AFRICA

  Durban, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s ruling ANC party launches its election campaign on Saturday ahead of polls in May that it is tipped to win despite recently falling support, internal divisions and a sluggish economy. The African National Congress, which has ruled since the end of apartheid 25 years ago, suffered …

Paris, France | AFP | Foreign leaders reacted cautiously to the outcome of DR Congo’s presidential election Thursday, with many choosing not to congratulate the man declared winner and appealing for disputes to be settled peacefully. Provisional results from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s much-troubled election granted victory to opposition …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | With DR Congo still reeling from the disputed victory of opposition challenger Felix Tshisekedi, the nation’s attention turned Friday to the results of the legislative elections to see who will control parliament for the next five years. In a country that has never known a peaceful transfer of power …

Paris, France | AFP | Sudanese security forces stormed a hospital to pursue people seeking treating from gunshot wounds sustained during protests against President Omar al-Bashir, Amnesty International said Thursday. Soldiers fired live bullets and teargas as they entered the hospital late Wednesday in Omdurman, twin city of the capital …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Doctors in Zimbabwe have ended a more than month-long strike without winning a deal on higher salaries, their union said Thursday, adding the government had pledged to address their grievances. Hundreds of doctors in public hospitals walked out on December 1 demanding salaries in US …

Bangui, Central African Republic | AFP | Militiamen killed two police officers Thursday in the Central African Republic town of Bambari ahead of a scheduled visit by the country’s president, the government said. The attack came a day after President Faustin-Archange Touadera announced a date for African Union-brokered peace talks …

Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Chosen to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt faces a race against time to get ready for the event in five months, but experts say it will meet the challenge. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday said it selected Egypt ahead …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Anti-government protests that have rocked Sudan for weeks have left 22 people dead, authorities said on Thursday, as rally organisers called for fresh demonstrations. Angry crowds have staged hundreds of protests against the regime of President Omar al-Bashir after a government decision last month to …

Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said he was confident of winning a second term of office at polls next month. The 76-year-old former military ruler, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, is one of 73 candidates on the ballot at the February 16 poll. His main challenger is …

Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerian troops were back in a strategic town on the shores of Lake Chad, military and civilian sources said Thursday, after Boko Haram attacks forced tens of thousands to flee. Fighters from the self-styled Islamic State West Africa Province overran a naval base and another housing troops from a regional …