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Africa

Africa
Africa
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Africa. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
27 August, 2024
Congolese soldiers on top of a tank advancing towards Sake, 25km northwest of Goma. Photo: AFP
War and conflict

Rebels close in on eastern DR Congo’s largest city as army battles to halt advance

Rwanda-backed fighters advance on provincial capital Goma after capturing several towns, with 400,000 people already displaced this year.

Tourism

The thrill of tracking rhinos in Zimbabwe’s oldest national park

China-Africa relations

Why Wang Yi’s ‘close call’ could prompt China to step up African security push

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At least 70 killed in Nigeria fuel tanker truck blast

The incident, which occurred after the truck overturned and spilled fuel, highlights the dangers of fuel scarcity and the desperate measures taken by residents.

Officials and members of the National Emergency Agency survey the wreckage of a fuel tanker in Nigeria on January 18, 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE
Fame and celebrity

Who was under-fire LA Mayor Karen Bass’ late ex-husband, Jesus Lechuga?

Amid criticism over her handling of the Los Angeles wildfires, cutting the Fire Department’s budget and ill-timed Ghana trip, Bass’ personal life is under scrutiny too.

Britain

Mauritius PM questions US-British base lease, citing sovereignty concerns

Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam criticised the deal and described Britain’s agreement the government before his as a ‘sell out’.

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Food and Drinks

African cousin of sriracha, Tunisia’s harissa chilli paste, ‘a love story’

The Unesco-listed condiment seen as sriracha’s North African relative is growing in popularity, as is a festival devoted to it in Tunisia.

A Tunisian harissa maker at work in her home. Photo: AP
South Africa

South Africa mine rescue ends with at least 87 dead and 246 survivors

Police finished clearing out illegal miners who had been underground for months, some badly emaciated.

Chinese overseas

3 Chinese citizens sentenced to 7 years for illegal mining in DR Congo

The trial took place against a backdrop of increasing efforts to combat illegal mineral trafficking in the DRC.

South Africa

At least 100 miners dead after being trapped for months in South Africa mine: group

South Africa starts rescuing illegal gold miners stranded in deep shafts as footage shows dozens of dead bodies underground.

Rescuers and South African Police Service officers carry remains in blue body bags. Photo: AFP
France

Mayotte braces for new storm less than a month after devastating cyclone

France’s east African territory braced for a storm expected to bring strong winds and flash floods less than a month after a deadly cyclone.

Cyclone Dikeledi approaching Mayotte, in the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and mainland Africa, on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Diplomacy

Somalia’s president to visit Ethiopia over Red Sea access, mounting tensions

The two countries are looking to build on a recent peace deal that aims to defuse mounting tension in the Horn of Africa.

Belt and Road Initiative

China gets major Nigeria rail project back on track by granting key loan

Chinese state lenders had pulled the plug on the Kaduna-Kano project in 2020, but have greenlit new financing on commercial terms.

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China-Africa relations

China, Congo draw up a road map for Xi’s US$50 billion Africa investment pledge

Foreign Minister Wang Yi sas China ‘will help Africa to develop and revitalise itself and move towards modernisation’.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Republic of the Congo’s President Denis Sassou Nguesso in Brazzaville on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua
Islamic militancy

Attempted assault on Chad presidential complex leaves 19 dead

The events coincided with an official visit by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Chad.

This video grab from a CCTV video of the presidential complex shows a soldier firing at gunmen. Photo:Tele Tchad via AFP
Technology

Opinion | How the Global South can defend against Trump’s AI offensive

US removal of AI safeguards risks widening the global divide. Global South must invest in AI regional partnerships, education and infrastructure.

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Artificial intelligence

Alibaba powers AI drive of Transsion, top Chinese smartphone vendor in Africa

Alibaba’s Tongyi Qianwen model will enable the GenAI features of the Phantom V Fold2, Transsion’s latest 5G smartphone under its Tecno brand.

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Business of climate change

China’s Zijin to start producing lithium from Congo in early 2026

The Manono project is also claimed by Australia’s AVZ Minerals, which has started arbitration proceedings against the African nation’s government.

Manono in southeast Congo is rich in lithium deposits. Photo: AVZ Minerals
Thailand

Thai ex-PM Thaksin under fire for alleged racist jibe at African women

Former leader says Thai women have ‘natural beauty’ and his Pheu Thai party will promote them to become supermodels.

Wellness

5 million people. 1 psychiatric hospital. Many patients are chained to beds

At Mauritania’s Nouakchott Centre for Specialised Medicine, most patients stay for only a few days as beds and staff are too scarce.

Zimbabwe

‘Miracle’ Zimbabwe boy, 7, wanders for 5 days through animal-filled park

Tinashe Farawo roamed through Matusadona Park where wild animals – including lions, elephants and rhinos – live.

A seven-year-old in Zimbabwe was found unscathed after he wandered alone for five days in a national park inhabited by lions and other wild animals. Photo: Shutterstock
Technology

Opinion | Asia’s embrace of refurbished smartphones is a trend to dial into in 2025

It’s great for the environment, for brands looking to seduce customers into switching and for consumers hunting for a bargain.

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A worker repairs a mobile phone in a shop in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, in 2017. Photo: AFP
E-commerce

UK lawmakers summon Shein and Temu for questioning over labour practices

Both online retailers have faced allegations of poor working practices at product factories in China and of forced labour in supply chains.

France

Ivory Coast asks French troops to leave, the latest African country to do so

Several West African nations – including coup-hit Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – have recently asked the French to leave.

Human rights

Zimbabwe abolishes death penalty almost 20 years after its last hanging

New law will commute to jail time the sentences of about 60 prisoners on death row.

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There has been a moratorium on executions in Zimbabwe since 2005. File photo: Shutterstock
Ethiopia

More than 70 killed in Ethiopia road accident involving wedding party

The accident occurred when an overcrowded lorry that was carrying wedding guests plunged into a river.

Most passengers, including the driver, were killed due to the impact. Photo: AP
United Nations

Sudan government rejects UN-backed famine declaration

The war has reportedly created famine conditions for 638,000 people, with a further 8.1 million on the brink of mass starvation.

China-Africa relations

In Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, China is proving it is master of the sea

China’s naval presence in an area notorious for piracy is both protecting its investments and stretching its military muscles.

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