AFRICA

Theunissen, South Africa | AFP | All 955 gold miners trapped underground for more than a day in South Africa after a power cut were rescued unharmed on Friday, to the joy of waiting relatives. “Everybody’s out,” mine spokesman James Wellsted told AFP, adding that there were no deaths or …

Casablanca, Morocco | AFP | A controversial former minister who coordinates armed groups in conflict-hit Central African Republic was on Friday elected to the governing board of Africa’s top footballing body. Patrice Edouard Ngaissona, who is Central Africa’s football chief, was elected following a vote in Casablanca among delegates at …

Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s former president Olusegun Obasanjo has called on the country’s current leader Muhammadu Buhari not to seek a second term of office, in wide-ranging criticisms that could hit his support should he decide to stand. (FULL TEXT OF STATEMENT BOTTOM) Obasanjo’s outspoken comments come against …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The UN on Friday followed the United States in criticising the Kenyan government after it took three major TV channels off the air despite a court order to end the suspensions. “We call on the government to respect and implement the judicial decision,” said Rupert …

Lome, Togo | AFP | Mediators announced Friday that Togo will enter talks on controversial constitutional reform February 15, in a move aimed at ending a crippling political stalemate. However, opposition supporters said they would push ahead with a protest march, scheduled for Saturday. A rolling series of demonstrations against …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African lawmakers will vote on February 22 in a fresh no-confidence motion against President Jacob Zuma, who is under pressure from within his own party to step down. Zuma has survived numerous no-confidence votes in recent years, but could be more fragile as …

Kigali, Rwanda | FRANCIS BYARUHANGA | Rwandans on Thursday celebrated the Heroes Day with the celebration being organized at Village levels as speeches was held at grass root with the theme ‘Upholding Heroism to build the Rwanda we want’ However, President Paul Kagame with other senior officials laid the wreath …

Nairobi, Kenya | THE INDEPENDENT | The United States has come out to warn that the decision by Raila Odinga to swear in as the people’s president this week undermines the Kenyan constitution. “The United States is gravely concerned by Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga’s self-“inauguration” on January 30. We …

Banjul, Gambia | AFP | Gambian police arrested a university lecturer and kept him in overnight detention for questioning the president’s ability to maintain national security in a newspaper interview, he told AFP on Thursday. Campaigners said the arrest was a worrying echo of restrictions on freedom of speech under the …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia has lifted a ban on domestic workers moving overseas after passing a new law to guard against ill-treatment, a government official said Thursday. Africa’s second-most populous country instituted the ban five years ago following reports of abuse, and complaints that employment agencies lured Ethiopians …