ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerians on Friday marked three years since the mass abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls by Boko Haram extremists amid anger that government efforts to negotiate their freedom appear to have stalled. Activists were rallying in the capital, Abuja, and commercial hub Lagos to urge President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to do more … Continue reading
Category Archives: Africa
US senators say food aid constraints delay help amid famine
BIDI BIDI CAMP, Uganda (AP) — As President Donald Trump seeks to cut foreign aid under the slogan of “America First,” two U.S. senators are proposing making American food assistance more efficient after meeting with victims of South Sudan’s famine and civil war. Following a visit to the world’s largest refugee settlement in northern Uganda … Continue reading
Somalia’s new army chief survives car bomb that kills 13
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia’s new military chief survived a suicide car bomb attack Sunday just moments after he was sworn in with a mandate to launch a new offensive against Islamic extremists. Thirteen people were killed the attack. Gen. Mohamed Ahmed Jimale had just been sworn into office and was traveling in a convoy … Continue reading
Who are Egypt’s Coptic Christians?
CAIRO (AP) — They trace their founding to the voyage to Alexandria of St. Mark, the apostle of Jesus and New Testament author. Just a decade or two after the original Easter, which Christians celebrate around the world, tradition states that Mark founded their church, one of the earliest in the Middle East and the … Continue reading
South African opposition protests Zuma, who celebrates 75th
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Tens of thousands of South Africans on Wednesday marked the 75th birthday of President Jacob Zuma with a protest against him, pushing for his resignation because of scandals and his dismissal of a widely respected finance minister. The president, meanwhile, danced at a party where well-wishers said they loved him. The rally … Continue reading
UNICEF: Boko Haram increasingly using children as bombers
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Radical Islamic militants from Boko Haram are increasingly forcing children to carry out bombings, with the number of attacks since January already nearly reaching the total for all of last year, according to a report released Wednesday by the U.N. children’s agency. UNICEF says at least 117 attacks have been carried … Continue reading
Famous Zuzu African Acrobats perform at Norfolk State April 19
The Zuzu African Acrobats, an acrobatic troupe originally from Kenya, will be performing at Norfolk State University on April 19 at 7 p.m. in room 149 of the Student Center. This is a free event. The acrobats have performed throughout America since 1999 and have been featured on “America’s Got Talent” as well as other … Continue reading
Geologist for Shell says company hid Nigeria spill dangers
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Royal Dutch Shell’s Nigeria subsidiary “fiercely opposed” environmental testing and is concealing data showing thousands of Nigerians are exposed to health hazards from a stalled cleanup of the worst oil spills in the West African nation’s history, according to a German geologist contracted by the Dutch-British multinational. An environmental study found … Continue reading
At 93 years old, Zimbabwe’s Mugabe remains a jet-setter
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe’s 93-year-old leader might be slowing down, but his busy foreign travels have led the opposition to call him the “non-resident president.” President Robert Mugabe has visited Singapore, Ghana, Swaziland and Mauritius in the past three weeks alone. At times he stops over in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, for just a night … Continue reading
Uganda at ‘breaking point’ as South Sudan refugees pour in
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda is at a “breaking point” as almost 3,000 South Sudanese refugees pour into the country every day, the United Nations refugee chief and Uganda’s government said Thursday, calling for international help to support over 800,000 people now sheltering there. The U.N. has called it the world’s fastest-growing refugee crisis. More … Continue reading
Despite poaching, South Africa plans for rhino horn trade
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s government is moving ahead with plans to allow a domestic trade and limited export of rhino horns, alarming many international conservationists who believe rhinos will be more vulnerable to poachers after a record slaughter in the past decade. Draft regulations would allow a foreigner with permits to export “for personal … Continue reading
Death toll reaches 62 in Ethiopia landfill collapse
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — The death toll has reached 62 from the collapse of a mountain of trash at a massive garbage dump on the outskirts of Ethiopia’s capital, the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported Monday, as relatives waited for news of the dozens of people said to be missing. It was not clear … Continue reading
Deadly floods hit southern Zimbabwe, destroying many homes
TSHOLOTSHO, Zimbabwe (AP) — From kitchen items to livestock and even her house, Assa Mkwananzi says she has “lost it all” to floods that have hit southern Zimbabwe. “We lost all our blankets, pots and cooking utensils, our goats and chickens as well because of the heavy rains,” Mkwananzi told The Associated Press in the … Continue reading
