Africa

Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Zulu prince who roiled South African politics, dead at 95

Sept 9 (Reuters) - Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a veteran South African politician, Zulu prince and controversial figure during the apartheid liberation struggle, has died, the presidency said on Saturday. He was…

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UPDATED: Morocco earthquake kills over 1,000 people, rescuers dig for survivors

By Ahmed Eljechtimi Most dead are in hard-to reach mountain areas, official says Marrakech residents report damage in historic old city People flee houses in Casablanca, Rabat, elsewhere AMIZMIZ, Morocco,…

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UPDATED: World leaders offer condolences after Moroccan earthquake

Following are reactions from foreign governments to the powerful earthquake that struck Morocco's High Atlas mountains late on Friday, killing hundreds and destroying buildings in the deadliest tremor to hit…

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UPDATED: G20 agrees membership for African Union on par with EU

The G20 grouping of nations has agreed to grant permanent membership to the African Union, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The move would give the…

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Tunisia’s bad economy hits coeliac sufferers with rice shortage

By Latifa Guesmi and Jihed Abidellaoui TUNIS, (Reuters) - For Siwar Derbeli a national rice shortage is not just another inconvenient symptom of Tunisia's stretched national finances but a source…

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UN expects 1.8 mln people to flee Sudan by year-end

GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. refugee agency appealed for $1 billion to help provide aid to those fleeing violence in Sudan, saying it expected over 1.8 million to arrive in…

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Egypt buys nearly half a million tons of Russian wheat in private deal

By Sarah El Safty and Michael Hogan CAIRO, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Egypt's state grains buyer bought about a half a million metric tons of Russian wheat in a private…

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Niger junta reopens airspace after coup

NIAMEY, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Niger's military leaders have reopened the country's airspace to all commercial flights after closing it on Aug. 6 after they seized power in a coup,…

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South Africa plans cost-cutting measures as revenue falls

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 3 (Reuters) - South Africa's National Treasury wants to implement a number of cost-cutting measures to rein in government spending after a shortfall in revenue collection, the Sunday…

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Libya launches investigation into secret meeting with Israel

Libya has officially launched an investigation into the secret meeting in Rome between former foreign minister Najla Mangoush and Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen last month, the North African nation's attorney-general's…

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Tunisia places senior official in main opposition party under house arrest

TUNIS, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Tunisian authorities placed Abdel Karim Harouni, the senior official in the opposition Ennahda Islamist Party, under house arrest, the country's main opposition coalition said. Harouni…

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Climate change may increase conflict deaths, says IMF

By Rachel Savage JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) - Climate change is likely to worsen conflicts in fragile and war-torn states, resulting in higher death rates and greatly reduced GDP, the International Monetary…

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Tourists on jet skis shot dead off coast of Algeria

The Algerian coastguard have reportedly shot dead two tourists holidaying in Morocco who strayed into Algerian waters on their jet skis. They were among four French-Moroccan dual nationals who had…

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African leaders work on response to Gabon military coup

Gabon officers announced coup after election Bongo had been set to win a third term African leaders have struggle to respond to takeovers LIBREVILLE, Aug 31 (Reuters) - African leaders…

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Niger junta instructs police to expel French ambassador

NIAMEY, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The junta that seized power in Niger last month said that the French ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itte, no longer had diplomatic immunity and police…

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UPDATED: More than 70 dead as fire engulfs building in South Africa’s Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Scores were killed overnight when fire tore through a derelict Johannesburg apartment block occupied by homeless people, officials and local media said on Thursday, as…

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New leader installed in Gabon; President Bongo under house arrest

By Gerauds Wilfried Obangome Bongo's family have ruled for 56 years Junta names General Brice Oligui Nguema as leader From house arrest, Bongo appeals for support France, with troops in…

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Libya suspends foreign minister after meeting with Israeli foreign minister

JERUSALEM/TRIPOLI, (Reuters) - Libya's prime minister suspended Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush and referred her for investigation after Israel said its Foreign Minister Eli Cohen had met her last week despite…

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Libya’s LNA launches operation near southern border after Chad clashes

TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Over the weekend, Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) said it launched air strikes against "foreign armed groups" near the border with Chad, after fighting near the…

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Zimbabwe’s re-elected president fends off election fraud claims

