The government of Lesotho announced Tuesday that it has dropped charges against former prime minister Tom Thabane and his wife, Maesiah, in connection with the murder of Thabane’s former wife, Lipolelo Thabane. The Lesotho Times reports that lead prosecutor Gareth Leppan withdrew the charges because a key witness in the…
President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana, right, served as speaker during a discussion of technology and digital services as part of Wednesday’s opening sessions of the U.S.-Africa Business Summit 2022 in Morocco. Masisi said he welcomed the opportunity to promote African economic development and opportunity, while making a specific case for…
On his official website, the story of Sir Mo Farah was the same on Monday night. The Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016. His European and World Best records. But there was more about one of the United Kingdom’s most respected athletes. “His achievements are a far cry from…
Former Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos has died, according to a statement from government officials issued Friday. The ailing 79-year-old leader had remained on life support for days in a Barcelona hospital, and his death was not unexpected. The statement from Angolan President João Lourenço called dos Santos “a…
The health of former Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos appears to have taken a grave turn, with social media posts from his daughter, Tchizé, indicating he may be taken off life support in a Barcelona hospital. “I want to publicly express that I am against turning off the machines,”…
Two members of the Gupta family, wanted in South Africa in connection with a years-long “state capture” corruption investigation involving multiple entities and officials, have been taken into custody in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The arrest of Rajesh and Atul Gupta was confirmed late Monday by the Ministry of…
Nigeria is promoting its oil and gas industry during President Buhari’s state visit to Spain, a move that comes as European nations seek to secure resources to replace the now-banned imports of Russian oil. Buhari and representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have highlighted Nigeria’s energy sector during…
The Chinese government has pushed back over remarks about telecom firm Huawei and its presence on the African continent, made by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman of the United States. Sherman made her comments during a just-concluded diplomatic swing through South Africa, Angola and Gabon. In Angola, she visited…
Japan is looking to expand its presence on the African continent, with trade and investment taking center stage during the Japan-Africa Public-Private Economic Forum held in Nairobi. The event attracted seven ministerial-level leaders and over 200 participants from 15 countries, according to the Kenyan trade ministry. Among them was Takako…
South Africa’s chief justice has called for the criminal prosecution of former executives and board members of Eskom, the struggling South African energy utility at the center of a lengthy corruption investigation into associates of former president Jacob Zuma. The latest installment of the State Capture Commission reports, released Friday…
The long journey toward a verdict in the murder trial of Burkina Faso’s former president Blaise Compaoré has ended, with Compaoré sentenced in absentia to life in prison for his role in the 1987 death of beloved revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara. Sentenced by the Ouagadougou court along with Compaoré were…
Public consultations recently closed on plans to impose an excise tax on e-cigarettes in South Africa, and the suggested policy proposals have already proven controversial. In particular, the South African government intends to introduce a new excise tax on e-cigarettes, applying the duty to both non-nicotine and nicotine solutions used…
Nearly all of the Starlink satellites launched last week from Kennedy Space Center in the United States will, or have already, fallen back to earth because of a geomagnetic storm that interfered with their deployment. The satellites, a part of South Africa native Elon Musk’s plans to improve communications around…
Parts of West Africa can expect improved Internet access in the near future, following a deal between the Kenya-based Intersat and European provider Eutelsat. The delivery of Internet services will rely on the Eutelsat Konnect satellite, which was launched two years ago. The COVID-19 pandemic originally delayed progress on its…
Akinwumi Adesina, head of the African Development Bank (AfDB), says he was in the VIP lounge of Dakar’s Blaise-Diagne International Airport with Senegal’s economic minister this week when another African dignitary walked in. The surprise guest was Moussa Faki Mahamat, head of the African Union Commission. What followed, the AfDB…