AfricaNews

Kenyan Environment Minister and a close ally of President Mwai Kibaki, John Michuki died on Tuesday in a Nairobi Hospital from heart attack at the age of 80. Michuki whose death brings closure to a life of one of Kenya's politicians belonging to the old order was known for his ruthlessness while dealing with matters in the various ministries where…

With just four days before the much disputed polls, more fear is looming in the Senegalese political stalemate following reports of alleged recruitment of militia groups to force the aging incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade to withdraw his bid for the February 26 presidential elections.

However; Malick Noel Seck the leader of the main opposition Socialist…

Municipal authorities in the South African town of Stellenbosch have announced plans to offer free Wi-Fi internet access to its residents, making the town Africa's first ever tech capital. Conrad Sidego, Stellenbosch mayor, said his municipality is planning to provide free Wi-Fi Internet access to everyone in the town, local media reported.

Sidego…

Former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, is due to arrive in Senegal as a special representative of the Economic Community of West African States - ECOWAS to broker a peace deal between the opposition and president Abdoulaye Wade's ruling the Parti Democratique Senegalaise.

According to a press release, ECOWAS Heads of State and Government…

The International Monetary Fund has indicates that the local currency, the Gambian Dalasi, may be overvalued by 17 percent. According to IMF report, "a number of complementary approaches were adopted to assess whether the Gambia's exchange rate is aligned with fundamentals.

These alternative approaches proposed by the IMF Consultative Group…

Soon after teenage girl Titha had reached her puberty she got selected to start her Form One at a boarding secondary school in Chiradzuru, less than 40 Km from Blantyre in southern Malawi. And before she picked her travelling bag the girl's mother told her to always remember to concentrate in her studies, respect her teachers at her new school.
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The Senegalese political crisis is worsening following violent clashes between supporters of the opposition and ruling party killing three sympathizers of Benno Siggil Senegal opposition party led by Mustapha Niass 150km from Berkel Village southern Senegal. In a similar revenge supporters of the main opposition Socialist Party also launched an assault…

The Senegalese government has banned an opposition march planned for Independence Square in Dakar to protest against President Abdoulaye Wade's bid to run for a third term in February 26 polls. Responding to an open letter addressed to him by two co-leaders of the M23 movement Alioune Tine and Amath Dansokho, Interior Minister Ousmane Ngom told…

African Union troops launched an offensive against al Qaeda-linked Somali rebels and captured strongholds to the south of the capital Mogadishu, the AU force said. The Burundian contingent of the AU's peacekeeping force (AMISOM) overpowered the rebels after a fierce gun battle in which 10 rebels were killed and two AU soldiers injured, said the…

Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade is facing widespread condemnation in the country side as he continues campaign to seek for a third term on February 26. The defiant aging President wooed voters in the troubled Casamance with a new peace plan as mobilization against his much disputed third term bid.

Wade, who has campaigned actively throughout…

Lesotho is due for a general election to choose a new national government between February and May of this year. Despite a legal framework that stipulates a general election every five years, it appears none of the actors on the national stage are ready for it. So, are we building up to another snap election?

The last election in 2007 was labelled…

A senior adviser to the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, has been killed in a plane crash in the east of the country. Augustin Katumba Mwanke died when the private jet came down near the town of Bukavu, a statement read out on national TV said. The pilot also died.

Finance Minister Matato Ponyo Mapo and a provincial governor…

Over 40 casualty cases were recorded Wednesday night at Zambia's University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after post-match celebrations turned violent and unruly, hospital authorities said. UTH said it had treated 46 casualties who were injured after Zambia national soccer team - "Chipolopolo" - beat Ghana's "Black Stars" to…

In 2003 the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the continental development plan, initiated the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). Since then 30 countries have joined the voluntary arrangement. How well has this process been working, and what lies ahead? A member of the APRMs Panel of Eminent Persons, Amos Sawyer - who was Liberia's…

With a lack of knowledge and power, African women continue to bear the brunt of HIV infections. Faced with declining donor funding, HIV/AIDS campaigners are calling for a lifeline for women in the throes of death.

Schoolgirl Nomasonto Masango giggles as she lists the things she and her friends want boyfriends to buy them. “If you have an older…

Small Holder Farmers (SHFs) who traditionally relied on seed companies for all their seeds are now bulking their own legume seeds for their farms. The seed bulking initiative is taking pressure off research institutions charged with breeding and multiplying the seed for farmers. It's also building up seed banks of orphan crops, many seed companies…

Vendors in Kalonga, the Northern district of Malawi, on Wednesday petitioned the District Commissioner to flash out all Chinese nationals who are doing their businesses in the district. The petition, signed by over 33 representatives of the vendors, says the Chinese investors have gone over bound taking over small-scale business which the natives can…

While the Harare City council is busy engaging in running battles with city vendors, Health Minister has called for authorities to devise ways to formalize the vending sector so as to boost government coffers for efficient health service delivery. Due to the fact that there is donor fatigue, the government alone is not capable of financing the operations…

The Nigerian Nobel Prize winner for literature said heads of states who are trying to cling to power suffer the same fate as the dictators who were swept away by the Arab spring. Nigerian's Wole Soyinka cited the example of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, describing both of them as "irremovable octogenarian" who…

Following a deadlock during Monday's African Union elections, with a tie between former wife to South African president Jacob Zuma, Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and current and outgoing chairperson, Jean Ping of Gabon, the caucus agreed to meet in Malawi in June for a decider.

Attended strictly by the heads of states and government…