By Nyasha Chingono HARARE, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's re-elected President Emmerson Mnangagwa suggested on Sunday that those people questioning the results of last week's election, which an opposition leader…

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Zimbabwe’s president declared election winner, opposition rejects result

HARARE (Reuters) -Zimbabwe's elections commission said late on Saturday that incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa had won this week's presidential election with roughly 53% of the vote, but the opposition and analysts…

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BRICS invites six nations to join developing world bloc

Leaders of the BRICS group of developing nations have invited Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates to join, in a move aimed at growing the…

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UN Libya envoy urges ‘unified government’ for election in apparent shift

United Nations Libya envoy Abdoulaye Bathily said that "a unified government, agreed upon by the major players, is an imperative for leading the country to elections", an apparent shift from an earlier…

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BRICS expansion hopefuls seek to rebalance world order

An expansion of the BRICS bloc under consideration at a summit this week has attracted a motley crew of potential candidates - from Iran to Argentina - with one thing…

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Libya’s central bank reunifies after almost a decade

The Central Bank of Libya has been reinstated as a unified sovereign institution, its governor said on Sunday, almost a decade after it was split in two due to civil…

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Niger says 17 of its soldiers killed in ambush near Burkina Faso border

Niger's junta on Wednesday said 17 of its soldiers were killed in an ambush by insurgents, the deadliest attack since a July 26 coup whose leaders have cited persistent insecurity…

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Sudan ‘spiralling out of control’ as one million flee country – UN

Aug 15 (Reuters) - More than one million people have fled Sudan to neighbouring states and people inside the country are running out of food and dying due to lack…

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Tripoli clashes widen overnight in worst fighting this year

The Libyan capital's most powerful armed factions battled in several districts overnight and into Tuesday morning in the city's worst violence this year, raising fears of a wider escalation. Dark smoke…

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Morocco breaks heat record

France 24 - Rabat (AFP) – Temperatures in Morocco have for the first time on record topped 50 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit), the North African country's meteorological service said Sunday…

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West African bloc prepares standby force for possible Niger intervention

West African nations on Friday worked on plans for a possible military intervention in Niger following the army coup there although they have not given up the hope of a…

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Italy calls on West African states (ECOWAS) to extend Niger ultimatum

ROME, Aug 7 (Reuters) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should prolong their deadline for the reinstatement of Niger's ousted president, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said…

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Four dead, 51 missing after migrant ship sinks off Tunisian coast

TUNIS, Aug 7 (Reuters) - At least four migrants died and 51 were missing after a migrant ship sank off Tunisia's Kerkennah island, a judicial official told Reuters, adding that…

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Niger closes airspace as it refuses to reinstate president

ECOWAS deadline to reinstate president expires on Sunday Regional bloc has threatened military intervention Capital city calm; no signs of opposition to junta ECOWAS to make statement late on Sunday…

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Libya’s High State Council votes to replace leader

TRIPOLI, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Libya's High State Council consultative body voted on Sunday to replace Khaled al-Meshri as leader with Mohammed Takala, adding new questions over the country's political…

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Algeria opposes military intervention in Niger

Algeria is categorically against any military intervention in Niger, Ennahar TV said late on Saturday citing President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. "A military intervention could ignite the whole Sahel region and Algeria…

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West Africa’s ultimatum to Niger coup leaders nears deadline

ECOWAS defence chiefs ponder force against Niger's junta W. African bloc gave coup leaders until Sunday to restore Bazoum Mediators return from failed mission to Niger's capital Niamey Ousted president…

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Niger junta revokes military deals with France

Ousted President Bazoum warns of coup's "devastating consequences" West African defence chiefs planning possible intervention Coup leader vows to resist international pressure Mali, Burkina Faso support junta By Boureima Balima,…

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Tunisian president names Ahmed Hachani as prime minister, replacing Bouden

TUNIS, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Tunisian President Kais Saied appointed Ahmed Hachani as new prime minister, replacing Najla Bouden, who ended her duties, the Tunisian presidency said early on Wednesday.…

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First planes carrying evacuees from Niger land in Paris and Rome

By Manuel Ausloos and Michel Rose PARIS, Aug 2 (Reuters) - The first military planes carrying mostly European nationals evacuated from Niger landed in Paris and Rome on Wednesday, with…

