France pledges support to construct metro in Ivory Coast

France’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Mair ABIDJAN, May 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France’s Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire visits a portion of the future route of the Abidjan metro and the reconstruction site of the Felix Houphouet Boigny bridge, over which the future Ivory Coast…

24 migrants from Africa found dead in a boat off the Canaries

TENERIFE (Spain), May 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A small boat carrying 24 dead migrants from sub-Saharan Africa has been found at sea, some 500 kilometres off the Canary Islands.The boat seemed to have drifted off its course and was sighted by accident by an air force plane during a training flight…

AU Commission undertakes a fact finding mission to crisis-hit Chad

African Union Commission N’DJAMENA, May 1 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — A team from the African Union has arrived in N’Djamena, Chad on a seven-day Fact-Finding Mission to assess the situation in the crisis-hit country and examine ways of a speedy return to democratic rule.Following several days of internal pressure, the delegation will…

Kenya says Dadaab, Kakuma refugee camps to close next year

NAIROBI, May 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya’s government has said it told the United Nations’ refugee agency (UNHCR) it will close two refugee camps hosting more than 400,000 people by June 30 next year.The announcement by the interior ministry followed a meeting between Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and UN High Commissioner…

Tanzania’s President Suluhu elected head of ruling party CCM

Tanzania’s president, Samia Suluhu Hassan DAR ES SALAAM, May 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tanzania’s president Samia Suluhu Hassan, who succeeded John Magufuli as head of Tanzania, has been elected president of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), the former single party that has been in power since the country’s independence in 1961,…

Covid-19: Ireland to gradually ease strict lockdown rules

Ireland has been at its highest level of lockdown since Christmas DUBLIN, May 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The Irish government has announced a phased relaxation of its strict Covid-19 lockdown over the next six weeks. The country has been at Level Five, its highest level of restrictions, since Christmas. On May 10, close-contact services…

Somalia: President in poll u-turn to stop Mogadishu clashes

President Farmajo’s mandate expired in February and anger over the failure to hold elections has turned violent  MOGADISHU, May 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Somalia’s president has moved to ease tensions in the capital, Mogadishu, by calling for fresh presidential polls. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known by his nickname Farmajo, has said he will no…

South Africa: Zulu Queen Mantfombi Dlamini dies a month after becoming Regent

Queen Mantfombi Dlamini The Zulu royal family in South Africa has announced the death of its JOHANNESBURG, May 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The Zulu royal family in South Africa has announced the death of its monarch Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu just a month after she became regent. Queen Mantfombi, 65, became interim leader…

UN Security Council concern over mercenary dispersal from Libya

UNITED NATIONS, May 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council held its first meeting on the risk of mercenaries in Libya dispersing to other countries such as Chad, whose president recently died from wounds sustained during battle. The closed-door session was requested by members Kenya, Niger and Tunisia, before the…

Covid-19: Pfizer/BioNTech seek jab approval for 12-15-year-olds in EU

FRANKFURT, May 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pfizer/BioNTech said they have asked European regulators to authorise their Covid-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds, a move seen as a crucial step toward achieving herd immunity. The companies already filed a similar request with US authorities earlier this month. Their vaccine is currently only…