News

The European Union is to double the budget allocated to a multi-national force in West Africa’s Sahel region as part of a declared mission to crack down on Islamist militancy and human trafficking there. Europe fears that growing instability in the Sahel region of Africa — an arid land mass lying to the immediate south of the Sahara Desert and …

Pope Francis has declared a day of fasting and prayer for crisis-ridden Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Both countries have been dogged by security and humanitarian crisis over the past few years. The Holy Father has thus called for spiritual intervention asking the faithful to fast and pray on February 23 for peace. The event is also aimed …

Fela Durotoye, a consulting guru, leadership coach and public speaker, says he will be running for president, come 2019. It’s a move that will excite the political terrain in Nigeria, clamouring for a new generation of leaders to transform Africa’s most populous country. The 46-year-old declared his intentions on Thursday in Lagos, adding that he had researched all the national …

Liberia’s President George Weah joined fellow African football great Didier Drogba and emerging French youngster Kylian Mbappé in Paris, to launch a platform that will support sports in Africa. Hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, the three great strikers committed themselves to supporting the French initiative. Sport can be “a strong and dynamic vector for Africa”, stressed Macron at the …

Dozens of Sweden’s largest and most influential companies have released a statement, appealing to the government to stop the deportation of qualified migrant workers. Among the signatories are H&M’s chairman and the CEO of Ericsson. Swedish financial daily Dagens Industri has published an open letter that argues that the expulsion of foreign workers “hits business” and that “Swedish companies have …

The Government of Ghana has announced that some 500 young Ghanaians have been left stranded in Dubai. The 500 were sent to the largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by fake recruitment agencies to take up non-existing jobs. Information Minister Mustapha Hamid however said government is collaborating with authorities in the UAE to repatriate them. …

Liberia’s new President George Weah on Tuesday pledged to fight endemic corruption as he spoke about conditions in his “broke country” on the first day of an official visit to Paris. The former international football star, who took office on January 22, is faced with a dire economic situation in Liberia following two civil wars and a deadly Ebola epidemic …

Flu has already claimed 102 lives in Germany since December 2017 – This is what you should know and how you can protect yourself. The flu wave continues to spread nationwide. The Robert Koch Institute warned in January about the influenza virus spreading from Australia to Europe. Since then, more and more cases of the illness have been detected. It …

The leadership of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe (NIDOE) was in The Hague on Thursday (15 February) in continuation of its consultative tour of Nigerian diplomatic missions in Europe. The members of the body’s Central Executive Council, led by the chairman of NIDOE, Hon. Kenneth Gbandi, were warmly received by Nigeria’s ambassador to the Netherlands, His Excellency Oji Nyimenuate …

The President of the German chapter of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Kenneth Chukwudi Alaekwe, has passed away. He died at the age of 55 on Saturday 17 February 2018 at a Berlin hospital after a brief illness. Kenneth is survived by his wife Ulla and son Henry. At the time of his death, Kenneth was Director for Conference …

South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu stepped down as an ambassador for Oxfam on Thursday, citing disappointment at the British aid agency’s embroilment in a sex scandal involving staff in Haiti after a massive 2010 earthquake. Employees of Oxfam International, which groups about 20 national and regional branches in 90 countries, have been accused of raping women in South Sudan, …

Ethiopia’s prime minister has announced he will resign, in what he says is an effort to advance reforms aimed at easing the country’s political unrest. Speaking on state television Thursday, Hailemariam Desalegn said he has submitted his letter of resignation as both prime minister and chairman of the ruling EPRDF coalition. Hailemariam said he is stepping down “to be part …

Cyril Ramaphosa, head of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), has been sworn is as South Africa’s president, fewer than 24 hours after the resignation of embattled ex-leader Jacob Zuma. “I will try very hard not to disappoint the people of South Africa,” Ramaphosa (65) said on Thursday as he ended his speech to parliament, shortly after the Parliament elected …

Sunday Oliseh said he was suspended from his job at Fortuna Sittard, Netherlands due to his refusal to participate in illegal activities at the club. The 43-year-old former Super Eagles coach was relieved of his duties as coach on Wednesday via a statement on the club’s website “www.fortunasittard.nl”. “The club management makes this decision as a result of the repeatedly culpable …

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has died aged 65 after a lengthy battle with cancer, party officials announced on Wednesday. The Vice President of his Movement for Democratic Change said the family has confirmed his death and that he passed away in hospital in South Africa, where he had been receiving treatment. “I can confirm that he died this evening. …

Ethiopian journalist and blogger Eskinder Nega has finally been released from a prison facility after seven years in jail. Nega was among the over 740 prisoners who were set for release by the federal government as part of political reforms announced in January 2018. His release comes barely a week after he reportedly refused to sign a ‘false confession form’ …

Jacob Zuma has resigned as president of South Africa with immediate effect, state television announced Wednesday night. Mr. Zuma, 75, has led South Africa since 2009. His resignation came a day after he was asked to resign by his party, the African National Congress (ANC), as a result of corruption allegations and his connection to the Gupta family in South …

South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma has criticised his party, the Africa National Congress (ANC) for recalling him without taking him through the party’s disciplinary processes.  “Why cut it now. I do have a problem, I joined the ANC when I was very young. I have been going to places knowing that I could be killed. It’s the first time that …

President Buhari should not run for another term in office, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo advised in a letter to Nigeria’s head of state in January 2018. In an interview, he told Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany’s international broadcaster, why he wrote the letter. Nigerian Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is known for his public letters to sitting presidents. In 2013 he wrote a …

German officials say 12,285 people applied for asylum in the country in January. That is a 15 percent drop compared with the same month last year. In January 2017, Germany recorded 14,476 new asylum requests, while some 13,082 people applied for asylum in December 2017. Figures published by the Interior Ministry on Tuesday show most new asylum-seekers last month originated …