AFRICA

Libreville, Gabon | AFP |  A Gabonese court has thrown out a bid by opposition activists to force President Ali Bongo Ondimba to have medical checks to see if he is still fit to rule. The court in Libreville rejected the request as “inadmissible”, according to the ruling seen by …

Geneva, Switzerland | THE INDEPENDENT | Former president of the African Development Bank Donald Kaberuka has been selected as the new board chairman of the The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Dr. Kaberuka was selected by the Global Fund Board on Thursday following a six-month search that was designed …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan’s prosecutor general on Thursday ordered the questioning of deposed president Omar al-Bashir over money-laundering and “financing terrorism”, as protesters staged a vast rally in Khartoum to demand a civilian government. A source in the prosecutor general’s office confirmed reports on state media that acting public …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP |  South Sudan’s warring parties will hold talks in Addis Ababa on Thursday, in a bid to salvage a stalled peace deal, with just days to go until a unity government is meant to be formed. President Salva Kiir, rebel leader Riek Machar and a …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Tanzanian business tycoon and philanthropist Reginald Mengi, who headed one of Africa’s largest media groups, has died aged 75 in Dubai, his news outlets reported Thursday. “We are sorry to announce the death of the executive chairman of IPP Group of Companies, Dr Reginald Mengi,” …

Omdourman, Sudan | AFP | Sudan’s main opposition chief on Wednesday warned protest leaders against any provocation of the country’s army rulers, saying they will soon hand power to a civilian administration as demanded by demonstrators. The call by Sadiq al-Mahdi, chief of Sudan’s opposition National Umma Party, comes amid a …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | In the busy centre of Johannesburg on one short stretch of pavement, men search through a dumpster, women sell wigs — and South Africa’s main opposition party unveils its latest election slogan. “Honour Mandela’s vision to build one South Africa for all. Vote DA,” it …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudanese protesters on Tuesday called for a mass rally, insisting the army is not serious about handing power to civilians nearly three weeks after it toppled autocratic president Omar al-Bashir. The call came as tensions mounted over the make-up of a new joint civilian-military council to …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan’s army rulers and protest leaders on Monday offered differing visions for a joint council, but a military spokesman said he hoped a final structure for the body could be agreed soon. The talks came after the two sides on Saturday agreed to form a joint …

Paris, France | AFP | China’s investment strategy of throwing money at developing countries appears to have hit a snag in the Republic of Congo as the central African nation is seeking an IMF bailout. While the funding it provided to Congo wasn’t part of the Belt and Road Initiative …