Bunia, DR Congo | AFP | Six civilians were killed in attacks in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo where violence has claimed at least 130 lives since December, a local official said Saturday. Since late last year, scores of people have been killed in a flareup of clashes involving the …
Read More »Egyptians to vote Monday, Sisi re-election guaranteed
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Egyptians will choose their next president in elections starting Monday, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expected to easily secure a second four-year term. Some 60 million people in Egypt, the most populated Arab country, are registered to vote in three days of polling on March 26, …
Read More »Sierra Leone court issue delay order for presidential run-off
Freetown, Sierra Leone | AFP | Sierra Leone’s High Court on Saturday issued an order to halt Tuesday’s presidential run-off until it resolves a legal dispute filed by a lawyer linked to the ruling party. Tensions are high ahead of the vote with a campaign marked by violent attacks and …
Read More »IMF releases additional $257 mn for Tunisia
Washington, United States | AFP | The International Monetary Fund on Friday released an additional $257 million in funds for Tunisia as part of its four-year, $3 billion loan agreement. The IMF board approved the second review of the country’s economic performance under the financial aid package that was initially …
Read More »Mali PM in first top-level visit to restive Kidal since 2014
Kidal, Mali | AFP | Mali’s Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga made a landmark visit to the restive northern town of Kidal on Friday, the first since 2014 by a head of government to an area still in the hands of former rebels. Five French soldiers were wounded in Kidal …
Read More »Sisi, Egypt’s undisputed leader and ‘father figure’
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | With his trademark black sunglasses and blanket media presence, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi projects an air of benign paternalism. Whether the people love or loathe Sisi, see him as a bulwark of stability or as a domineering autocrat — there is little doubt that he …
Read More »DR Congo to shun Geneva donors meet, says UN overreacted
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday said it was shunning a donor conference in Geneva next month aimed at raising $1.7 billion to tackle what the United Nations has called a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Prime Minister Jose Makila said the UN had overreacted …
Read More »Zimbabwe opposition fires deputy leader ahead of key polls
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s main opposition party on Friday fired its deputy president and two other senior officials on misconduct charges, stoking fears of a split in the party ahead of key elections in July, a month after the death of founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The Movement for …
Read More »Pope Francis discusses peace with South Sudan delegation
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis on Friday met representatives of the South Sudan Council of Churches and discussed how to promote peace in a country ravaged by a bloody four-year civil war. “The Pope holds the suffering people of South Sudan in his heart,” said Council Secretary …
Read More »Talks resume between Togo govt and opposition
Lome, Togo | AFP | Talks between Togo’s ruling party and the opposition resumed on Friday after a month-long pause, with Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo acting as a mediator. After an hour of debate between the two sides, Akufo-Addo decided to move to bilateral talks, meeting first with the ruling party …
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