May 22, 2013

Africa

  • Congo fighting persists as UN chief arrives - May 22 2013 14:57

    FILE -In this Nov. 29, 2012 file photo, Congolese government troops patrol near Minova in eastern Congo. Fighting between M23 rebels and the army continued for a second day Tuesday, May 21, 2013, near Congo's eastern provincial capital of Goma, in clashes that have so far killed 20 people, all of them either soldiers or rebels, officials said. Peace talks reached a dead end in recent weeks, and after a six-month lull, the Congolese army and the M23 started fighting again on Monday. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)GOMA, Congo (AP) — M23 rebels fired two rockets into the eastern Congo city of Goma, killing one person and wounding four, officials said, in an apparent spillover from three days of fighting raging north of the city.


  • Amid signs of turmoil, S Sudan says oil will flow - May 22 2013 12:32
    JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Following a lengthy Cabinet meeting, South Sudan's government spokesman said Wednesday that the country will continue to export oil through Sudan and that there had been only a temporary slowdown in production.
  • 'Boom Town Baby': African stock markets see gains - May 22 2013 10:23

    In this photo taken Thursday, May 16, 2013, Aly-Khan Satchu, the Chief Executive Officer of RICH Management Ltd, poses for a photograph in his office overlooking the skyline of Nairobi, Kenya. The barrage of hourly tweets sent out by Aly-Khan Satchu, East Africa's version of CNBC's Mad Money host Jim Cramer, cheers on what Satchu says is a growing sentiment among investors: If you're not investing in Africa, you should be. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The barrage of hourly tweets sent out by Aly-Khan Satchu — East Africa's version of CNBC's Mad Money host Jim Cramer — cheers on what Satchu says is a growing sentiment among investors: If you're not investing in Africa, you should be. Or as Satchu loudly proclaims on his Twitter feed or newspaper column: "ITS BOOM TOWN BABY."


  • AP PHOTOS: Nigeria prepares to bury writer Achebe - May 22 2013 10:03

    Police officers stand guards under a giant poster of late author Chinua Achebe, as part of an event in Awka, Nigeria, Wednesday, May 22, 2013. People gathered Wednesday to celebrate the life of author Chinua Achebe, who died in March at the age of 82. His family plans to bury the literary icon Thursday in his home village of Ogidi. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)OGIDI, Nigeria (AP) — Writer Chinua Achebe, whose works focused on the conflict between modernity and the way of life in rural Nigeria, has returned home for the final time.


  • Kenya's truth report: Killings, land grabs, graft - May 22 2013 08:54

    FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008 file photo, a young girl cries as she is carried by a man and woman fleeing an area of wooden kiosks which was set on fire by supporters of Raila Odinga's party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), during post-election violence in the Kibera slum area of Nairobi, Kenya. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta received late Tuesday, May 21, 2013 the long-awaited report from the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, which was established as part of a reform process aimed at preventing a repeat of the 2007-08 post-election violence in which more than 1,000 people were killed. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya's president received a long-awaited Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission report that names the president and his deputy as being among those suspected of planning and financing Kenya's 2007-08 postelection violence in which more than 1,000 people died and 600,000 were evicted from their homes.


  • Zimbabwe's president signs new constitution - May 22 2013 08:29
    HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe's president signs into law a new constitution and vows to hold peaceful and clean elections later this year.
  • Malawi finds buyer for presidential jet - May 22 2013 07:50
    BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — Malawi's cost-cutting president is selling her predecessor's jet.
  • African Union celebrates 50th year - May 22 2013 07:37
    ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — African nations this week mark the 50th year since the founding of a continentwide organization that spearheaded efforts to liberate Africa from colonial masters. Now leaders want to map out the next 50 years of political and economic integration.
  • Mortar lands in Congo as UN chief arrives - May 22 2013 05:50

    FILE -In this Nov. 29, 2012 file photo, Congolese government troops patrol near Minova in eastern Congo. Fighting between M23 rebels and the army continued for a second day Tuesday, May 21, 2013, near Congo's eastern provincial capital of Goma, in clashes that have so far killed 20 people, all of them either soldiers or rebels, officials said. Peace talks reached a dead end in recent weeks, and after a six-month lull, the Congolese army and the M23 started fighting again on Monday. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)GOMA, Congo (AP) — A mortar round exploded in Goma, a city in eastern Congo which has been in the crosshairs of this country's latest rebellion, officials said Wednesday, as the United Nations secretary-general arrived in Congo's capital for a two-day visit expected to take him to Goma.


  • South Sudan warns it may shut down oil flow again - May 22 2013 05:38
    JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan is warning that it may stop exporting oil through Sudan's pipelines again.
  • Nigeria: Islamic extremist inmates to be released - May 21 2013 14:07
    ENUGU, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria's military said Tuesday that the West African nation would release some of the prisoners it has taken in the country's fight against Islamic extremists — including all the women now held in custody.
  • New Egypt tax law: cuts for poor, business hikes - May 21 2013 14:00

    The sun sets over the Nile River and the historical site of the Giza Pyramids as seen from Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. Egypt's president has signed a new tax law that cuts the amount paid by poorer Egyptians while increasing taxes on small and medium-sized businesses. The measure is among many economic reforms the government is trying to impose to control its burgeoning budget deficit. Egypt is negotiating a $4.8 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, which is pushing for economic revisions.(AP Photo/Amr Nabil)CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's president signed a new tax law Tuesday that cuts the amount paid by poorer Egyptians in the latest move aimed at reforming the country's economy.


  • South Africa: Winnie Mandela forced auction flops - May 21 2013 09:36

    Press gather outside the Soweto, South African home of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, former wife of former president Nelson Mandela, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. A scheduled auction to sell items belonging to Madikizela-Mandela came and went without a single bid. Court sheriff John Maluleke and two other officials joined reporters gathered outside the gated home where some of her items were expected to be sold to cover an old debt she owes for school fees for her grand-niece, but were denied entry despite officials repeatedly banging on the gate. (AP Photo) SOUTH AFRICA OUTJOHANNESBURG (AP) — There were no bidders and no locksmiths willing to force entry for a scheduled auction Tuesday to sell artworks and other belongings of Nelson Mandela's ex-wife.


  • Fighting for 2nd day between army, rebels in Congo - May 21 2013 09:35

    FILE - In this November 30, 2012 file photo, M23 rebels withdraw from the Masisi and Sake areas in eastern Congo. Fighting between M23 rebels and the army continued for a second day Tuesday, May 21, 2013, near Congo's eastern provincial capital of Goma, in clashes that have so far killed 20 people, all of them either soldiers or rebels, officials said. Peace talks reached a dead end in recent weeks, and after a six-month lull, the Congolese army and the M23 started fighting again on Monday. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)GOMA, Congo (AP) — Fighting between the M23 rebels and the army continued for a second day Tuesday near Congo's eastern provincial capital of Goma, in clashes that have so far killed 19 people, all of them either soldiers or rebels, officials said.


  • Court frees man in murder that shocked SAfricans - May 21 2013 09:32
    JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A magistrate drops charges against the boyfriend accused in the brutal gang-rape and killing of a teenager that shocked South Africans.