In our series of letters from African writers, Zimbabwean journalist-turned-barrister Brian Hungwe looks at whether politicians need better qualifications. Zimbabwe has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa. It is a country of learned people – the former President Robert Mugabe had no less than seven degrees. But the education appears not to have […]

Situated on the equator on Africa’s east coast, Kenya has been described as “the cradle of humanity”. In the Great Rift Valley palaeontologists have discovered some of the earliest evidence of man’s ancestors. In the present day, Kenya’s ethnic diversity has produced a vibrant culture but is also a source of conflict. The Islamist militant […]

Thousands of passengers have been stranded in Kenya’s four main airports after a strike by workers caused a major disruption to flights. Workers say they are unhappy over a planned merger between the airport authority and the national airline. About 60 flights have failed to take off at Jomo Kenyatta Airport – East Africa’s largest. […]

For many Algerians it is difficult to understand how their 82-year-old president, who suffered a stroke six years ago and can hardly walk or talk, can run the country. This turned to disbelief when it was announced that Abdelaziz Bouteflika was running for a fifth term in April – he did not even turn up […]

KAMPALA, Uganda — Growing up in suburban Ohio, Rajakumari Jandhyala never imagined she would end up in the oil business, much less on the front line of America’s global competition with China. She spent two decades as a policy adviser on Africa, most recently as an aid official in the Obama administration. But in 2016, […]

South Africans have reacted angrily to a live video of a singer being beaten by what appears to be her boyfriend. Bongekile Simelane, known by the stage name Babes Wodumo, was talking to fans on Instagram Live in a bedroom when she was slapped repeatedly. Babes Wodumo is trending on Twitter in South Africa, as […]

A British museum is to return a lock of hair that the Ethiopian government considers a national treasure. It was cut from the head of Emperor Tewodros II, who killed himself rather than be taken prisoner by the British during their 1868 invasion of Ethiopia. His seven-year-old son Prince Alemayehu was taken to the UK […]

A helicopter has crashed in northern Kenya, killing four American tourists and their Kenyan pilot, officials say. The helicopter reportedly crashed in Central Island National Park on Sunday. Police said two helicopters had landed on the island’s Labolo tented camp on Sunday evening – one flew away safely. The cause of the crash is not […]

ALGIERS (REUTERS) – Hundreds of Algerians gathered in the capital and other cities late on Sunday (March 3) to protest against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s plan to seek re-election, according to residents and footage posted online. Hundreds of youths gathered in the centre of Algiers chanting anti-government slogans, the scene of mass protests on Friday and […]

Students in Algeria have been holding fresh protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s plans to run for a fifth term in office. The 82-year-old president has until midnight on Sunday local time to register for the elections in April. Police have been guarding the offices of the Constitutional Council, in the capital Algiers, where candidates submit […]