South Africa anticipates UN Security Council vote

South Africa anticipates UN Security Council vote

The election of non-permanent members to the United Nations Security Council is set for Friday morning in New York, with South Africa seeking to be elected to represent the African Group. The UN General Assembly will elect five members to two-year terms that begin in 2019. Ethiopia currently holds the…

Ramifications for Africa in the diplomatic crisis over Jerusalem

Ramifications for Africa in the diplomatic crisis over Jerusalem

It’s the time of year when the world’s 2.3 billion Christians, alongside those of other faith affiliations warmed by the Christmas tradition, turn toward the city of Bethlehem. Among them are millions of believers across the African continent whose fast-growing faith is centered on the Church of the Nativity and…

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Angola’s opposition vows legal challenge over Lourenço election win

Presidential candidate João Lourenço of Angola’s Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) has been formally declared winner of the country’s August 23 election, but opposition parties said Wednesday that they plan to contest the results. The National Electoral Commission (CNE) said Lourenço, the nation’s defense minister and MPLA vice president,…

Kenyatta appeals for unity in victory speech, but Odinga rejects results

President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya has been declared winner of the August 8 presidential election, but opposition candidate Raila Odinga remained adamant that the results are fraudulent and rejected the Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announcement late Friday. Kenyatta was declared president-elect with 8,203,290 votes, or 54.27 percent of…

Kenya election: Odinga trailing, disputes ‘fake’ vote count

Election results coming in from Kenya’s Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) showed President Uhuru Kenyatta ahead in the tally with 54.6 percent of the vote compared with main challenger Ralia Odinga’s 44.5 percent. Those figures were reported early Wednesday with just under 90 percent of the vote counted. Kenyatta…

Appeals for calm as Mauritania edges toward referendum vote

The growing unrest in Mauritania ahead of Saturday’s vote on a contentious referendum to change the country’s constitution is getting attention from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesman for the UN agency, urged the Mauritanian government to ensure that the rights of peaceful protesters…

Tedros elected to WHO Director General post

Ethiopia’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has become the new director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) following Tuesday’s vote at the WHO Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. Tedros, the first African ever to hold the DG position, will begin his five-year term on July 1; he replaces outgoing WHO DG Dr….