KAMPALA – The motion to remove presidential age limits from Uganda’s constitution in parliament is inching forward after several disruptions by lawmakers opposed to the change. Fist fights, chair throwing, heckling and singing have become regular scenes in the house since the age limit motion was first brought up last week. Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga…
NAIROBI – Hundreds of supporters of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyattas’ have held demonstrations outside the Supreme Court in Nairobi to protests the ruling which annulled the August election. They have accused the court of stealing their electoral victory. The protests come amid three petitions filed with the Judicial Service Commission seeking the removal of the…
ACCRA – A new programme of free secondary school education has started in Ghana. This was a key campaign promise of President Nana Akufo-Addo who was elected last year. The 400,000 students entering secondary school this year will also receive free textbooks, meals and other benefits. The aim is to reduce the number of children…
NAIROBI – Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga has said that he will not take part in the presidential election re-run slated for 17 October “without legal and constitutional guarantees”. Last week, the Supreme Court annulled August’s election result saying the electoral commission (IEBC) had not followed the constitution. Incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the…
LAGOS – Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has led his first cabinet meeting today in five months after receiving medical treatment in the UK for an undisclosed illness. The 74-year-old returned to Nigeria from London last week, but has been working from home following complaints of a rodent infestation in the presidential office. He skipped last…
NAIROBI – A ban on plastic carrier bags has come into force in Kenya, which means that anyone found selling, manufacturing or carrying them could face fines of up to $38,000 or prison sentences of up to four years. The government says the ban will help protect the environment. But manufacturers of the bags have…
LUANDA – Angola’s ruling party said on Thursday it won a majority in the country’s election with five million votes counted so far, opening the way for the defence minister to succeed President Jose Eduardo dos Santos after his 38-year rule, the Portuguese news agency Lusa reported. The ruling MPLA party concluded it had won…
LUANDA – Angolans are heading to the polls to vote for a successor for their veteran leader. Jose Eduardo dos Santos has been in power in the oil-rich country since 1979, making him the world’s second-longest serving president. He is not contesting this election – Defence Minister Joao Lourenco is standing for the governing MPLA…
LAGOS – Nigerians on Sunday celebrated the return of President Muhammadu Buhari with thanksgiving services after his prolonged absence abroad for medical treatment, a period that stoked tension in a divided nation. Early morning services were held in churches across the vast west African country, including the seat of government, Aso Villa, in Abuja. Buhari…
LUSAKA – Zambia’s opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, who has been held in prison since April on treason charges, has been released. Mr Hichilema was due to stand trial, but instead walked free from Lusaska’s high court after 100 days in custody. Sources say the charges against Mr Hichilema and five aides were dropped after a…
