Africa

AU summit overshadowed by ‘security failings’ in Sahel after attacks

by Hademine Ould Sadi © Agence France-Presse NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron joined African leaders gathered in the Mauritanian capital on the final evening of a summit overshadowed by security issues after jihadist rebels hammered two fragile Sahel states in successive attacks. Macron held separate talks with the leaders of a five-nation African anti-terror unit backed by France to discuss financial and security hurdles the “G5 Sahel” force faces. Five separate attacks […]

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Three babies dead, 100 missing in shipwreck off Libya: survivors

AL- HMIDIYA (AFP) — The bodies of three babies were recovered and around 100 people were missing after a migrant boat sank off the coast of Libya on Friday, survivors and the coastguard said. About 120 migrants were aboard the inflatable dinghy at the time, survivors brought ashore in Al-Hmidiya east of the capital Tripoli told AFP. Sixteen people were rescued. © Agence France-Presse

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Libyan strongman Haftar announces ‘liberation’ of Derna

BENGHAZI, Libya (AFP)–Libya’s Khalifa Haftar announced Thursday the “liberation” of Derna, the only city in the eastern region beyond his control, from radical Islamist militias. “We proudly announce the liberation of Derna, a city dear to all Libyans,” the breakaway military leader said in a televised speech. He promised residents a “new era of freedom, security and peace.” A spokesman for Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) said troops stormed “the last stronghold of the […]

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DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak coming to an end: minister

KINSHASA, DR Congo (AFP) – An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo is just weeks away from being defeated, after claiming 29 lives, the country’s health minister said Thursday. The “countdown” has begun, Oly Ilunga, said, noting that “all those in contact with the last confirmed cases of Ebola have finished their 21-day surveillance period without showing signs of contamination.” He said the outbreak, the ninth in the former Belgian […]

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Nigerian fuel truck ‘wildfire’ kills 9

LAGOS, Nigeria (AFP) – A fuel truck exploded in Nigeria’s commercial megacity Lagos on Thursday killing nine people in a huge blaze, state emergency officials told AFP. Suleiman Yakubu of the National Emergency Management Agency said the death toll was “nine so far” but that “more people are coming to identify vehicles”. “Before the fire was contained it spread like wildfire,” he added. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement he was “very sad […]

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Anger in Morocco over jailing of protesters

  RABAT, Morocco (AFP) – The jailing of demonstrators for up to 20 years over unrest in 2016 sparked anger in Morocco on Wednesday, with some warning it could threaten further instability. At the end of a nine-month trial the figurehead of the Al-Hirak al-Shaabi or “Popular Movement”, Nasser Zefzafi, was sentenced to 20 years along with three others for “plotting to undermine the security of the state”. A further 49 people were sentenced late […]

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Eritrea’s top diplomat in Ethiopia for historic talks

by Chris Stein Agence France-Presse ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AFP) – Ethiopia rolled out the red carpet and hosted a dinner for Eritrea’s top diplomat on Tuesday as the two nations took the next step in a historic initiative aimed at ending decades of conflict and hostility. The thaw between the foes who fought a bitter border war 20 years ago comes after an olive branch was dramatically offered by new Ethiopian prime minister, Abiy Ahmed. […]

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Zimbabwe rally blast injured 41: minister

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (AFP) — A blast that rocked a rally in which Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa narrowly escaped unscathed injured at least 41 people, including his two deputies, the health minister told a state Sunday paper. Health Minister David Parirenyatwa, said wounded rallygoers had been treated at three main hospitals across the city and “a total of 41… have so far approached our health institutions complaining of injuries”. Footage circulating on social media showed an […]

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32 Fulani civilians killed in Mali attack: local group

BAMAKO, Mali (AFP)–At least 32 civilians were killed and 10 are missing following an attack in central Mali, believed to have been carried out by traditional hunters, local officials said Sunday, as the government said 16 bodies had been found. Armed Dozo hunters, linked to the Dogon ethnic group, were suspected of ambushing the isolated village of Koumaga in the Mopti region on Saturday, killing dozens of Fulani herders, including children. “They surrounded the village, separated the […]

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Nigeria: 86 killed in fresh herder-farmer violence

  by Salisu Shitu in Jos, with Aminu Abubakar in Kano Agence France-Presse JOS, Nigeria (AFP) — Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday called for calm after 86 people were killed in an attack by suspected nomadic herders against farming communities in the restive centre of the country. The grim discovery in the Barikin Ladi area of Plateau state came after days of violence apparently sparked by an attack by ethnic Berom farmers on Fulani […]

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DFA checking if Filipinos in Ethiopia were among injured in Saturday’s explosion at PM rally that hurt at least 154 people

  (Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is monitoring the situation in Ethiopia after an explosion at a political rally in the capital Addis Ababa on Saturday that has reportedly left one dead and at least 154 injured. “The Philippine Embassy in Cairo is checking whether any of the 800 members of the Filipino Community were among those injured in the explosion,” said a DFA release. Ambassador to Cairo Leslie Baja, […]

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One dead, scores injured in grenade blast at Ethiopia PM’s rally

  by Chris Stein Agence France Presse ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AFP) — One person died and scores of others were hurt after a grenade blast at new Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s first mass rally in the capital that sent crowds fleeing in panic. Abiy had just wrapped up his speech before tens of thousands of people in the heart of Addis Ababa when the explosion went off, sending droves of supporters towards the stage […]

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