AFRICA

Abuja, Nigerai | ISAAC KHISA | South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has urged Nigeria to sign the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to create a single continental market for goods and services in member nations, with free movement of persons and investments. Ramaphosa, who was the chief quest during …

An opportunity to talk about the identities and unity of a divided continent Kampala, Uganda | MAHFOUD AMARA | Africa is the world’s second most populated continent; it is home to 54 countries. Yet, according to football umbrella body FIFA’s rules, only five African countries can qualify for the World …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia and Eritrea have agreed to reopen embassies and borders, Ethiopia’s prime minister said during a visit to Asmara on Sunday, signalling an end to two decades of conflict between the neighbours. “We agreed that the airlines will start operating, the ports will be …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia’s prime minister Abiy Ahmed was warmly greeted by Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki in the capital Asmara on Sunday at the start of a meeting to repair relations between the neighbours. Eritrean state television showed footage of the two men embracing while Abiy’s chief …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader and presidential hopeful Nelson Chamisa believes he will ride a wave of youthful optimism to election victory, emulating Barack Obama, Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau. In an interview with AFP, the 40-year-old Chamisa said Zimbabweans were craving generational change in the …

Abidjan, Ivory Coast | AFP | Researchers from half a dozen states in West Africa have joined together in a battle against what one expert calls a root crop “Ebola” — a viral disease that could wreck the region’s staple food and condemn millions to hunger. Their enemy: cassava brown …

Kampala, Uganda | AFP | South Sudan’s warring leaders agreed to a power-sharing deal in Uganda Saturday that will see the rebel leader return to his position as vice president, Sudan’s foreign minister said. “It has been agreed that there will be four vice presidents: the current two vice presidents, plus …

Mogadishu, Somalia | AFP | Two explosions rocked Somalia’s internal security ministry in the capital Mogadishu on Saturday morning, a police officer said, in the latest attack claimed by Shabaab militants. “There were two blasts targeting the internal security compound near parliament,” said Ibrahim Mohamed, a police commander, adding gunfire …

Uganda’s Kashamba: For migrants in Spain, survival means squats, odd jobs Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Francis Kashamba got 10 euros for a 14-hour day and Lamine Sarr survives as a street vendor. For these illegal migrants in Spain, Europe has proved to be more of a purgatory than the …

South Sudan foes agree to withdraw forces from ‘urban areas’ Khartoum, Sudan | AFP |  South Sudan’s government and rebels agreed Friday to withdraw troops from urban areas, a Sudanese official said, as they signed a deal aimed at ending a four-and-a-half year civil war. The deal comes a day …