During a grueling, weeks-long mission in northern Mali, French soldiers were confronted by a familiar threat: Extremists trying to impose the same strict Islamic rule that preceded France’s military intervention here more than eight years ago. Traumatized residents showed scars on their shoulders and backs from whippings they endured after failing to submit to the…
Russia on Thursday announced that airlines can resume charter flights to Egyptian resorts. Moscow had banned charter flights to the north African nation after the suspected bombing of a Russian airliner, in which 224 people died in 2015. President Vladimir Putin cancelled his order suspending the flights, according to a document on the government information…
The humanitarian situation of more than 500 rescued migrants is worsening by the hour, a charity group said Thursday. SOS Meditérranée rescued the 572 rescue migrants onboard one of its boats. The group’s Ocean Viking vessel picked up the migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa during several operations. According to the NGO,…
Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku (right) tours business property that was destroyed in Matsapha during protests. Warrants of arrest have reportedly been issued against two members of parliament at Eswatini, Bacede Mabuza and Mduduzi Simelane. Mabuza and Simelane, also known as Magawugawu, are among those who are advocating for democracy in Eswatini. Their legal representative, Thulani…
KwaZulu-Natal police arrested 239 suspects in connection with gender-based violence (GBV) crimes in the month of June. Police spokesperson Thembeka Mbele says the charges include statutory rape, kidnapping, abduction and rape among other serious alleged offences. Mbele says the arrests show the success of the KwaZulu Natal Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units.…
Zambia’s founding leader Kenneth Kaunda was laid to rest at the country’s presidential burial site on Wednesday despite an 11th-hour bid by some of his relatives to block the interment. Kaunda, who was also a hero of the struggle against white rule in southern Africa, died last month at the age of 97. Some of…
What you need to know: In an extraordinary sitting chaired by President Salva Kiir in Juba on Wednesday, the cabinet advised the public to mark the day in their homes as part of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. South Sudan’s Council of Ministers has resolved that there will be no official celebrations for…
“President Zuma has decided to comply with the incarceration order. He is on his way to hand himself into a Correctional Services Facility in KZN (KwaZulu-Natal province),” said a tweet posted by the Zuma Foundation. Soon after South Africa’s police confirmed that Zuma was in their custody. Zuma’s imprisonment comes after a week of rising…
Johannesburg – Two South African journalists were detained and “tortured” by security forces while on assignment in eSwatini, which has been hit by deadly pro-democracy protests, their publication said Monday. Cebelihle Mbuyisa, 28, and Magnificent Mndebele, 24, were detained on Sunday by soldiers along a highway near the central town of Matsapha while returning from…
Blood donation has historically been low in sub-Saharan Africa and it’s fallen even lower during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the World Health Organization, it’s fallen by 17% in the African region. High-income countries make up 19% of the global population and account for 50% of the 112.5 million blood donations collected globally every year. Globally, blood…