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A Rwandan academic and government critic died in custody as he was set to be freed from jail, immediately raising concern from a prominent rights group that urged an investigation into the death of Aimable Karasira.   Karasira died on Wednesday after he took an overdose of his own medication, according to Rwandan authorities. Human Rights Watch questioned that account, urged the international community to pay …

A government critic dies in custody in Rwanda, drawing calls for an independent probe  Read More »

South Africa’s highest court has set aside a vote by lawmakers to reject a report that found credible evidence of wrongdoing by President Cyril Ramaphosa related to a long-running cash scandal. The court verdict Friday could pave the way for impeachment proceedings against him.  Ramaphosa had survived a motion to face impeachment proceedings in 2022, when lawmakers from his African National Congress …

South Africa’s top court revives Ramaphosa cash scandal, paving way for possible impeachment  Read More »

Festus Mogae, Botswana’s former president who made a national priority of the fight against HIV and AIDS during his tenure from 1998 to 2008, has died at the age of 86, the government said Friday. No cause of death was given.  Botswana President Duma Boko said that under Mogae’s leadership, the country earned international respect for principled, sound economic management and …

Botswana mourns death of former president Read More »

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi said he ​was open to standing for a third term, angering opposition politicians who accused him of planning ‌to break through mandate limits in the constitution and cling to power.  Tshisekedi also said fighting in the east could make it impossible to hold the next presidential vote on time in 2028 – raising the prospect …

Congo president raises prospect of third term and vote delay, angering opposition  Read More »

Zambia is accusing the United States of tying a $2 billion deal for critical health assistance to access to the southern African nation’s rich mineral assets, and calling the outgoing U.S. ambassador’s allegations of corruption “mischievous” and “undiplomatic.”  The comments by Zambia’s foreign affairs minister, Mulambo Haimbe, on Monday brought into the open simmering tensions over President Donald Trump’s “America First” strategy, which is …

Zambia blasts the US over a $2 billion health deal in exchange for critical minerals  Read More »

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye ​said the ruling party is on a path that could lead to its downfall ‌but that the party’s leader, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, will remain in his post if he keeps “doing his job properly”.  Faye’s comments, aired on state television late Saturday, come amid persistent speculation that the two men’s political alliance is on …

Senegal’s President Faye says ruling party, led by Sonko, risks ‘collapse’ Read More »

Marching bands blew horns, women ululated and men ‌cheered on Friday to celebrate King Mswati III’s 40 years on Eswatini’s throne, an institution still revered despite criticism of the high luxury sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch enjoys.  A choir decked in yellow, ​blue and red to form an image of the national flag sang ​the king’s praises and held up …

Eswatini celebrates King Mswati III’s 40 years as critics decry royal spending Read More »