AFRICA

Guinea-Bissau votes in presidential run-off pitting two former premiers

Voters in Guinea-Bissau will choose their next president on Sunday in a run-off election pitting two former prime ministers who both promise to bring stability to the turbulent West African nation. Incumbent President Jose Mario Vaz failed to make it to the second round after a five-year term marred by …

Read More »

Africa’s fake news of the year

A man raised from dead, an imposter as president, Jesus on a visit, or imminent attacks: The lines between reality and fiction were outrageously blurred on African social media networks in 2019. South Africa was the scene of a resurrection miracle, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was said to have died …

Read More »

Truck bomb kills at least 90 in Mogadishu

At least 90 people were killed when a bomb-laden truck exploded at a busy checkpoint in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday, an international organization working in the country said, in the deadliest attack in more than two years. The dead included many students and two Turkish nationals, Somalia’s foreign …

Read More »

West Africa’s new currency, the Eco: Rebrand or fresh start?

Many Africans cheered and applauded when Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara announced on Saturday “that, in agreement with the other West African Economic and Monetary Union Heads of State, we have decided to reform the CFA franc with the following three major changes: First, the name change of the currency …

Read More »

Rush-hour car bomb kills dozens in Somali capital

At least 76 people are reported to have been killed by a car bomb during morning rush hour in Somalia’s capital. The blast took place at a checkpoint at a busy intersection in Mogadishu. Dr Mohamed Yusuf, director of Madina hospital, told the AP news agency they had received 73 …

Read More »

Boy wearing snake t-shirt forced to change before being allowed to board a plane

A boy was forced to change his T-shirt with a picture of a snake on it before boarding a plane, his family claims. The 10-year-old Stevie Lucas had flown from Wellington, New Zealand, to Johannesburg in South Africa to visit his grandparents when the incident occurred. At OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg, …

Read More »

Youtuber jailed for insulting Morocco King

A Moroccan YouTuber, Mohamed Sekkaki, known as “Moul Kaskita”, has been sentenced to four years in prison by a court in the western city of Settat, on Thursday for “insulting the king” in a video broadcast on social networks, his lawyer said. In a separate case, a Moroccan journalist and …

Read More »

Liberia’s President Weah lashes out at former Vice President

President George M. Weah addressing wide range of national issues confronting the country on Friday, December 20, 2019 tongue-lashed former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai pointing out that his time (political relevance)is gone; and inciting people to oust his government is no need because he had 12 years and messed …

Read More »

Islamic State in Nigeria ‘beheads Christian hostages’

The Islamic State group has released a video claiming to show the killing of 11 Christians in Nigeria. IS said it was part of its recently declared campaign to “avenge” the October deaths of its leader and spokesman in Syria. No details were given about the victims, who were all …

Read More »

Buhari calls Goodluck Jonathan, condemns attack on former president’s home

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has sympathised with former President Goodluck Jonathan following an attack by gunmen on his country residence in Otuoke, Bayelsa State. A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, revealed that the President called his predecessor on Tuesday. In the telephone conversation, …

Read More »