Latest Africa News

Fossils show huge salamanderlike predator with sharp fangs existed before the dinosaurs

Jul. 03, 2024 15:50 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists have revealed fossils of a giant salamanderlike beast with sharp fangs that ruled waters before the first dinosaurs arrived. The predator, which was larger than a person, likely used its wide, flat head and front teeth to suck in and chomp unsuspecting...

US military heightens the security alert at European bases due to a combination of threats

Jul. 01, 2024 12:57 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has raised the security protection measures it is taking at its bases throughout Europe, asking service members to be more vigilant and keep a lower profile due to a combination of threats it is seeing across the region. U.S. European Command...

South African parties agree on Cabinet positions, sealing deal on new coalition government

Jun. 30, 2024 19:15 PM EDT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa named a new Cabinet late Sunday night after his African National Congress, the former main opposition party, and nine other parties agreed on the makeup of a coalition government following weeks of haggling. ...

South African president says Parliament will open July 18 amid discord in the new coalition

Jun. 28, 2024 07:45 AM EDT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Friday that Parliament will open for its next term on July 18 as he remains locked in negotiations with other parties to form a Cabinet well before then amid rifts in the new governing coalition. The talks...

Baby cousin with cancer inspires girls to sew hospital gowns for sick kids across U.S. and Africa

Jun. 26, 2024 18:37 PM EDT

FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) — Fighting brain cancer, little Giada Demma was lying in her pediatric hospital bed, her tiny body virtually swimming in a drab green hospital gown. Her cousin Giuliana Demma remembers looking at the 1-year-old and thinking how sad the scene was: a small child...

Expanding extremist groups in Africa fuel worries that they could attack the US or Western allies

Jun. 25, 2024 15:14 PM EDT

GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — Violent extremist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are growing in size and influence across Africa, fueling worries that as they improve their tactics they could attack the U.S. or Western allies. U.S. defense and military officials...

Assistant found guilty of dismembering former boss with a saw to keep him from discovering theft

Jun. 24, 2024 20:01 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — A personal assistant was convicted Monday of killing and dismembering his former boss after stealing an estimated $400,000 from him, Manhattan's district attorney said. A jury found Tyrese Haspil, 25, guilty in the 2020 death of Fahim Saleh, 33, whose beheaded,...

US struggles with shaky relations and troop cuts in African nations as military leaders meet

Jun. 24, 2024 03:38 AM EDT

GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — The forced U.S. troop withdrawals from bases in Niger and Chad and the potential to shift some troops to other nations in West Africa will be key issues as the top U.S. military officer meets with his counterparts this week at a chiefs of defense conference. ...

More African nations focus on HPV vaccination against cervical cancer, but hesitancy remains

Jun. 24, 2024 00:44 AM EDT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Yunusa Bawa spends a lot of time talking about the vaccine for the human papillomavirus that is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer. But on most days, only two or three people allow their daughters to be vaccinated in the rural part of Nigeria where he works....

It was meant to be a Christian utopia. Now this Nigerian community is helpless against rising seas

Jun. 23, 2024 20:53 PM EDT

AYETORO, Nigeria (AP) — The coastal Nigerian community of Ayetoro was founded decades ago and nicknamed “Happy City,” meant to be a Christian utopia that would be sinless and classless. But now its remaining residents can do little against the rising sea. Buildings have sunk...