Politics and society

More than 5.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines bought on loan by the Ugandan government have expired, an audit report has said. The vaccines are valued at 28.1bn Ugandan shillings ($7.3m; £5.8m) and were purchased using a World Bank loan. Authorities say the expired vaccines will be withdrawn from health …

The United States said it was troubled by comments from Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who last week called on citizens to stone gay people. The comments escalated a crackdown on LGBT community in Burundi. “The United States is deeply troubled by President Ndayishimiye’s remarks targeting certain vulnerable and marginalized Burundians,” …

A prominent LGBT rights activist in Uganda, where sexual minorities say they have faced a wave of abuse since a harsh anti-gay law was enacted last year, was stabbed on Wednesday and is in critical condition, his organisation said. Steven Kabuye was “stabbed to near death by unknown assailants a …

Former Miss Namibia, Cassia Sharpley, has doubled down on her pledge to run to be president of the southern African country, despite seemingly being too young. Cassia Sharpley, who won the beauty pageant in 2022, had told her 23,000 Instagram followers she would soon share her “journey towards becoming President …

The Vatican has issued a clarification intended to calm Catholic bishops in some countries who have balked over last month’s approval of blessings for same-sex couples. The Vatican’s doctrinal office said the blessings should not be seen as an endorsement of the life that lesbian, gay or bisexual people lead. …

Health authorities in Rwanda have recalled batches of antifungal tablets made in Kenya over safety concerns, local media reported. In a statement, the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (RFDA) instructed importers to return all batches of 200mg Fluconazole tablets manufactured by Univeral Corporation, a Kenyan company. It also ordered all …

One of the presidential candidates in the DR Congo, Théodore Ngoy, has filed a petition to challenge the re-election of incumbent President Félix Tshisekedi. Théodore Ngoy, who came last with 0.02% of the vote, is the only one to submit a petition for the annulment of the presidential results. He …

A total of 19 South Africans have crossed into Egypt from war-hit Gaza, South Africa’s foreign ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela has said. “Our missions in Palestine & Egypt led by Ambassadors Shaun Byneveldt & Ntsiki Mashimbye worked with authorities to facilitate this,” Mr Monyela said on X. “We are grateful …

The bosses of the main social networks, Meta, X, TikTok, Snap and Discord will be heard at the end of January in the US Senate on their efforts to protect children from sexual exploitation on their platforms, elected officials announced on Wednesday. This hearing, scheduled for January 31, is the …

Nepal has recognized the marriage of a first LGBT+ couple in the country, the Nepalese authorities announced this Thursday, November 30. The newlyweds, now officially united, congratulate each other on a victory “for all”. Maya Gurung, a 41-year-old transgender woman, and Surendra Pandey, a 27-year-old man, who were married in …