AFP Africa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled Wednesday a plan to revive South Africa’s flagging local governments, weeks after publicly criticising the state of the financial capital Johannesburg as it prepares to host the G20 summit in November.Africa’s most industrialised economy is divided into more than 250 municipalities, where basic services such as water and waste …

South Africa launches reform of derelict municipalitiesWed, 07 May 2025 16:08:56 GMT Read More »

Mali’s junta on Wednesday suspended political parties’ activities “until further notice for reasons of public order”, as the opposition protests against the military government’s ramped-up crackdown on dissent.Read out on national television and radio, the decree comes ahead of a rally called for Friday by parties critical of the junta against their dissolution, as well …

Mali junta suspends political parties’ activities ‘until further notice’Wed, 07 May 2025 15:56:08 GMT Read More »

In-form South African sprinter Akani Simbine insists he is no “nearly man” despite missing a podium finish in the men’s 100m at the last three Olympics by a combined total of just eight-hundredths of second.The 31-year-old finished fifth at the 2016 Rio Olympics before successive fourth places at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Games.While …

South African sprinter Simbine shrugs off ‘nearly man’ tagWed, 07 May 2025 15:03:32 GMT Read More »

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine said on Wednesday his bodyguard had been personally tortured by the president’s son, days after the aide’s detention provoked national outrage.There has been a mounting crackdown on the opposition ahead of the general election in January and the news of the aide’s capture came as Wine was set to launch …

Uganda opposition leader says president’s son tortured aideWed, 07 May 2025 13:21:36 GMT Read More »

A Kenyan court on Wednesday fined four people, including two Belgian teenagers, more than $7,000 for attempting to smuggle thousands of live ants out of the country.The case has received considerable attention after the Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) accused the four of engaging in “bio-piracy”.David Lornoy and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 18 of Belgium, Duh Hung …

Kenya court fines teens for trying to smuggle protected antsWed, 07 May 2025 12:52:21 GMT Read More »

A drone strike targeted Sudan’s biggest naval base Wednesday, an army source told AFP, marking the fourth straight day the seat of the army-backed government has come under attack.”They (the drones) were met with anti-aircraft missiles,” the source said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. An AFP correspondent …

Drone strike targets Port Sudan navy base: army sourceWed, 07 May 2025 09:40:22 GMT Read More »

Trucks, camel caravans and donkeys returning at nightfall laden with enormous cargoes of wood are becoming a rare sight in Niger’s capital as jihadists encroach on forested areas.It has left Niamey, a city of nearly two million, struggling to obtain crucial wood supplies from the country’s southwestern region, close to Burkina Faso where the jihadists …

Jihadists disrupt crucial wood supplies in Niger capitalWed, 07 May 2025 06:46:46 GMT Read More »

A drone strike targeted Sudan’s biggest naval base Wednesday, an army source told AFP, marking the fourth straight day the seat of the army-backed government has come under attack.”They (the drones) were met with anti-aircraft missiles,” the source said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. An AFP correspondent …

Drone strike hits Port Sudan navy base: army sourceWed, 07 May 2025 05:31:34 GMT Read More »

Sudan’s army-aligned government on Tuesday severed diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates, accusing the Gulf state of supplying weapons used by the rival paramilitaries to strike its de facto capital.A series of drones struck positions across Port Sudan Tuesday — including the war-torn country’s main port and only functioning international civilian airport — official …

Sudan cuts ties with UAE after paramilitary drone strikes on Port SudanTue, 06 May 2025 17:29:41 GMT Read More »

Renowned Rwandan fashion designer Moses Turahirwa, who counted President Paul Kagame and US singer John Legend among their clients, appeared in court on Tuesday charged with drug use and possession.Turahirwa, 36, who uses they/she pronouns, said the real reason for their arrest was online criticism of Kagame.Last month Turahirwa made a series of posts on …

Rwandan designer tried for drugs after criticising KagameTue, 06 May 2025 15:34:29 GMT Read More »