AFP Africa

Voters in Gabon head for the polls on Saturday with President Ali Bongo Ondimba eager for a clear victory after a seven-year term in which health problems fuelled attacks on his fitness to govern.The small oil-rich central African state has been ruled by Bongo since 2009, when he was voted in to succeed his father …

Gabon’s Bongo seeks election triumph after stroke recoveryThu, 24 Aug 2023 06:08:15 GMT Read More »

Zimbabwe’s president Wednesday extended voting by another day after long delays marred the start of balloting in key districts and sparked opposition accusations of “rigging” and “voter suppression”.As polling began to close in some voting stations, it was only starting in others, prompting opposition accusations of vote manipulation after a campaign marked by tension and …

Zimbabwe high stakes vote spills into day two as opposition alleges riggingWed, 23 Aug 2023 21:39:08 GMT Read More »

For the fourth straight day Wednesday, Sudanese paramilitaries fought the regular army in Khartoum for control of a key armoured corps base in the capital’s south, witnesses said.Fighters from Mohamed Hamdan Daglo’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began their assault on the vast strategic compound on several fronts on Sunday.Residents of Al-Shajara, the neighbourhood where the …

Sudan paramilitaries press assault on armoured corps baseWed, 23 Aug 2023 19:39:45 GMT Read More »

Zimbabwe’s opposition leader on Wednesday accused the ruling ZANU-PF government of “rigging” and “voter suppression” as long delays marred the start of balloting in key districts in Zimbabwe’s high stakes elections.As polling began to close in some voting stations, it was only starting in others prompting opposition accusations of vote manipulation after a campaign marked …

Zimbabwean opposition leader alleges rigging in high stakes voteWed, 23 Aug 2023 18:46:55 GMT Read More »

BRICS leaders have agreed to expand the club of major emerging economies and adopted conditions for entry, South Africa said Wednesday, as the bloc pursues greater clout to shape the world order.Calls to enlarge the BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — has dominated the agenda at its three-day summit in Johannesburg …

BRICS leaders agree to expand membership at summitWed, 23 Aug 2023 18:31:00 GMT Read More »

An influential Senegalese religious leader has joined calls for detained opposition leader Ousmane Sonko to end a hunger strike, an official from his political coalition told AFP.A presidential candidate and head of state Macky Sall’s fiercest critic, Sonko has faced a string of legal woes since 2021 that he claims are aimed at keeping him …

Senegal religious leader asks politician to end hunger strikeWed, 23 Aug 2023 16:45:42 GMT Read More »

The five BRICS nations are open to expanding the club to new members, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Wednesday, as it pursues greater clout in shaping the world order.Calls to enlarge the BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — has dominated the agenda at its three-day summit in Johannesburg and exposed …

BRICS leaders weigh expanding membership at summitWed, 23 Aug 2023 15:29:11 GMT Read More »

Zimbabweans voted in closely-watched elections in which President Emmerson Mnangagwa is seeking a second term after a campaign tainted by a crackdown on the opposition, fears of vote rigging and public anger at the economic crisis.President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 80, who came to power after a coup that deposed late ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017, squares …

Zimbabwe votes in high-stake poll as ‘Crocodile’ leader seeks new termWed, 23 Aug 2023 11:25:14 GMT Read More »

BRICS leaders on Wednesday will debate admitting new members to their five-nation bloc as it pursues a bigger role in shaping world affairs it sees as dominated by western powers.China is seeking to rapidly grow the club of large emerging economies amid rising competition with the United States, and more than 40 nations are lining …

BRICS leaders to debate expanding membership at summitWed, 23 Aug 2023 11:14:31 GMT Read More »

Facebook’s parent company Meta has agreed to pursue an out-of-court settlement with 184 content moderators who filed a lawsuit claiming unfair dismissal, according to legal documents seen by AFP on Wednesday.The layoffs announced in January followed the end of a contract between Meta and Sama, a company hired to moderate Facebook content in east and …

Kenyan court says Meta and sacked moderators to pursue settlementWed, 23 Aug 2023 10:58:12 GMT Read More »