Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan has to “terminate all business ties” with North Korea before any talks could begin for removing Khartoum from the US “terrorism” blacklist, a top US official said Monday. Washington lifted its decades-old trade embargo imposed on Khartoum in October, but kept Sudan in its …
Read More »Trump pledges support for Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump pledged stronger support for Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram jihadists Monday, while demanding greater trade access to Africa’s largest economy. After a meeting with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, the first leader from sub-Saharan Africa invited by Trump to the White …
Read More »Trump tells Nigeria, other Africans to back US World Cup bid
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump called on Nigeria and other African countries Monday to endorse the US-Canada-Mexico joint bid for the World Cup in 2026, tying it to US support for them. “I hope all African countries and countries throughout the world, that we also will be …
Read More »Malawi’s Banda dismisses ‘political’ corruption allegations
Zomba, Malawi | AFP | Malawi’s newly-returned former president Joyce Banda said Monday she had evidence that corruption allegations against her were politically motivated as she left the door open to another presidential run. Banda, 68, flew home on Saturday after four years of self-imposed exile during which she faced the …
Read More »Gabon’s constitutional court dissolves parliament, Bongo to pick new team
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon’s constitutional court on Monday dissolved the national parliament and called on the government to step down, criticising its failure to organise legislative elections as required. The court announced that President Ali Bongo Ondimba would nominate a new ministerial team answerable directly to him, …
Read More »Court seizes houses linked to Nigeria’s former first lady
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | A judge on Monday ordered the seizure of two properties linked to the wife of Nigeria’s former president Goodluck Jonathan, in the latest legal case since her husband left office. Judge Nnamdi Dimgba, sitting at the Federal High Court in Abuja, upheld a request from …
Read More »Rice farmers cry out over competition from cheap imports
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ugandan rice farmers and dealers have cried out to government to rethink a policy encouraging more rice imports, which they say is pushing them from the marketplace. In a two-page appeal published in The Daily Monitor, the Rice Association of Uganda-AU, says it is …
Read More »Comoros president eyes controversial second term
Moroni, Comoros | AFP | Comoros President Azali Assoumani is considering announcing and contesting nationwide elections in 2019 if a controversial constitution-altering referendum is passed in July, one of his advisers said Monday. Assoumani is believed to be seeking to consolidate his power with the constitutional changes so that he …
Read More »Chad lawmakers to vote on new constitution
N’Djamena, Chad | AFP | Chadian lawmakers vote Monday on a controversial change to the constitution that will bolster President Idriss Deby’s powers and which opposition groups warn will damage democracy in the landlocked African state. The text, which received the green light from the government earlier this month, must …
Read More »Madagascar’s president rules out resignation despite protests
Antananarivo, Madagascar | AFP | Madagascar’s President Hery Rajaonarimampianina on Sunday refused to yield to opposition demands that he resign from office, following eight days of anti-government protests in the capital. “I am president by the will of the Malagasy people. There are millions of people who voted for me, it …
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