AFP Africa

Benin President Patrice Talon on Thursday called for relations to be swiftly re-established between his country and neighbouring Niger, which is now controlled by military rulers after a coup.In his annual address to the nation before parliament, Talon expressed the “wish to see relations between Benin and the countries where coups have happened quickly re-established”.He …

Benin’s president urges renewal of ties with coup-hit NigerThu, 21 Dec 2023 12:34:43 GMT Read More »

Voting in the Democratic Republic of Congo extended into Thursday a day after a general election marred by widespread logistical problems that saw some polling stations never open.The impoverished but mineral-rich central African nation held four concurrent elections on Wednesday — to pick a president, national and regional lawmakers, and local councillors. President Felix Tshisekedi, 60, …

DR Congo enters second day of voting after chaotic startThu, 21 Dec 2023 11:00:29 GMT Read More »

Storm clouds are finally gathering over Zimbabwe’s biggest animal reserve, but it has come too late for more than 110 elephants that have died in a searing, extended drought. There is little that Simba Marozva and other rangers at the Hwange National Park can do except cut the tusks off the rotting corpses before poachers find …

Heartbreak in Zimbabwe park: elephants’ desperate hunt for waterThu, 21 Dec 2023 10:23:52 GMT Read More »

Voters in DR Congo are due to go to the polls again on Thursday, in a general election marked by severe logistical troubles that meant some polling stations never opened.The impoverished but mineral-rich central African nation staged four concurrent elections on Wednesday — to pick a president, national and regional lawmakers as well as local …

DR Congo enters second day of chaotic electionThu, 21 Dec 2023 02:12:00 GMT Read More »

Separatist Tuareg forces on Wednesday announced they had set up a blockade of the major roads in northern Mali, where the army has made gains in recent weeks.The Permanent Strategic Framework (CSP), an alliance of rebel forces, said it had decided to set up roadblocks across all roads leading to the country’s borders with Mauritania, …

Separatist Tuaregs announce blockade in northern MaliThu, 21 Dec 2023 00:32:36 GMT Read More »

DR Congo’s election authorities said Wednesday night that voting would continue the following day in areas where voters could not cast ballots, after a general election marked by severe logistical problems and delays. President Felix Tshisekedi, 60, is running for a second term in office, against a backdrop of years of economic growth, but little job …

DR Congo extends voting after chaotic general electionWed, 20 Dec 2023 21:48:58 GMT Read More »

More than 2,000 platinum workers returned to the surface at a South African mine on Wednesday after ending a three day underground protest over conditions, the owners said.All 2,205 workers who started the protest in two shafts about 500 metres below ground over bonuses and conditions were “now safely on the surface”, Impala Platinum Holdings …

South African platinum miners end underground protestWed, 20 Dec 2023 18:23:04 GMT Read More »

As voting got underway across DR Congo on Wednesday, in the conflict-torn east of the country, militia fighters sporting rubber boots and kalashnikov assault rifles provided security at polling booths.Voters in the impoverished but mineral-rich central African nation went to the polls to pick a new president, lawmakers for the national and provincial assemblies, and …

Voting in east DR Congo: gunfire and militia ‘protection’Wed, 20 Dec 2023 18:16:44 GMT Read More »

People in the Democratic Republic of Congo voted Wednesday in a high-stakes election pitting the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi against a fragmented opposition, whose leaders denounced “chaos” and irregularities.The 60-year-old incumbent, wearing a blue-checked shirt, cast his vote in the capital Kinshasa, as crowds chanted their frenzied support. Tshisekedi has presided over years of economic growth …

Congolese vote amid ‘chaos’, delays, conflict in eastWed, 20 Dec 2023 16:57:37 GMT Read More »