Former South Africa Test captain Dean Elgar announced Friday that he will retire from international cricket after a Test series against India starting next week. The 36-year-old, who has hit more than 5,000 Test runs including 13 centuries, will play his last Test at the Newlands ground in Cape Town starting January 3.”As they say, ‘all …

S. Africa’s Elgar to end international careerFri, 22 Dec 2023 09:08:22 GMT Read More »

Lining up, they receive some rice, dried beans and other basic foodstuffs, whose soaring prices have left millions in Nigeria facing a bleak Christmas.The temporary food distribution in the courtyard of the Church of the Assumption in the economic capital, Lagos, has drawn a big crowd — some have travelled far.Christana Adebaya, 58, arrived at …

Nigeria economic crisis dampens Christmas spiritFri, 22 Dec 2023 06:15:10 GMT Read More »

The last French troops are to withdraw from Niger on Friday, marking an end to more than a decade of French anti-jihadist operations in west Africa’s Sahel region.The French exit from Niger leaves hundreds of US military personnel, and a number of Italian and German troops, remaining in the country.France said it would pull out …

Last French troops to bow out of Africa’s SahelFri, 22 Dec 2023 04:31:20 GMT Read More »

Protesting youths and security forces clashed in Guinea’s capital Conakry on Thursday as demonstrators demanded petrol be restored at service stations whose supplies were suspended after a deadly explosion at the country’s main fuel depot.Sporadic clashes broke out in the afternoon between groups of youths throwing stones and the security forces who retaliated by firing …

Clashes over fuel supply after Guinea depot blazeThu, 21 Dec 2023 22:40:05 GMT Read More »

Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo drew to a close Thursday evening, after a second day of voting necessitated by logistical problems that had prevented some polling stations from opening the previous day.As people in some parts of the country finally began voting, ballot counting was already underway elsewhere, with the first results expected …

DR Congo in second day of voting after chaotic startThu, 21 Dec 2023 20:23:56 GMT Read More »

Mohamed Ibrahim had barely settled into life in Sudan’s main agricultural centre after fleeing fighting in the capital Khartoum, only to discover the war had again arrived on his doorstep.”Seven months ago, when the battles intensified in Khartoum, I was displaced with my family to Wad Madani” 180 kilometres (110 miles) south, the 53-year-old said.Thousands …

Sudan’s displaced forced to flee again as safe zones shrinkThu, 21 Dec 2023 18:11:35 GMT Read More »

Angola said on Thursday it would leave OPEC over a disagreement on production quotas following the oil cartel’s decision last month to further slash output next year.Mineral Resources and Petroleum minister Diamantino Azevedo said that the decision was not taken lightly, but OPEC membership no longer served the African country’s interests. “We feel that at this …

Angola to quit OPEC over oil production quotas disagreementThu, 21 Dec 2023 16:24:02 GMT Read More »

In the damp December cold, a blue bus stops near Weymouth town centre in southwest England. A few men get off, relieved to be spending a few hours away from what they call their “prison” — a barge housing asylum seekers.Hasan James, a 38-year-old Nigerian, is one of around 200 migrants staying on the Bibby Stockholm …

In UK seaside town, migrants call barge accommodation a ‘prison’Thu, 21 Dec 2023 14:24:33 GMT Read More »

Benin President Patrice Talon on Thursday called for relations to be swiftly re-established between his country and neighbouring Niger, which is now controlled by military rulers after a coup.In his annual address to the nation before parliament, Talon expressed the “wish to see relations between Benin and the countries where coups have happened quickly re-established”.He …

Benin’s president urges renewal of ties with coup-hit NigerThu, 21 Dec 2023 12:34:43 GMT Read More »

Voting in the Democratic Republic of Congo extended into Thursday a day after a general election marred by widespread logistical problems that saw some polling stations never open.The impoverished but mineral-rich central African nation held four concurrent elections on Wednesday — to pick a president, national and regional lawmakers, and local councillors. President Felix Tshisekedi, 60, …

DR Congo enters second day of voting after chaotic startThu, 21 Dec 2023 11:00:29 GMT Read More »