DAMATURU – At least 21 people have been killed in a bomb blast in northern Nigeria as they were watching a World Cup match, a hospital source has told the BBC. Witnesses in Damaturu, in Yobe state, say a suicide bomber in a tricycle taxi detonated explosives as people watched Brazil’s match against Mexico on…
MPEKETONI – At least 12 women were abducted during the latest attack on Kenya’s coast, which also left 15 people dead, residents have told the BBC. President Uhuru Kenyatta has blamed “local political networks” for the overnight raid on two villages near the town of Mpeketoni. But Somalia’s al-Shabab group had earlier said it was…
MOGADISHU – Somalia’s al-Shabab militants have rounded up around 100 women and ordered them to comply with a strict Islamic dress code or risk being whipped. The women were arrested in Buale, about 300km (185 miles) south-west of the capital, Mogadishu. BBC Somali analyst Mohamed Mohamed says it is rare for al-Shabab to carry out…
KINSHASA – Rwandan forces and troops from DR Congo are fighting each other on their shared border, the Congolese information minister says. Lambert Mende told the BBC the battle began when a unit of Rwandan soldiers crossed over the border and attacked early on Wednesday. After fighting for nearly two hours, the Rwandans kidnapped an…
AFRICA – Several African countries have enjoyed economic growth in recent years – but there are fears that a failure to develop manufacturing could prove to be costly. “Made in China” is a stamp that is ubiquitous and can be found on a wide range of objects – anything from T-shirts and shoes, to watches…
JOHANNESBURG – President Jacob Zuma was admitted to hospital for tests yesterday, the presidency said. “President Jacob Zuma has today, June 7, 2014, been admitted to hospital for tests,” his spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement. “Yesterday, President Zuma was advised to rest following a demanding election and transition programme to the new administration.”…
CONAKRY – Some 208 people have now died from the Ebola virus in Guinea after a deadly spike in recent days, world health officials say. At least 21 people died and 37 new cases of suspected Ebola were found between 29 May and 1 June, bringing the total number of cases in the West African…
BANGUI – The authorities in the Central African Republic (CAR) have banned the use of mobile phone text messages. The move is aimed at helping to restore security after more than a year of deadly ethnic and religious violence. The ban comes after days of violent demonstrations in the capital, Bangui, and a mass text…
JOHANNESBURG – Julius Malema says he will not take his son out of an elite private school despite his earlier call on public representatives to use public facilities, amenities and institutions. The Economic Freedom Fighters leader said his child would not attend “dysfunctional and poor” public schools. He also told The Star he would hold…
CAIRO – Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has urged Egyptians to work to restore stability after being declared the winner of last week’s presidential election. The former army chief said he wanted “freedom” and “social justice”, echoing the slogan of the 2011 revolution. Mr Sisi spoke after election officials announced that he had received 96.9% of the…
