AFP Africa

A call by Ivory Coast’s main opposition party for protests outside courts on Thursday over the barring of its candidate from this year’s presidential election drew only a few hundred supporters, an AFP journalist saw.The government warned it would not permit any unrest and police blocked off access to the courts in Abidjan, the economic …

Ivory Coast opposition struggles to rally protestersThu, 24 Apr 2025 15:13:30 GMT Read More »

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to South Africa Thursday underscored a shift in Pretoria’s stance on Russia’s invasion, which it had initially refused to condemn.Zelensky’s first visit to Africa took place just weeks after South Africa joined for the first time a UN General Assembly resolution criticising Russia for the war.The UN’s February resolution “reaffirmed …

Ukraine leader’s visit to S.Africa marks a diplomatic shiftThu, 24 Apr 2025 14:08:15 GMT Read More »

Tanzania’s main opposition party said 13 officials had been arrested on their way to a rally to support their leader Tundu Lissu on Thursday as he faced a charge of treason in court. Lissu, who faces a potential death sentence if convicted, refused to take part in the hearing because he could only appear by video …

Tanzania opposition officials arrested as leader faces treason hearingThu, 24 Apr 2025 14:05:48 GMT Read More »

Mourners queued in their thousands for hours on Thursday to catch a last glimpse of Pope Francis’s body on the second day of public tributes as Italian authorities stepped up security arrangements ahead of his weekend funeral.Some 61,000 people had filed past the late Catholic leader’s red-lined wooden coffin in the first 26 hours since …

Thousands line up for second day to view popeThu, 24 Apr 2025 13:41:34 GMT Read More »

The date when Catholic cardinals will gather to select Pope Francis’s successor is not yet known. But bookmakers and crypto investors are already scrambling to guess who will be the next pontiff.Just days after Francis died on Monday, speculation on who would succeed him is already “one of the most popular betting markets in 2025”, …

Pope’s death sparks betting frenzy for successorThu, 24 Apr 2025 12:09:28 GMT Read More »

Thousands of people queued for hours Thursday to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis’s body on the second day of public tributes, after St Peter’s Basilica stayed open all night to accomodate the crowds.More than 50,000 people filed past the Catholic leader’s red-lined wooden coffin during the first 24 hours of his lying in state, …

Thousands gather for second day to view popeThu, 24 Apr 2025 11:52:57 GMT Read More »

Supporters of Ivory Coast’s main opposition party were called to protest outside courts on Thursday after their candidate was barred from running in the presidential election. The government warned it would not permit any unrest and police blocked off access to the courts in Abidjan, the economic capital, and Bouake, the second largest city. On Tuesday, the …

I.Coast opposition called to protest after leader barred from electionThu, 24 Apr 2025 10:56:13 GMT Read More »

Tanzania’s main opposition party said on Thursday at least two of its officials had been arrested on their way to a rally to support leading government opponent Tundu Lissu, who refused to appear at a virtual court hearing to face a charge of treason.Authorities in the east African country have increasingly cracked down on the …

Tanzania opposition officials arrested, leader no-show in court for treason caseThu, 24 Apr 2025 10:53:20 GMT Read More »

In 2010, Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson said he was not ready to become pope — and that the Catholic Church might not be either.”I wouldn’t want to be that first black pope. I think he’ll have a rough time,” he said.Now, after the death of Pope Francis, the west African clergyman’s name is buzzing around …

Africans eye a pope from among their ownThu, 24 Apr 2025 10:14:59 GMT Read More »

Tanzania’s main opposition party said Thursday at least two of its officials had been arrested on their way to a rally to support leading government opponent Tundu Lissu, who is due in court to face a treason charge.Authorities in the east African country have increasingly cracked down on the opposition Chadema party ahead of presidential …

Tanzania opposition officials detained ahead of leader’s court appearanceThu, 24 Apr 2025 08:43:48 GMT Read More »