South African scientists – praised internationally for first detecting the Omicron variant – have accused Western nations of ignoring early evidence that the new Covid variant was “dramatically” milder than those which drove previous waves of the pandemic. Two of South Africa’s most prominent coronavirus experts told the BBC that Western scepticism about their work…
STOCKHOLM/JOHANNESBURG, Jan 19 (Reuters) – Oracle (ORCL.N) opened a data centre in South Africa on Wednesday to provide local cloud services across Africa for the first time, joining the likes of Microsoft and Amazon in setting up facilities in the southernmost country on the continent. Africa will be the U.S. company’s 37th “cloud region” – an area…
Four French soldiers were wounded in an improvised explosive device blast in northern Burkina Faso, France’s military told AFP Tuesday evening. “(Their) off-road vehicle activated an IED as it left Ouahigouya airport,” the army said in a statement, adding the unit was part of the Barkhane operation, Paris’ deployment in the Sahel against a jihadist insurgency. Four…
Sunday’s suicide bombing in Somalia’s capital targeted a man who had survived four previous attacks. BBC World Service Africa editor Mary Harper considers why Mohamed Moalimu, who is now recovering in hospital, continues to brave a city wracked by violence. I have a list of essential information stored on my phone. Right near the top,…
Four-time champion Ghana was eliminated in the group stage at the African Cup of Nations on Tuesday with a 3-2 loss to tournament debutant Comoros in a shocker that eclipsed a series of big surprises already in Cameroon. In a tumultuous game, Ghana fell behind in the fourth minute, had captain Andre Ayew harshly sent…
The Malian ministerial delegation, led by the Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdoulaye Diop, met with Mauritanian President Mohamed El Ghazouani in Nouakchott as part of Mali’s democratic transition plan and the embargo imposed on the country by ECOWAS members “This message is situated first of all in the context of Mali, notably the challenges…
Move comes after 7 demonstrators killed in anti-military protest. KHARTOUM, Sudan Three associations representing Sudanese doctors on Tuesday suspended working at hospitals run by the military as part of pressure for full civilian rule. “Continuing work by doctors and medical staff at hospitals run by the military and police is a recognition of the practices…
Former Guinean President Alpha Conde left the country for medical treatment in the United Arab Emirates after spending more than four months in the custody of the military junta that overthrew him, witnesses said Monday. No details were given on his diagnosis, though witnesses at the airport in Conakry, the capital, confirmed that the 83-year-old…
Zimbabwean teachers are leaving the country for menial jobs in the United Kingdom. Those based in South Africa are rushing to get their Educators’ Council certificate to allow them to live and work there. Arrested demonstrating teachers were granted bail by a Harare court. After 23 years as a government school teacher in Zimbabwe, upon…
Seven protesters were killed on Monday by Sudanese forces in the latest deadly violence against a military coup ahead of a key visit by US diplomats. Several were injured during the mass rally while a UN special representative warned against the use of live ammunition to put down protestors. The latest killing brings the death…