AFRICA

Seven persons including President Faure Gnassingbe, leader of the Union for the Republic (UNIR), have been cleared by Togo’s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to contest the country’s upcoming presidential election. This is Mr Gnassingbe’s fourth bid since coming into office in 2005, following the death of his father, Gnassingbe …

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has unveiled a new visa policy which he says is intended to attract innovation, specialised skills and knowledge from abroad. The president had last November in Egypt, announced the new visa policy which he described as a “strategic decision to bring down barriers that have hindered …

The wife of the prime minister of Lesotho has been formally charged in court with murdering his previous wife. First Lady Maesaiah Thabane has not yet been asked to plead. She surrendered to police on Tuesday for questioning. Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has also been questioned. His estranged wife, Lipolelo …

The Pietermaritzburg High Court has issued a warrant of arrest for South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma after be missed a scheduled court appearance. Mr Zuma, who has been charged with a string of crimes including corruption, racketeering and money-laundering was expected at the pre-trial hearing on Tuesday but was …

Kenya’s longest serving President Daniel arap Moi who died on Monday rose to power in 1978 upon the death of Kenya’s first President Jomo Kenyatta. This was his first major political victory having outmaneuvered Kenyatta’s inner circle to rise to the top. This shrewdness became the hallmark of his 24-year …

At least 13 people died in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, in overnight heavy rains and others were injured, government officials said Monday. The East African nation has seen dozens of deaths caused by torrential rains in recent weeks. The latest downpour began Sunday evening, causing flooding and mudslides that swept away …

Malawi’s constitutional court has annulled last year’s controversial election, which saw President Peter Mutharika narrowly re-elected. The judge found there had been widespread irregularities in the 21 May vote. This is the first election to be legally challenged since Malawi’s independence in 1964. A new vote will take place within …

Barely one week after the government of the United States of America (USA) placed a visa ban on Nigeria and some other African countries, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, says the embassy has suspended the issuance of visas to Nigerians. The Cable reports that the Ambassador said the …

In lieu of the Federal Government’s decision to ban Okada and Keke drivers from the state, Nigerians have been forced to go on endless miles, walking. Though many have taken to lament on the current unfortunate situation which causes various discomfort as they are conformed to live their daily activities with …

There has been widespread disruption in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos on the first working day of a ban on motorbike- and tricycle-taxis. There were long queues at bus stations even though extra transport was laid on, while some walked for miles. Commercial motorbikes are the most common form of public …