Africa

Issued on: 04/08/2020 – 23:03 In tonight's edition: Zimbabwe labels opposition party as 'terrorist'. Emmerson Mnangagwa was addressing his government's clampdown on protests which saw scores of opposition members and government critics arrested. And secondary schools reopen in Nigeria with only two weeks to go before exams. And finally virtual tours bring tourists a taste of Rwanda as its tourism sector has beenRead More – Source [contf] [contfnew] france24 [contfnewc] [contfnewc]

Issued on: 04/08/2020 – 03:59 The trial opened Monday of Algerian journalist Khaled Drareni, who has become a figurehead of press freedom in the North African country, with the prosecution calling for a four-year prison term. Advertising Read more The prosecutor at the Algiers court also called for Drareni's two co-accused to be jailed for four years, as well as all three facing heavy fines and being stripped of their civic rights, judicial sources said. Drareni, 40, who ran the Casbah Tribune website and was a correspondent for French-language television channel TV5Monde, was arrested in March while covering an anti-government protest. He is accused of "inciting an unarmed gathering" and undermining the nation's "territorial integrity", charges he denies. The verdict is expected on Monday, August 10, according to lawyers and journalists on the spot. Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), for which Drareni also works, has called for the charges ..

"This momentous occasion is historic in many respects, brings both closure and a new beginning in the history of the land discourse in our country Zimbabwe," said current President Emmerson Mnangagwa, after signing the agreement at State House with Andrew Pascoe, the president of the Commercial Farmers Union of Zimbabwe. "After almost 20 years of conflict over the land issue, representatives of farmers who lost their land through the fast track reform program and representatives of government have been able to come together to see a resolution of this conflict. To me this is nothing short of a miracle. For me it has been a dream that I will see this day," said Pascoe. According to the agreement, 50 percent of the $3.5 billion would be paid with 12 months from the day of signing, while the balance is paid within five years. Ailing economy Economists agree that the Zimbabwean government, cash strapped after years of hyper-inflation and allegations of mismanagement, cannot afford to mak..

Issued on: 03/08/2020 – 23:33 In tonight's edition: Niger celebrates 60 years of independance from France. It's one of eight francophone African countries to mark its sovereignty this month. Ten thousand tests a day, Gabon positions itself as a regional leader in coronvirus testing, transforming a sports arena into a giant laboratory. And from foe to friend, fishermen in Senegal join the effort to protect the endangered sea turtle. Despite a ban on turtle poacRead More – Source [contf] [contfnew] france24 [contfnewc] [contfnewc]

Suliyat Adulkareem, 29, gave birth to the babies, two boys, and two girls, at the Latifa Hospital for Women and Children on July 1. They were born prematurely at nearly 31 weeks through an emergency C-section and placed on ventilators at the neonatal intensive care unit, the hospital said in a statement.However, the family had no medical insurance and racked up more than AED 400,000 (about $108,000) in medical expenses since the quadruplets were born, their father Tijani Abdulkareem told CNN. The Nigerian community and other nationals in Dubai rallied around them to help raise AED 42,000 (around $11,500) to pay part of the bills. The Crown Prince stepped in to pay the bills after he came across the initial CNN report highlighting the family's story. He was moved by their plight and informed his office to assist the family, the hospital said. 'A huge favor' Abdulkareem told CNN he was shocked by the ruler's generosity, and the couple have decided to name two of thei..

Kenya's embassy in Kuwait, which oversees the country's consulate in Lebanon, will send officials to Beirut during the first week of August, Chief Information Officer at Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jane Kariuki told CNN. Earlier this week, CNN reported allegations of abuse at the Kenyan consulate in Beirut, which is tasked with protecting upwards of 1,000 expats in the country. Multiple women told CNN they were exploited, verbally abused or physically assaulted by Kenya's Honorary Consul in Lebanon, Sayed Chalouhi, and his assistant, Kassem Jaber, both Lebanese nationals. Four women also said they witnessed Chalouhi suggesting that Kenyan women seek sex work in order to cover their consular expenses. All of the witnesses said Chalouhi and Jaber regularly overcharge Kenyan women for consular fees. At least one Kenyan woman was arrested by Lebanese police at the consulate after an altercation with Chalouhi, according to the woman, witnesses and a police report..

Issued on: 03/08/2020 – 02:14 Mali's army suffered new losses in twin attacks Sunday that left at least five soldiers dead as the Sahel country was mired in a political crisis sparking international concern. Advertising Read more Five soldiers were killed and five were wounded in an ambush on a military convoy and an artillery attack on a camp, with both attacks blamed on jihadists, in central Mali, army and local sources said. The bloodshed came some six weeks after jihadists ambushed a military convoy, also in central Mali, killing 24 soldiers. Jihadists unleashed a revolt in northern Mali in 2012 that has since spread to the centre of the poor Sahel country and to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger despite the presence of thousands of French and UN troops. The latest attacks came as President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita faces insistent calls to resign from an opposition angry over the brutal jihadist conflict as well as dire economic conditions and perceived corruption..

Issued on: 01/08/2020 – 08:23 A French soldier died during a maintenance operation in Chad after a piece of equipment exploded, the defence ministry said in a statement on Friday. Advertising Read more The ministry said armed forces were investigating the causes of the accident at the base in N'Djamena, which killed Andy Fila, a brigadier-chef of the infantry regiment and an electro-mechanic specialist. France has more than 5,000 troops in the West African Sahel region as part of international efforts tRead More – Source [contf] [contfnew] france24 [contfnewc] [contfnewc]

Issued on: 31/07/2020 – 23:06 Hundreds of military troops and police clamped down on an anti-government protest this Friday. Scores were arrested. The planned demonstration was against corruption and economic hardship amid skyrocketing inflation. President Emmerson Mnangagwa's critics say his government is increasingly resorting to the authoritarian tactics of the Robert Mugabe era. We speak to our correspondent in Harare. Advertising Also in tonight's show: Despite the on-going pandemic, Guinea reopens its mosques for the first day of Eid al-Adha festivities.Read More – Source [contf] [contfnew] france24 [contfnewc] [contfnewc]

Issued on: 31/07/2020 – 17:36Modified: 31/07/2020 – 17:39 Scores of people were arrested Friday in Zimbabwe as hundreds of military troops as well as police attempted to thwart an anti-government protest, with streets empty and many people hiding indoors. Advertising Read more Organizers said demonstrators originally planned to protest alleged government corruption but instead targeted the ruling political party, using the hashtag #ZANUPFmustgo.” Tensions are rising in Zimbabwe as the economy implodes. Inflation is more than 700%, the second highest in the world. Now the coronavirus burdens the threadbare health system. Police arrested scores of people who tried to hold low-key protests, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said. They included prominent author Tsitsi Dangarembga and Fadzayi Mahere, spokeswoman of the main opposition MDC Alliance party. Charges against them were not yet clear, the lawyers said. On 21st July I tweeted about Tsitsi Dangaremba @efie41209591 and h..