In the news

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 …

The High court in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja has ordered the release of former central bank governor Godwin Emefiele, who has been in detention since June, on bail. “There must be an end to detention without trial,” said Judge Olukayode Adeniyi, sitting in the High Court in Abuja. Mr Emefiele has …

A major renal unit at Ghana’s publicly funded Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in the capital, Accra, has reopened after a five-month closure. The country’s largest treatment centre for patients suffering kidney disease shut because of budgetary issues and it was unable to pay for the everyday needs of those needing …

Voters in Ohio, a state located in the east of the United States, voted to include the protection of the right to abortion in their Constitution, US media announced. “Yes” won more than 57% of the votes, according to the first partial results. Hundreds of thousands of voters went to …

NATO member countries condemned on Tuesday Russia’s decision to formally withdraw from the historic treaty limiting conventional military forces in Europe, and decided to suspend their participation. Russia decided in 2007 to suspend its participation in this treaty on conventional weapons in Europe, which entered into force in 1992 after …

South Africa’s Police Minister Bheki Cele says criminals have declared war on citizens, following a surge in crime levels in the country. This is after the country’s transport minister was robbed at gun-point in a daring attack on Monday. Sindisiwe Chikunga was travelling from KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng when the incident …

The British High Commission in Uganda has warned of “a growing terror threat in Uganda, including targeting of foreigners”, hours after the US embassy issued a similar alert. Both diplomatic missions on Tuesday warned their citizens against attending large gatherings, including worship activities. They also cautioned against participation in music …

The family of popular Nigerian actor John Okafor known as Mr Ibu has announced that his leg has been amputated, for medical reasons. Doctors had no choice but to sever the limb “to keep him alive”, relatives say in a statement on his Instagram page. “This development has been hard …

Madagascar’s presidential candidate, Jean Jacques Ratsietison, was arrested in Madagascar during a demonstration in the capital Antananarivo. The opposition has alleged that this month’s election is being rigged in favour of the incumbent, Andry Rajoelina. The electoral commission has not commented on the allegation. Several recent attempts to stage demonstrations …