Africa
Africa
Mozambique government finds 30,000 non-existent persons on payroll, the fraud represented nearly 10% of official public workforce and cost the state EUR 220 million, nearly 50% of government budget is devoted to payroll
Danish photographer sparks outrage in Egypt after posting image of woman in a sexual pose atop pyramid, Andreas Hvid claims he and the anonymous woman scaled the wonder after hours, Egyptian antiquities minister claims the act was a “violation of public morality”
Robert Mugabe has been receiving medical treatment in Singapore for last two months, is no longer able to walk but expected to return to Zimbabwe next week, according to president Emmerson Mnangagwa
France to return 26 royal statues taken by the French army in 1892 to Benin, not an isolated or symbolic case according to French president Macron who wants to define an international framework for returning artworks to African countries
Morocco finishes construction of the fastest rail line in Africa, Tangier-Casablanca line covers 350km in 2h10m at 320km/hr, France loaned the kingdom EUR 2 billion to finance half the project which took 7 years to complete
Fighting in Congo leaves 8 UN and 12 Congolese soldiers dead, an operation aimed at containing Allied Democratic Forces rebels is ongoing in an area experiencing ebola outbreak
Mass grave with 200 bodies discovered on Ethiopian border, former administrator of strife-torn Somali region Abdi Mohammed Omer recently arrested and accused of stoking ethnic tensions and violence
American Charles Wesco shot dead in English-speaking part of Cameroon during cross-fire between government forces and Ambazonian separatists, the missionary moved to the region two weeks earlier together with wife and eight children, both sides blame each other for the murder
Angolan government claims 380,000 illegal immigrants left country following "Operation Transparency", the crackdown focused on illegal diamond trade and most immigrants fled to neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo
London scientists intend to release 10,000 genetically modified mosquitoes in Burkina Faso to end malaria, only 40 species of 3,500 are able to carry malaria and the genetic modification targets female reproduction
Mnangagwa declared electoral victor in Zimbabwe presidential race as Constitutional Court denies election rigging, the successor to Robert Mugabe and member of ruling ZANU-PF claimed 50.8% of the votes, narrowly avoided runoff election against MDC leader Nelson Chamisa with 44.3% of the votes
Zimbabweans increasingly rely on mobile phone payment systems in a post-hyperinflation cash-less society, economic disaster plus scarce foreign currency supplies lead to 3 tier pricing system between USD, reserve bank bond notes and EcoCash mobile payments
ANC targets 139 farms to expropriate coming weeks, also considers tax for land owned by "absent landlords"
Zimbabwean soldiers patrol Harare streets day after security forces backed by armored vehicles and military helicopter killed six unarmed demonstrators protesting the election
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa says constitution to be changed to more explicitly allow land expropriation without compensation, states reform "of critical importance" to economy – around 10% of land in white ownership expropriated from white farmers since 1994, a third of ANC's target
Ghana national football association dissolved after allegations of corruption against chairman Kwesi Nyantakyi
Pastor bitten to death by crocodile during baptism at Lake Abaya in Ethiopia
At least 29 killed under unclear circumstances in Menka in one of Cameroon's Anglophone regions, army spokeman says government troops surrounded hotel after tipped off to separatist rebels' presence and that "several terrorists were neutralized" after long firefight
Amnesty International accuses Nigerian army and militia group Civilian Joint Task Force of raping thousands of women and girls who escaped Boko Haram, brigadier general John Agim says report false and that credible intelligence report says organisation released cooked report to demoralize entire military system
Zimbabwe has applied to re-join Commonwealth according to organisation's Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, observers' report on upcoming election in country part of informal assessment to determine re-admission
US ambassador to Cameroon accuses government forces for targeted killings against country's Anglophone separatists, calls for dialogue to end escalating 18-month crisis
Nigerian former vice president Atiku Abubakar to run in next year's presidential election, becoming main challenger of Muhammadu Buhari, wants to privatize parts of state oil firm NNPC and says he is believer in very small government
South African photographer Sam Nzima dead at 83 – took iconic photo of dying 13-year-old Hector Pieterson during 1976 Soweto uprising, which Time Magazine 2016 named one of 100 most influential photographs in history
Democratic Republic of Congo Health Ministry confirms two cases of Ebola in Bikoro in northwestern part of country, 17 deaths in area
