Busines: African, global telecom giants bid to enter Ethiopia market

Twelve telecom companies have thrown their hat into the race to enter the Ethiopian market according to the country’s communications regulator. The bidders range from top players across the continent and a number of global players. The disclosure of bidders is the first stage in liberalization process of the market which is currently occupied by […]

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Malawi president says Tuesday’s vote was worst election

Malawi President Peter Mutharika described Saturday a court sanctioned presidential election earlier this week as the worst in the country’s history. “Much as I find the election unacceptable, I ask all Malawians to be peaceful when all results are announced,” Mutharika said at a news briefing at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre. He said the vote […]

Tanzania miner pockets $3.4m for two gemstones

A small-scale miner in Tanzania has become an overnight millionaire after unearthing two of the biggest rough tanzanite gemstones ever found. Tanzania’s government bought the book-sized stones weighing 20 pounds (9 kg) and 11 pounds (5 kg) from miner Saniniu Laizer for $3.4 million. Minerals Minister Doto Biteko said on state television Wednesday the government […]

Lights up’: Somalia’s refurbished national theater reopens in Mogadishu

Somalis can now boast a functional national theater after the facility located in the capital Mogadishu was formally reopened having been closed for refurbishment. According to reports, the refurbishment was funded by some businesses, the chamber of commerce and contributions by civilian workers. The reopening was made to coincide with the 60th independence day celebration […]

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Impossible to hold 2020 polls – Somalia elections boss

Somalia joins the league of country’s that cannot hold elections – not because of the coronavirus as in the case of Ethiopia but because of preparatory challenges, the elections chief has disclosed. According to National Independent Electoral Commission head, Halima Ismail Ibrahim, the NIEC has ruled out holding elections which were scheduled to hold on […]

Sports: Super Eagles star suffers Premier League promotion setback after losing at Brentford

Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi suffer Premier League promotion setback after West Brom loses 1-0 against Brentford in the Sky Bet Championship encounter at Griffin Park. The 26-year-old Nigeria international was handed a starting role in the match in his 37th league appearance as he was pair with Egyptian center-back Ahmed Hegazy in central defence. […]

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Kenya: Shalom Hospital closed, turned into quarantine facility after Covid-19 deaths

Machakos county government has shut down Shalom Hospital in Athi River after Covid 19 patients died at the facility. The hospital was sealed off on Friday evening out of fear that some other patients might have been infected with coronavirus. Four Covid-19 patients were announced dead on different dates after being referred to Kenyatta National […]

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Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan agree to postpone dam talks

Sudan, Ethiopian and Egypt have agreed to postpone filling the Ethiopian Renaissance dam until a final agreement is reached between the three sides, Sudan state news agency (SUNA) said late Friday. The decision comes as leaders of the three countries held a virtual summit earlier in the day brokered by South Africa, Kenya, Democratic Republic […]

Business: South Africa unlikely to stabilise debt by 2023-Moody’s

The South African government target to stabilise its ballooning debt by 2023 will be very difficult to achieve and unlikely, ratings agency Moody’s said on Thursday. The Treasury on Wednesday presented a supplementary budget in response to the coronavirus crisis that projected a wider budget deficit, while public debt was estimated to be more than […]

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Burundi holds funeral, burial for Nkurunziza in capital Gitega

Thousands of Burundians on Friday lined the road to the capital Gitega as the body of former president Pierre Nkurunziza was escorted under heavy security for a state funeral after his sudden death earlier this month. Nkurunziza, who was president for 15 years, died at the aged 55 of what the government said was “heart […]

Rwanda reintroduces lockdown in parts of Kigali as cases rise

A fresh surge in coronavirus cases prompted Rwanda’s government to place six areas of the capital, Kigali, back under a “total lockdown.” Kigali registered 21 new cases this month, the Ministry of Local Government said in a statement on Twitter. The decision to reintroduce the lockdown to the areas was taken after consulting the health […]

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Cabinet supports SAA restructuring plan, okays equity sale

South African government supports restructuring proposals for SAA that include job cuts as well as the introduction of equity partners in the long troubled airline. In a statement released on Friday, Cabinet said it was in support of “… the concerted effort to mobilise funding from various sources”, including the introduction of potential equity partners. […]

Nigeria: APC risks disintegration-Buhari

Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress is facing the risk of disintegration amid an internal crisis and rival claims to its leadership, President Muhammadu Buhari said. “At the moment, our great party is faced with internal wrangling,” Buhari said in remarks at a party meeting Thursday in Abuja, the capital, emailed by the presidency. “It is […]

Donors pledge $1.8 billion for Sudan

Foreign donor nations pledged $1.8 billion at a conference hosted by Germany to help Sudan ease an economic crisis hampering its transition towards democracy after the fall of Omar al-Bashir. The European Union pledged 312 million euros ($350.13 million), the United States $356.2 million, Germany 150 million euros, France 100 million euros, and Britain £150 […]

Breaking: Gambia’s justice minister resigns

Gambia’s renowned justice minister Abubacarr Tambadou, who established a probe to investigate abuses under the country’s ex-dictator and spearheaded the international defence of Myanmar’s Rohingya, has resigned, the government said Thursday. The West African state said that Tambadou will step down as minister and attorney general effective from June 30, for an unspecified job at […]

Gunmen kidnap 10 aid workers in Niger

Unidentified gunmen have abducted 10 humanitarian aid workers as they were distributing food in a village in southwestern Niger, their NGO said in a statement. Kadidiatou Harouna, of the Action and Impact Progress (APIS), said on Thursday the assailants drove into the village in the Tillaberi region on Wednesday afternoon on a motorbike and told […]

US slams Tanzania for opposition members arrest

The U.S. criticized Tanzania’s arrest of eight opposition leaders during their party meeting on Wednesday, saying the action stifles democratic norms. ACT-Wazalendo party leader Zitto Kabwe and other members were taken by authorities, citing alleged illegal assembly.“The police detained us for more than 30 hours,” Zitto told reporters, adding it was politically motivated. Political tensions […]