Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir Sunday replaced powerful intelligence chief Mohammed Atta, the official news agency SUNA reported, amid a security crackdown on opposition protests against rising food prices. Bashir issued a presidential decree announcing Salah Abdallah Mohammed Salih as the new head of the country’s …
Read More »Tanzania clamps down on cannabis
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Tanzanian authorities have stepped up an escalating war on cannabis by destroying 14 hectares (35 acres) of the crop in the northern province of Arusha in recent days. Saturday alone saw eight hectares laid waste at the Meru forest reserve following another six acres earlier …
Read More »Iran’s Rouhani calls for ‘year of unity’ after protests
Tehran, Iran | AFP | Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani called for a “year of unity” as Iran celebrated 39 years since the Islamic revolution Sunday in the wake of protests last month. Rouhani said conservatives should not block reformist candidates from future elections and that there should be greater trust …
Read More »S.Africa’s ANC to meet Monday as Zuma deadlock tightens
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | The top decision-making body of South Africa’s ruling ANC will meet on Monday following days of talks over President Jacob Zuma’s expected departure from office, a party spokeswoman said Sunday. “An NEC (national executive committee) meeting is scheduled for tomorrow in Pretoria,” ANC spokeswoman …
Read More »Ramaphosa to address rally as S.Africa deadlock tightens
Cape Town, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s president-in-waiting Cyril Ramaphosa will address a major ANC party rally in Cape Town Sunday as the country is gripped by the deadlock over talks to oust scandal-hit President Jacob Zuma from office. With Zuma refusing a party request to resign, the …
Read More »Zimbabwe won’t return land to white farmers: Mnangagwa
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday said the country will not return land seized from former white commercial farmers almost two decades ago. “It will never happen,” Mnangagwa said in a speech to his ZANU-PF party supporters in central Zimbabwe, broadcast on television. His statement …
Read More »S.Africa political deadlock as Zuma clings to power
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s political impasse deepened on Saturday with no resolution to extended talks over President Jacob Zuma’s expected departure from office after his own party called for him to resign. Cyril Ramaphosa, the president-in-waiting, and the ruling ANC party have said negotiations should be …
Read More »ANC bosses clear diaries as Zuma exit looms
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | President Jacob Zuma’s exit from office edged closer Friday as South African ruling party leaders cancelled a series of public appearances, fuelling speculation they were finalising his departure. Zuma has refused to resign despite a request from senior African National Congress (ANC) officials, triggering …
Read More »Trump praises aide amid White House abuse scandal
Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump on Friday praised an former aide accused of battery, amid a scandal that called into question the president’s judgment and tainted his chief of staff John Kelly and long-time aide Hope Hicks. Allegations against ousted staff secretary Rob Porter prompted a litany of …
Read More »Zimbabwe opposition quarrel as leader lies in hospital
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s main opposition was embroiled in a power struggle on Friday over who is in charge of the party months before key elections, as leader Morgan Tsvangirai receives cancer treatment in hospital. Two vice presidents of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party clashed openly over …
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