AFRICA

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to see its first handover of power in 18 years after opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi was Thursday named by election officials as the provisional winner of an historic presidential poll. The election’s supervisors had faced mounting pressure …

Beni, DR Congo | AFP | Seven civilians and three soldiers were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday when a militia attacked a military post in the restive east of the country, the army said. The attack, in Beni region, was carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist-rooted militia …

Mogadishu, Somalia | THE INDEPENDENT | The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is reconstituting its Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) to enhance safety and security of its troops. The exercise will also involve reviewing the design and layout to help establish sustainable FOBs which have positive impact on troop protection, logistical …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Wednesday ordered the central bank to create a gold reserve, as he urged the government to better control mineral exports from the country, Africa’s fourth largest gold producer. “We should start buying gold, the central bank must invest in this. …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Zambian counterpart Edgar Lungu on Wednesday called on electoral officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo to quickly wrap up the vote collation and release the presidential election results. The two leaders held emergency talks in Pretoria …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Hopes rose on Wednesday that the Democratic Republic of Congo’s election saga may have turned a corner after opposition leaders reached out to President Joseph Kabila. The country is in flux over a thrice-delayed presidential vote, with the announcement of official results now postponed, …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | As South Africa reeled Wednesday after a humiliating defeat by Egypt in a contest to decide the new 2019 Africa Cup of Nations hosts, the blame game began. South African football officials said the 16-1 vote in favour of Egypt in Senegal Tuesday was “political” without offering insight. Confederation of …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP |  Crowds gathered Wednesday in Sudan’s capital in a show of support for the embattled regime of President Omar al-Bashir following several weeks of deadly anti-government protests. The rally by hundreds of backers of Bashir, who has ruled Sudan since 1989 when he swept to power in an Islamist-backed coup, …

Dakar, Senegal | AFP | Mohamed Salah completed a memorable day for Egyptian football by retaining his African Player of the Year award in Senegal Tuesday. The 26-year-old Liverpool star finished first with club-mate Senegalese Sadio Mane and Arsenal and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the other finalists. “I have dreamt of winning this award since …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Provisional results of the much-delayed Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidential election could be counted in “24 to 48 hours,” a top electoral official said on Tuesday. The elections, postponed three times over the last two years, were to choose a successor to long-term President …