Nigerian military with support from Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin rescues 1,000 Boko Haram hostages, mostly women and children
At least 51 killed by bandits and former cattle rustlers who surrounded village of Gwaska in northern Nigeria, children under age of 10 among dead
Pentagon accuses China of harassing US fighter pilots with military grade lasers in Djibouti – formal complaint issued, demanding that Beijing investigate series of incidents in area where respective countries operate military bases just 18 miles apart
More than 60 killed in suicide attack against mosque and market in Mubi in northeast Nigeria, Islamist Boko Haram whose insurgency has left 20,000 people dead since 2009 suspected to be behind bombing
31 civilian pastoralist Berbers killed by suspected jihadists in northeastern Mali day after 12 civilians killed in attack outside town of Anderamboukane in same area, reprisal for successful attacks on jihadist bases by Tuareg groups according to tribal leader Sidigui Ag Hamadi
Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar returns to Libya after two-week absence during which he received medical treatment in Paris, has promised to drive out Islamist militants and is being accused by opponents of trying to reimpose authoritarian rule
Swaziland king Mswati III renames country Kingdom of eSwatini to mark 50 years since independence from British rule, change for Africa’s last absolute monarchy noted to possibly mean rewriting country’s constitution
Zimbabwe's government sacks 10,000 nurses who went on strike, cites interest of patients and of saving lives, sacked staff will be replaced by unemployed and retired nurses
Authorities in Ghana capital Accra asks mosques to use mobile text or WhatsApp messages rather than loudspeaker as prayer calls, interviewed Muslims worried about economic implications for imam and that call to prayer is traditionally supposed to reach as far as possible
German aid worker from non-governmental organisation Help abducted by unknown gunmen in Niger near border with Mali, four Nigerien colleagues also kidnapped but later released
Protesters put 16 corpses in front of UN headquarters in Central African Republic's capital Bangui after accusations that organization's soldiers killed 21 civilians during fighting with Muslim militia
At least 257 dead as Algerian military Ilyushin Il-76 plane crashes shortly after taking off from Boufarik airbase outside Algiers, 26 of passengers representatives of West Saharan independence movement Polisario
Nigerian President Buhari seeks re-election despite concerns over his health and low energy during recent years, vowed in 2015 to crack down on graft and stamp out Boko Haram insurgency which has not been achieved
Winnie Mandela dies at age 81, was married to South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela for 38 years up until divorce in 1996, infamous for backing practice of necklacing and for involvement in kidnapping and murder of 14-year-old Stompie Seipei in 1988
At least 15 dead and 83 injured when criminals attack civilians and military personnel with suicide bombs and fire arms in Maiduguri in NE Nigeria, it is suspected that Boko Harem is behind this
400 men invade Grace Mugabe's farm Smithfield north of Zimbabwean capital Harare to pan for gold, destroy drip irrigation equipment and refuse to leave when former first lady confronts them
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reelected as Egyptian president with 92% of vote in election where all serious challengers were prohibited from taking part, turnout estimated at 40% at most, well below 47% turnout in 2014
Car bombing in Egyptian Alexandria kills one and injures four while city's security chief who was intended target remains unharmed, explosion comes amid heightened security ahead of Monday's presidential elections
Grace Mugabe suspected to be behind ivory smuggling syndicate in Zimbabwe, Australian nature photographer Adrian Steirn went undercover as buyer to expose scheme, president Mnangagwa orders immediate investigation
African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) created as 44 countries sign agreement in Kigali, Rwanda, has to be approved by national parliaments before taking effect, 10 African countries decline to participate, among them Nigeria
At least 101 out of 110 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria last month freed, not clear what has happened to remaining nine but reports suggest five died during abduction
Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam announces his candidacy in country’s presidential elections this year, is wanted by International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during 2011 rebellion
Mugabe may lose privilege of being buried at heroes' cemetary if he does not cease engaging in oppositional politics, according to MP and former leader of veterans' movement Joseph Chinotimba
At least 12 dead in central Somalian town of Mahas after villagers backed by Somali army troops fight off al-Shabaab attempt to impose taxes
Former South African president Jacob Zuma to stand trial for corruption in connection with government arms deal
