Senegal’s anti-establishment leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye, whose weekend election victory could be officially confirmed within days, was welcomed at the presidential palace Thursday by outgoing leader Macky Sall.The meeting, which came after weeks of crisis surrounding the vote, suggested a swift and peaceful handover in the West African nation that prides itself on democratic stability …

Senegal’s outgoing leader meets with president-elect FayeThu, 28 Mar 2024 20:59:48 GMT Read More »

South Africa’s electoral officials said Thursday that they had excluded former president Jacob Zuma from May elections, further stoking tensions in the run-up to the polls.The country is to hold general elections on May 29 in what is expected to be the most competitive vote since the advent of democracy in 1994.The governing African National …

S.Africa’s ex-president Zuma barred from May electionThu, 28 Mar 2024 19:22:44 GMT Read More »

In Ndiaganiao, a remote village in Senegal’s agricultural region, men from around the country flock to congratulate the father of president-elect Bassirou Diomaye Faye.Speaking from the hallway of the pastel-coloured family home and dressed in a silk blue boubou, 84-year-old Samba Faye says he is “happy and proud” of his son.”He came to see me …

New Senegal president’s home village full of pride, hope and adviceThu, 28 Mar 2024 15:26:17 GMT Read More »

Belgian world championship leader Thierry Neuville took control of the Safari Rally Kenya on Thursday after the opening special stage ahead of Estonia’s Ott Tanak, both driving a Hyundai.Neuville edged Tanak by a slim 0.1-second margin after the ‘super special’ where drivers competed two by two over a short loop during the day’s only stage …

Neuville takes control at rain-soaked Safari RallyThu, 28 Mar 2024 13:11:25 GMT Read More »

The French parliament’s lower house on Thursday approved a resolution condemning as “bloody and murderous repression” the killing by Paris police of dozens of Algerians in a crackdown on a 1961 protest to support Algerian independence.In recent years France has made a series of efforts to come to terms with its colonial past in Algeria.Dozens …

French parliament condemns 1961 Paris massacre of AlgeriansThu, 28 Mar 2024 12:07:05 GMT Read More »

Seven months after bringing the curtain down on the 55-year Bongo dynasty, Gabon’s transitional president launches a national dialogue Tuesday touted as paving the way for elections next year.General Brice Oligui Nguema, who was swiftly sworn in after the August 30 coup, pledged to hand back the oil-rich central African country to civilian rule after …

Gabon’s post-coup reform efforts under fireThu, 28 Mar 2024 06:54:34 GMT Read More »

Anti-establishment figure Bassirou Diomaye Faye has comfortably won the Senegalese presidential election with 54.28 percent of votes in the first round, official provisional results showed Wednesday.He placed well ahead of the governing coalition’s candidate, former prime minister Amadou Ba, who garnered 35.79 percent. The victory for Faye, who was only freed from prison 10 days before …

Senegal results show large win for opponent Faye in presidential pollWed, 27 Mar 2024 23:54:19 GMT Read More »

Political tension mounted in Togo on Wednesday as police broke up an opposition news conference amid backlash over a constitutional reform criticised as a power grab.The West African country’s parliament voted for the new constitution on Monday, switching from a presidential to a parliamentary system.With less than a month before legislative elections, the opposition fears …

Togo tensions rise as police break up opposition eventWed, 27 Mar 2024 19:50:16 GMT Read More »

As anti-establishment Bassirou Diomaye Faye looks set to take Senegal’s presidency, analysts say his win also reflects a protest against the outgoing leadership and divisions within a powerful but weakened governing coalition.President Macky Sall’s hand-picked candidate, former prime minister Amadou Ba, on Monday conceded defeat, triggering a mixture of pride, dejection and resentment among dozens …

Defeated Senegal government faces uncomfortable truthsWed, 27 Mar 2024 17:24:45 GMT Read More »

A court on Wednesday handed one of Central African Republic’s main opposition leaders a one-year suspended prison sentence for defamation and contempt of court.Crepin Mboli Goumba, a lawyer and coordinator for the leading opposition forum BRDC, was arrested March 3 after he accused some magistrates of corruption and said “justice is no longer being served …

C.Africa court sentences an opposition leader for defamationWed, 27 Mar 2024 16:04:00 GMT Read More »