Wedged between Lake Kivu and the Masisi mountains in eastern DR Congo, the town of Minova has been severed from the rest of the country by fighting between rebels and government troops and collapsed infrastructure.Minova has effectively become an island since M23 (“March 23”) rebels cornered several units of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s army (FARDC) …

Overwhelmed DR Congo town cut off after rebel attacksFri, 15 Mar 2024 06:57:25 GMT Read More »

Sporadic explosions and gunfire rang out from a popular hotel in the Somali capital early Friday, an AFP correspondent said, many hours after Al-Shabaab fighters attacked the site near the presidential palace.The assault late Thursday broke a relative lull in attacks by the Al-Qaeda linked jihadist group, which claimed responsibility in a brief statement.Armed militants …

Al-Shabaab attack on hotel in Somali capital ongoingFri, 15 Mar 2024 05:41:48 GMT Read More »

Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and his second-in-command, presidential candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye, were released from prison in Dakar on Thursday, 10 days before the country’s election. “They came out in front of us,” lawyer Cheikh Koureyssi Ba said, as an AFP journalist witnessed a motorcade exiting the prison through a large crowd.Their release follows weeks …

Senegal opposition figures released 10 days before pollsFri, 15 Mar 2024 02:33:02 GMT Read More »

Islamist militants from the Al-Shabaab group on Thursday attacked a popular hotel near the presidential palace in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, security sources and witnesses said.The assault, for which Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility, began at around 9:45 pm (1845 GMT) when gunmen stormed the SYL hotel in a hail of bullets.”Several gunmen forced their way into the …

Al-Shabaab attacks hotel in Somali capitalThu, 14 Mar 2024 22:14:40 GMT Read More »

Senegal’s President Macky Sall has told his government to enact an amnesty law as soon as it is officially published, amid hope a jailed main opposition candidate could be released ahead of the presidential poll in 10 days’ time. In a bid to end weeks of crisis after he postponed the February 25 presidential vote, Sall …

Senegal president urges immediate amnesty 10 days before pollsThu, 14 Mar 2024 18:38:18 GMT Read More »

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth was on Thursday night named South Africa’s Rugby Player of the Year for 2023 – a year in which the Springboks successfully defended their World Cup title.Etzebeth, 32, won the award for the second successive year, edging out fellow World Cup-winners Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe and Damian Willemse.All …

Springbok star Etzebeth named South African Player of YearThu, 14 Mar 2024 18:35:10 GMT Read More »

At least 60 people died on a migrant boat that lost power as it tried to reach Europe from Libya, an aid group said Thursday, citing accounts from those rescued.”Survivors report that at least 60 people died en route, including women and at least one child,” said Marseille-based SOS Mediterranee.The group’s Ocean Viking rescue ship is …

Survivors say at least 60 migrants die attempting to cross Med: aid groupThu, 14 Mar 2024 16:08:05 GMT Read More »

South Africa’s biggest opposition party has triggered a furious row by appearing to call into question the country’s hard won reputation for holding fair elections.Both the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and academic observers warned that the Democratic Alliance was playing with fire by casting doubt on the country’s democratic integrity.The dispute erupted when the …

S.Africa opposition triggers vote row with call for US observersThu, 14 Mar 2024 14:21:25 GMT Read More »

In a mud pit ringed off by bamboo poles and two thin yellow ropes, a young Ugandan woman lies face-up after being tossed upside down by her opponent. She gets a second wind and takes down her rival with one swipe at her feet — to the delight and cheers of dozens of fellow wrestlers watching …

Ugandan mud wrestlers dream of glory on world stageThu, 14 Mar 2024 07:10:45 GMT Read More »

Once again, the catch was meagre: two tiny fish escaped the nets and dropped into Ali Sani’s canoe as he drifted down the murky waters of the mighty Niger River.At nightfall, the Nigerien fisherman will try his luck again until dawn in the hope of catching a “gari” or a plump “salambale”, two local delicacies.Time …

Niger River’s ancient ‘water men’ under threat as silt piles upThu, 14 Mar 2024 07:06:36 GMT Read More »