AFP Africa

La Reunion residents ordered indoors as ‘purple alert’ cyclone nearsFri, 28 Feb 2025 06:07:15 GMT

Residents of the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion were ordered Friday to stay indoors as a cyclone bore down that authorities said could bring gusts of 200 kilometres per hour (125 mph) and sea swells more than eight metres (26 feet) high.Authorities said a maximum “purple alert” was in effect from 9:00 am …

La Reunion residents ordered indoors as ‘purple alert’ cyclone nearsFri, 28 Feb 2025 06:07:15 GMT Read More »

Algeria blames French far right as relations with former colonial ruler frayThu, 27 Feb 2025 20:31:26 GMT

Relations between France and Algeria have hit a new low with Algiers blaming the rise of the French far right for a more combative approach from Paris towards its former colony.Algeria has “clearly become the battleground for internal French political disputes, where no blow is too low,” the foreign ministry said in a sharply worded …

Algeria blames French far right as relations with former colonial ruler frayThu, 27 Feb 2025 20:31:26 GMT Read More »

Sudan facing ‘abyss’ unless war ends: UNThu, 27 Feb 2025 20:27:21 GMT

Sudan is facing the abyss and potentially hundreds of thousands of deaths unless the devastating war in the country ends and aid pours in, the United Nations warned Thursday.UN human rights chief Volker Turk painted a bleak outlook for Sudan, where famine has already taken hold and millions have fled their homes amid intense fighting …

Sudan facing ‘abyss’ unless war ends: UNThu, 27 Feb 2025 20:27:21 GMT Read More »

Skills, not degrees, help Kenya’s slum youth get aheadThu, 27 Feb 2025 20:11:27 GMT

Growing up in a Kenyan slum, Annastacia Mwende always loved cars but never thought of being a mechanic. Now, she is the star pupil at a back-street Nairobi garage.Kenya needs more like her, say experts: learning practical skills that lead to actual jobs.Too often, young Kenyans feel pressured into university to learn medicine, law or …

Skills, not degrees, help Kenya’s slum youth get aheadThu, 27 Feb 2025 20:11:27 GMT Read More »

US HIV fund halt may cost South Africa 500,000 lives over 10 years: foundationThu, 27 Feb 2025 17:45:29 GMT

A halt in US funds to South Africa’s HIV/AIDS programmes could lead to more than 500,000 deaths over 10 years, the head of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation said Thursday.”We will see lives lost,” the foundation’s chief operating officer Linda-Gail Bekker told reporters after South African groups were notified that their USAID grants had been …

US HIV fund halt may cost South Africa 500,000 lives over 10 years: foundationThu, 27 Feb 2025 17:45:29 GMT Read More »

Explosions at M23 rally in east DR Congo kill at least 11Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:35:29 GMT

Two explosions that rocked a city in eastern DR Congo after a meeting of the Rwanda-backed M23 group Thursday have killed at least 11 people and wounded around 60, a hospital source told AFP. A first explosion caused panic, sending spectators fleeing, before a second explosion detonated, with pools of blood visible and abandoned shoes strewn …

Explosions at M23 rally in east DR Congo kill at least 11Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:35:29 GMT Read More »

Ruto critic launches new Kenyan party ahead of 2027 pollThu, 27 Feb 2025 15:26:10 GMT

Kenyan lawyer and opposition veteran Martha Karua launched a new political party on Thursday, vowing to engage the youth as she prepares a run for the presidency in 2027.A fierce critic of President William Ruto, she said her new People’s Liberation Party aims to “fight, unite and liberate” Kenya.In the last election, Karua was the …

Ruto critic launches new Kenyan party ahead of 2027 pollThu, 27 Feb 2025 15:26:10 GMT Read More »

Former African leaders launch debt relief drive for poor nationsThu, 27 Feb 2025 15:24:32 GMT

The high debt saddling the world’s poorest countries needs an urgent reset to avoid multiple crises, African leaders said Thursday as they launched an initiative for debt relief and fairer borrowing terms. The African Leaders Debt Relief Initiative, signed on the sidelines of a G20 finance meeting in South Africa, will push for a revamp of …

Former African leaders launch debt relief drive for poor nationsThu, 27 Feb 2025 15:24:32 GMT Read More »

Mauritius, La Reunion on high alert for dangerous cycloneThu, 27 Feb 2025 15:11:38 GMT

The Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and La Reunion were on high alert Thursday for an intense tropical storm, Cyclone Garance, labelled a “direct threat” to the tourist destinations.Mauritius shut its main airport on Wednesday, while the nearby French island of La Reunion was set to do the same on Thursday.Garance was categorised a class …

Mauritius, La Reunion on high alert for dangerous cycloneThu, 27 Feb 2025 15:11:38 GMT Read More »

East DR Congo explosions kill at least 11Thu, 27 Feb 2025 15:04:26 GMT

Two explosions that rocked a city in eastern DR Congo after a meeting of the M23 armed group Thursday have killed at least 11 people and injured around 60, a hospital source told AFP.President Felix Tshisekedi called the explosions a “heinous terrorist act.”A first explosion caused panic, sending spectators fleeing, before a second rang out.The …

East DR Congo explosions kill at least 11Thu, 27 Feb 2025 15:04:26 GMT Read More »