AFP Africa

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen began her visit to Eswatini with a promise to cooperate on building an oil reserve facility, her office said Wednesday, looking to shore up ties with the island’s last diplomatic ally in Africa.Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is one of only 13 countries that officially recognise Taiwan over China, which claims …

Taiwan president begins visit to sole African ally EswatiniWed, 06 Sep 2023 07:20:15 GMT Read More »

With no cell service or phone calls, people in Sudan’s war-ravaged western region of Darfur are resorting to a bygone means of communication: handwritten letters, carried by taxi drivers.Ahmed Issa, 25, sits on a plastic chair in a roadside cafe, penning a message to relatives he left behind in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur …

Handwritten letters a lifeline in war-devastated DarfurWed, 06 Sep 2023 01:30:45 GMT Read More »

Britain is to ban Russian mercenary outfit the Wagner Group as a terrorist organisation, media reports said on Tuesday, quoting Home Secretary Suella Braverman.The UK was set to make the Wagner Group a “proscribed” organisation under anti-terror laws, putting it on a par with Islamic State and al-Qaeda, a report in the Daily Mail said.”Wagner is …

UK to ban Russia’s Wagner Group as ‘terrorist’ organisation: reportsTue, 05 Sep 2023 22:58:18 GMT Read More »

Fifty-three members of the security forces have been killed in an attack by suspected jihadists in northern Burkina Faso, the army said on Tuesday. Seventeen soldiers and 36 civilian volunteers for the army died on Monday while repelling an “attack,” the army general staff said in a statement.The unit had been deployed in the town of …

53 members of Burkina security forces killed in suspected jihadist attack: armyTue, 05 Sep 2023 21:46:06 GMT Read More »

Eritrean troops allied with Ethiopia’s government “committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity” in Tigray, raping, enslaving and executing civilians for months after the signing of a peace agreement, Amnesty International said Tuesday.The report by the rights watchdog was dismissed by the Eritrean government, which said the allegations “have no substance or merit”.Dubbed the …

Eritrean troops ‘committed war crimes’ in Ethiopia: AmnestyTue, 05 Sep 2023 20:23:38 GMT Read More »

The White House warned Tuesday that North Korea would “pay a price” if it supplies Russia with weaponry for its war in Ukraine, with Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin expected to hold talks on the issue.Sanctions-hit Russia is reportedly eager to secure more military supplies from its ally to bolster its forces as Kyiv …

N. Korea to pay ‘price’ if it gives Russia arms: USTue, 05 Sep 2023 19:01:06 GMT Read More »

Gabon’s new strongman on Tuesday met central Africa’s mediator for the country and started to amnesty dissidents following a coup last week that brought the curtain down on the 55-year Bongo dynasty.State TV said General Brice Oligui Nguema met the Central African Republic’s president, Faustin Archange Touadera, in the aftermath of the August 30 putsch. The …

Gabon’s new strongman meets regional envoy, opposition chiefTue, 05 Sep 2023 17:45:11 GMT Read More »

A Swedish oil company allegedly knew that Sudanese armed forces would use violence to secure areas in which it wanted to operate, prosecutors said Tuesday as two former executives faced war crimes charges.Swede Ian Lundin and Swiss national Alex Schneiter are accused of asking Sudan’s government to make its military responsible for security at the …

Oil execs on trial in Sweden over Sudan war crimes roleTue, 05 Sep 2023 17:07:21 GMT Read More »

The French army is holding talks with Niger’s military over withdrawing “elements” of its presence there following a coup, a defence ministry source said on Tuesday.There has been speculation that France will be forced into a full military pullout from Niger after the July 26 putsch, which ousted French ally President Mohamed Bazoum.Some 1,500 troops …

France discussing withdrawal of ‘certain military elements’ from NigerTue, 05 Sep 2023 16:45:29 GMT Read More »

Fifty-three members of the security forces have been killed in an attack by suspected jihadists in northern Burkina Faso, the army said on Tuesday.Seventeen soldiers and 36 civilian volunteers for the army died on Monday while repelling an “attack,” the army general staff said in a statement.The unit had been deployed in the town of …

53 members of Burkina security forces killed in suspected jihadist attack: armyTue, 05 Sep 2023 16:43:34 GMT Read More »