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Niger coup: List of recent military takeovers in West and Central Africa

By Bate Felix DAKAR, (Reuters) - Niger's removal of President Mohamed Bazoum in a military coup marks the ninth coup or attempted power grab in just over three years in…

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Senegal’s internet access restricted from Monday

DAKAR, July 31 (Reuters) - Senegal has restricted access to internet services from Monday due to the spread of "hateful messages" on social media, communications minister said in a statement.…

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West Africa threatens force on Niger coup leaders, French embassy attacked

ECOWAS bloc gives ultimatum to Niger's new military leaders Pro-coup protesters burn French flags in Niamey Military takeover was Sahel region's seventh since 2020 From Paris, Niger's PM says sanctions…

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U.N. Libya mission warns of violence after push for new interim government

TRIPOLI, (Reuters) - The United Nations Libya mission warned against "unilateral initiatives" to address the country's political stalemate after two legislative bodies proposed creating a new interim government as a…

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Tunisia recovers 901 bodies of drowned migrants off its coast this year

By Tarek Amara TUNIS, (Reuters) - The Tunisian coast guard recovered 901 bodies of drowned migrants off its coast from Jan. 1 to July 20 this year, the country's interior…

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UPDATED: Niger soldiers say President Bazoum’s government has been removed

By Moussa Aksar and Boureima Balima Colonel declares borders closed Takeover seventh coup in West, Central Africa region since 2020 Niger pivotal ally for Western powers in battling insurgencies NIAMEY,…

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Niger soldiers say President Bazoum’s government has been removed

NIAMEY (Reuters) -Niger President Mohamed Bazoum has been removed from power, according to a group of soldiers who appeared on the West African nation's national television late on Wednesday, hours…

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Niger’s president being held inside palace

By Moussa Aksar and Boureima Balima NIAMEY, July 26 (Reuters) - Niger presidential guards are holding President Mohamed Bazoum inside the presidential palace in the capital, which has been blocked…

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Suicide bomber in Somalia’s capital kills at least 13 soldiers

A suicide bomber killed at least 13 soldiers and wounded at least 20 more inside a military academy in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Monday, a soldier who saw the bodies…

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Sudan war enters 100th day as mediation attempts fail

Clashes flared in parts of Sudan on the 100th day of the war on Sunday as mediation attempts by regional and international powers fail to find a path out of…

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Tunisia migration deal a model for others, EU’s von der Leyen says

The European Union's pact with Tunisia can serve as a model for other countries, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday, as the EU struggles to stem unauthorised flows of migrants…

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Algeria applies to join BRICS

Algeria has applied to join the BRICS group and submitted a request to become a shareholder member of BRICS Bank with an amount of $1.5 billion, Ennahar TV quoted Algerian…

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At least six migrants dead after boat sinks off Morocco

TUNIS, July 22 (Reuters) - At least six migrants died after their boat sank off Morocco, the MAP state news agency said on Friday on its Facebook page. It added that the…

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Kenyan protesters hurl rocks at police as three-day tax protests begin

Schools and businesses shut in major cities Opposition leader Odinga's spokesperson arrested - party's TV Churches, civic groups call on opposition to call off protests Private sector lobby: protests costing…

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Tunisia vows not to become ‘reception center’ for returning migrants

Tunisia has said it will not be a “reception centre” for returns of sub-Saharan migrants from Italy or any other country in Europe despite a groundbreaking €1bn deal signed on…

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Libyan border guards rescue migrants left in desert near Tunisia

Libyan border guards have rescued dozens of migrants they said had been left in the desert by Tunisian authorities without water, food or shelter. Hundreds of people from sub-Saharan African…

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Libya court convicts two oil officials for importing sub-standard gasoline

TRIPOLI, July 16 (Reuters) - A court in Libya on Sunday convicted two oil sector officials of importing sub-standard gasoline fuel last year and sentenced them to 30 months imprisonment, adding they…

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Libya’s Sharara and El Feel oilfields has resumed on Saturday evening

BENGHAZI, July 15 (Reuters) - Production at Libya's Sharara and El Feel oilfields, which were shut on Thursday following the abduction of a former finance minister, has resumed on Saturday evening, four…

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