Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization said Friday it was preparing for “the worst case scenario” in a fresh outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “We are very concerned, and we are planning for all scenarios, including the worst case scenario,” WHO’s head of …
Read More »Amnesty slams death penalty for raped Sudan teenager
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Rights group Amnesty International on Thursday slammed a Sudanese court’s sentencing of a teenager to death for killing her rapist husband in self-defence. Noura Hussein Hammad, 19, was handed a death sentence by a Sudanese court for killing the man her father forced her to …
Read More »Guinea opposition to resume protests over contested vote
Conakry, Guinea | AFP | Guinean opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo on Thursday said protests would resume next week over disputed local elections in February as he called off negotiations with the government. Demonstrations over the results of that vote have claimed at least 15 lives. The opposition was …
Read More »Nigerian diplomat found dead in Sudan capital
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | A Nigerian diplomat has been found dead at his home in Khartoum, Nigeria’s government and Sudanese police said Thursday, with the latter investigating what it called a “criminal act”. “An employee in the consular section of the Nigerian embassy was found dead at his home …
Read More »Sierra Leone new president announces free education for kids
Freetown, Sierra Leone | AFP | Sierra Leone’s new President Julius Maada Bio on Thursday announced the introduction of free education for both primary and secondary school age children, in line with a major campaign pledge. “Free education will be introduced effective September 2018 for all primary and secondary schools …
Read More »Under-threat DR Congo national park bans tree-felling
Beni, DR Congo | AFP | The threatened Virunga National Park in DR Congo announced on Thursday it has banned the felling of trees throughout the nature reserve. “The management of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature wishes to bring to the attention of the resident of Beni …
Read More »Pentagon probe finds training, command issues in Niger ambush
Washington, United States | AFP | A comprehensive probe into last year’s deadly attack on US and local forces in Niger uncovered a series of avoidable blunders leading up to the assault, the Pentagon said Thursday. Four American soldiers and four members of Nigerien partner forces were killed in the …
Read More »Nigeria monitoring Ebola before DRCongo World Cup warm up
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s football federation says a World Cup warm-up match will be cancelled if doctors advise it, after a fresh outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Super Eagles are due to play DR Congo in a friendly on May 28 in Nigeria’s …
Read More »Young women changing the face of African media
Port Louis, Mauritius | AFP | A new generation of 30-somethings with brilliant careers, feminist convictions and, above all, confidence, are spearheading an assault on African media, using social networks as a launchpad. “I do not understand what ‘no’ means,” Peace Hyde, one of the most high-profile members of this …
Read More »At least 27 dead as Kenya dam bursts after torrential rains
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | At least 27 people died after a dam burst in southern Kenya, sweeping away their homes while many of them were asleep, police said Thursday. After a severe drought, weeks of torrential rains in Kenya have led to flooding and mudslides that have left 159 …
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