Students at a university in South Africa gave up on writing an exam – and starting protesting that it was too difficult, local media reports say. The incident happened during a philosophy exam at the University of Limpopo in the remote northern part of South Africa. Videos have been posted…
Theresa May has announced plans to boost Britain’s investment in Africa after Brexit, during her first trip to the continent as prime minister. In a speech in Cape Town, she pledged 4 billion Pounds in support for African economies, to create jobs for young people. She also pledged a “fundamental…
Namibia’s President Hage Geingob on Sunday urged citizens to take part in the debate over mooted land reforms, including the expropriation of land, in order to avoid chaos. The southern African country will hold a “national land conference” from 1 to 5 October for discussion of policies that will accelerate…
A public inquiry has opened in Johannesburg into alleged corruption and misuse of state funds by former South African President Jacob Zuma. In a scandal known as “state capture”, Mr Zuma is accused of granting the Guptas, a wealthy business family, influence over government appointments, contracts and state-owned businesses. Both…
In 2020, Burundi will join a growing number of African countries to have banned plastic bags. President Pierre Nkurunziza issued a decree on Monday prohibiting the “manufacture, import, storage, sale and use of all plastic bags and other plastic packaging”, according to a presidential order seen by the BBC. It…
Two opponents of Congolese President Joseph Kabila jointly lead a race to replace him in an election due in December, according to a public opinion poll released on Tuesday. Millionaire businessman Moise Katumbi, a former governor of the country’s copper-producing region who says he will return from a two-year exile…
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been keen to show that his country has turned a corner with this vote. Whereas in the past, election observers from some parts of the world were not welcome, they’ve come in large numbers for this vote. For the first time in 16 years, EU…
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir says he’s ready to accept a peace deal that would end years of civil war in the world’s youngest country. The agreement being negotiated with his rival Riek Machar would give the country five vice presidents, and covers power sharing and security. A permanent ceasefire…
Eight migrants including six children were found dead on Monday after suffocating from petrol fumes while packed into a lorry container on the west Libyan coast, authorities said. Another 90 migrants recovered from the container were in critical condition and had been taken to a local hospital for treatment, the…
South Sudan’s parliament has voted to extend President Salva Kiir’s term in office until 2021 amid failure to hold elections this year. Mr Kiir has been in power since South Sudan’s independence in 2011 and elections in 2015 were also postponed. The move could undermine ongoing peace talks aimed at…