Africa

Ethiopia to send black boxes to Europe as questions mount over crash

by Chris STEIN ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AFP) — Ethiopia said Wednesday it would send the black boxes from last weekend’s deadly Ethiopian Airlines crash to Europe for analysis as demand grew for urgent answers over the safety of the Boeing 737 MAX 8. The second deadly crash involving the plane type in less than six months prompted governments worldwide to ban Boeing’s bestselling jet from their airspace. The move has heaped pressure on the US […]

Floods kill 66 in Mozambique

  MAPUTO, Mozambique (AFP) — At least 66 people have been killed and 141,000 affected after heavy rains deluged central and northern Mozambique, the government has said as it appealed for funds to manage the crisis. “The government has decreed a red alert due to the continuing rains and the approach of the tropical cyclone Idai, expected to reach the country between Thursday to Friday,” said cabinet spokeswoman Ana Comoana. She spoke to reporters late […]

Grounding the Boeing 737 a touchy subject for US authorities

by Luc OLINGA NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Following Sunday’s crash in Ethiopia of another Boeing 737 MAX 8, the second accident in five months, the flagship US manufacturer faces fresh questions about the planes’ airworthiness. But are US authorities likely to ground these planes, a cash cow for the aerospace giant? American officials face a difficult task in reassuring the flying public, as passengers take to social media, saying they are afraid to […]

Ethiopian Airlines grounds Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet after crash

  ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AFP) — Ethiopian Airlines said Monday it had grounded its Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet after a crash that killed 149 passengers and eight crew. “Following the tragic accident of ET 302… Ethiopian Airlines has decided to ground all B-737-8 MAX fleet effective yesterday, March 10, until further notice,” the state-owned carrier said in a statement released on Twitter. “Although we don’t yet know the cause of the accident, we have […]

Search for bodies, clues after Ethiopian Airlines Boeing crash

by Chris STEIN ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AFP) — Ethiopia will observe a national day of mourning Monday as investigators search for bodies and clues into the crash of a Nairobi-bound Boeing minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board. Ethiopian Airlines said it will work with Boeing, the national civil aviation authority and international experts in trying to unravel what caused the brand new plane to come down just six minutes […]

At least 19 UN-affiliated personnel killed in Ethiopian crash: agency chief

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — At least 19 affiliated with the United Nations were among those killed in the crash Sunday of an Ethiopian Airlines jet near Addis Ababa, according to the UN migration agency chief. Authorities said all 157 people on board were killed when the Boeing 737 crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa on a flight to Nairobi, where the UN conference was being held. “Early indications are that 19 staff […]

Greek man saved from Ethiopia crash by being late

ATHENS, Greece (AFP) — A Greek man said on Sunday he would have been the 150th passenger on the Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines Boeing plane that crashed killing all on board, except he arrived two minutes late for the flight. “I was mad because nobody helped me to reach the gate on time,” Antonis Mavropoulos said in a Facebook post entitled “My lucky day” in which he includes a photo of his ticket. Mavropoulos, president of […]

Ethiopian Airlines Boeing crashes killing all 157 on board

by Michael Tewelde in Bishoftu with Chris Stein in Addis Ababa BISHOFTU, Ethiopia (AFP) — A Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines Boeing crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa Sunday, killing all eight crew and 149 passengers on board, including tourists, business travellers and UN staff. Ethiopia declared a national day of mourning for Monday amid a global stream of condolences for loved ones, many of whom gathered in tears at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). […]

Algerian students reject Bouteflika fifth term

ALGIERS, Algeria (AFP) — Thousands of Algerian students marched on Tuesday in protest at ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s determination to stand for re-election, brushing aside his pledge not to serve a full fifth term. The country’s army chief meanwhile delivered a speech slamming unnamed parties he said want to return to the “painful years” of Algeria’s civil war, and pledged to guarantee the country’s “security and stability”. Bouteflika suffered a stroke in 2013 and is […]

Muhammadu Buhari: Nigeria’s anti-corruption president

by Phil HAZLEWOOD ABUJA, Nigeria (AFP) — Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was elected in 2015 on a wave of hope that he could defeat Boko Haram Islamists and turn around a country blighted by decades of corruption and poor governance. But while he will go down in history as Nigeria’s first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent, his first term was dominated by questions about his fitness to govern. From May 2016 until mid-2017, Buhari […]

Bashir declares year-long state of emergency across Sudan

by Jay DESHMUKH / Abdelmoneim ABU IDRIS ALI Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir declared a nationwide state of emergency on Friday and dissolved the government in an effort to quell weeks of demonstrations that have rocked his iron-fisted rule. Deadly protests have broken out across the east African country since the government tripled the price of bread on December 19, with demonstrators accusing the government of mismanaging the nation’s economy and calling on the veteran leader […]

Gunmen killed ‘over 130’ in NW Nigeria: governor

ABUJA, Nigeria (AFP) — An attack by gunmen on villages in northwest Nigeria last week claimed “over 130” lives, more than double the toll initially reported, the governor of Kaduna state said on Tuesday. “The last report we got is that over 130 people were killed, not even 66,” governor Nasir El-Rufai said after a meeting of military and security chiefs in Abuja. El-Rufai, who was invited to speak at the briefing with President Muhammadu […]