UN experts have painted a grim picture of the situation in Mali, alleging that sexual violence and other rights abuses are being used to spread terror, as the retreat of UN peacekeepers has raised fears of intensified civilian suffering.”Violence against women and girls and conflict-related sexual violence remains prevalent in Mali,” the experts, named by …

Mali civilians increasingly at risk, UN experts warnFri, 25 Aug 2023 19:56:44 GMT Read More »

West Africa’s bloc ECOWAS on Friday told Niger’s coup leaders it was “not too late” to reconsider their position as they wrangle over a return to civilian rule with the option of military force still “very much on the table”.Generals who ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in a July 26 rebellion have called for a three-year …

W.Africa bloc tells Niger coup chiefs ‘not too late’Fri, 25 Aug 2023 19:16:38 GMT Read More »

The head of Ethiopia’s violence-stricken region of Amhara, which the federal government has placed under a state of emergency, has stepped down, according to an official statement reported Friday.Amhara’s parliament “has accepted the resignation submitted by the regional president, Dr. Yilkal Kefale, and appointed Arega Kebede in replacement,” the body said in a statement reported …

Head of Ethiopia’s crisis-hit Amhara region resignsFri, 25 Aug 2023 18:07:50 GMT Read More »

Fighting in Sudan showed no signs of abating Friday as the United Nations issued a dire warning over the impact of a war it said threatens to “consume” the country.Paramilitaries launched a renewed attack on a key armoured corps base in the capital’s south, witnesses said, which the army and the Rapid Support Forces have …

No letup in Sudan fighting as UN issues dire warningFri, 25 Aug 2023 17:45:44 GMT Read More »

Amid a crowd gathered in support of Niger’s military rulers stands star-of-the-moment Sergeant Maman Sani Maigochi.In combat dress, he bobs and weaves through a choreographed routine that mixes dance and salutes and the imaginary shooting of a gun.Niger’s coup d’etat on July 26 has been backed by military and civilian musicians who are turning out …

Niger dancing to tune of coup-backing songsFri, 25 Aug 2023 14:30:54 GMT Read More »

The plane crash that reportedly killed Yevgeny Prigozhin wiped out the entire top leadership of Russian paramilitary group Wagner but its influence is set to outlive them all both at home and abroad.As a Private Military Company (PMC), Wagner showed the potential reach of mercenary outfits in taking part in conflicts well beyond its home …

Influence of Russia’s Wagner set to outlive chiefs: analystsFri, 25 Aug 2023 12:09:08 GMT Read More »

Poll observers from a regional southern African bloc SADC on Friday said certain aspects of Zimbabwe’s tense presidential and legislative elections did not conform to democratic principles.The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) cited cancellation of opposition rallies, biased state media and alleged voter intimidation among some of the issues that sullied the election.”Some aspects of …

Aspects of Zimbabwe vote ‘fell short’: regional observersFri, 25 Aug 2023 11:27:55 GMT Read More »

In the heart of Ethiopia’s capital, a group of women danced while brandishing a flag bearing the insignia of the war-scarred Tigray region — a scene that would have been unimaginable a year earlier.The two-year conflict that pitted Ethiopia’s federal government against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front sparked accounts of widespread rights abuses, including rapes by …

‘Nothing like peace’: Tigrayans celebrate festival after war hiatusFri, 25 Aug 2023 10:38:24 GMT Read More »

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will visit Eswatini, the island’s only diplomatic ally in Africa, next month to firm up ties, her office said Friday.Tsai will head to Eswatini on September 5, and attend celebrations marking the African nation’s independence day and King Mswati III’s birthday during the visit, her spokeswoman Olivia Lin said.She will hold a …

Taiwan president to visit sole African ally EswatiniFri, 25 Aug 2023 03:59:45 GMT Read More »

Despite the reported death of the Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, Moscow has every interest in continuing his Wagner paramilitary group’s activities in Africa, experts told AFP on Thursday.Russia has been outsourcing activities in Africa to Wagner since 2014.On the security front, Wagner fighters have been deployed alongside the national armies of Libya, the Central African …

Wagner model will remain in Africa after Prigozhin’s deathThu, 24 Aug 2023 22:39:45 GMT Read More »