Politics and society

The United States has announced it will impose visa restrictions on anyone who undermines elections in Liberia next month. It said the move targeted those “undermining democracy in Liberia, including through manipulation or rigging of the electoral process, use of violence… or engagement in any other activity designed to improperly …

The Ukrainian Football Federation (AUF) has announced its intention to boycott European competitions in which Russian teams will be involved. This announcement comes the day after UEFA’s decision to reinstate Russian teams under the age of 17. The AUF “strongly condemns” this decision, according to a press release published on …

Namibia has suspended imports of live poultry, birds and poultry products from South Africa following the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the neighbouring country, Reuters reported. The suspension is in effect until further notice, the agriculture ministry said in a statement released on Wednesday. South Africa is …

Nigeria’s two largest unions, the National Labor Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have accused the government of failing to ease the financial burden on Nigerians and called for an indefinite strike to begin next Tuesday. Unions said the industrial action was a protest to the government’s response …

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has said that the country will spend $12bn to rebuild the regions destroyed by the 8 September earthquake. The funds will also be used to support the more than 4.2 million people in the provinces most affceted by the earthquake. The palace said on Wednesday said …

The imposing ancient Greek site of Cyrene in Libya, classified since 2016 by UNESCO as world heritage in danger, is at risk of collapse after the devastating floods which hit the east of the country, according to testimonies and an archaeologist. “It is a gigantic site and the largest Greek …

In Kenya, a proposed anti-gay bill sees people found to be gay sentenced to 50 years in prison for non-consensual sex. Dubbed the Family Protection Bill 2023, the draft law sponsored by Homa Bay Town legislator Peter Kaluma, is recommending a ban on homosexuality, same-sex unions and any LGBTQ activities …

The European Union has confirmed it’s temporarily frozen payments to the World Food Programme (WFP) for deliveries of humanitarian aid to Somalia. A spokesman for the European Commission, Balazs Ujvari, said the move was a precautionary measure to safeguard EU funds. A UN investigation has identified widespread theft of aid …

The acting mayor of South Sudan’s capital city, Juba, has been sacked after he was caught on camera apparently slapping a member of the public, local media reported. Emmanuel Khamis Richard had refused to resign despite mounting pressure from fellow politicians since footage of him appearing to assault the female …

At least seventeen people have been killed by a landslide in the town of Lisala, capital of Mongala province in the northern Democratic Republic of Congo, local media reported. Seven women, seven men and three children under five years died. They were buried the same day due to lack of …