AFP Africa

In a small neon-lit factory in Maputo, a dozen workers are hand-rolling premium cigars intended for the global market, seemingly undisturbed by the pungent tobacco smell. Sitting at wooden benches, men and women stack tobacco leaves in one hand –- the components must be dry but soft, like the velvety texture of leather.A large wrapper leaf …

In Mozambique, cigars 100% made in AfricaTue, 22 Oct 2024 06:46:39 GMT Read More »

The untold story of how around 1,000 children were rescued from Rwanda during the bloodiest and most chaotic days of its genocide is finally coming to light three decades after they were saved from the slaughter.Aid workers risked their lives to get the children — mostly orphans — out to safety in neighbouring Burundi in …

Unsung heroes who saved 1,000 children from Rwanda genocideTue, 22 Oct 2024 02:09:35 GMT Read More »

Jeanne Allaire Kayigirwa was sure she was going to die three times during the Rwandan genocide in which most of her friends and family were massacred.She and her sister hid in the bush for six weeks as the slaughter went on around them, moving on all the time as Hutu extremists hunted Tutsis like them “down …

Rwanda orphans build hope from horror 30 years after genocideTue, 22 Oct 2024 02:06:04 GMT Read More »

The United States on Monday condemned the killings of two associates of Mozambique’s leading opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane, who were gunned down on the weekend as they prepared to challenge this month’s contested election.”The United States condemns the killings of lawyer Elvino Dias and Podemos parliamentary candidate Paulo Guambe in Mozambique,” US State Department spokesman …

US condemns killings of Mozambique opposition figures after electionTue, 22 Oct 2024 01:40:31 GMT Read More »

Riot police in the Mozambican capital Maputo fired tear gas Monday to disperse a crowd protesting against alleged electoral fraud, days after two opposition allies were shot dead.Several hundred people, including journalists, scattered as heavily armed police walked down a main street, according to videos posted on social media and an AFP reporter at the …

Police in Mozambique disperse vote protestMon, 21 Oct 2024 20:20:32 GMT Read More »

Cameroonian president Paul Biya landed on Monday at the capital Yaounde’s international airport, after several weeks out of the country amid rumours about his health, state broadcaster CRTV showed.The West African nation’s 91-year-old leader appeared on television after the presidential plane landed, shaking hands with officials next to his wife Chantal, as a jubilant crowd …

President Biya lands back in Cameroon after health rumoursMon, 21 Oct 2024 17:50:10 GMT Read More »

Cameroon’s state television station on Monday broadcast a special programme dedicated to the “imminent” return of President Paul Biya after weeks of speculation about his health following his absence from public view since September.”Today the president is on his way and this will put an end to all the speculation,” declared the presenter on CRTV …

Cameroon state TV announces President Biya’s ‘imminent’ returnMon, 21 Oct 2024 16:05:18 GMT Read More »

South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took his 300th wicket and Wiaan Mulder bagged three others as Bangladesh collapsed to 60-6 at lunch on the first day of the opening Test in Mirpur.Opening batsman Mahmudul Hasan Joy was 16 not out after Mehidy Hasan Miraz was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj for 13 …

Rabada takes 300th wicket as Bangladesh stumble to 60-6 at lunchMon, 21 Oct 2024 06:56:11 GMT Read More »

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Sunday canceled a trip to Russia for a BRICS summit after injuring his head, his office announced.It did not say how the injury occurred but said he was taken to a hospital where doctors found he had suffered a cut to the back of his head and …

Lula cancels trip to summit in Russia after injuring headSun, 20 Oct 2024 20:46:52 GMT Read More »