Spate of coups don’t mean end of democracy in Africa

Following military takeovers in five different African countries in the past year, some have suggested that democracy may not be the best form of government on the continent. But here, Leonard Mbulle-Nziege and Nic Cheeseman argue that – despite these set-backs – democracy is the way forward for Africa.© AFP Soldiers received a rapturous welcome after they seized power in…

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Africa: Kiswahili Becomes AU’s Working Language

African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government have approved Kiswahili as one of the bloc’s official working languages following a request from Vice-President Dr. Phillip Mpango. Dr. Mpango had suggested that Kiswahili is one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa with about 100 million people within and outside the continent. “Kiswahili is already in use in…

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Cancer Kills 700,000 In Africa Yearly – WHO

World Health Organisation (WHO) regional director For Africa, Dr Matshido Moeti, says the continent records 1.1 million cases of cancer with 700, 000 deaths every year. In a report he released to mark the World Cancer Day, which LEADERSHIP in Maiduguri, Borno State, Moeti said, “Every year, Africa records around 1.1 million new cases of cancer, resulting in up…

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HUMANITARIAN CRISIS FEARED AS CYCLONE KILLS 20 IN MADAGASCAR

Madagascar’s disaster management agency said that Cyclone Batsirai had left 20 people dead and forced 55,000 from their homes. INTERNATIONAL NEWS – Cyclone Batsirai swept out of Madagascar on Monday after killing 20 people, displacing 55,000 and devastating the drought-hit island’s agricultural heartland, leading the UN to warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Madagascar was already reeling from a…

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HUMANITARIAN CRISIS FEARED AS CYCLONE KILLS 20 IN MADAGASCAR

Madagascar’s disaster management agency said that Cyclone Batsirai had left 20 people dead and forced 55,000 from their homes. INTERNATIONAL NEWS – Cyclone Batsirai swept out of Madagascar on Monday after killing 20 people, displacing 55,000 and devastating the drought-hit island’s agricultural heartland, leading the UN to warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Madagascar was already reeling from a…

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Africa’s Debt Higher Than Combined Revenue of $501bn, Says Adesina

African Development Bank, AfDB, President, Akinwumi Adesina, has revealed that Africa’s public debt, currently estimated at $546 billion, represents one-quarter of the continent’s GDP and is higher than the combined total annual government revenues of $501 billion. Speaking , weekend at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Adesina said the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional…

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Africa: AU Summit Exposes Deep Rifts Among African States

The African Union concluded its annual summit on Sunday, condemning a recent wave of military coups on the continent. An unprecedented number of member states have been suspended from the bloc amid fears of democratic “backpedalling”. The recent spate of coups d’état on the continent was among the main issues raised at the two-day gathering in Addis Ababa, although…

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