Top Africa News

In this photo provided by the United Nations, Satta Sheriff, Young Leader for the SDGs and Founder and Executive Director of Action for Justice and Human Rights, Liberia, participates in the high-level virtual panel entitled

COVID-19 can't crush human rights, UN gathering declares

Sep. 25, 2020 12:56 PM EDT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — In a diminished spotlight because of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading human rights defenders on Friday urged people in these fractured times to connect through politics — and vote, too. “In many places around the world, participation is being denied and civic space is being...

Paul Rusesabagina, center, whose story inspired the film

'Hotel Rwanda' hero admits backing rebels, denies violence

Sep. 25, 2020 11:15 AM EDT

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — The man portrayed as a hero in the movie “Hotel Rwanda” has admitted in court that he backed a rebel group, but denied that he supported any violence or killings. Paul Rusesabagina, in a pink prison uniform for his bail hearing on Friday, told the court in Kigali, the...

Former Defense Minister and retired Col. Maj. Bah N'Daw, right, is sworn into the office of transitional president, and Col. Assimi Goita, left, head of the junta that staged the Aug. 18 coup, is sworn into the office of transitional vice president, at a ceremony in the capital Bamako, Mali, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. Mali's transitional president and vice president were sworn into office Friday, more than a month after a coup in the West African nation, as Mali remains under sanctions by the 15-nation West African regional bloc ECOWAS, and amid uncertainty about details of the transition period. (AP Photo)

Mali swears in transitional president and vice president

Sep. 25, 2020 10:56 AM EDT

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali’s transitional president and vice president were sworn into office Friday, more than a month after a coup in the West African nation. The induction ceremony in the capital, Bamako, took place as Mali remains under sanctions by the 15-nation West African regional bloc,...

Auschwitz memorial director seeks clemency for Nigerian boy

Sep. 25, 2020 1:32 PM EDT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The director of the Auschwitz Memorial appealed to Nigeria's president on Friday to pardon a 13-year-old boy who was sentenced to 120 months of prison on blasphemy charges, even volunteering to serve part of the boy's sentence. Piotr Cywinski wrote to Nigerian President Muhammadu...

In this image made from UNTV video, Alassane Ouattara, President of Cote d'Ivoire, speaks in a pre-recorded message which was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Thursday Sept. 24, 2020, at UN headquarters, in New York. (UNTV via AP)

At UN, Africa urges fiscal help against virus 'apocalypse'

Sep. 24, 2020 5:53 PM EDT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — African nations came out swinging on the third day of the United Nations annual gathering of world leaders Thursday, calling for dramatic fiscal measures to help economies survive the coronavirus pandemic — which one leader called the “fifth horseman of the...

In this photo made from UNTV video, Uhuru Kenyatta, president of Kenya, speaks in a pre-recorded message which was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, at UN Headquarters. This year's annual gathering of world leaders at U.N. headquarters will be almost entirely

The other issues: Pandemic focus at UN pushes out key topics

Sep. 25, 2020 1:10 PM EDT

At the United Nations this week, Kenya's president lamented the loss of animal species and called for measures to combat climate change. Slovenia's president spoke of eliminating land mines, legacies of bygone wars that still maim and kill. And leaders of Iran, Cuba and Libya asked for a lifting of sanctions,...

FILE- A cargo ship approaches the port of Piraeus as other ships are anchored, near Athens, Greece in this May 26, 2020 file photo. The United Nations is trying to figure out how to help more than 300,000 merchant mariners trapped at sea because of COVID-19 virus restrictions that they face when they get home. Describing the desperation of seafarers who've been afloat for a year or more, Captain Hedi Marzougui pleaded their case Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 at a U.N.-organized meeting with shipping executives and government transport officials.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)

Stuck at sea: Nations urged to help virus-stranded mariners

Sep. 24, 2020 5:55 PM EDT

PARIS (AP) — Another COVID-19 problem that the U.N. is trying to solve: how to help more than 300,000 merchant mariners who are trapped at sea because of coronavirus restrictions. Describing the mounting desperation of seafarers who have been afloat for a year or more, Captain Hedi Marzougui pleaded their...

In this photo provided by the United Nations, European Council President Charles Michel speaks in a pre-recorded message which was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. (Evan Schneider/UN Photo via AP)

Under virus strain, Europe's leaders plead at UN for unity

Sep. 25, 2020 2:40 PM EDT

PARIS (AP) — Struggling to contain resurgent virus infections, European leaders decried a collective failure to vanquish the pandemic and told the U.N. General Assembly on Friday that the time has come for countries to reinvent international cooperation. This year’s unusual work-from-home General...

People celebrate South Africa's Heritage Day by dancing at Zoo Lake park in Johannesburg Thursday Sept. 24, 2020. As the number of worldwide Covid-19 death is nearing the million mark, coronavirus related case numbers and deaths in South Africa hit the lowest in months. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

South Africa lifts spirits with Jerusalema dance amid virus

Sep. 24, 2020 1:15 PM EDT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africans of all walks of life are dancing to “Jerusalema,” a rousing anthem to lift their spirits amid the battle against COVID-19. In response to a call from President Cyril Ramaphosa to mark the country's Heritage Day holiday Thursday, people from townships to posh...