Trump signs new anti-terror travel ban _without new fanfare
WASHINGTON (AP) — Without fanfare, President Donald Trump signed a scaled-back version of his controversial ban on many foreign travelers Monday, hoping to avoid a new round of lawsuits and outrage while fulfilling a central campaign promise. His order still bars new visas for people from six Muslim-majority countries and temporarily shuts down America’s refugee … Continue reading
Gambia’s new president commits to end human rights abuses
BANJUL, Gambia (AP) — As Gambia enters a new era of democracy, President Adama Barrow has reiterated his commitment to ending human rights abuses in the country. “Orders have already been given for all those detained without trial to be released,” he said Saturday before thousands of Gambians who gathered at Independence Stadium Saturday … Continue reading
Blast in Somalia kills 34 in Mogadishu marketplace
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia’s new president visited victims wounded by the Mogadishu car bomb that on Sunday killed 34. President Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those who planned the blast. The explosion hit a busy marketplace in the western part of the capital, said police … Continue reading
Famine declared in part of South Sudan by government and UN
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Famine has been declared in two counties of South Sudan, according to an announcement by the South Sudan government and three U.N. agencies, which says the calamity is the result of prolonged civil war and an entrenched economic crisis that has devastated the war-torn East African nation. The official classification of … Continue reading
North African diplomats seek solutions for chaotic Libya
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — The presidents of Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia will hold a summit soon to try to find ways to reconcile neighboring Libya’s rival political factions and stem the country’s chaos, diplomats said Monday. The summit was announced in Tunis after a new round of diplomatic efforts for Libya, where two rival administrations … Continue reading
Hamas names shadowy militant as new leader in Gaza
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas has named a shadowy militant commander as its new leader in the Gaza Strip, an official media outlet confirmed on Monday, placing one of the Islamic militant group’s most hard-line figures in charge of its core power base. The appointment of Yehiya Sinwar, who was freed by Israel … Continue reading
More than 1.5 million are refugees from South Sudan, says UN
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — More than 1.5 million South Sudanese have become refugees and their humanitarian needs are overwhelming aid efforts during the country’s civil war, according to the United Nations. South Sudan’s civil war began in December 2013 and roughly 3.6 million people have fled their homes or become refugees, according to the U.N. … Continue reading
7 Kenyan doctors jailed for not ending strike
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Seven Kenyan doctors who are officials of the medics union were jailed Monday for failing to call off a two-month strike by doctors at public hospitals that has seen several die due to lack of medical care. Judge Hellen Wasilwa said she could not delay further the contempt of court sentence … Continue reading
More than 1.5 million are refugees from South Sudan, says UN
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — More than 1.5 million South Sudanese have become refugees and their humanitarian needs are overwhelming aid efforts during the country’s civil war, according to the United Nations. South Sudan’s civil war began in December 2013 and roughly 3.6 million people have fled their homes or become refugees, according to the U.N. … Continue reading
Dual Somali-US citizen elected president in historic vote
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A former prime minister who holds dual Somali-U.S. citizenship was elected Somalia’s president on Wednesday, declaring a new “era of unity” as he took on the daunting task of bringing the long-chaotic country its first fully functioning central government in a quarter-century. Fears of attacks by the Islamic extremist al-Shabab dogged … Continue reading
South African lawmakers brawl during protest of president
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s parliament descended into chaos on Thursday, with opposition lawmakers denouncing President Jacob Zuma as a “scoundrel” and “rotten to the core” because of corruption allegations and then brawling with guards who dragged them out of the chamber. The raucous scenes unfolded on national television as opposition legislators tried to stop … Continue reading
Hundreds of Nigerians protest corruption; Buhari ill abroad
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Hundreds of Nigerians marched Monday to protest poverty and corruption as President Muhammadu Buhari’s prolonged absence abroad for medical tests raises political and economic tensions. “Nigerians are frustrated and tired with this absentee government,” activist Omoyele Sowore said as he marched in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city. Protesters carried placards saying: “Unemployed … Continue reading