AFP Africa

Britain’s government insisted Thursday that it must hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius to secure continued access to satellite communications at a key US-UK military base.The Labour administration is facing domestic political criticism for announcing in October that it would return the isles to Britain’s former colony and pay to lease the facility on …

UK says satellite system key to Chagos US base dealThu, 06 Feb 2025 14:39:07 GMT Read More »

South Africa’s new Expropriation Act, signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa last month, has sparked condemnation from the White House and resurfaced tensions around racial inequality and land ownership.Here is some background on the legislation and the debate around it:- What is the new law and why the backlash? -The act, signed January 23, replaces a …

S.Africa’s land reform act sparks divisionsThu, 06 Feb 2025 13:36:07 GMT Read More »

Rwandan-backed M23 said Thursday it wanted to “liberate all of the Congo” in its first public meeting since seizing the eastern city of Goma after deadly clashes, as its fighters advanced towards another regional capital.After capturing Goma, the main city in North Kivu province, last week, the M23 and Rwandan troops launched a new offensive …

M23 addresses crowds in captured DR Congo city, as fighters advanceThu, 06 Feb 2025 12:37:57 GMT Read More »

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday he would skip Group of 20 talks this month in South Africa, accusing the host government of an “anti-American” agenda.Rubio’s announcement comes days after US President Donald Trump lashed out at South Africa over land reforms aimed at redressing inequalities perpetrated during the apartheid era.In a post …

US skipping G20 talks due to S. Africa’s ‘anti-American’ agenda: RubioThu, 06 Feb 2025 07:30:23 GMT Read More »

Fatima Ba compliments a customer trying on one of her designs — a stylish silk dress in ochre with a gold motif made from start to finish in Senegal.The founder of fashion label So Fatoo has made a name for herself in Senegal and beyond producing clothes that are locally made despite the country’s struggling …

‘Made in Senegal’ vogue hemmed in by textiles slumpThu, 06 Feb 2025 06:38:23 GMT Read More »

At an open-cast mine, Abdullahi Ibrahim Danjija carefully chisels away at a hunk of whitish rock before stuffing a sack with the pieces which break off the walls.In the course of a day’s work he manages to fill three 50-kilo bags which will net him 150,000 nairas ($100), or around double the monthly minimum wage …

Nigeria’s lithium mining Eldorado sparks concernsThu, 06 Feb 2025 04:14:55 GMT Read More »

Chagos islanders still dream of returning home five decades after being expelled by Britain, but with Donald Trump in the White House they may have to wait a little longer. Late last year, Britain made the shock announcement that it would return the Indian Ocean island chain to Mauritius after years of court battles, even if …

Chagos islanders’ dream of return now waiting on TrumpThu, 06 Feb 2025 03:52:58 GMT Read More »

The sudden freezing of US aid to malaria projects comes as deadly new variants are spreading in Africa and could have a devastating impact, the head of a major NGO told AFP.The US government has provided some 40 percent of the annual funding globally for control and research into a disease that causes more than …

US aid cuts come at deadly moment for malaria controlThu, 06 Feb 2025 01:39:50 GMT Read More »

In Morocco’s tourist hub of Marrakesh, a contemporary art fair has energised the local creative scene, drawing on the famed city’s aesthetic legacy to propel emerging African artists into the global spotlight.The annual 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair has drawn collectors, curators and art enthusiasts from across the world, showcasing works from 30 galleries spanning …

Art fair in Marrakesh brings African art to global stageThu, 06 Feb 2025 01:39:02 GMT Read More »

The M23 armed group and allied Rwandan forces launched a new offensive on Wednesday in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, days before the Rwandan and Congolese presidents are due to attend a crisis summit.The United Nations meanwhile said the battle for the key city of Goma, which the M23 and Rwandan troops seized last …

M23, Rwandan troops launch fresh DR Congo offensiveWed, 05 Feb 2025 20:47:01 GMT Read More »