Pope Francis is seen on a video screen in an empty conference room at United Nations headquarters as he speaks in a pre-recorded message addressing the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Pope to UN: Use COVID crisis to come out better, not worse

Sep. 25, 2020 12:19 PM EDT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis urged world leaders Friday to use the coronavirus emergency as an opportunity to reform the injustices of the global economy and the “perverse logic” of the nuclear deterrence doctrine, warning that increased isolationist responses to problems “must not...

Latest Africa News

Embezzlement, sham marriage charges get city treasurer fired

Sep. 25, 2020 3:58 PM EDT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The treasurer of Philadelphia was fired Friday after federal prosecutors charged him with embezzling money from customers at a bank where he previously worked and entering into a sham marriage to win U.S. citizenship. Mayor Jim Kenney noted that the allegations against Christian Dunbar...

Egyptian arrested for smuggling narcotics in box of dates

Sep. 25, 2020 1:56 PM EDT

CAIRO (AP) — Police at Cairo’s international airport arrested an Egyptian man returning from France on Friday with over 600 narcotic pills and two packs of marijuana stuffed into a carton of dates, according to airport authorities. Egyptian customs officials found 620 tablets of Tramadol, the...

In this undated photo issued by the PDSA, People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, Cambodian landmine detection rat, Magawa is photographed wearing his PDSA Gold Medal, the animal equivalent of the George Cross, in Siem, Cambodia. A British animal charity has on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, for the first time awarded its top civilian honor to a rat, recognizing the rodent for his

Giant rat wins animal hero award for sniffing out landmines

Sep. 25, 2020 1:45 PM EDT

LONDON (AP) — A rat has for the first time won a British charity's top civilian award for animal bravery, receiving the honor for searching out unexploded landmines in Cambodia. Magawa, a giant African pouched rat, was awarded the PDSA’s Gold Medal for his "lifesaving bravery and devotion”...

Auschwitz memorial director seeks clemency for Nigerian boy

Sep. 25, 2020 1:32 PM EDT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The director of the Auschwitz Memorial appealed to Nigeria's president on Friday to pardon a 13-year-old boy who was sentenced to 120 months of prison on blasphemy charges, even volunteering to serve part of the boy's sentence. Piotr Cywinski wrote to Nigerian President Muhammadu...

In this photo provided by the United Nations, Satta Sheriff, Young Leader for the SDGs and Founder and Executive Director of Action for Justice and Human Rights, Liberia, participates in the high-level virtual panel entitled

COVID-19 can't crush human rights, UN gathering declares

Sep. 25, 2020 12:56 PM EDT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — In a diminished spotlight because of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading human rights defenders on Friday urged people in these fractured times to connect through politics — and vote, too. “In many places around the world, participation is being denied and civic space is being...

Paul Rusesabagina, center, whose story inspired the film

'Hotel Rwanda' hero admits backing rebels, denies violence

Sep. 25, 2020 11:15 AM EDT

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — The man portrayed as a hero in the movie “Hotel Rwanda” has admitted in court that he backed a rebel group, but denied that he supported any violence or killings. Paul Rusesabagina, in a pink prison uniform for his bail hearing on Friday, told the court in Kigali, the...

FILE -In this Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 file photo the sun pierces the clouds over international waters north of Libya in the Mediterranean Sea. Over a dozen migrants trying to reach Europe drowned in the Mediterranean Sea when their small dinghy capsized off the coast of Libya, the United Nations reported Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, the latest shipwreck to underscore the deadly risks facing those who flee the war-afflicted North African country. (AP Photo/Renata Brito, File)

UN: At least 16 drown in migrant shipwreck off Libya coast

Sep. 25, 2020 11:09 AM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — At least 16 migrants trying to reach Europe drowned in the Mediterranean Sea when their small dinghy capsized off the coast of Libya, the U.N. migration agency reported Friday, the latest shipwreck to underscore the deadly risks facing those who flee the war-afflicted...

Former Defense Minister and retired Col. Maj. Bah N'Daw, right, is sworn into the office of transitional president, and Col. Assimi Goita, left, head of the junta that staged the Aug. 18 coup, is sworn into the office of transitional vice president, at a ceremony in the capital Bamako, Mali, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. Mali's transitional president and vice president were sworn into office Friday, more than a month after a coup in the West African nation, as Mali remains under sanctions by the 15-nation West African regional bloc ECOWAS, and amid uncertainty about details of the transition period. (AP Photo)

Mali swears in transitional president and vice president

Sep. 25, 2020 10:56 AM EDT

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali’s transitional president and vice president were sworn into office Friday, more than a month after a coup in the West African nation. The induction ceremony in the capital, Bamako, took place as Mali remains under sanctions by the 15-nation West African regional bloc,...

‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero admits in court that he backed a rebel group, but denies that he supported any violence or killings

Sep. 25, 2020 6:29 AM EDT
KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero admits in court that he backed a rebel group, but denies that he supported any violence or killings.
Flower vendors wait for buyers at a wholesale market in Bengaluru, India, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. The nation of 1.3 billion people is expected to become the COVID-19 pandemic's worst-hit country within weeks, surpassing the United States. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

The Latest: $14M more in virus funds for 3 Ariz universities

Sep. 24, 2020 9:23 PM EDT

PHOENIX — Arizona will provide the state’s three public universities with $14 million in additional funding to boost their efforts to test, track and respond to the coronavirus. Gov. Doug Ducey said Thursday the money will help the universities build on their current efforts to track and contain...

LOADING MORE STORIES