Authorities in Spain say that Younes Abouyaaqoub, the suspect in Thursday’s attack in Barcelona, was shot and killed by police Monday in the city’s western suburb of Subirats. Abouyaaquob was wearing what appears to be a bomb belt and shouted Islamic slogans as police closed in. Spain’s Mossos agency said…
A prominent Kenyan human rights activist and lawyer whose own organization was de-listed by Kenyan authorities last week says he was detained Sunday morning at a Nairobi airport and surprised by demands that he prove he was cleared to travel. Maina Kiai, board member of the Kenya Human Rights Commission…
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari signed a letter to the Nigerian legislature on Monday, formally announcing that he has returned to the duties of his office. The letter followed Buhari’s return to Nigeria after a medical leave in London that began on May 7, and a televised address to the nation…
Comoros has become a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), following the formal acceptance of the nation’s application during the SADC summit that ended Sunday in South Africa. It joins the island nations of Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles in attaining its SADC membership. Comoros, led by President Azali…
The death toll has risen to nine following weekend protests in Togo that brought hundreds of protesters into the streets railing against President Faure Gnassingbé. The fatalities, two civilians and seven security personnel, occurred in Sokodé, according to Ghana News Agency. There were multiple injuries and many people detained as…
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to speak to the nation Monday morning following his weekend arrival in Abuja, as he ends a stay in London for medical treatment that began more than three months ago. Buhari plans to speak at 7 a.m., according to a statement from presidential spokesman…
This weekend’s South African Development Community summit in Pretoria began Friday evening with the six Double Troika nations meeting to discuss political and security issues. The six countries – Tanzania, Angola, Mozambique, Swaziland and Botswana, as well as host South Africa – planned to discuss the situation in Democratic Republic…
A triumphant President Paul Kagame of Rwanda was inaugurated to his third term in Kigali on Friday, in a ceremony attended by African leaders and heads of state that included Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Ali Bongo of Gabon and African Union Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat….
Authorities in Spain say the victims of Thursday’s attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils, which claimed the lives of 14 people and left more than 100 injured, come from 34 countries. Among them are citizens of Morocco, Egypt and Mauritania, according to the Emergències Catalunya civil protection agency. Spanish officials continue…
The Minamata Convention on Mercury enters into force today, following a 90-day period since the necessary threshold of 51 ratifications was achieved in May. The Minamata Convention enters into force with 128 signatory nations and 74 ratifying countries, including the most recent addition of Brazil last week. Among the countries…
Defeated presidential candidate Raila Odinga of Kenya announced Wednesday that he will press his case over the disputed August 8 election results with the country’s Supreme Court. The Nasa opposition candidate, whose coalition has cried foul over President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory, held a press conference to decry results that he…
Nigeria has deployed 2,000 special forces troops to Maiduguri and the northeast, with the mission to capture Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and stabilize a region under renewed attack by Islamic extremists. The troops are a response to a demand by Nigerian military leadership that Shekau be captured dead or…
The Group of Five Sahel (G5 Sahel) Joint Force is expected to bolster existing efforts to combat terrorism in the region but requires international funding to succeed, said the United Nations head of peacekeeping operations during a UN Security Council briefing on Tuesday. Assistant-Secretary-General El-Ghassim Wane told the council that…
Defeated presidential candidate Raila Odinga of Kenya is expected Wednesday to announce his plans for moving forward and “dealing with election fraud” after last week’s disputed voting results. The Nasa opposition candidate, whose coalition has cried foul over President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory, had planned his address for Tuesday but postponed…
Authorities in Sierra Leone say more than 300 people have died so far in a massive landslide and flooding that hit Freetown on Monday morning. The torrential rains that hit the West African nation began before dawn. An International Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC) Sierra Leone statement cited by…