Tag Archives: Africa

Heavy rains that hit Rwanda on Wednesday night killed at least 12 people, a senior government official said here on Thursday. “It’s unfortunate that we confirm that 12 people have died due to heavy rains that hit different parts of our country on Christmas night,” said Rwanda’s Minister of Local …

An attack in Burkina Faso has killed 35 civilians, almost all of them women, in one of the deadliest assaults to hit the West African country in nearly five years of violence. Seven soldiers and 80 armed fighters were also killed in Tuesday’s double attack on a military base and …

A revamped common currency in West Africa known as the ECO will be launched in 2020, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. The ECO is supposed to replace the CFA franc which is currently being used in eight West African countries and six countries in central Africa. During a trip …

Turkey’s parliament has approved a security and military cooperation deal signed with Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) last month, state media report, an agreement that could pave the way for military help from Ankara. Turkey has been backing the Libyan government led by Fayez al-Serraj as it fights off …

France killed 33 militants in Mali on Saturday using attack helicopters, ground troops and a drone near the border with Mauritania where a group linked to al Qaeda operates, the French army said. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the operation in a speech to the French community in Ivory Coast’s …

At least 23 people died and more than 130 were injured in Sudan after a fire triggered an explosion at a factory in northern Khartoum on Tuesday, according to state news agency SUNA. The incident happened while a tanker truck was offloading gas at a ceramics manufacturing company in an …

Thirty-six people died in DR Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, after overnight torrential rains, with some swept away by landslides, a top city official said Tuesday, giving a provisional toll. “The (provincial) interior minister has just advised of a toll of 36 dead. The search (for survivors) is continuing. The loss, in …

Thirteen French soldiers were killed when two helicopters collided during an operation against terrorists in Mali, the French president’s office said. It’s believed to be the biggest single loss of life for the French military since the 1980s. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “deep sadness” over the incident. An …

At least 24 people, including seven children, have been killed by landslides triggered by unusually heavy rains in northwestern Kenya, a local governor said on Saturday. The downpour began on Friday in West Pokot County, which borders Uganda, and worsened overnight, causing flooding and mudslides that swept away four bridges …

The International Criminal Court passed its highest ever sentence, sending a Congolese warlord known as “The Terminator” to prison for 30 years for crimes including murder, rape, and sexual slavery. Bosco Ntaganda was found guilty in July of 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role …

Rescue teams in Cameroon were scouring the rubble of destroyed houses for survivors on Tuesday after a landslide caused by heavy rainfall killed at least 22 people, state television reported. The police were searching for dozens of more people reported as missing in the town of Bafoussam in the western …

At least two people have been killed and dozens injured in violent Ethiopian protests against Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, state media reported Thursday. Demonstrations erupted Wednesday after high-profile activist Jawar Mohammed, a member of the Oromo ethnic group who has been a public critic of …

Tunisia has a new president. Kais Saied has been sworn in after winning a landslide victory in this month’s election. The low-profile law professor took the presidential oath of office before the parliament on Wednesday. Saied’s victory delivered a heavy blow to the established political elite, who have failed to …

China has been developing Kenya’s rail service as part of the Belt and Road Initiative to connect Asia, Europe, and Africa. The railway is Kenya’s largest infrastructure project since its independence. The so-called Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project was launched in 2017. Trains operating on a daily schedule between the …

Conservative political outsider Kais Saied has won Tunisia’s presidential election with 72.71 percent of votes, the North African country’s electoral commission said Monday. Saied garnered 2.7 million votes against one million received by his rival business tycoon Nabil Karoui in Sunday’s runoff, the commission said. Karoui conceded defeat earlier on …

Hundreds of Algerians protested in front of parliament on Sunday against a proposed energy law that they say the caretaker government has no right to pass. The new law is aimed at attracting foreign investors to help Algeria strengthen its energy output, but would maintain a 49% limit on foreign …

At least 16 worshipers were killed and two others seriously injured as a mosque was attacked in the Western African state of Burkina Faso, the security sources said. A group of unidentified gunmen opened fire inside a mosque in the village of Salmossi in the northern province of Oudalan, according …

The al-Shabab terrorist group has launched two separate attacks on a US military base and a European Union military convoy in Somalia. The militants initially raided a base operated by US forces in the Somali town of Baledogle on Monday, witnesses and security sources said. “Two heavy explosions occurred, the …

More than 1,100 people have been arrested in Egypt since the weekend when a series of massive protests erupted in several cities to demand the resignation of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, human rights monitors say. Gamal Eid, head of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information, said on Wednesday that …

A classroom collapse in Nairobi, Kenya early on Monday has killed seven children and injured scores more. A government spokesperson confirmed the casualties as emergency workers continue to comb through the site. The collapse occurred at Precious Talent Top School in Ngando Dagoretti South. St John Ambulance crews attended the …