Category: Africa

Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso will face seven challengers in a March 21 election, the interior ministry said Tuesday, though the main opposition has said it plans to boycott the vote. Sassou Nguesso, who has ruled for 36 years in total, will notably face Mathias Dzon, a 73-year-old former finance minister, and Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas, 60. Kolelas, whose father Bernard was briefly Congo’s prime minister in 1997 during the country’s civil war, was runner-up to Sassou Nguesso in 2016. The candidates’ names will now be sent to the constitutional court…

Final stretch and negotiations, in the race for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football. While the South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe takes advantage of the rallying support from FIFA, the Senegalese Augustin Senghor has thrown his weight in support of the South African businessman. Negotiations are still ongoing to decide whether to support a single candidate while others are given various positions within the confederation. The move has attracted a lot of criticism but Sengor believe their unity is drawn from the love of football “I would say…

Inside this insectary, at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, a scientist carefully prepares feed for the mosquitoes under their care. These caged mosquitoes are fed on sugary water and are being constantly monitored by scientists studying their behavior. Scientists here are investigating whether populations of the malaria-carrying insects can be reduced by genetic modification. They’re looking at the viability of releasing large numbers of genetically modified mosquitos into the wild to influence future generations. The study is being led by scientists here at the institute in Kampala with researchers from…

Africa’s most Covid hit country South Africa began its vaccination drive mostly targeting those in the health care sector. South Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths on the continent with 1,514,815 confirmed infections, 50,271 deaths, and 1,433,320 recoveries recorded. South Africa is still recovering from the second wave of the virus is now fighting a new variant. “Especially us, the frontline workers, witnessed how the second wave really devastated the society. So I wouldn’t like to go through that again. So I’d really encourage everyone to…

More than 20 people were killed in Somalia on Friday evening after a suicide car bomb exploded just outside a restaurant near the port in the capital Mogadishu, news agency EFE reported. It said 30 others were injured, The blast occurred at the Luul Yemeni restaurant near the port. “The explosion was very strong and caused significant destruction and caused civilian casualties,” official Mohamed Osma told AFP. No group has claimed responsibility but the country faces recurrent attacks by al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab insurgents. The group has been waging a…

Clashes in Senegal’s capital Dakar erupted for a third day on Friday with hundreds of demonstrators calling for the release of Senegal opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who has been ordered held in custody at a court hearing. His arrest two days ago sparked the country’s worst violence in years. In Dakar’s working-class district of Medina, hundreds of young people fought running street battles with riot police and smoke rose from burning tyres at makeshift barricades in the capital city. Protestors chanted “Free Sonko” on the main Blaise Diagne avenue, the…

Another weekend for the maiden CAF Champions League. The first third match of this campaign will begin on Friday featuring Algeria’s Chabab Belouizdad against Al-Hilal FC. The current group B leaders Mamelodi Sundowns will be up against a complex and aggressive TP Mazembe in the third match of their Caf Champions League campaign in Lubumbashi on Saturday. In group A, the Egyptian giants AL Ahly will meet the DR Congo’s AS Vita Club on Saturday at Cairo International Stadium. Al Ahly is currently in position 3 while Vita Club is…