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Guy Scott, the Zambian politician who briefly served as acting president to become Africa’s first white head of state in more than two decades, died on July 15, the Zambian government said. He was 82. Scott was Zambia’s vice president and stood in as president of the southern African country for three months when Michael Sata died in office in 2014. …
Eighty percent of new Ebola cases in eastern Congo are emerging from unknown chains of transmission, the World Health Organization said on July 14, a sign the outbreak is spreading faster than health officials can track despite an expanding response. Congo has been battling an outbreak of a rare type of Ebola since May, with no approved treatment …
Ebola is spreading faster in eastern Congo than it can be tracked, as deaths pass 700 Read More »
South Africa has deported or repatriated more than 53,000 African immigrants in the space of a month in a crackdown by authorities that has coincided with a series of sometimes violent protests against illegal migration. More than 80% of the immigrants sent home were from Malawi, South African Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said. Officials did not give a breakdown of how many …
After eight years out of office, President John Mahama, often called by his initials JM, achieved significant success in the first year of his second term. His government decreased the rate of inflation, reversed the nosedive in the cedi’s value, and stabilized the economy. This year, he intends to build on those successes, to make …
Ghana: Exclusive interview with President Mahama Read More »
The political alliance between Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko collapsed in late May, leading to Faye dismissing Sonko as prime minister and members of the National Assembly from the PASTEF party electing Sonko as Speaker. The split had been anticipated, due to the growing tensions between them for nearly a …
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 …
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 …
African countries including Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho and Zimbabwe have warned migrants in South Africa to be cautious and remain indoors due to attacks targeting foreigners, and Ghana has lobbied the African Union regional bloc for action. South Africa has seen a wave of protests against illegal immigration, which have been accompanied by instances of violence against migrants from other sub-Saharan …
African countries warn citizens of xenophobic attacks in South Africa 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 »