A mother and baby were killed by an elephant in the Chipinge district of south-eastern Zimbabwe, local media report. The woman, who had been visiting relatives in rural Chipinge district on New Year’s Day, was on her back home when an elephant charged at them. Zimbabwe Parks Authority spokesman Tinashe …
Read More »Tense scenes at Sudan protests amid political turmoil
Sudanese security forces have fired tear gas in an effort to break up pro-democracy protests in the capital, Khartoum, and in Port Sudan, BBC News reports. People in several cities have been chanting slogans against the military and calling for the downfall of Sudan’s ruling council. It is headed by …
Read More »Uganda: court orders release of author detained for criticizing president
A Ugandan court has ordered the police to release Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, a prominent writer arrested last week for criticizing President Yoweri Museveni and his son Lt-Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on social media. Mr Rukirabashaija’s lawyer said he had not yet been released but he expected the authorities to comply with the …
Read More »Botswana: president Masisi tested positive for COVID-19
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi is in mandatory self- isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 in routine testing, a government spokesperson said on Monday. “The president does not have any symptoms and will continue to receive close medical monitoring by his medical doctors,” John-Thomas Dipowe, acting permanent secretary for Government Communications, …
Read More »Nigeria: gang leader frees large numbers of victims in Zamfara State
The leader of a notorious armed gang in Zamfara state, in northern Nigeria, is reported to have released more than 50 people who had recently been kidnapped. Eyewitnesses saw buses full of hostages heading to the state capital, Gusau. Officials have not said why the group’s leader, Bello Turji, decided …
Read More »South Africa: suspect of the parliament’s fire arrested and tried
South African authorities on Tuesday said they had finally contained a suspected arson fire at the parliament building after a second-day flare-up that completely destroyed the lower house National Assembly chamber. A 49-year-old man accused of setting the fire appeared in court to face five charges including arson and possession …
Read More »South Sudan: President Salva Kiir sacks central bank governor
The President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, by decree, sacked the governor of the Central Bank Dier Tong Ngor and appointed a new head of the institution. The dismissal of Mr Ngor was announced on the national broadcaster on Monday night but no reasons were given. Moses Makur Deng who …
Read More »Sudan: Hamdok resigns as interim head of government
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has annouced his resignation on Sunday, six weeks after returning to his post in a deal with military coup leaders he argued could save a transition toward democracy. Hamdok, who had failed to name a government as protests continued against the military takeover in October, …
Read More »Mozambique : president Nyusi and wife tested positive for COVID-19
The Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi and his wife have tested positive for covid-19 and are isolating, the president’s office has announced on Monday. A statement from the presidency said Mr Nyusi and his wife had decided to isolate in accordance with health guidelines after testing positive, even though they were …
Read More »Sudan: increased death toll in protests – medics
The death toll from the latest nationwide protests against military rule in Sudan rose to five on Friday, the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors said. The group of medics, which is aligned with the protest movement, said the fifth person who had been killed was hit in the chest by …
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