AFRICA

JUBA, South Sudan | XINHUA |  The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared South Sudan free of the poliovirus. “South Sudan’s complete documentation for wild polio virus free status has been accepted. With this feat, WHO’s Africa Region is set to be declared wild poliovirus free 2020,” the WHO South …

NAIROBI, Kenya | XINHUA | Living in Mathare, one of the largest slums in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, Newton Omondi knows that he needs to maintain social distancing, wear a face mask and wash his hands regularly to curb the spread of COVID-19. However, adhering to these measures has been a …

Kenya elected to UN Security Council, beating Djibouti United Nations, United States | AFP |  Kenya was elected Thursday to the UN Security Council for 2021-2022, defeating Djibouti after first-round voting by the General Assembly failed to choose between the two candidates. Kenya obtained 129 votes, against 113 in the …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | East Africa is bracing for a third outbreak of desert locusts, with billions of the destructive insects about to hatch and threaten food supplies in a region already reeling from damaging rains and the coronavirus pandemic. Spurred by favourable weather conditions, the migratory pests have …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | As coronavirus cases accelerate in Africa, those who recover from the virus find that their struggle is not over as denial of the disease and stigmatisation run deep across the continent. People who have been treated for COVID-19 say they are ostracised in their communities, …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Burundi’s new President Evariste Ndayishimiye is an army general likely facing a tricky balancing act to bring change to the troubled nation while pleasing the elites who helped put him in power. Ndayishimiye, 52, widely known by his nickname “Neva”, was sworn in on Thursday, two …

Gitega, Burundi | AFP | Burundi’s new president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, took office on Thursday in a colourful ceremony where he vowed to “continue on the path” of his predecessor who died suddenly last week. Elected last month in a disputed vote, Ndayishimiye was meant to take office in August, but …

Kampala, Uganda | KHISA ISAAC | UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, on June.17 joined the rest of the world to celebrate African children in this year’s edition of the International Day of the African Child. June 16 every year has been …

  Gitega, Burundi | AFP | Burundi’s new president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, took the oath of office at a colourful ceremony in the capital on Thursday, assuming the helm of a troubled nation after the sudden death of his predecessor. Elected in May in a vote disputed by the opposition, Ndayishimiye …

Libreville, Gabon | AFP |  Amanda leans into the fridge, fishes out two ice-cold beers and quickly closes the door after taking a worried glance up and down the street. “No table, just chairs,” she says. The reason for the discretion: her tiny bar is welcoming customers on the sly, defying …