In the news

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga launches his fifth bid for the presidency on Friday, this time with the support of his former foe President Uhuru Kenyatta, Reuters agency reported. Kenyans are due to go to the polls in August but Kenyatta will not be on the ballot due to a …

Backed by the Nigerien army, Burkina Faso’s security forces announced that they had succeeded in eliminating 100 Islamist militants in two weeks of operations, BBC News reported. On Thursday, at least 13 members of a civilian militia fighting the jihadists were killed in the north of the country. The volunteer …

The government of Ghana has announced that all visitors must be fully vaccinated against covid-19 from midnight Sunday before being allowed to enter the country. In a statement, the government said Ghanaians who intend to return to the country within the next fortnight are exempt, but will be vaccinated upon …

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Tigrayan rebels of summarily killing dozens of civilians in “apparent war crimes” in two towns they controlled in Ethiopia’s Amhara region. “Tigrayan forces showed brutal disregard for human life and the laws of war by executing people in their custody,” said Lama Fakih, …

At least 16 worshippers have been killed and many others wounded by gunmen in a mosque in the Nigerian Niger state, local media have reported. Niger state government official, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane told the BBC that the attackers opened fire on the Muslim worshippers during early morning prayers on Wednesday. …

Dozens of inmates at Boma prison in western Democratic Republic of the Congo have escaped, enjoying loud music being played during a burial in the neighborhood to distract the guards. Nine inmates were arrested near the prison and one injured when guards fired into the air while 19 inmates were …

The governor of Borno state in north-eastern Nigeria has banned food distributions to tens of thousands of people displaced by Islamist extremists, BBC News has reported. Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum told aid agencies that they would not be allowed to distribute food or other items to people who, …

A member of the Kenyan afro-pop band Sauti Sol, Chimano, has come out as gay as he explained the idea behind his new song, Friday Feeling, in which he featured members of the LGBT community. Chimano told local media that he was now living his truth and would use his …

Burkinabè President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré has, by decree, dismissed Prime Minister Christophe Joseph Marie Dabiré from his functions and dissolved the government. “The prime minister’s functions are over, the government is dissolved,” a presidential decree said. The West African country has been plagued since 2015 by recurrent jihadist attacks …

At least a 12 people were killed and many others wounded in inter-communal clashes between Arab Choas herders and Mosgoum farmers in Kousseri, in the far northern region of Cameroon. Some of the Mosgoum farmers attacked Kousseri town and set on fire the market and some houses belonging to Choas …