Politics

Ethiopia’s opposition parties have blamed federal army troops for killing at least 52,000 people during a military offensive in the country’s northern Tigray region. A further 3 million have been forced to flee their homes and even more are dependent on food aid, the Tigray Independence Party, National Congress of Great Tigray and Salsay Weyane…

Botswana has nominated Elias Magosi to take over from Tanzania’s Dr Stergomena Tax as SADC’s top boss when the latter’s term expires in August this year. Magosi currently serves as the Permanent Secretary to the President and Head of the Botswana Public Service as well as Secretary to the Cabinet. That makes him the country’s…

Rwanda has sent military troops to the Central African Republic, in what the government says is a move to help counter a surge in violence by rebel groups ahead of Sunday’s election. According to a statement from the military, “The deployment is in response to the targeting of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) contingent under…

The European Union will grant an extra $29 million in aid to cater for the impact of Ethiopia’s war in the Tigray region. The move follows an approval on Thursday by the United Nations to grant $35.6 million to support civilians affected by the fighting that began on November 4, with thousands dead, and hundreds…

Central African Republic’s government has accused former President Francois Bozize of plotting a coup as political tensions and violence rise ahead of the December 27 presidential elections. In a statement, the government said that Bozize plotted with members of his family and a number of armed groups to attack two towns near the capital Bangui…

Guinea’s President Alpha Conde has promised to fight corruption as he took an oath of office to serve a controversial third term. At a swearing-in ceremony held in Conakry after his victory in the bitterly-contested October 18 presidential elections, Conde said he planned to govern the West African nation of nearly 13 million people in…

Eswatini Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini, has died at age 52, after battling a bout of COVID-19 illness in neighboring South Africa. Dlamini tested positive for COVID-19 four weeks ago and was rushed across the border on December 1 for medical care. At that time, Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku said Dlamini was stable and responding…

Russia will build a naval base on Sudan’s Red Sea coast, its first in Africa, as the Kremlin seeks to expand its global military footprint and cement its burgeoning trade and defense ties with the continent. The Russian navy has been directed to proceed with plans to construct a base for 300 personnel and space…

400 Nigerian students are missing after armed gunmen attacked a secondary school in the country’s northwestern Katsina state, according to the police. Katsina State police spokesman Gambo Isah said, “The Government Science Secondary School in Kankara was attacked Friday night by a large group of bandits who shot with AK-47 rifles. Police engaged the attackers…

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo will serve another term in office after winning a tight race against his predecessor and old rival John Mahama, an election that has sparked chaos which have killed five people since Monday. Results from the electoral commission indicate that Akufo-Addo has secured 51.59% of the vote, though Mahama’s camp said they…

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi will form a new governing majority as tension fosters between his ruling party and political allies of his predecessor, Joseph Kabila. The political tensions have left the country in what Tshisekedi refers to as a state of “persistent crisis.” Tsishekedi’s new move was announced in a nationwide broadcast…

His voice is one of the most recognizable by Mali’s 20 million people. It’s loved as well. And Salif Keita is hoping that this music appeal enables him to transition seamlessly into politics. Keita will serve as a member of the country’s transitional council, a quasi-body that will act as the country’s parliament after the…

When former President Jerry Rawlings died exactly one month ago, the world paid its respect to a leader whom they described as “visionary, statesman and democratic.” For such praise to be showered upon a person who took power through a military coup (something that the African Union is at odds with through its policy of…

Mozambique and Tanzania will launch joint operations to combat an Islamist insurgency under an agreement that will also see some 500 suspected insurgents extradited, a report in Mozambique’s state-owned newspaper Noticias indicates. Mozambique’s army has been battling an insurgency that started three years ago in its northernmost province of Cabo Delgado, separated from Tanzania by…

Boko Haram killed 110 people in an attack on a village in north-east Nigeria, according to the UN humanitarian coordinator in the country. “At least 110 civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded in this attack,” Edward Kallon said in a statement after initial tolls had indicated the number of dead at 43…

Burkina Faso President Roch Kabore will serve another term in office after winning Sunday’s poll by a large margin, preliminary results indicate. The election, marred by heightened insecurity that prevented swathes of the West African country from voting was projected to be tight, but results that have trickled in show otherwise. Kabore was first elected…