition that he’s a future champion. The west African country is known internationally for its cocoa. With its 570-kilometre (355-mile) coastline and its impressive waves, it now wants to make a name …

Surf’s up: Ivory Coast rides the wavesMon, 03 Mar 2025 13:48:39 GMT Read More »

Nigeria centre-back Calvin Bassey marked his first FA Cup match for Fulham by scoring as the Londoners eliminated holders Manchester United at the weekend.He headed past United and Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana just before half-time in a fifth-round tie at Old Trafford, which Fulham won on penalties after a 1-1 draw.Gambian Yankuba Minteh was another …

African players in Europe: Bassey helps Fulham knock out UnitedMon, 03 Mar 2025 12:03:41 GMT Read More »