Tag: africa

  • Nigeria’s Boko Haram trouble: Father’s joy at voice of kidnapped daughter

    The freed 104 Dapchi girls, one other girl and a boy assembled at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Maidugurion. Symbol copyright Segun Adeyemi Image caption Some 104 of the abducted girls were freed in March

    The Daddy of a Nigerian schoolgirl being held by means of Islamist militant crew in view that February has told the BBC he’s overjoyed to hear her voice in a just lately launched audio recording.

    “It really is her voice. As A Result Of sooner than i believed she wasn’t even alive,” Nathan Sharibu, told BBC Pidgin.

    His daughter was among more than ONE HUNDRED girls kidnapped, but later freed, from the north-japanese the town of Dapchi.

    The militants held her as a result of she reportedly refused to transform to Islam.

    The 35-second audio recording, that is yet to be authenticated by means of Nigerian government, used to be printed through Nigeria’s cable newspaper on Monday.

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  • Uganda’s Bobi Wine problem: Court Docket frees pop superstar MP

    Uganda's prominent opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi known as Bobi Wine (C) appears at the chief magistrate court in Gulu, northern Uganda, on August 23, 2018 Symbol copyright Getty Pictures Image caption Bobi Wine has seemed unsteady and in need of enhance during his court docket appearances

    A judge in Uganda has granted bail to widespread musician-became-baby-kisser Bobi Wine and 32 opposition politicians who’re dealing with treason charges.

    They are accused of allegedly throwing stones at a car in President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy in advance this month.

    Bobi Wine, affectionately known as the “ghetto president”, gave the impression on crutches in courtroom.

    the military, who had detained him, denied stories that he have been overwhelmed, calling the allegations “rubbish”.

    Africa Are Living: In This and more tales The president and the pop celebrity who is Bobi Wine?

    Bobi Wine, whose actual title is Robert Kyagulanyi, was once arrested on THIRTEEN August after a marketing campaign rally within the north-western the city of Arua.

    Symbol copyright AFP Image caption Bobi Wine’s supporters protested in Kampala ultimate week

    The 36-12 months-old musician was once initially to be tried in a military court docket over accusations of unlawful possession of firearms but the rate was dropped. A civilian courtroom later charged him with treason.

    Bobi Wine, along the 33 co-accused, is predicted again in courtroom on 30 August.

    Taxing ‘gossip’ at the internet Profile: Yoweri Museveni

    The Afrobeats superstar has been a thorn in the facet of Mr Museveni’s executive. Due To The Fact his election just over a yr ago, he has sponsored applicants in 3 via-elections who’ve overwhelmed those from the ruling National Resistance Motion (NRM) birthday celebration, including in the Arua the town by-election.

    He used to be also a number one campaigner towards the move to scrap the presidential age limit – set at 75 – which might have locked out the 74-yr-old Mr Museveni’s bid to run for a sixth term in 2021.

    Wine also joined native activists in July to protest towards a social media tax introduced ostensibly to boost state income and to end what Mr Museveni referred to as “gossip” on WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter.

    Critics, on the other hand, said the 200 Uganda shillings ($0.05, £0.04) day by day tax was once meant to suppress dissenting voices.

    The government has on account that backtracked and mentioned it is going to review the tax.

    Bobi Wine’s rise to popularity

    Born four years prior to Yoweri Museveni turned into president Describes his track as “edutainment” – leisure that educates one of his earliest hits, Kadingo, was once about private hygiene Even after turning into famous, stored his recording studio in Kamwokya slum Nicknamed “the ghetto president” He and his spouse have subsidized education and sanitation projects Changed Into MP for Kyadondo East in June 2017 Led a campaign in opposition to a social media tax Charged with treason August 2018.

  • Zimbabwe election: Competition rejects court ruling on result

    Nelson Chamisa Image copyright AFP Symbol caption Mr Chamisa stated he had a “authentic declare” to steer Zimbabwe

    Zimbabwe’s main competition chief has refused to accept a court ruling upholding Emmerson Mnangagwa’s win in ultimate month’s presidential elections.

    Nelson Chamisa stated he had a “professional claim” to lead the country and may lead non violent protests.