Transport union in South Africa sounds alarm as train is hijacked on weekly basis by frustrated passengers after recurring delays, train conductor threatened with knife or gun and forced to deviate from planned route, spokesperson for union says government knows about problems but does not act since only poor people take the train
Julius Maada Bio gets plurality of votes and faces Samura Kamara of ruling party APC in second round of Sierra Leone presidential election, Bio led country during short period following 1996 military coup
Robert Mugabe poses in photo with brigadier general Ambrose Mutinhiri who after resignation from Zanu-PF aims to challenge Zimbabwe's president Emmerson Mnangagwa in August election, could mean that Mugabe family is behind candidacy according to analyst
Thieving animals rather than corruption allegedly behind disappearance of Nigerian tax money, snake said to have swallowed equivalent of USD 100,000 belonging to exam board for public universities, senator defending colleague accused of misappropriating funds suggests that missing USD 194,600 was stolen by monkeys
Overwhelming majority of South African parliament passes bill to confiscate white-owned land without compensation – time of reconciliation over, now time for justice, says Julius Malema
Security forces kill one activist and wound several others in Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital Kinshasa during church-led demonstrations against President Joseph Kabila, internet shut down across country
At least 27 dead and 20 injured as two car bombs detonate near presidential palace in Somali capital Mogadishu, al-Shabaab terrorist group claims to have carried out attack
No major celebration as lonely and isolated Robert Mugabe turns 94 despite his birthday being a national holiday in Zimbabwe
80% of male teachers in Zambia have had sexual relations with female students, according to government report
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau once again evades capture by Nigerian forces, terror group estimated to have between 200 and 300 soldiers, has previously been declared defeated by Muhammadu Buhari
Revolutionary sentiments in Tunisia result of high unemployment rather than desire for political freedom, population of Tunis suburbs has increased dramatically since 2011 and experts warn developments may lead to further uprisings
At least 17 dead as rubbish tip collapses in Mozambique's capital Maputo and buries seven houses
Gambia declares moratorium on use of death penalty, first step towards abolition according to president Adama Barrow, capital punishment on decline in Africa where governments executed 22 people in 2016 compared to 43 previous year
20 dead in northern Nigeria as three female suicide bombers attack market in Konduga near Maiduguri where Boko Haram was founded
State of emergency declared in Ethiopia one day after unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, neither previous emergency declaration nor release from jail of thousands of opposition supporters has stopped wave of protests
At least ten Islamist terrorists killed in French air raids in northeast Mali, France has been conducting operations in area for several days
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn says he will resign as soon as successor has been selected, decision comes after years of protests against state corruption
Cyril Ramaphosa elected president of South Africa after vote in parliament
Jacob Zuma resigns from South Africa presidency, effective immediately, after losing support from ANC party
Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai dies in South Africa at age of 65, had been suffering from colon cancer
Four survivors of massacre in St Peter's Lutheran Church in Monrovia during 1990 Liberia civil war bring legal claims against Moses Thomas who is suspected to have ordered attack which killed 600, former colonel in president Samuel Doe's feared special forces now lives in US
ANC asks Jacob Zuma to resign as president of South Africa, party leader Cyril Ramaphosa probable successor, uncertain whether incumbent will leave willingly
16 dead in Egyptian military offensive against Sinai Islamist insurgents, actions taken after attack on local mosque killed 300 people in November 2017
Samuel Ikome Sako named new Ambazonian separatist leader after former leader Sisiku Ayuk Tabe was arrested, declares movement has entered era of individual and communal self-defense
Gambia rejoins Commonwealth under new president Adama Barrow, left in 2013 under Yahya Jammeh who ruled country for 22 years
Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai critically ill, suffers from colon cancer and has received treatment in Johannesburg hospital several times since June, conflict within MDC party about who will succeed him
Esmond Bradley-Martin, leading expert in fight against illegal trade in ivory and rhinoceros horn, found murdered in Nairobi home
950 miners trapped in Sibanye-Stillwater gold mine in Beatrix, South Africa after storms bring down power lines in area, 60 people rescued so far