Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Ethiopia’s newly appointed prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, said on Thursday that the controversial dam his country is building on the Nile will not harm Egypt’s share of water supplies. Egypt relies almost totally on the Nile for irrigation and drinking water, and says it has “historic …
Read More »Guinea president to take legal action over Bollore row
Conakry, Guinea | AFP | Guinean President Alpha Conde said Thursday he would file a complaint in the French courts over allegations raised in a corruption case embroiling French billionaire Vincent Bollore. “I shall bring a complaint in Paris for false accusation,” Conde told reporters in Conakry, without giving further …
Read More »UN takes 1,500 economic migrants to Niger from Algeria
Abidjan, Ivory Coast | AFP | Around 1,500 economic migrants have been taken from Algeria to Niger in recent days by the UN’s migration agency, its Niamey chief said on Thursday. Giuseppe Loprete from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) told AFP around “600 Cameroonians, two large groups of Malians …
Read More »Chad PM resigns as constitutional changes boost president’s powers
N’Djamena, Chad | AFP | Chad’s prime minister and his government resigned on Thursday, according to a presidential statement, as controversial constitutional changes took effect in a move that bolsters President Idriss Deby’s powers. Deby — in power for more than two decades in the oil-rich landlocked African state — …
Read More »Costa ends Europa League dream for Wenger and Arsenal
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Diego Costa killed Arsene Wenger’s last hope of a glorious Arsenal farewell as his goal sent Atletico Madrid through to the Europa League final on Thursday. Wenger’s 250th European fixture with Arsenal also to proved to be his last, decided by a typically ruthless finish …
Read More »COMMENT: African leaders and democracy
Why it is not true that African presidents can do whatever they want, unencumbered by democratic constraints COMMENT | NIC CHEESEMAN | Africa is often imagined to be a place in which presidents can do whatever they want, unencumbered by constitutional or democratic constraints. A large body of literature has developed …
Read More »Sexual abuse victims call for Vatican to crack down on Chilean cardinals
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Three victims of a Chilean paedophile priest on Wednesday demanded the Catholic Church force tougher sanctions on complicit cardinals after meeting Pope Francis. The calls by Juan Carlos Cruz, James Hamilton and Jose Andres Murillo come a day after Australian authorities ordered the …
Read More »MOTORING: The real meaning behind top car company logos in Uganda
Kampala, Uganda | MOTORING GURU | Volkswagen Volkswagen started in the 1930s, when Germany government was looking for an affordable family car and the legendary `Beetle’ was introduced by Ferdinand Porsche before World War II. The Volkswagen, or The People’s Car, was established in 1946. Its emblem is a combination …
Read More »COMMENT: Big changes to eliminate malaria
To win the fight against malaria, African malaria leaders need the freedom to respond fast, using local knowledge COMMENT | RICHARD KAMWI, KESETE ADMASU, HARALD NUSSER | African malaria experts fear that the World Health Organization’s 2030 malaria targets may not be achieved unless big changes occur in funding and delivery. …
Read More »With 24-hour outrages, Kanye West masters media moment
New York, United States | AFP | Since re-emerging last month from a yearlong absence, Kanye West has sparked outrage by throwing his lot with Donald Trump and calling slavery a choice. Yet the rapper has succeeded spectacularly in one key goal — staying at the center of attention. If …
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