AFP Africa

Cameroon’s Paul Biya, already the world’s oldest head of state, is the favourite to win Sunday’s presidential election, handing him an eighth term in power in the central African country.A fractured opposition of 11 candidates is standing against the 92-year-old in the vote, whose credibility and fairness rights groups have called into question. Most of the …

World’s oldest leader tipped for 8th term in Cameroon voteThu, 09 Oct 2025 09:57:59 GMT Read More »

Eritrea on Thursday dismissed an accusation by Ethiopia that it is preparing to launch a war as “provocative sabre-rattling” amid mounting tensions between the Horn of Africa neighbours.Relations have been strained for several months, more than 30 years after Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia following a decades-long armed struggle.Ethiopia’s foreign ministry sent a letter to …

Eritrea condemns Ethiopia’s ‘provocative sabre-rattling’Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:12:27 GMT Read More »

There was a stagnant puddle in the hallway of the university residence that opened only two years ago, but the rainy season had not yet started in Madagascar. “Come see our dormitories,” student Ulric Sambizafy offered at one of a wave of protests that have rocked the Indian Ocean island nation since September 25.Trash floated in an …

Madagascar’s main university: ruin and revoltThu, 09 Oct 2025 06:27:12 GMT Read More »

The world’s top conservation body is holding its world congress starting Thursday in the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi and will unveil its updated “red list” of threatened species.The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), whose decisions help set the global agenda on environmental protection, will on Friday publish its list ranking at-risk plant and …

Top nature group to unveil new ‘red list’ of threatened speciesThu, 09 Oct 2025 04:21:49 GMT Read More »

The youth-led movement behind nearly two weeks of anti-government protests in Madagascar rejected dialogue with President Andry Rajoelina and called a strike and new demonstration for Thursday.Near-daily protests erupted in the impoverished Indian Ocean island on September 25, claiming at least 22 lives, according to a UN toll that is disputed by local authorities.Rajoelina sacked …

Madagascar protesters refuse to meet president, call for strikeWed, 08 Oct 2025 17:59:12 GMT Read More »

The global economy is doing better than expected, even as it faces prolonged uncertainty and underwhelming medium-term growth prospects, the head of the IMF said Wednesday. The world economy is doing “better than feared, but worse than we need,” International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told reporters in Washington.She added that the Fund now expects …

World economy not doing as badly as feared, IMF chief saysWed, 08 Oct 2025 15:46:36 GMT Read More »

In Mali, a month-long blockade by jihadists on fuel imports from neighbouring countries is beginning to seriously disrupt the landlocked Sahelian nation, where long lines form at the few remaining stations with petrol. Since September, the jihadists have targeted fuel tankers, particularly those coming from Senegal and Ivory Coast, through which the majority of Mali’s imported …

Mali fuel running dry after a month of jihadist blockadesWed, 08 Oct 2025 14:24:59 GMT Read More »

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya on Monday made his first major appearance of the election campaign in his run for an eighth straight term as the world’s oldest head of state.With five days to go before the vote, Biya — aged 92, and in power since 1982 — addressed supporters at a stadium in Maroua, in …

Cameroon president, 92, stages first appearance of electionWed, 08 Oct 2025 11:37:04 GMT Read More »

At the foot of the Simandou mountains in southeast Guinea’s lush tropical forest, thousands of workers, trucks and excavators are digging up the hills.The verdant paradise is home to a gigantic mining project that promises to propel the poor west African country into the ranks of the world’s largest iron exporters — raising economic hopes but …

In Simandou mountains, Guinea prepares to cash in on iron oreWed, 08 Oct 2025 10:59:34 GMT Read More »

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of joining forces with a hardline opposition faction in preparing to launch a war, according to a letter from the foreign affairs ministry obtained by AFP on Wednesday.The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which dominated Ethiopian politics for some 30 years, has been banned from political activity. Relations have been extremely strained …

Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of ‘actively’ preparing for warWed, 08 Oct 2025 08:45:51 GMT Read More »