AFP Africa

Armed with nothing but a crowbar and shovel in the hills of Somaliland, Ahmed Ibrahim hacks away at rocks where he and fellow miners have already found tonnes of lithium. Officials in the breakaway territory of northern Somalia say there is an abundance of critical minerals in its ground, and potentially billions of barrels of oil, …

Somaliland pins hopes on critical mineral gold rushWed, 25 Feb 2026 06:37:24 GMT Read More »

French President Emmanuel Macron and Madagascar’s new leader on Tuesday held talks and agreed to “renew” ties after steps taken by the former French colony to draw closer to Russia.Colonel Michael Randrianirina — Madagascar’s interim leader since the former president fled in October following demonstrations — arrived in France less than a week after holding …

Madagascar’s new leader, Macron pledge to renew ties after talksTue, 24 Feb 2026 20:26:18 GMT Read More »

Senegal’s prime minister Tuesday unveiled legislation that would double the maximum penalty for same-sex relations, making them punishable by up to 10 years in prison, in a crackdown condemned by human rights groups.Ministers passed the bill to the National Assembly after approving it last week, following multiple arrests of people accused of same-sex relations, which …

Senegal PM vows to double penalty for same-sex relationsTue, 24 Feb 2026 19:08:36 GMT Read More »

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday hosted Madagascar’s new leader for talks after the African nation has taken steps to ramp up ties with Russia.Colonel Michael Randrianirina — Madagascar’s interim leader since the former president fled in October following demonstrations — arrived in France less than a week after holding talks with President Vladimir Putin …

Madagascar’s leader meets Macron after Putin talksTue, 24 Feb 2026 17:03:09 GMT Read More »

Paris Saint-Germain footballer Achraf Hakimi, a key player in their Champions League-winning side last season, is to stand trial charged with raping a young woman, his lawyer and a French prosecutor told AFP Tuesday. In February 2023, a woman then aged 24 told police in the Val-De-Marne region southeast of Paris that Hakimi had raped her.The …

PSG star Hakimi faces trial for alleged rapeTue, 24 Feb 2026 14:01:00 GMT Read More »

A fire broke out at Cape Town International Airport Tuesday, prompting passenger evacuations and disrupting international flights to and from South Africa’s popular tourist city before being brought under control.Images shared online showed travellers evacuating South Africa’s second-busiest airport with suitcases as smoke filled the terminal and sirens rang to alert passengers of an emergency …

Fire at Cape Town airport disrupts international flightsTue, 24 Feb 2026 13:44:37 GMT Read More »

Every time Senegalese mechanic Ibrahima Mbodj hears screeching tyres, a popping firecracker or even shattering glass, he fears another jihadist attack on the Malian border post near his village.Senegal has remained unscathed by a series of jihadist attacks in Mali, but concern among residents is growing as the assaults inch closer to the border.Gunfire early …

Jihadist threat puts eastern Senegal on edgeTue, 24 Feb 2026 06:28:05 GMT Read More »

The Nigerian government paid Boko Haram militants a “huge” ransom of millions of dollars to free up to 230 children and staff the jihadists abducted from a Catholic school in November, intelligence sources told AFP.Two Boko Haram commanders were also freed as part of the deal, which goes against the country’s own law banning payments …

Nigeria paid Boko Haram ransom for kidnapped pupils: intel sourcesMon, 23 Feb 2026 16:16:10 GMT Read More »

South Africa on Monday said it accepted a conservative envoy highly critical of Pretoria as the new US ambassador to the country, amid frayed relations with President Donald Trump.The two countries’ governments have been at odds over a series of international and domestic policies, including South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court …

South Africa accepts Trump’s new US ambassadorMon, 23 Feb 2026 15:13:48 GMT Read More »

With exhilarating charisma, stage energy and impassioned lyrics, Senegalese musician Sahad has created a unique body of work from a kaleidoscope of influences, culminating in his new pan-African album.At the heart of Sahad Sarr’s ingenuity lies a quest for independence, his pride in being African and a deep connection to Senegal, where he leads a …

Senegal’s Sahad, radiant champion of ‘musical pan-Africanism’Mon, 23 Feb 2026 06:52:37 GMT Read More »