    His MDC Alliance birthday celebration has alleged fraud, but on Friday the constitutional courtroom stated it had no evidence.

    It used to be Zimbabwe’s first election in view that long-time chief Robert Mugabe used to be ousted from power final year.

    Two days after the vote, no less than six people have been killed in clashes between the army and MDC Alliance supporters, who alleged that birthday party chief Nelson Chamisa have been robbed of victory.

    Mr Mnangagwa narrowly avoided a second-round run-off when he took 50.7% of the vote.

    The opposition alleged that his vote proportion – which was just 30,000 more votes than the minimum needed for outright victory – was once suspicious.

    But Chief Justice Luke Malaba called allegations of tampering “bold and unsubstantiated”.

    After the decision the european instructed all events to “call for calm and discretion” at the same time as the u.s. known as for the events to admire the “constitution and the rule of thumb of legislation.”

    International election observers, who had been allowed into Zimbabwe for the first time in SIXTEEN years, in large part praised the habits of the polls.

    However, Eu Union observers had been more cautious, declaring that every one parties will have to settle for the decision but in addition suggesting that President Mnangagwa had benefited from an “un-stage taking part in field”.

  • Jean-Pierre Bemba ‘cannot run for DRC president’

    Congolese opponent Jean-Pierre Bemba (C), speaks to the press after applying to be a candidate for next presidential elections of December 23 Image copyright AFP

    Former warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba can’t run to be the next president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country’s electoral commission mentioned.

    Mr Bemba used to be considered one of six might-be applicants deemed ineligible following hours of deliberation.

    The ex-rise up leader had a warfare crimes conviction overturned in June.

    However, the fee said Mr Bemba used to be excluded on account of his conviction by way of the Global Criminal Courtroom (ICC) for bribing witnesses.

    Mr Bemba, who again to the DR Congo at the get started of August after 11 years spent in exile or jail, is currently appealing towards the ICC conviction.

    Symbol copyright Getty Photographs A well-connected businessman and the son of outstanding Congolese businessman Bemba Saolona 1998: Helped by means of Uganda to shape MLC revolt staff in Democratic Republic of Congo 2003: Turns Into vice-president beneath peace deal 2006: Loses run-off election to President Joseph Kabila but will get so much votes in western DR Congo, together with Kinshasa 2007: Flees to Belgium after clashes in Kinshasa 2008: Arrested in Brussels and passed over to ICC 2010: Trial starts 2016: Discovered guilty of struggle crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity 2018: Conviction overturned on appeal

  • South Africa Zuma inquiry: Gupta ‘threatened to kill’ over bribe offer

    Mcebisi Jonas Image copyright Reuters Image caption Mcebisi Jonas’s testimony is the most explosive evidence but given to the inquiry

    A South African politician has alleged that a controversial businessman threatened to kill him if he ever disclosed that he have been offered a bribe to transform finance minister.

    Mcebisi Jonas made the revelation at an inquiry into alleged corruption while ex-President Jacob Zuma was once in office.

    it’s investigating if the rich Gupta circle of relatives influenced political selections, including naming ministers.

    Ajay Gupta has denied that he ever meet Mr Jonas or presented him a bribe.

    Accusations of graft dogged Mr Zuma’s presidency ahead of he used to be pressured to step down in February.

    Research: Shock and anger

    By Milton Nkosi, BBC Africa, Johannesburg

    There used to be a collective gasp of outrage on the inquiry when Mcebisi Jonas noted the loss of life threat. His evidence has stunned the nation.

    Allegations of corruption have swirled for plenty of years now, however the recommendation that it may have morphed into a few form of mafia operation leaves many bewildered and dismayed.

    In many ways it’s not only the Guptas and the Zumas below the spotlight right here – each families deny any wrongdoing. it’s the governing African Nationwide Congress (ANC), the celebration in energy because the end of white-minority rule in 1994, that may be coming under scrutiny.

    When it used to be preventing for the liberty of black people, no-you may have foreseen the level of corruption that has affected it. It has left many South Africans embarrassed and angry.

    Mr Jonas also said that Mr Gupta mentioned then-President Zuma was once on the bidding of the rich Indian-born family.

