AFP Africa

In the three years since Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power, his junta has silenced critics by arresting dissidents or press-ganging them into fighting jihadists.Styling himself on former leader Thomas Sankara, a charismatic icon of African rebellion killed in a coup in 1987, the 37-year-old openly defends his anti-imperialist programme and makes no apology …

Burkinabes mute after 3 years under Captain Traore’s bootThu, 25 Sep 2025 05:54:23 GMT Read More »

In Morocco’s High Atlas mountains, shepherds Hammou Amraoui and his son hardly need words to speak. Across peaks, they whistle at each other in a centuries-old language, now jeopardised by rural flight.”The whistle language is our telephone,” joked Hammou, 59, the elder of a family known for the tradition in Imzerri, a hamlet in the …

Morocco High Atlas whistle language strives for survivalThu, 25 Sep 2025 04:35:58 GMT Read More »

A drone strike on a market in Sudan’s besieged city of El-Fasher killed 15 people, a medical worker at the local hospital told AFP on Wednesday.The Tuesday strike “killed 15 citizens and wounded 12, three of them critically”, the medic said, requesting anonymity for his safety.The local resistance committees, activists who coordinate aid and document …

Strike on market in Sudan’s El-Fasher kills 15 peopleWed, 24 Sep 2025 23:07:56 GMT Read More »

A rally celebrating Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine’s candidacy in next year’s election on Wednesday was marred by clashes with police, as political repression intensifies. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has ruled for four decades, also saw his candidacy for January’s election approved by the electoral commission. Hundreds of young people carrying portraits of Wine gathered …

Police clashes mar rally for Uganda opposition leader Bobi WineWed, 24 Sep 2025 20:23:19 GMT Read More »

Malawi’s incoming president Peter Mutharika is a low-key 85-year-old former Washington law professor whose 2014-2020 term is remembered as better days for the economically desperate southern African country, despite its own failings.He was re-elected to lead the largely poor country of 21 million people with nearly 57 percent of ballots, a landslide ahead of President …

Peter Mutharika, an ageing president returned to ‘rescue’ MalawiWed, 24 Sep 2025 19:41:07 GMT Read More »

Malawi’s ex-president Peter Mutharika was re-elected to head the impoverished southern African country with nearly 57 percent of votes, the election authority announced Wednesday, following polls dominated by soaring living costs.President Lazarus Chakwera came second with 33 percent of ballots in the September 16 vote, the electoral commission said, hours after the incumbent had conceded …

Malawi’s ex-president Mutharika returns to power in crushing vote winWed, 24 Sep 2025 19:11:47 GMT Read More »

Malawi’s ex-president Peter Mutharika was on course for re-election Wednesday after the incumbent, Lazarus Chakwera, conceded defeat in last week’s vote dominated by soaring living costs in the impoverished country.Supporters of Mutharika, 85, and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took to the streets in celebration after Chakwera announced in an address to the nation that …

Malawi’s ex-president Mutharika on course for re-electionWed, 24 Sep 2025 17:11:57 GMT Read More »

Leading Angola civil society groups have called on the United Nations to investigate a police crackdown on unrest two months ago when around 30 people were killed.A July 28-30 taxi strike against fuel price hikes in the oil-rich nation exploded into protests and looting, with security forces responding with live ammunition and sweeping arrests.In an …

Angola groups urge UN to investigate deadly July crackdownWed, 24 Sep 2025 14:59:26 GMT Read More »

Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera conceded defeat Wednesday in last week’s election, saying in an address to the nation that it was clear his rival and predecessor, Peter Mutharika, had an “insurmountable lead”.The dire state of the economy in the small southern African country of 21 million people dominated the September 16 vote, with critics accusing …

Malawi president Chakwera concedes election defeatWed, 24 Sep 2025 11:43:50 GMT Read More »

Citizens in the beach paradise of Seychelles vote this week in tightly fought elections amid concerns over a Qatari hotel complex being built near a world-renowned marine reserve.Voting in the Indian Ocean archipelago runs from Thursday to Saturday.Seychelles has the highest wealth per capita in Africa — around $18,000 according to the World Bank. But it …

Seychelles votes amid concerns over hotel near marine reserveWed, 24 Sep 2025 05:21:59 GMT Read More »