AFRICA

The government of Rwanda through Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is in preparations for the annual baby gorilla naming that will be held on September 1 this year. Rwanda |Susan Babijja| The naming dubbed ‘‘Kwita Izina’ will see 13 baby gorillas named. The naming ceremony was introduced in 2005 with the aim …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African President Jacob Zuma, who has been weakened by growing criticism from within the ruling ANC party, will face a vote of no confidence in parliament on August 8, officials announced Sunday. Opposition parties have pushed for the vote to be held in …

Bamako, Mali | AFP |  French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Mali on Sunday to consolidate Western backing for a regional anti-jihadist force, with France urging greater support for the Sahel region amid mounting insecurity. The so-called “G5 Sahel” countries just south of the Sahara — Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP |  The Congolese health minister on Saturday declared the end of an Ebola outbreak in a remote northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo which caused four deaths in the area. On May 12, officials declared an outbreak of the highly contagious disease, the …

Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria on Thursday began to export yams to Europe and the United States, as part of moves to diversify its oil-dependent economy and earn much-needed foreign exchange. Agriculture minister Audu Ogbeh flagged off the first consignment of the fibrous tuber from the port in the …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Kenya has delayed plans to export its first oil in June by three months to better negotiate revenue sharing with the local community, the country’s energy minister said Thursday. The announcement comes after reports in local media of security challenges in the arid northwestern Turkana …

Masire a true comrade in struggle, says Mugabe and Nujoma Kanye, Botswana| BOPA |  The late former Botswana President, Sir Ketumile Masire has been hailed as an asset to Southern Africa, and that he will always be cherished for his selfless contribution to the socio-economic and political development of the region. Delivering a …

Gaborone, Botswana | AFP |  Botswana’s government has moved to crack down on the multi-billion dollar trade in donkey skins following a spate of killings of the animals across the country fuelled by soaring demand from China. Export licences for donkeys and their products have been suspended indefinitely, the Ministry …

Abuja, Nigeria | AFP |  Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday faced a fresh call to quit, nearly two months after he left the country on indefinite sick leave. “I want to say that it’s time that the president throws in the towel and resigns and allows his country to …

Botswana’s third President Festus Mogae has described Sir Ketumile’s leadership as “democratic to a fault.” Former President Mogae described Sir Ketumile Masire, Botswana’s second post-independence leader who died last week, as humble, considerate and very humorous. “His obsession was farming and food production,” he said at a memorial service to …