    “He stated: ‘You should keep in mind that we are in control of the whole thing – the Nationwide Prosecuting Authority, the Hawks an elite police unit, the Nationwide Intelligence Company and the antique guy Zuma will do the rest we tell him to do,’” he instructed the commission.

    In December, South Africa’s Prime Courtroom ordered that the inquiry be set up within the wake of the public protector’s document, referred to as State of Seize, which found evidence of conceivable corruption on the most sensible stage of Mr Zuma’s government.

    The Zondo Fee, which began its hearings this week, does not have energy to prosecute however it can compel other folks to offer evidence.

    Any evidence it collects will also be utilized in any long term prosecutions, despite the fact that it could absorb to 2 years to unlock its findings.

    South Africa’s Instances Are Living paper has printed Mr Jonas’s 20-page observation in full, which he read out to judges.

  • Ebola inflamed doctor surrounded by way of DR Congo rebels, WHO warns

    A Congolese health worker administers Ebola vaccine to a woman who had contact with an Ebola sufferer in the village of Mangina in North Kivu Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Greater Than 2,900 folks have been vaccinated for the reason that recent outbreak began on 1 August

    An Ebola-inflamed physician is surrounded by means of rebels within the Democratic Republic of Congo in a “dreaded” situation, the world Health Organization (WHO) says.

    The guy is at his health facility within the eastern the city of Oicha, which is encircled through a feared Ugandan Islamist military, the Allied Democratic Forces.

    The workforce has been blamed for a series of killings and kidnappings, including of foreigners, WHO warned.

    An Ebola outbreak erupted within the region on 1 August, with 63 deaths to date.

    There have been 103 confirmed or probable cases in the newest outbreak, with the physician the first confirmed case “in a space with high lack of confidence”.

    Image copyright AFP/Getty Image caption UN teams can’t shuttle with out armed escort because the area has suffered deadly unrest by way of insurgents

    Dr Salama stated “we’re at somewhat a pivotal second on this outbreak” in phrases of its evolution and the reaction to the deadly illness.

    Greater Than 2,900 people have been vaccinated in opposition to Ebola for the reason that outbreak began, he stated.

    This outbreak, which began within the North Kivu the town of Mangina, is the tenth to hit DRC for the reason that 1976.

    Ebola caused standard panic among 2013 and 2016, as an endemic in West Africa killed ELEVEN,300 other people.

  • Zimbabwe court upholds President Mnangagwa’s election win

    Emmerson Mnangagwa pictured on 3 August 2018. Symbol copyright AFP Image caption Emmerson Mnangagwa has been declared the lawful winner of the July presidential ballot

    President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s win in last month’s polls has been upheld through Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court.

    The opposition MDC Alliance had brought the felony challenge announcing the vote was once marred via “mammoth robbery and fraud”, however this was rejected by the court.

    Delivering the decision, Leader Justice Luke Malaba known as allegations of tampering “bold and unsubstantiated”.

    It used to be Zimbabwe’s first election in view that lengthy-time chief Robert Mugabe used to be ousted from energy remaining year.

    Two days after the vote, a minimum of six other people were killed in clashes among the military and MDC Alliance supporters, who alleged that party leader Nelson Chamisa had been robbed of victory.

    sooner than the court docket ruling, the streets across the courthouse within the capital, Harare, had been cordoned off by way of security forces.

    The BBC’s Shignai Nyoka in Harare says that the city’s roads are empty.

    Africa Live: Updates in this and other tales Mnangagwa: The ‘crocodile’ who snapped again Chamisa: Crusader who took on Zanu-PF Zimbabwe’s euphoric and tragic election

    Chief Justice Malaba stated he had ruled against the opposition’s petition because it lacked “specificity” and did not meet “the needful same old of evidence”.

    “The Most Productive proof would have been the contents of the poll containers themselves,” he said.

  • South Africa rejects Donald Trump’s tweet on farmer killings

    Donald Trump Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Donald Trump’s tweet adopted a work on Fox Information about South Africa’s planned land reforms

    South Africa has accused US President Donald Trump of looking to sow department after his tweet referring to the “large-scale killing of farmers”.

