Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | The normally calm and often jovial Jacob Zuma is a former herdboy who fought in the anti-apartheid struggle and clung on to the presidency for as long as he could, despite a string of scandals. Now aged 75, he survived by building a network …
Read More »Zuma’s reluctant exit ushers in new S.African president
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa readied to welcome wealthy former businessman Cyril Ramaphosa as its new president Thursday after scandal-tainted Jacob Zuma resigned under intense pressure from his own party. Zuma announced he had stepped down in a late-night television address in which he took some digs …
Read More »At least 19 migrants killed in Libya truck crash: hospital
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | At least 19 migrants were killed on Wednesday and more than 100 injured when the truck transporting them crashed in Libya, a hospital said. Over 300 migrants, mostly Eritrean and Somali nationals, were on board the vehicle which overturned near the town of Bani Walid. …
Read More »147 activists face death penalty in E.Guinea: lawyer
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea | AFP | Equatorial Guinea’s public prosecutor is seeking the death penalty in the trial of 147 opposition activists accused of “rebellion,” their lawyer said on Wednesday. The activists, including senior officials of the main opposition party, the Citizens for Innovation (CI), were arrested following elections in …
Read More »French forces kill at least 10 jihadists in Mali: military sources
Bamako, Mali | AFP | French air power on Wednesday killed at least 10 jihadists in northeast Mali near the border with Algeria, local and foreign military sources said. “French forces on Wednesday led at least one raid near Tinzaouatene, at the Algerian border, against the terrorists,” a local Malian …
Read More »18 new sexual abuse claims against UN peacekeepers in DRC
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The United Nations said Wednesday it had registered 18 alleged cases of sexual abuse and exploitation by its peacekeepers and civilian personnel in the Democratic Republic of the Congo last year. Fourteen of the allegations involve paternity cases or complainants seeking “care for children …
Read More »ANALYSIS: S.Africa’s Zuma resigns, forced out by own party
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African President Jacob Zuma resigned on Wednesday as the ruling ANC party finally turned against him after nine years of corruption scandals, economic slowdown and falling popularity. Zuma railed against the African National Congress (ANC) for “recalling” him from office and threatening to …
Read More »Aid group IRC acknowledges three sex abuse cases in DRC
New York, United States | AFP | The International Rescue Committee on Wednesday confirmed three cases of sexual abuse under its watch in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, saying police were informed and those involved dismissed. The admission comes with the international aid sector rocked by growing public allegations …
Read More »SOUTH AFRICA PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA RESIGNS
BREAKING: S.Africa’s Zuma throws in towel Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African President Jacob Zuma has announced his resignation in a TV address on Wednesday. “I have thereof come to the decision to resign as the President of the Republic of South Africa with immediate effect,” a somber …
Read More »LIVE: Zuma speech from 11pm
S.Africa’s Zuma to make TV address Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African President Jacob Zuma will make a TV address to the nation at 2000 GMT Wednesday, an official statement said, after he earlier spoke out against an order from his own party to resign. Zuma, whose reputation …
Read More »