Congo finally begins mpox vaccinations in a drive to slow outbreaks

GOMA, Congo (AP) — Congolese authorities Saturday began vaccinations against mpox, nearly two months after the disease outbreak that spread from Congo to several African countries and beyond was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization. The 265,000 doses donated...

Congo finally begins mpox vaccinations, nearly two months after outbreaks in Africa were declared a global emergency

Solar power companies are growing fast in Africa, where 600 million still lack electricity

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — Companies that bring solar power to some of the poorest homes in Central and West Africa are said to be among the fastest growing on a continent whose governments have long struggled to address some of the world's worst infrastructure and the complications of climate...

In Senegal, the bastion of the region's Francophonie, French is giving way to local languages

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — For decades Senegal, a former French colony in West Africa, has been touted as the bastion of the French language in the region. Leopold Sedar Senghor, the country’s first president and a poet, is considered one of the founding fathers of the concept of Francophonie, a...

Two men close to Benin's president jailed after alleged coup plot

COTONOU, Bénin (AP) — Two men close to Benin's president who were arrested last week on suspicions of plotting a coup in the small West African country were remanded in custody ahead of their trial, one of their lawyers said Tuesday. Olivier Boko — a businessman and longtime...

Nigeria’s independence anniversary is marked by protests and frustration over economic hardship

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerians on Tuesday staged protests against economic hardship as the West African nation marked its 64th independence anniversary with its president calling for patience. Police fired tear gas to disperse some of the protesters, resulting in clashes. Dozens...

Dikembe Mutombo, a Hall of Fame player and tireless advocate, dies at 58 from brain cancer

Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday from brain cancer, the league announced. He was 58. His family revealed two years ago that he was undergoing treatment in...

The EU is failing to dissuade African migrants despite spending billions, auditors say

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is failing develop ways to dissuade migrants from Africa leaving for Europe without authorization and could do more to limit abuses against people trying to make the journey, the EU’s financial watchdog warned on Wednesday. The findings come in...

Biden is making his long-awaited visit to Africa in October. He'll stop in Germany, then Angola

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will make his long-awaited visit to Africa when he travels to Germany and Angola in mid-October, the White House announced Tuesday. Biden had promised during a summit of African leaders he hosted in Washington in late 2022 to visit Africa the...

'Water is flooding everywhere' as torrential rains sweep through West and Central Africa

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Houses swept away to the very last brick. Inmates frantically fleeing the city's main prison as its walls got washed away by water rising from an overflowing dam. Corpses of crocodiles and snakes floating among human bodies on what used to be main streets. As...