In the news

U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo on Thursday said he hoped Congress would extend a trade program that grants exports from qualifying African countries duty-free access to the U.S. market, hailing the strategic opportunities in the region. Adeyemo told the Reuters agency that the two-decade-old African Growth and Opportunity Act …

Five soldiers died in the accident of an American helicopter which crashed in the Mediterranean during an exercise, the European command of the American army (Eucom) and the Pentagon announced on Sunday. Eucom did not specify the model of the aircraft concerned or its origin, but the United States recently …

A Kenyan cult pastor accused of leading a cult and being responsible for the deaths of more than 400 people, has been found guilty on separate charges. A court in the coastal town of Malindi convicted Paul Mackenzie of illegally operating a film studio associated with his preaching and distributing …

Prosecutors in Burundi are seeking life imprisonment for former Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni, who is on trial for seven charges, including using witchcraft to threaten the president’s life, the BBC reported. Mr Bunyoni’s trial started in September, a year after he was fired by President Evariste Ndayishimiye over suspicions that …

South African opposition leader Julius Malema has criticised Kenya’s President William Ruto for failing to fulfil the promises he made to Kenyans when he ran for office last year. Speaking on Thursday at the launch of the Pan African Institute in Kenya, Mr Malema accused President Ruto of backtracking on …

A diphtheria outbreak has been declared at South Africa’s Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison following the death of a 19-year-old inmate. Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the male inmate, who contracted the disease last month, died on Sunday. Eight more inmates are in isolation after testing positive for the disease. “Two …

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has undergone a successful shoulder surgery in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), local media reported, citing the presidency. “Mr Mohamud is recovering well from the minor medical operation,” his office said on Thursday. It did not give further details about what happened to his shoulder. …

The Saudi Fund for Development will sign agreements worth 2 billion riyals ($533 million) with African countries, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said on Thursday during the Saudi-Arab-African Economic Conference in Riyadh. “We are working with partners to support Ghana and other countries regarding their debt,” Jadaan added. Saudi Investment …

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the deployment of 3,300 army personnel to help combat illegal mining activities, Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement on Thursday. “The deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), which is expected to cost about 492 million rand ($26 million), is aimed …

An intoxicated businessman was killed by three security guards employed to guard his business premises after they mistook him for a thief. The Tanzanian man, 40-year-old Alex Mayaya, met his tragic death in the country’s Geita region on Sunday, November 5, reports say. Before his death, he had been in …