AFP Africa

Emmerson Mnangagwa, who became Zimbabwe’s second president after outmanoeuvring long-time ruler Robert Mugabe with a military-backed coup in 2017 — won a second term on Saturday in a vote that international observers said fell short of democratic standards. Nicknamed “The Crocodile” because of his ruthlessness, Mnangagwa, 80, who analysts judge more autocratic than his predecessor and lacking …

Zimbabwe’s 80-year-old ‘Crocodile’ president wins new termSat, 26 Aug 2023 22:02:48 GMT Read More »

Gabon cut internet access and announced a nightly curfew as voting drew to a close Saturday, and opposition leader Albert Ondo Ossa denounced “fraud” in his battle for the presidency against incumbent Ali Bongo Ondimba.Bongo and Ondo Ossa lead a race of 14 candidates vying for the top job in the oil-rich central African state.But …

Gabon cuts internet as voting closes and opposition cries foulSat, 26 Aug 2023 21:58:17 GMT Read More »

Tens of thousands of people rallied in Niamey Saturday in support of last month’s coup, a day after the country’s new military rulers gave France’s ambassador to Niger 48 hours to leave the country.The Seyni Kountche stadium, the largest in Niger with a capacity of 30,000 seats, was two-thirds full and the sound of vuvuzelas …

Niger coup supporters rally after French ambassador ordered outSat, 26 Aug 2023 18:19:45 GMT Read More »

Internet access was cut and a nightly curfew announced in Gabon Saturday as polling stations closed in triple election, in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba, scion of a family that has ruled for 55 years, sought victory over a newly united opposition.Bongo and his main rival Albert Ondo Ossa lead a race of 14 candidates vying …

Gabon’s Bongo seeks third term in nationwide pollSat, 26 Aug 2023 18:13:40 GMT Read More »

Amane Beriso Shankule led an Ethiopian 1-2 as she won the women’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships on Saturday.Shankule, whose victory at last year’s Valencia marathon put her third on the world all-time list, timed 2hr 24min 23sec on the streets of Budapest.Defending champion Gotytom Gebreslase claimed silver, 11sec behind, with Morocco’s Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi taking …

Shankule leads Ethiopian 1-2 in world women’s marathonSat, 26 Aug 2023 08:40:54 GMT Read More »

Voters in Gabon were called to the polls on Saturday for a triple election in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba, scion of a family that has ruled for 55 years, is seeking victory over a belatedly-united opposition.Bongo and main rival Albert Ondo Ossa lead a race of 14 candidates vying for the top job in …

Gabon’s Bongo aims for third term in nationwide pollSat, 26 Aug 2023 04:00:55 GMT Read More »

Niger’s military rulers, who seized control of the government in July, gave the French ambassador 48 hours to leave the country, Niamey’s foreign ministry said in a statement Friday.Relations between the new regime in Niamey and several Western powers, as well as the West African bloc ECOWAS, have deteriorated since the coup on July 26.France’s …

Niger’s military rulers order French ambassador outSat, 26 Aug 2023 01:56:37 GMT Read More »

Reigning champions South Africa completed their World Cup preparations with a record 35-7 rout of 14-man New Zealand as the All Blacks suffered their all-time heaviest margin of defeat on Friday.The Springboks scored five tries, through captain Siya Kolisi, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, hooker Malcolm Marx and replacements Bongi Mbonambi and Kwagga Smith — all converted …

South Africa send New Zealand crashing to record defeatFri, 25 Aug 2023 22:25:10 GMT Read More »

Reigning champions South Africa completed their World Cup preparations with a record 35-7 rout of 14-man New Zealand as the All Blacks suffered their all-time heaviest margin of defeat on Friday.The Springboks scored five tries, through captain Siya Kolisi, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, hooker Malcolm Marx and replacements Bongi Mbonambi and Kwagga Smith — all converted …

South Africa send New Zealand crashing to record defeatFri, 25 Aug 2023 21:05:24 GMT Read More »