Politics and society

Burundi’s government said the thousands of children roaming the streets, adult beggars and other “vagabonds” now risk criminal prosecution as they tarnish the country’s image. Street children and other beggars should no longer roam the streets from this Wednesday. “These practices which “deteriorate” Burundian culture must cease,” authorities said. “Repeat …

Ugandan presidency said in a statement that it validated the adoption of Swahili as one of the country’s official languages and recommended its teaching in primary and secondary schools. The Swahili language develops and becomes one of the official languages in Uganda. In a tweeted statement, the Ugandan cabinet said …

Authorities in Nigeria’s central state of Niger have suspended all mining activities in the region amid mounting cases of kidnappings. It comes days after gunmen launched a devastating attack on a mining site, kidnapping at least four Chinese miners and killing over 20 members of the Nigerian security forces, the …

The Central African Republic government is launching its cryptocurrency hub it named Sango, nearly three months after adopting Bitcoin as one of its official currencies. President Faustin Archange Touadéra launched the hub on Sunday in a live announcement on social networks. The name “Sango” is in one of the country’s …

Cameroonian MPs on Wednesday adopted bill on medically assisted procreation (PMA), a set of clinical practices to help people who have difficulty having a child. The clinical process already practiced for several years in Cameroon, but until now there was no legal framework in this area, reports RFI. The project …

Wednesday’s protest against the rising cost of living in Ghana has so far been peaceful, unlike on Tuesday when clashes with police erupted and 29 people were arrested. After a series of meetings with the police, protesters were allowed to use a route that runs in front of the president’s …

A man has been arrested in eastern Uganda and held in police custody after slapping an MP at church on Sunday, state-owned New Vision newspaper reports. The 39-year-old struck Transport Minister Musa Ecweru in the middle of his speech to congregants at St Michael Catholic Church in Amuria. “He did …

Tunisia’s most powerful union, the UGTT, has called for a second general strike to protest the government’s economic policies, media reported. The UGTT has about a million members, and its last nationwide strike earlier this month brought the north African country to a standstill. The Tunisian government is preparing to …

A Nigerian court on Thursday will hear a challenge against sharia law in the mostly Muslim northern state of Kano, in a case that is set to reignite debate on the place of religious laws in a country whose constitution is neutral on religion, Reuters agency reports. Nigeria is divided …

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) said its officers will start using body-worn cameras to crack down on tax evasion and corruption, local newspaper Business Daily reported. The body cams will be used mainly by staff in the domestic tax department and customs and border control, according to the report. “Very soon …