AFRICA

Zimbabwe enters a new chapter of his modern history as its leader since its independence in 1980 resigns amid a deep political crisis that now seems peacefully resolved. Singing has replaced sighing on the streets of Zimbabwe with the news of President Robert Mugabe’s resignation on Tuesday. The country has been holding its breath since the veteran leader refused to bow …

At least 50 people have died in north-eastern Nigeria’s biggest mass killing this year. A suicide bomber targeted a mosque in the town of Mubi in Adamawa State, as the region faces a renewed insurgency by Islamist militant group Boko Haram. The Adamawa Police said a young boy was responsible for the blast which occurred during the early morning Muslim …

Zimbabwe’s military appeared to be in control of the country on Wednesday as generals denied staging a coup but used state television to vow to target “criminals” close to President Robert Mugabe. Mugabe’s decades-long grip on power was dramatically weakened as military vehicles blocked roads outside the parliament in Harare and senior soldiers delivered a late-night television address to the …

Following a series of politically-motivated murders in Cameroon in the past week, the Society for Threatened Peoples (Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker, GfbV) has warned against an escalation of violence and a possible civil war in the country. “The dispute over the discrimination of the English-speaking minority in the central African state must be urgently resolved through political negotiations in order …

Six members of a cargo ship kidnapped last month off the coast of Nigeria’s Port Harcourt have been freed, their German employer said Sunday. “Peter Doehle Schiffahrts-KG are pleased to report that the six crew members of her container vessel Demeter who were taken hostage on 21 October and have spent the past two and a half weeks in captivity, …

The African Union says it has commenced the downsizing of troops from Somalia in line with decisions taken by the AU and UN Security Council to hand over security responsibilities to the Somali Army. The head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Francisco Madeiro told the media in the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday that a thousand soldiers will …

Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Tuesday said democracy in the West African country was being threatened, a day after the Supreme Court put a presidential runoff on hold over fraud allegations. Former footballer George Weah was initially set to face Vice-President Joseph Boakai on Tuesday to determine who will replace the former Nobel Peace Prize laureate. A successful vote …

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria has been appointed into the United Nations High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation along with 17 other current and former global leaders. UN Secretary-General, Antonio Gutierrez, had in September announced the establishment of the board to provide him with advice on mediation initiatives and back specific mediation efforts around the world. The Board is composed …

Thousands of people have sought refuge in Nigeria after fleeing the Anglophone regions of Cameroon due to new violence there, according to UN Refugee Agency UNHCR. The UNHCR is collaborating with local authorities in Nigeria to “provide assistance to asylum and protection seekers from Cameroon, who have arrived in Southeastern Nigeria in the past month”. “Thousands have fled to Nigeria …

Liberia’s apex court has reserved ruling on the challenge to the presidential run-off election for Monday after listening to submissions by aspirant and leader of the Liberty Party, Charles Brumskine. Brumskine, who finished third in the 10 October poll, petitioned the court alleging fraud in the conduct of the election. His party said widespread fraud had marred the outcome of …

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has been declared winner of last week’s rerun presidential election which was boycotted by main opposition leader Raila Odinga. Kenyatta garnered 7,483,895 votes representing 98.26%, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati announced on Monday. National Super Alliance (NASA) candidate, Odinga, garnered only 0.96% of the vote despite his boycott. Total valid votes were …

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has won over 96 percent of the votes counted so far from Thursday’s re-run election, according to a local media tally of numbers released at the constituency level by the election commission. The tally, compiled by the Daily Nation media group with 200 of 292 constituencies having reported, showed Kenyatta had won 5.58 million votes, well …

A new UN report has said that four in 10 people on earth will be African by 2100. This demographic change requires investment in health and education in order to avoid potentially staggering humanitarian crises. Elizabeth Schumacher of Deutsche Welle (DW) reports. The population of Africa is set to soar, according to a study released by the United Nations Children’s …

Kenya’s electoral commission has announced an estimated 48 per cent voter turnout after the country’s presidential election rerun on Thursday, which was marred by opposition boycott, protests and deadly clashes. The Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said 35,564 polling stations opened for the election out of the 40,883 in the 47 counties nationwide. Voting in four counties, which are opposition …

The United States says it is concerned about the increasingly deteriorating political situation in Togo. The use of excessive force by security forces on protesters was of particular concern to the American government. A statement issued by a US Department of State spokesperson, Heather Nauert, said violence and restrictions on rights of people troubling to the US. “We are particularly …

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, has called for more time for Nigerians in Diaspora to obtain their Bank Verification Number (BVN). Dabiri-Erewa also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to put modalities and logistics in place to make it easier for Nigerians …

Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé should resign immediately and the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should persuade him to step down, Gambia’s Foreign Minister Ousainou Darboe has said. Darboe’s comments, during an interview with the news agency Reuters, are an early sign that opinion is shifting against Gnassingbé who took power in 2005 following …

Presidential candidate in Liberia and football legend, George Weah, on Sunday, 22 October attended a Church service in Lagos, Nigeria, to seek divine intervention for his nation. The famous Liberian was part of a multi-cultural congregation at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) led by Prophet Temitope B. Joshua. During his sermon which was broadcast live on popular Christian …

The repeat of the presidential election ordered by Kenya’s Supreme Court will take place this week on Thursday. The country is understandably in suspense as the main opposition candidate, Raila Odinga, has withdrawn from the race while two key officials of the election commission have expressed doubts about the prospects for a credible poll. On Sunday, Kenyans both at home …

The World Health Organization has cancelled the appointment of Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe as a goodwill ambassador after global condemnation. Director General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement issued Sunday said , after carefully listenening to concerns expressed by many and consultation with the Government of Zimbabwe, it is in the best interest of the global health …