AFP Africa

Former Mali, Marseille and Saint-Etienne attacker Salif Keita died aged 76 on Saturday, the country’s sports minister told AFP.Minister Abdoul Kassim Ibrahim Fomba said Keita passed away in the captial city Bamako, where he was also born.Keita retired in 1980 after a succesful club career in France.”The world of sport in Mali and particularly football …

Mali’s ‘Black Panther’ Salif Keita dies, aged 76Sat, 02 Sep 2023 15:55:42 GMT Read More »

South Sudan and Japan both qualified for the Paris Olympics at the Basketball World Cup on Saturday as the tournament’s highest-placed finishers from Africa and Asia.World Cup debutants South Sudan, who played their first official international game only six years ago, beat Angola 101-78 in Manila to claim their third win of the competition.Nearest challengers Egypt …

South Sudan, Japan grab Olympic spots at Basketball World CupSat, 02 Sep 2023 15:33:52 GMT Read More »

Ivory Coast was voting Saturday in local and regional elections set to gauge support for the ruling party and the opposition two years ahead of a presidential poll.The three leading political groups are vying for seats in 201 districts and 31 regions in the West African nation, a regional economic power and leading cocoa exporter.”It will …

I.Coast votes in local polls seen as test for presidential raceSat, 02 Sep 2023 15:10:31 GMT Read More »

Niger’s military regime fired a new verbal broadside at France on Friday, accusing Paris of “blatant interference” by backing the country’s ousted president as protestors rallied near a French base outside the capital Niamey.President Mohamed Bazoum, a French ally whose election in 2021 had stoked hopes of stability in the troubled country, was detained on …

Niger regime fires new broadside at France for backing ousted BazoumSat, 02 Sep 2023 05:21:13 GMT Read More »

Gabon’s new strongman General Brice Oligui Nguema on Friday vowed the country’s institutions would be more democratic, two days after heading a coup that ended 55 years of rule by the Bongo family.”The dissolution of the institutions” decreed on Wednesday during the coup “is temporary”, he said in a speech. “It is a question of …

Gabon’s strongman vows more democracy after coupFri, 01 Sep 2023 20:49:14 GMT Read More »

Kenya unveiled Friday plans to roll out electric motorbikes across the country under a green transport scheme to reduce carbon emissions and pollution.President William Ruto announced the initiative with African startup Spiro just days before he hosts the first Africa Climate Summit in the Kenyan capital Nairobi next week.”We are committed to enhancing our climate …

Kenya unveils plans for nationwide e-bike schemeFri, 01 Sep 2023 18:35:40 GMT Read More »

An Egyptian man who took selfies while piloting a small boat across the Channel with dozens of migrants on board was jailed on Friday, the UK’s interior ministry said.The government, under fire for new laws which rights groups insist violate international refugee conventions, welcomed the conviction.Reda Hamoud Abdurabou, 25, was sentenced to three years and …

Egyptian man jailed for steering small boat across ChannelFri, 01 Sep 2023 18:17:00 GMT Read More »

Nigeria’s Burna Boy has become the first international Afrobeats artist to secure a number one album in Britain with “I Told Them…”, the UK’s Official Charts Company said on Friday.The Nigerian-born global star, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, shot straight to top spot in the British charts with his fifth full-length release.He had …

Burna Boy breaks UK record by topping albums chartFri, 01 Sep 2023 17:03:06 GMT Read More »

Gabon’s new strongman General Brice Oligui Nguema on Friday stepped up contacts with national groups and foreign interests two days after heading a coup that ended 55 years of rule by the Bongo family.Pursuing an initiative to speak to Gabon’s “vital forces” following the takeover, Oligui met members of civil society a day after a …

Gabon’s strongman meets key groups after coupFri, 01 Sep 2023 16:50:54 GMT Read More »

The death toll from a fire that engulfed a Johannesburg building rose to 76, authorities said on Friday as relatives of the victims waited outside a mortuary to identify their loved ones. Health Minister Joe Phaahla said two people died in hospital a day after flames ripped through the five-storey building forcing South Africa to confront …

Joburg fire toll rises as S.Africa debates ‘hijacked’ buildingsFri, 01 Sep 2023 15:56:50 GMT Read More »