South African president Cyril Ramaphosa is facing a possible impeachment threat over the “Farmgate” scandal. The president has been accused of covering up a $4m theft from his farm in 2020, including kidnapping and bribing the burglars into silence. A leaked report from an independent panel has found that Mr Ramaphosa abused his position and may have broken an anti-corruption law. He has denied wrongdoing, and said the money was from selling buffalo. The panel’s findings have been handed to parliament, which is set to examine them and decide whether or not to launch impeachment proceedings next week. Mr Ramaphosa … Continue reading South African president faces threat of impeachment over ‘Farmgate’ scandal

An Algerian court has sentenced 49 people to death after they were found guilty of lynching a man wrongly suspected of starting forest fires last year ,the state news agency says. The sentences are likely to be reduced to life in prison as there is a moratorium on executions. In 2021, Algeria experienced the worst fires in the country’s history, with multiple blazes killing 90 people. The lynching victim, Djamel Ben Ismail, had gone to help fight the fires. After the fires broke out in August last year, the 38-year-old tweeted saying he would travel over 320km (200 miles) from … Continue reading Dozens sentenced to death for lynching a man over false accusation in Algeria

A surprise deal has been reached in the Ethiopian civil war with both sides agreeing to halt their two-year conflict which led to thousands of deaths and warnings of a famine. The African Union (AU) has called it a new “dawn”, AFP news agency says. The agreement between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces should allow aid deliveries to resume. Almost 90% of people in the northern Tigray region need food aid, the World Health Organization says. About a third of the region’s children are suffering from malnutrition. Although it’s a major breakthrough, it’ll be received with some degree of … Continue reading Truce agreed between Ethiopia and TPLF

Emergency workers battling to extinguish a fire on the slopes of Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, have managed to contain parts of it, an official says. “We have seen great success in controlling the fire,” said Prof Eliamani Sedoyeka from Tanzania’s natural resources and tourism ministry. The fire started on Friday night near one of the mountain’s most popular climbing routes. It is not clear how the fire started. Videos posted on social media on Saturday appeared to show large flames and a blanket of smoke engulfing parts of the forest surrounding the mountain. Hundreds of emergency workers and volunteers … Continue reading Firefighters containing blaze on Mount Kilimanjaro

About 500 people have died in Nigeria’s worst floods in a decade and 1.4 million others have been displaced from their homes since the start of the rainy season, the government said. Floods caused by abundant rains and poor infrastructure have affected vast swathes of Africa’s most populous country sparking fears they could worsen food insecurity and inflation.  Nigeria’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs said Tuesday that “over 1.4 million persons were displaced, about 500 persons have been reported dead… and 1,546 persons were injured”. “Similarly, 45,249 houses were totally damaged… while 70,566 hectares of farmlands were completely destroyed,” added the … Continue reading Tragic: Nigeria’s worst floods in a decade kill 500, displace 1.4 million

Somali security forces have killed nearly 200 suspected members of the Al Shabaab terrorist group in clashes in the town of Jicibow in central Somalia. According to information gathered by the Somali state news agency SONNA, the clashes broke out as a result of an offensive by the terrorists against the town, located between the cities of Beledueine and Buulaburde. Faced with this situation, the Army sent reinforcements and was supported by local self-defense militias, which in recent months have joined the offensives launched by the security forces against the terrorist group. The city of Beledueine was the scene last … Continue reading Security forces kill nearly 200 suspected Al Shabaab members in Somalia

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has asked Kenyans for “forgiveness” after his son – a senior military officer – tweeted about invading their country. His apology came a day after he sacked Muhoozi Kainerugaba as commander of the army’s land forces. But Mr Museveni softened the blow by promoting him to the rank of general, and retaining him as his adviser. Mr Museveni has long been suspected of grooming the 48 year old to succeed him when he eventually steps down. Gen Kainerugaba has increasingly been entering the political arena, with his critics saying this was in breach of the military’s … Continue reading Uganda’s president sorry for son Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s threat to invade Kenya

Acclaimed Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga has been convicted of inciting violence by carrying a placard calling for political reform. The magistrate said the protest could have incited other people to join, and cause a breach of peace. Ms Dangarembga paid a fine of about $110 (£100) to avoid serving a three-month jail term. She had pleaded not guilty in a trial that critics say is the latest sign of a government crackdown on dissent. Outside the court, she said, she was not surprised by the conviction. “The space for freedom of expression and freedom of the media is shrinking and … Continue reading Zimbabwe author convicted over placard protest

As many as 60,000 people are expected to attend a ceremony for William Ruto’s inauguration as Kenya’s new president following his election win last month. Defeated candidate Raila Odinga said he would not be present as he had “serious concerns” about his opponent’s victory. Mr Ruto won the election by a narrow margin of just 50.5% of the vote, to Mr Odinga’s 48.8%. Mr Odinga has alleged that the result was rigged, but the Supreme Court has ruled the election was free and fair. At least 20 heads of state are expected to witness the inauguration at a stadium in … Continue reading William Ruto to be sworn in as president in Kenya

At least two Burkina Faso soldiers have been killed and more than a dozen have been reported missing following an attack by unidentified gunmen in the Sahel region, located in the north of the country and one of the most affected by the deteriorating security situation. According to information gathered by the Burkinabe news portal Infowakat, the attack was carried out against a detachment in Oudalan and resulted in the wounding of twelve soldiers, including four in serious condition. The Burkinabe authorities have not yet commented on the attack, with no claim of responsibility. Various jihadist groups operate in the … Continue reading Two military personnel killed and ten reported missing after attack in northern Burkina Faso

At least six civilians were killed and eight injured when separatists in southwest Cameroon opened fire on a public bus on Tuesday, officials and the head of a regional hospital said. Anglophone insurgents fighting to carve out an independent state out of Cameroon’s English-speaking North West and South West regions have escalated attacks, killings and kidnappings this year. The bus, travelling from the economic capital Douala to the city of Kumba, came under fire near the town of Ekona, said a transport syndicate official who did not wish to be named for security reasons. A parliamentarian for Ekona’s constituency, Findi … Continue reading Several civilians killed in separatists attack on bus in Cameroon

Thirty-five civilians were killed and 37 were wounded Monday when an IED blast hit a convoy carrying supplies in Burkina Faso’s jihadist-hit north, the governor of the Sahel region said. “One of the vehicles carrying civilians hit an improvised explosive device. The provisional toll is 35 dead and 37 injured, all civilians,” a statement said by the governor Rodolphe Sorgho said.  The convoy of supplies to the restive north was escorted by the army and the incident took place between Djibo and Bourzanga, he said. “The escorts quickly secured the perimetre and took measures to help the victims,” the statement … Continue reading Many civilians killed in Burkina Faso attack