Antananarivo, Madagascar | AFP | Both candidates in Madagascar’s presidential election have claimed victory in the fierce battle for power in the Indian Ocean island. Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana — who have each held the top job in the impoverished country before — declared themselves winners in the run-off …
Read More »DR Congo election panel ‘may postpone vote for a week’
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Elections in Democratic Republic of Congo — due to take place on Sunday — may be postponed for a week, a senior electoral official has told AFP, after electronic voting machines were destroyed in a suspected arson attack on a warehouse last week. The …
Read More »Madagascar votes in showdown between two ex-presidents
Antananarivo, Madagascar | AFP | Madagascans voted on Wednesday in a run-off election between two rivals who have waited years to come face-to-face in a fiercely personal battle for power in the Indian Ocean island. The clash between Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina could revive instability in the impoverished country …
Read More »UN urges sides to reject violence ahead of DRCongo vote
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council Tuesday urged all parties to reject violence five days before the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At least six people have been killed in violence in the run-up to the December 23 election, which will see …
Read More »Kabila party HQ ‘ransacked’, one shot dead in DR Congo vote demo
Tshikapa, DR Congo | AFP | One person died at a protest on Tuesday against the arrival of the “pro-Kabila” candidate in a city in central DR Congo, days ahead of elections that will see the country emerge from the 17-year presidency of Joseph Kabila. The unrest in Tshikapa, a …
Read More »Candidates’ private TV stations battle it out in Madagascar vote
Antananarivo, Madagascar | AFP | For months, they have bombarded voters with campaign slogans and speeches by “their” candidate, but on Tuesday, two fiercely-partisan media groups in Madagascar fell silent a day before the presidential run-off election. The “ceasefire” — in line with electoral law — is in stark contrast …
Read More »In southern Madagascar, voters struggle for food before ballot
Amboasary, Madagascar | AFP | One after another, the mothers sat their babies in the shade, on a mat placed on the dusty ground. This morning at least, their children will have enough to eat. In the village of Ifotaka, at the southern tip of Madagascar, the noise and excitement …
Read More »DR Congo refugees put little faith in coming elections
Kyangwali, Uganda | AFP | They may have fled their homes six months or as much as 20 years ago, but few of them have any faith in the upcoming elections in Democratic Republic of Congo. Until recently, Immaculate Nyakato, 65, lived in Ituri, one of DR Congo’s eastern provinces …
Read More »Malawi vice president takes leadership of opposition party
Lilongwe, Malawi | AFP | Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima was elected head of the United Transformation Movement (UTM) party on Monday, paving way for him to challenge President Peter Mutharika in May elections. Chilima was handpicked by Mutharika to run alongside him in the 2014 elections on the Democratic …
Read More »One dead, 80 hurt as rival activists clash ahead of DRC vote
Tshikapa, DR Congo | AFP | At least one person was killed and over 80 injured in weekend clashes between supporters of rival candidates just days ahead of DR Congo’s crucial presidential election, sources said Monday. The country is on edge ahead of the December 23 vote to replace President …
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