Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday handed responsibility for his re-election campaign to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a sign of rapprochement with the man who masterminded his landmark 2015 election win. Former Lagos state governor Tinubu, head of the All Progressives Congress (APC), helped Buhari become …
Read More »South Africa pushes UN to postpone DR Congo meeting
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council has postponed a key meeting on the elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, at South Africa’s request, after an announcement on the results was delayed, diplomats said. The council was due to hold a public meeting Tuesday which …
Read More »S.Africa’s ANC does not rule out graft-tainted Zuma as MP
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) refused Sunday to rule out corruption-plagued ex-President Jacob Zuma as a candidate in parliamentary elections. Zuma, who led the country from 2009 until he was forced by the party to step down last year, faces 16 charges …
Read More »Tense wait for election results in volatile DR Congo
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | A week after crucial elections to replace long-term president Joseph Kabila, the DR Congo was on tenterhooks Sunday with no date for the announcement of delayed results and just over half of ballots counted. On Saturday, just hours before the scheduled announcement of the …
Read More »DR Congo on edge as election results postponed
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The DR Congo officials on Saturday delayed the announcement of preliminary results from a crucial presidential election, amid growing pressure from world powers and the influential Catholic church to respect voters’ wishes. Preliminary results, scheduled for release Sunday, will now come out only next …
Read More »EU calls for DR Congo vote results to reflect people’s will
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | The European Union called Friday for voting results in the Democratic Republic of Congo to reflect the people’s will at what it called a “historic moment toward a democratic transition.” Elections held last Sunday will determine who succeeds President Joseph Kabila, at the helm of …
Read More »Crackdown on dissent in tense DRC could ‘backfire’: UN
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Attempts by authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to crack down on dissent during tense vote counting could “backfire”, the UN said Friday, warning it was “watching carefully” as events unfold. Elections held last Sunday will determine who succeeds President Joseph Kabila, at the …
Read More »AU urges ‘respect’ for results of DR Congo vote
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | African Union chief Moussa Faki Mahamat called Friday for the results of Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidential vote to be respected, as tensions grow over delays in the counting process. The elections will determine who succeeds President Joseph Kabila, who has been at the …
Read More »US demands DR Congo release ‘accurate’ election results
Washington, United States | AFP | The United States on Thursday demanded that the Democratic Republic of Congo release “accurate” election results, warning of sanctions on anyone who undermines the fledgling democracy. The United States said that DRC authorities should remove restrictions on internet access and media and urged the …
Read More »UN Security Council to meet on DR Congo elections
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council will hold a closed-door meeting on Friday on the elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, diplomats said. France requested the meeting, scheduled for 3:00 pm (2000 GMT), as world powers await results from the landmark vote held Sunday. …
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