Pope Francis on Wednesday (1 February) slammed “brutal atrocities, which bring shame upon all humanity” and denounced the “poison of greed” for mineral resources driving conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as he began a visit there a day earlier. The 86-year-old Francis is the first pontiff to visit Congo since John Paul II […]
Africa
Morocco-Benin military cooperation reviewed in Rabat
Military cooperation between Morocco and Benin was reviewed at a meeting Tuesday in Rabat between Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces and Commander of the Southern Zone Lieutenant General Belkhir El Farouk and Chief of General Staff of Beninese Armed Forces, Brigadier General Fructueux Gbaguidi. The meeting, which took place in the presence of […]
Al-Shabab looses its grip on Somalia, yet more terrorist attacks are expected
Al-Shabab has been on a gradual retreat in Somalia since the announcement of a “total war” against the al-Qaida-affiliated militant group by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in August 2022, and, according to experts, this could be the beginning of al-Shabab’s end. Mohamud announced the “total war” against the group days after it staged a […]
Burkina Faso rally calls for ‘sovereignty’ without France, endorses junta in power
Several thousands of demonstrators rallied in Burkina Faso’s capital on Saturday (28 January) in support of the ruling junta, a few days after the confirmation of the departure of France special forces from the country by February. Packing Nation Square in central Ouagadougou, demonstrators held signs bearing slogans including “Down with imperialism,” “Down with French […]
Tanzania seeks more investments by Morocco’s OCP
Tanzania is seeking to have another OCP plant to produce fertilizers in the country as part of efforts to bolster farming output and reduce food inflation. “President Samia Suluhu Hassan had met with Moroccan state-owned fertilizer producer The OCP Group for talks to establish another plant in Tanzania,” Tanzanian media The Citizen reported. Morocco’s phosphates […]
DRC expels Rwandan forces part of regional peace keeping contingents
The army of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced Tuesday the expulsion of Rwandan forces stationed in the city of Goma, in the eastern North Kivu province, as a result of tension between the two countries. The army in a statement said that the Rwandan contingent, part of a regional forces made of Kenya, […]
Commercial International Bank Egypt completes acquisition of Kenya’s Mayfair CIB in $40mln deal
Commercial International Bank Egypt (CIB) is set to proceed with the complete takeover of Kenya’s Mayfair CIB, after obtaining approvals from authorities, in a deal valued at $40 million. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) have just granted their consent for CIB to acquire the remaining 49% of […]
Burkina Faso: dozens of soldiers, civilians killed in jihadist-hit north
At least 28 people, including soldiers and civilians, have been killed in two separate attacks by rebel fighters in northern Burkina Faso, a regional governor and the army said in separate statements. The army said on Monday (30 January) that a combat unit in Falagountou, in the country’s north near its border with Niger, came […]
Belarusian president visits fellow Russia ally Zimbabwe
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Harare to pomp and fanfare on Monday (30 January) for a two-day visit and talks with his Zimbabwean counterpart, Emmerson Mnangagwa, aimed at cementing economic and political ties between the two countries that are both close allies of Russia. Mnangagwa and hundreds of singing and cheering ruling party supporters […]
Laurent Gbagbo urges ECOWAS to set up regional counterterrorism brigade
Laurent Gbagbo, Cote d’Ivoire’s ex-leader, has called on regional grouping ECOWAS to establish counter-terrorism brigade to curtail terrorism that has plagued the region. Gbagbo was speaking at a meeting of his party PPA-CI, at Bayota, a town in south-central Ivory Coast. “The problem in the Sahel today is the jihadists,” he said. For a 77-year […]









