The World Bank’s new president, Ajay Banga, said Wednesday that the global lender must become “better” and “bigger” to boost its capacity to help developing countries battle climate change, poverty and pandemics.Banga, who was appointed in June, made his plea at the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank in the southern Moroccan city …

World Bank needs to get ‘better’, ‘bigger’: presidentWed, 11 Oct 2023 14:43:02 GMT Read More »

The UK’s King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla will make a four-day state visit to Kenya from the end of this month, Buckingham Palace announced Wednesday.Kenyan President William Ruto invited the royal couple for the visit, which comes as the African nation prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence from Britain in December. “The …

King Charles III to make Kenya state visit this monthWed, 11 Oct 2023 12:08:16 GMT Read More »

The first convoy of French troops withdrew from Niger on Tuesday after being ordered out by coup leaders as the United States also cut off more than $500 million in assistance to the insurgency-hit Sahel nation.Niger’s military regime announced on state television late Tuesday that it escorted the first convoy of French soldiers from their …

US cuts aid to Niger as France starts troop pulloutWed, 11 Oct 2023 00:09:12 GMT Read More »

South Africa lodged an appeal on Tuesday against a World Anti-Doping Agency decision that had threatened to see the country’s rugby team barred from flying their flag in this weekend’s World Cup quarter-final against France.Sport Minister Zizi Kodwa said the appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, should “stave off” the …

S.Africa files appeal to avoid Rugby World Cup flag banTue, 10 Oct 2023 22:49:50 GMT Read More »

French soldiers withdrew from their bases in Niger on Tuesday, with the first convoy to be escorted out by the country’s post-coup regime heading in the “direction of Chad”, authorities in Niamey said. “The troops based in Ouallam have left their base today. These are the operations for the departure of the first ground convoy in …

Niger military regime says French forces leaving ‘in the direction of Chad’Tue, 10 Oct 2023 20:55:42 GMT Read More »

The EU’s election observation mission to Sierra Leone on Tuesday highlighted statistical inconsistencies, intimidation and political violence in its final report on the June vote, recommending a string of measures to boost transparency, safety and freedom of expression.”Voters’ trust in the credibility of elections was undermined by (a) lack of transparency during critical stages of …

EU flags opacity, inconsistencies in Sierra Leone’s June voteTue, 10 Oct 2023 20:37:20 GMT Read More »

Liberians voted Tuesday on whether to give football legend George Weah a second term as president, with peace among voters’ top concerns in a nation still scarred by back-to-back civil wars.More than 2.4 million people were registered to vote in the West African nation, choosing their 73 representatives and 15 senators in addition to the …

Liberia votes as football superstar eyes second presidential termTue, 10 Oct 2023 18:52:39 GMT Read More »

Madagascar’s outgoing president Andry Rajoelina launched his re-election campaign on Tuesday, promising “an orange wave” to thousands of supporters wearing his party colour who gathered in the capital, Antananarivo.Voters in the Indian Ocean island nation will elect a president on November 9 but the run-up to the poll has been marred by tensions after disputes …

Madagascar president kicks off re-election campaign amid tensionsTue, 10 Oct 2023 17:17:29 GMT Read More »

A bar is playing religious music at the entrance to the Nkol Etam area of the Cameroon capital, where torrential rains brought down a hillside killing 28 people.A dozen people are drinking, distraught and grieving as they recall the landslide that hit on Sunday evening.A three-day downpour burst a dam wall holding a man-made lake …

Cameroon landslide survivors scramble to salvage their livesTue, 10 Oct 2023 17:17:24 GMT Read More »

The United States on Tuesday formally declared that Niger’s military staged a coup, cutting off more than $500 million in assistance as it acknowledged the overthrow of a democratic government seen as a key bulwark against Russia.Niger’s military on July 26 toppled and detained the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, a Western partner in the fight …

US says Niger military staged coup, slashes aidTue, 10 Oct 2023 16:28:28 GMT Read More »