Official campaigning has kicked off in Democratic Republic of Congo, where long-delayed elections are scheduled for December 23. The national elections commission, CENI, designated Thursday as the start of campaigning for a field of 21 candidates certified in September. Front-runners for the presidency include Martin Fayulu of the Engagement for…
Eritrea, isolated by UN sanctions for a decade until they were lifted on 14 November 2018, is now working to regain its place in Africa and the international community. The sanctions were lifted after Eritrea made steps towards peace with its neighbours after being locked into deadly conflict for decades—Eritrean…
I am a London-based researcher specialized in security issues and environmental protection. He is currently writing a book about the role lobbying plays in keeping African leaders in power.
After weeks of investigation into the October 2 death of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, the United States said Tuesday that it stands by its relationship with Riyadh – a move that critics say gives a green light to repressive, authoritarian governments in Africa and across the globe….
The head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said Saturday that he is deeply concerned about instability in the West African nation of Gabon as its leader remains hospitalized. Faki, alongside AU President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, wished President Ali Bongo a full recovery in an announcement made…
South Africa is one step closer to implementing controversial land reforms through expropriation, after a key committee announced Thursday that it has adopted a recommendations report on amending the country’s constitution. The Joint Constitutional Review Committee (JCRC) said the African National Congress, the Economic Freedom Fighters and the National Freedom…
By Akere Muna On November 6, Paul Biya was inaugurated for the seventh time. The 85-year-old has already been in power for the last 36 years and will now serve another seven-year term. President Biya won disputed elections on October 7 amid rising unrest in Cameroon. The country is divided…
Two key Congolese opposition leaders, Felix Tshisekedi and Vital Kamerhe, have pulled out of an agreement to back Martin Fayulu of the Engagement for Citizenship and Development (ECiDé) party as their coalition candidate in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s December 23 election. Both men said they were responding to the…
A group of seven Congolese political opposition leaders announced their decision for a presidential candidate on Sunday, choosing Martin Fayulu of the Engagement for Citizenship and Development (ECiDé) party to face President Joseph Kabila’s own choice in the December 23 election. With the long-delayed date looming in Democratic Republic of Congo,…
After nearly three weeks, Gabonese government spokesman Ike Ngouoni admitted Sunday that President Ali Bongo was seriously ill but is now recovering in a hospital in Saudi Arabia. Bongo has remained under care in Riyadh since an October 23 trip to attend the “Davos in the Desert” investment forum. The latest…
A group of seven Congolese political opposition leaders continues a meeting in Geneva this weekend, with the expectation they will name a coalition candidate to face President Joseph Kabila’s own choice in the December 23 election. With the long-delayed date looming in Democratic Republic of Congo, the opposition leaders have…
The United States has appointed a new special envoy for the Great Lakes Region, the U.S. Department of State announced Friday. Dr. J. Peter Pham, most recently director of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington DC, was named to the post and will continue the work of…
Somali-American Ilhan Omar has become one of two Muslim women who are the first to serve in the United States Congress, after easily winning her race in the state of Minnesota. The Democrat Omar was declared winner of her U.S. House of Representatives race with 78.7 percent of the vote…
United States diplomat Tibor Nagy is visiting Africa this week, with stops planned for Togo, Guinea, Mali and Nigeria. Nagy, the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs, made stops in Europe before heading to Lomé for meetings with government officials and a conference of U.S. diplomats. He is…
Among the first heads of state to congratulate Brazil’s president-elect Jair Bolsonaro on Monday was President João Lourenço of Angola, leader of one of the six Lusophone nations in Africa that share membership in the Portuguese-speaking community (CPLP) and its most influential. Lourenço said he hopes the Bolsonaro victory will…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
President Ali Bongo of Gabon remained hospitalized in Saudi Arabia on Monday, according to Al Jazeera news, but the reasons for his medical treatment are still unclear. Gabon traveled to Riyadh last week to participate in the Future Investment Initiative that began on October 23, the “Davos in the Desert”…