Monrovia, Liberia | AFP | Liberia’s Vice-President has quietly occupied the executive backseat for 12 years, but in light of electoral fraud he believes snatched away his chance at the presidency, Joseph Boakai is unleashing himself. Known as Sleepy Joe for his propensity to fall asleep at public events, the second-in-command …
Read More »Study maps Sub-Saharan Africa’s dependency on China
Paris, France | AFP | Sub-Saharan Africa nations are growing more dependent on China as an export market, putting them at greater risk to shifts in the Chinese economy, a study published Tuesday said. “There is no doubt about a strong dependence on China for countries that produce oil and …
Read More »Roundbob.com revolutionalising travel in Africa
Kampala, Uganda | INTERVIEW | David Gonahasa is the founder and director of Roundbob.com, an online travel agency. He spoke to The Independent’s Agnes E Nantaba about revolutionalising travel in Africa and beyond What are the key elements in your management style as a manager? My role is to bring …
Read More »DR Congo vote date: What’s at stake?
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Democratic Republic of Congo has said elections to replace President Joseph Kabila will take place by December 2018, a year later than scheduled. Following is an explanation why the decision is so important for DRC’s political crisis: – Election deal – A mineral-rich country a …
Read More »Mnangagwa: Mugabe’s sunken ‘crocodile’
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was removed by Zimbabwe’s leader Robert Mugabe as vice president on Monday after a bitter tussle with the first lady over succession, had waited almost four decades for his chance at the top job. Nicknamed “Ngwena” (The Crocodile) because of his fearsome power …
Read More »Doctor with ‘Sassitude’
Rwanda’s formers Health minister Agnes Binagwaho Kampala, Uganda | SASHA INGBER | Years before she became the health minister of Rwanda, Agnès Binagwaho tried to lock a fellow pediatrician in a hospital room. She saw a doctor in an examining room with a mother who held her sick daughter in her arms. And …
Read More »US tells DR Congo to stick to election timetable
United Nations, United States | AFP | The United States on Monday backed plans by the Democratic Republic of Congo to hold elections in December 2018 and warned President Joseph Kabila must stick to the timeline. The election commission in Kinshasa announced on Sunday that the long-awaited presidential, legislative, regional and …
Read More »Kagame gets top world tourism award
London, UK | THE INDEPENDENT | Rwanda President Paul Kagame has recieved the 2017 World Tourism Award for visionary leadership. The award was presented to Kagame on the opening day of World Travel Market London on Monday. Inaugurated in 1997, the World Tourism Awards recognises individuals, companies, organisations, destinations and attractions for …
Read More »S.African publishers of Zuma book vow to fight gag efforts
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | The publishers of a book alleging widespread corruption against South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma vowed on Monday to resist a demand from the country’s spy agency that they withdraw it. The State Security Agency demanded on Friday that NB Publishers remove from bookstores the work …
Read More »Egypt rights lawyer announces presidental bid
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | A rights lawyer and former candidate for Egypt’s presidency who challenged the government over Red Sea islands given to Saudi Arabia announced his campaign Monday to stand in 2018 elections. Leftist Khaled Ali rose to prominence after he tried to get the courts to stop the …
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