AFP Africa

The arena was packed on Friday night in the upscale Lekki neighbourhood of Nigeria’s bustling commercial capital, Lagos. Eighteen fighters from eight African countries were slugging it out before thousands of cheering mixed martial arts (MMA) fans.It was the ninth instalment of the African Knockout Championship, an MMA fight league that started off in 2020 as …

MMA draws thousands in Nigeria as fight sport gains groundSat, 14 Jun 2025 17:40:28 GMT Read More »

Aiden Markram’s magnificent century was the cornerstone of South Africa’s five-wicket victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s on Saturday as the Proteas ended decades of cricket heartbreak by at last winning a major global title.South Africa, set 282 to win, finished on 282-5 before lunch on the fourth day, with …

Markram the hero as South Africa win WTC final to end long wait for cricket glorySat, 14 Jun 2025 12:27:41 GMT Read More »

A second officer has been arrested in connection with the death of a teacher in custody in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the police watchdog said Friday, a case that has sparked nationwide outrage.Albert Ojwang, 31, died in custody last weekend after being arrested for criticising a senior officer online.Police initially said Ojwang had fatally injured …

Second officer arrested over Kenya custody deathFri, 13 Jun 2025 18:07:18 GMT Read More »

Thousands of Malians have replastered the iconic earthen mosque in the historic city of Djenne during an annual ceremony that helps preserve the World Heritage site.To the sound of drums and festive music, townsmen on Thursday coated the towering three-minaret mosque with fresh mud plaster.The annual replastering with “banco” — a mix of earth and …

Ancient Malian city celebrates annual replastering of mosqueFri, 13 Jun 2025 14:25:56 GMT Read More »

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met Friday with survivors of devastating floods that killed at least 78 people in the impoverished Eastern Cape province, blaming the “catastrophic disaster” on climate change.Ramaphosa toured the disaster zone and met with survivors in the region, where thousands of houses, roads, schools and health facilities were left caked in …

S.African president blames climate change for ‘catastrophic’ floodsFri, 13 Jun 2025 13:31:16 GMT Read More »

Mitchell Starc made South Africa pay for a dropped catch with a vital fifty on Friday as Australia set the Proteas 282 to win the World Test Championship final at Lord’s.When title-holders Australia resumed on 144-8 in their second innings, already 218 runs ahead, it looked as if the match might finish well inside three …

Starc shines as Australia set South Africa 282 to win WTC finalFri, 13 Jun 2025 12:01:36 GMT Read More »

Ivory Coast’s opposition is weighing its options after four of its top figures were excluded from the October 25 presidential race.Tidjane Thiam, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), was removed from the electoral roll in April after a court questioned his Ivorian nationality.Former president Laurent Gbagbo, his former ally Charles …

Ivory Coast opposition weighs next move ahead of presidential voteFri, 13 Jun 2025 05:50:32 GMT Read More »

Soweto’s children call it the “yellow mountain”: for decades, a gold mine dump that towers over the Snake Park neighbourhood of South Africa’s largest township has been polluting the area and poisoning communities.The yellow dust that blows off it stings the throat. Studies have found it contains traces of toxic substances such as arsenic, lead …

S.Africa’s gold mining past poisons Soweto community, residents sayFri, 13 Jun 2025 05:43:33 GMT Read More »

South Africa rescue teams recovered more bodies Thursday, days after heavy rains and strong winds battered the Eastern Cape province, as the death toll rose to at least 78.The bitterly cold winter storm struck the largely rural and underdeveloped province on Monday, causing a river to burst its banks and submerge homes, with several make-shift …

Death toll in S.Africa floods rises to 78Thu, 12 Jun 2025 19:04:30 GMT Read More »

Burundian officials and youth groups “intimidated, harassed and threatened” voters to win every seat in parliamentary elections, Human Rights Watch said on Thursday.The desperately poor Great Lakes nation held elections on June 5 in which the incumbent CNDD-FDD party swept 96 percent of the vote and all 100 seats in parliament, according to provisional results …

Burundi officials ‘threatened’ voters to secure election: HRWThu, 12 Jun 2025 18:15:09 GMT Read More »