    He stated he had requested his secretary of state to look into the matter of “seizing land from white farmers”.

    South Africa’s presidential spokeswoman stated Mr Trump was “misinformed”.

    Last month, South Africa mentioned it will cross beforehand with plans to amend the charter, allowing land to be expropriated without repayment.

    Reality Test: Are farmers at the next chance of homicide? Is South Africa ’s land reform an election gimmick? South Africans’ anger over land set to blow up

    The redistribution of land used to be a fundamental idea of the governing African National Congress (ANC) all the way through its struggle against white-minority rule.

    South Africa’s land problem

    The Natives Land Act of 1913 limited black other folks from buying or renting land in “white South Africa”, resulting in the pressured removals of black other folks After the top of apartheid in 1994, the ANC govt mentioned it desired to return 30% of this land to its earlier homeowners through 2014 It’s predicted that 10% of commercial farmland has been redistributed.

  • Arsène Wenger to get honour from Liberia’s George Weah

    George Weah and Arsene Wenger Symbol copyright Getty Pictures Image caption George Weah (left, pictured right here in 1993) has said that Arsène Wenger (proper) “took care of me like his son”

    Liberian President George Weah is to award his former soccer coach, Arsène Wenger, his usa’s easiest honour.

    President Weah, the one African to had been named International Player of the 12 Months, used to be signed through Wenger in 1988 when he coached Monaco.

    Wenger, who stepped down as Arsenal supervisor this 12 months after 22 years, nurtured a few African stars.

    The president retired from soccer in 2003 and went into politics. He won closing year’s election through a landslide.

    Wenger is anticipated to be in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, for the award ceremony on Saturday, Liberia’s Data Minister Eugene Nagbe informed the BBC.

    Seven issues about George Weah:

    Symbol copyright AFP Born 1 October, 1966, grew up in a slum in Liberia’s capital Signed by way of Arsène Wenger to Monaco from Cameroonian club Tonnerre Yaoundé Made Monaco debut in 1987, went on to play for AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea Handiest African to win Fifa International Player of the Year First ran for president in 2005, losing to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Graduated with a industry level from a US university after being accused of lacking training Elected president in December 2017 successful SIXTY TWO% of the vote

    Wenger may be because of be made a primary by way of participants of Liberia’s Arsenal fan club whilst he is within the u . s ., the guidelines minister said.

    The current train of the Togolese nationwide workforce, Claude Le Roy, will even get a countrywide honour on Saturday.

    He coached Cameroon in 1988 and advisable that Wenger must signal George Weah, who used to be playing for Cameroonian aspect Tonnerre Yaoundé on the time.

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  • Zuma corruption claims: South Africa state capture inquiry opens

    Jacob Zuma Image copyright AFP Symbol caption Ex-President Jacob Zuma is accused of allowing a rich trade circle of relatives to influence political choices

    A public inquiry in South Africa has started investigating alleged corruption by means of ex-President Jacob Zuma.

    The inquiry is asking into “state capture”, the place the wealthy Gupta family is accused of trying to persuade political selections, together with the naming of ministers.

    Accusations of graft dogged Mr Zuma’s presidency ahead of he was pressured to step down in February.

    The former president and the Gupta circle of relatives deny any wrongdoing.

    Africa Reside: Updates in this and different stories who are the Guptas? How the Guptas’ emblem became toxic

    Establishing the inquiry, fee head Deputy Leader Justice Ray Zondo appealed for South Africans to share what they realize.

    Symbol caption In 2016, lots marched in the capital, Pretoria, calling for Mr Zuma to step down over the graft allegations

    Mr Zuma used to be ordered to set up the commission by way of the high courtroom last December following a file through the public protector, South Africa’s anti-graft body.

    It had discovered proof of conceivable corruption on the top level of his government.

    One of the allegations is that in 2015 then-Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas used to be presented 600m rand ($41m; £32m) by way of businessman Ajay Gupta if he accepted the put up of finance minister.

    Mr Jonas is expected to be among the first witnesses to offer proof.

    The inquiry, referred to as the Zondo Fee, doesn’t have powers to prosecute but the evidence it collects will also be utilized in any future prosecution.

    it will absorb to 2 years to free up its findings.