Africa

Kidnappers in Nigeria free 53 people abducted from a bus

A gang last week took 53 people hostage, including nine children, from a state-owned bus in Niger’s Kundu village.

Ebola death toll in DRC rises as people resist measures

A vaccination drive was launched last week, but as with past outbreaks, people in the region doubt the existence of Ebola and reject measures aimed at checking its spread, including not to touch sick people and not to wash the dead.

Tunisian doctor's violin brings hope to Covid-19 patients

“My goal is to use music to help treat corona patients that are in a bad psychological condition, suffering loneliness – which is their first enemy,” said Dr. Siala, who plays the violin and is also a member of a group called the “Pepper Band."

Violent attack as Niger votes in presidential runoff

Niger experts have warned that elections could see violence as the country battles rising militant attacks where thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced despite the presence of regional and international troops.

Libyan interior minister survives attack on motorcade in Tripoli

Fathi Bashagha didn’t suffer any injury during the attack in which, his convoy was targeted by gunmen, two of them have been arrested and the third one was killed, the Libyan interior ministry said.

Nigerian military plane crash kills all on board

All seven personnel on board died after the plane crashed due to engine failure near Abuja airport, air force spokesman Ibikunle Daramole said.

Deaths and injuries as bomb blast targets car in Somali capital

At least two people have been killed and a number of civilians wounded in the attack for which no group has yet claimed responsibility.

Sudan floats currency as part of effort to overhaul battered economy

Sunday's move, seen as the boldest economic measure taken by the joint military-civilian government, could provoke a popular backlash as the price of goods and services rise in response to the fall of the pound’s value.

Niger votes in presidential runoff to usher in first democratic transition

Ruling party candidate Mohamed Bazoum is seen by many as the favourite after leading in the first round on December 27 with 39.3 percent of the vote. Polling stations opened at 0700 GMT and will close at 1800 GMT (8 am to 7pm) local time.

UN warns of 'very critical' malnutrition in Ethiopia's Tigray

Concerns are growing over the fate of the Tigray region’s some six million people as fighting is reportedly as fierce as ever between Ethiopian and allied forces and those supporting the now-fugitive Tigray leaders.

Algeria frees pro-democracy activists ahead of Hirak anniversary

Algeria is facing political and economic crises, with the coronavirus pandemic adding to the woes of an oil-dependent economy.

Gunfire in Somalia's capital Mogadishu as political tensions soar

Months of political tensions over the holding of elections in the fragile Horn of Africa nation have burst into the open, prompting the United Nations to call for "calm and restraint."