The restoration of democracy with regular elections in the 1990s held the promise of resolving the explosive issue of power succession blamed for the conflicts that devilled post-independent Africa. After independence in the 1960s, most of the ruling parties abolished multiparty democracy and instituted one-party states. The argument for the change was the promotion of stability, as the acrimonious contest …

Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology, was awarded with the Grand Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany at the residence of the German Ambassador in Pretoria on 22 April. On behalf of the German President, Ambassador Walter Lindner presented the Order to Ms Pandor in front of over 100 high-level guests. The minister has …

Thousands of people attended several funeral events for Congolese music star Papa Wemba on 2-4 April in the country’s capital, Kinshasa. His body laid in the parliamentary building for an official commemoration and later at his family home for the public to view, among other activities giving the super star of African music a fitting departure.  President Joseph Kabila delivered …