AFP Africa

Botswana counted votes Thursday from elections in which the ruling party headed by President Mokgweetsi Masisi is facing a strong challenge from an opposition alliance as it seeks to extend its six-decade grip on power.The conservative Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) had expected to retain control of parliament in the diamond-rich nation after Wednesday’s vote in …

Botswana counts votes in tightly contested electionThu, 31 Oct 2024 17:17:54 GMT Read More »

Mozambique blocked social media access for a second time in a week Thursday, a global internet watchdog said, as the opposition called for nationwide strikes over a disputed presidential election.Streets in the normally bustling capital, Maputo, were deserted and many shops were shuttered, an AFP reporter saw.Police were out in force in at least two …

Mozambique blocks social media access as opposition calls fresh protestThu, 31 Oct 2024 12:22:49 GMT Read More »

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Thursday he had “no interest in getting involved in a war” as tensions mount over his deal with a breakaway Somali region. In January, land-locked Ethiopia signed an agreement with the separatist region of Somaliland to lease a stretch of its coastline for 50 years.The deal sparked outrage in Somalia, …

Ethiopia ‘not interested in war’ over Somalia dispute: PMThu, 31 Oct 2024 12:14:44 GMT Read More »

Botswana counted votes Thursday from tightly contested elections in which the ruling party headed by President Mokgweetsi Masisi is seeking to extend its six-decade grip on power amid rising calls for change.The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has voiced confidence it will retain power in the diamond-rich nation after Wednesday’s parliamentary vote, which also determines who …

Botswana counts votes as ruling party vies to extend six-decade ruleThu, 31 Oct 2024 11:26:12 GMT Read More »

UN food agencies warned Thursday of deadly hunger levels in 16 “hunger hotspots” in coming months, with the Palestinian territories, Sudan and South Sudan, Mali and Haiti of most concern.Conflict is driving most of the acute food insecurity in all those areas analysed by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme. Extreme weather …

Hunger deaths ‘likely’ in Gaza, Sudan, Mali, Haiti: UN agenciesThu, 31 Oct 2024 11:02:20 GMT Read More »

Access to social media in Mozambique was restricted for the second time in a week Thursday, a global internet watchdog said, as the opposition called for strikes over a disputed presidential election.”We can confirm social media restrictions have been imposed in Mozambique,” London-based internet watchdog NetBlocks said, adding it affected Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.Mozambique’s opposition …

Social platforms down in Mozambique ahead of protests: internet watchdogThu, 31 Oct 2024 09:21:52 GMT Read More »

The arid and sparsely populated country of Botswana counted votes Thursday from elections expected to return President Mokgweetsi Masisi to office after a first term marked by growing unemployment and concerns over the diamond-dependent economy.Voting on Wednesday was orderly in a country proud of its democratic system installed on independence from Britain in 1966, making …

Botswana counts votes as ruling party seeks to extend its six-decade ruleThu, 31 Oct 2024 06:22:27 GMT Read More »

A French court on Wednesday jailed a former doctor to 27 years for his role in the Rwanda genocide, in the latest trial in France over the African country’s massacre three decades ago.Eugene Rwamucyo, 65, was accused of aiding his country’s then authorities to disseminate anti-Tutsi propaganda and of participating in mass murder by attempting …

France court jails ex-doctor in latest Rwandan genocide trialWed, 30 Oct 2024 20:19:05 GMT Read More »

Diamond-rich Botswana voted in general elections Wednesday with the ruling party vying to extend its 58 years in power and hand President Mokgweetsi Masisi a second term amid concerns about rising unemployment and an economic slump.Many of the more than one million registered voters queued for several hours to cast their ballots in the sparsely …

Botswana votes as president’s party seeks to extend six-decade ruleWed, 30 Oct 2024 19:18:06 GMT Read More »