Luanda, Angola | AFP | Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos on Monday sacked his finance minister Armando Manuel, the presidency announced, as the country battles an economic crisis caused by sinking oil prices. No reason was given for the dismissal of the 44-year-old London-educated minister who has held the …
Read More »Drama as Africa Cup finals line-up completed
List of qualifiers for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Gabon: Tunisia (Group A winners) Democratic Republic of Congo (Group B winners) Mali (Group C winners) Burkina Faso (Group D winners) Guinea-Bissau (Group E winners) Morocco (Group F winners) Egypt (Group G winners) Ghana (Group H winners) Ivory Coast …
Read More »Zimbabwe’s Mugabe scoffs at death rumours
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe joked Saturday that he had been resurrected as he returned from a foreign trip, mocking rumours that he had died or is critically ill. “Yes, I was dead. It’s true I was dead. I resurrected as I always do once I get back to my country. …
Read More »“I am the president” says Gabon’s Ping
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping on Friday declared himself the rightful president and called for a vote recount, days after incumbent Ali Bongo was declared the winner of a weekend election which has sparked deadly violence. “I am the president,” Ping told a press …
Read More »Gabon’s Bongo stands firm after riots greet his re-election
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | President Ali Bongo of Gabon poured scorn Thursday on opposition supporters who rioted overnight after he was declared the winner of a weekend election his main rival said was rigged. Three people were killed in the unrest and around 1,000 arrested, the interior minister said. …
Read More »Republican Guard storms Gabon opposition headquarters
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon security forces were attempting to storm the opposition headquarters early Thursday, leaving several people injured, party leaders said, hours after President Ali Bongo claimed victory in contested polls. “They attacked around 1:00 am (0000 GMT). It is the republican guard. They were bombarding with …
Read More »Bongo victory approved by Gabon election commission
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | abon’s election commission (Cenap) on Wednesday approved President Ali Bongo’s re-election over challenger Jean Ping, several members said. The official announcement is to be made by the interior minister in a nationwide television address to be broadcast shortly. Bongo, 57, was running for a second …
Read More »Bongo needs 95.5% in Haute Province to edge Ping 49.9% to 48.2%
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Tensions ran high as Gabon’s presidential vote entered a final stretch Wednesday, with the nation awaiting official results in an election both the incumbent Ali Bongo and his main rival claimed to have won. The oil-rich country’s interior minister is due to announce the official …
Read More »Trade war bites as Burundi bans exports to Rwanda
Unexpected outcomes from Burundi’s trade ban on Rwanda Burundi’s July decision to ban exports to its northern neighbor, Rwanda, is brewing trouble for both economies; the question is whether the embattled leadership in Bujumbura can afford to pay that price. The export restrictions on Rwanda were imposed in July by Burundian …
Read More »Gabon on edge as it waits for election results
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Security forces deployed on the deserted streets of Libreville Tuesday as Gabon awaited official results of the weekend presidential election that both the incumbent Ali Bongo and his main rival already claim to have won. The interior minister said he would announce official results …
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