A major fire in Cairo destroyed one of the Arab world’s most prestigious and oldest film production houses, founded 80 years ago, an AFP journalist said.Flames overtook the Al-Ahram Studio in Cairo’s Giza district, burning everything inside and spreading to three surrounding buildings which were evacuated before the blaze reached them.Residents of the neighbouring buildings …

Inferno destroys prestigious Arab film studio in CairoSat, 16 Mar 2024 11:18:31 GMT Read More »

The United Nations appealed Friday for Sudan’s battling factions to allow delivery of humanitarian relief to fend off looming “catastrophic” hunger.Some five million Sudanese could face calamitous food insecurity in coming months as a nearly yearlong war between rival generals continues to tear the country apart, according to a UN document seen Friday by AFP.The …

UN says 5 million at risk of starvation in SudanFri, 15 Mar 2024 23:24:20 GMT Read More »

Three people were killed in an hours-long siege by Al-Shabaab jihadists at a popular hotel near the presidential palace in the Somali capital Mogadishu, police said Friday.Security forces also killed five assailants in a gun battle, Somali police spokesman Colonel Qasim Ahmed Roble told reporters.Armed fighters stormed the SYL hotel in a hail of bullets …

Three killed in Al-Shabaab siege at Mogadishu hotel: policeFri, 15 Mar 2024 22:00:23 GMT Read More »

Leading Senegalese opposition figure Ousmane Sonko on Friday predicted a comfortable first-round win for his coalition’s presidential candidate, in his first public appearance a day after being freed from prison. Sonko was greeted by hundreds of supporters outside a hotel in the capital Dakar, where he held a news conference with his deputy and presidential hopeful …

Freed Senegal politician predicts large first-round victoryFri, 15 Mar 2024 21:15:38 GMT Read More »

The United Nations called Friday for Sudan’s warring factions to provide unimpeded access for desperately needed aid as the spectre of famine looms after nearly a year of conflict.The war between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has since April last year killed tens of thousands, destroyed infrastructure and …

UN demands unimpeded aid access to Sudan as famine loomsFri, 15 Mar 2024 19:32:58 GMT Read More »

Ousmane Sonko, one of Senegal’s leading opposition figures, on Friday made his first public appearance in months, just a day after his release from jail, greeting hundreds of supporters in the capital Dakar.Sonko arrived at a hotel to hold a press conference with his deputy, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who was also released from prison on …

Released Senegal opponent makes first public appearance in monthsFri, 15 Mar 2024 18:32:02 GMT Read More »

Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Senegal’s leading opposition figures who were released from prison late Thursday, are key elements of an anti-establishment movement hoping to win the presidential vote on a ticket of change.  Sonko, 49, had been the undisputed candidate of the Pastef party, which he helped found in 2014 with a group of …

Sonko and Diomaye: Senegal’s anti-establishment figureheadsFri, 15 Mar 2024 15:45:01 GMT Read More »

If Donald Trump wins November’s US presidential election and returns to the White House, what will it mean for American relations in Africa? Perhaps not much, but some on the continent are worried.During the Republican leader’s first term he never showed much interest in the continent, and is remembered mainly for his outburst about “shithole countries”.His …

African countries expect Trump neglect, but some won’t mindFri, 15 Mar 2024 14:11:14 GMT Read More »

Ebuka Gbuzue pulled everything he could from his family’s small home in Lagos before demolition crews came to destroy it.This week the local government began a huge operation to raze areas of the eastern Jakande district in Nigeria’s economic capital and make way for a coastal mega-highway.Gbuzue, 35, heaved mattresses and furniture into a trailer bound …

Despair as Lagos neighbourhood razed for planned highwayFri, 15 Mar 2024 11:55:46 GMT Read More »

Senegal waited Friday for key opposition figures Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye to take their place on the presidential campaign trail, after their release from prison sparked jubilant scenes 10 days before the key vote.    Thousands thronged the streets of the capital Dakar in the early hours between Thursday and Friday, singing and dancing as …

Senegal awaits next moves of opposition leaders freed before key voteFri, 15 Mar 2024 10:43:01 GMT Read More »