Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping on Thursday appealed to the country’s highest court Thursday in an attempt to have a wafer-thin presidential election loss overturned. Ping insists he was the winner of the August 27 presidential election — which gave incumbent Ali Bongo a narrow …
Read More »UN: Malong and Kiir to blame for Juba violence
United Nations, United States | AFP | A UN panel of experts has concluded that heavy fighting that engulfed South Sudan’s capital Juba in July, forcing vice president and ex-rebel leader Riek Machar to flee, was “directed by the highest level” of the country’s military. The confidential report seen by …
Read More »UN helicopters rescue Machar troops in DRC forests
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has transported more than 100 supporters of South Sudan’s rebel leader Riek Machar to health facilities for emergency medical treatment, the UN said Wednesday. The rebel fighters had crossed into the DRC and “were …
Read More »Burundi, South Sudan on agenda as EAC leaders head to Dar
The situation in South Sudan and Burundi will be top of the agenda as the 17th Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State takes place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Thursday. The two day extraordinary summit of the East African Community (EAC) will also consider the …
Read More »Zimbabwe court lifts ban on Harare protests
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s high court on Wednesday overturned a two-week ban on protests in the capital Harare after a challenge from activists involved in a surge of demonstrations against President Robert Mugabe. Mugabe has vowed to crack down on the protests, which have erupted over recent months …
Read More »Tension as EU observers report ‘anomaly’ in Gabon vote
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Pressure mounted on President Ali Bongo of Gabon on Tuesday over a disputed election win after EU observers reported a “clear anomaly” in the vote and former colonial power France and his ex-justice minister urged a recount. Bongo claimed victory in the August 27 poll …
Read More »Museveni confident Africa is ready to push global economy
Museveni: Africa is the next big centre for economic growth. Africa needs value addition to agriculture, minerals, human resource President Museveni has told the Global African Investment Summit that he is confident that the continent is the next pusher for the global economy. He said bottlenecks that exist are being handled to ensure a better environment …
Read More »UN: South Sudan peace possible without rebel chief Machar
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | The absence of South Sudan’s rebel leader Riek Machar should not delay the implementation of a peace deal, an envoy to the UN Security Council said on Monday. Former vice president and rebel leader Machar is undergoing medical treatment in Khartoum after being chased …
Read More »Zambia court throws out election result challenge
Lusaka, Zambia | AFP | Zambia’s constitutional court on Monday threw out an attempt by the defeated presidential candidate to annul August’s election results, clearing the way for President Edgar Lungu’s inauguration next week. Hakainde Hichilema, who lost the election by 100,000 votes, alleged that the result was rigged and …
Read More »Work goes on after Gabon’s Ping calls for strike to ‘topple tyrant’ president
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon’s failed presidential candidate Jean Ping on Monday called for a general strike after days of violence following incumbent Ali Bongo’s disputed re-election, saying an economic blockage would “topple the tyrant.” But the centre of the capital Libreville was its usual bustling self on Monday, …
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