The president was in Addis Ababa for the African Union’s 11th extraordinary session of the assembly of heads of state. President Cyril Ramaphosa concluded his working visit to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia on Saturday night, where he attended the African Union (AU) 11th extraordinary session of the assembly of heads of state and government, the presidency said. The session was… Read more »
The Security Council slapped an arms embargo and other tough sanctions on Eritrea in 2009 for allegedly supplying weapons to Somalia’s Islamic extremist al-Shabab rebels and for failing to pull troops out of a disputed territory with Djibouti. During a meeting on Wednesday, members voted unanimously to immediately lift “the arms embargo, travel bans, asset freezes and targeted sanctions imposed… Read more »
The Security Council on Thursday voted unanimously to extend its MINUSCA peacekeeping mission for a month. The mandate for the mission was due to expire at midnight on Thursday. Speaking before the council, Russia warned France that it must put aside “parochial national interests” and recognize its peace efforts in the Central African Republic (CAR). The resolution drafted by France… Read more »
The Gabonese president has been receiving medical treatment at the King Faisal Hospital in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh since October 24. He’s rumored to have had a stroke, but this remains unconfirmed. No date has been announced for the president’s return to Gabon. His spokesman, Ike Ngouoni, has stated that Ali Bongo was suffering from “severe fatigue” but is… Read more »
With the Malagasy elections approaching, many residents of Madagascar have little faith in their political system. With poverty rampant in Madagascar, citizens have become disillusioned with the grandiose promises of the political elite, that often are proceeded with no real action. Madagascar is currently ranked by the United Nations Human Development Index in the bottom quarter of the world, with… Read more »
Police have opened fire and shot tear gas at hundreds of Shia Muslim protesters during clashes in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, according to a witness. The crackdown came on Tuesday, a day after soldiers opened fire on the same protest march by supporters of Ibrahim Zakzaky, the imprisoned leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN). At least one protester was… Read more »
At least 47 people have been killed after two buses collided in southeast Zimbabwe, local media reported. One bus was travelling to the capital, Harare, from the eastern city of Mutare and the other was travelling in the opposite direction when the accident happened in the town of Rusape, state broadcaster ZBC reported on Wednesday. “We confirm 47 people have… Read more »
American citizens should review their social media presence for “images and language that may run afoul of Tanzanian laws regarding homosexual practices,” the US Embassy in Tanzania said in a security alert published on its website. The alert, issued late on Saturday, warns of reports that Tanzanian government officials are calling for the arrest of LGBT people. The embassy also… Read more »
According to this passerby in the capital, Antananarivo, the election should not be happening in the first place. “It’s pointless,” he told DW, “I have seen different presidents come and go. They make promises which they then never keep.” He says he will not vote. “The candidates always have big plans for us, but I never see any evidence that… Read more »
Officials from President Pierre Nkurunziza’s government did not turn up for a final round of talks aimed at ending Burundi’s severe political crisis. The peace talks are going ahead without them. The fifth session of the inter-Burundi dialogue started on Thursday with the aim of laying out a roadmap to free and fair elections in 2020 and putting a halt… Read more »