AFRICA

Bogota, Colombia | AFP | A leader of Colombia’s ELN guerrillas was arrested Thursday in Bogota on suspicion of planning two attacks on police that killed seven and left dozens wounded, prosecutors said. Rafael Antonio Botero Restrepo, known by the nickname “Tista,” was arrested in a joint operation carried out …

United Nations, United States | AFP | The latest round of Ethiopia-led peace talks on South Sudan will wrap up on Friday with a possible agreement that could pave the way to further negotiations on ending the war, the UN envoy said. The talks that opened on February 5 in …

Paris, France | AFP | Liberia’s new president, the ex-footballer George Weah, will visit France later this month and meet President Emmanuel Macron, the Elysee Palace announced Thursday. “This will be George Weah’s first trip to Europe since his election”, a statement said, calling his victory “an exemplary democratic change …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Retired archbishop and Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu announced Thursday that he had quit his role as an ambassador for Oxfam after the British charity was hit by sexual misconduct allegations. “The Archbishop is deeply disappointed by allegations of immorality and possible criminality involving humanitarian …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigned Thursday after long-running political turmoil, in an unprecedented move in the vast East African country. The decision by Hailemariam, in power since 2012, comes after months of escalating anti-government protests and signs of growing splits within the ruling …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s parliament on Thursday chose Cyril Ramaphosa, an anti-apartheid activist who became a wealthy businessman, to be president after Jacob Zuma, tarred by scandal, was forced from office. Here is a timeline of events behind the dramatic change of power: – Rise of …

Cape Town, South Africa | AFP | Cyril Ramaphosa, a former anti-apartheid activist turned businessman, was named South Africa’s president Thursday and immediately vowed to fight corruption in a direct reference to accusations levelled at his predecessor Jacob Zuma. Tainted by scandal, Zuma resigned on Wednesday following intense pressure from …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe was plunged into grief Thursday following the death of veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, roundly praised as a hero, champion of democracy and symbol of resistance who will be hard to replace. The former trade union stalwart who posed the most formidable challenge to …

  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigned Thursday after long-running political turmoil, an unprecedented move in the vast East African country. The decision by Hailemariam, in power since 2012, comes after months of escalating anti-government protests and signs of growing splits within the country’s ruling …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Senegalese singer Baaba Maal is quitting his role as global ambassador for Oxfam over the British charity’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations concerning its staff, the BBC reported. “What has happened on a human level is disgusting and heart-breaking,” he told BBC Newsnight late …