US army officials visit Kenyan base hit by al-Shabaab

US troops NAIROBI, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Senior officials from the US military’s Africa Command have visited a military base in Kenya that was raided by militant group al-Shabaab on Sunday. The military base, Camp Simba, is in the popular coastal region of Lamu and is used by Kenyan and…

South Africa’s finance minister calls for cannabis to be legalised

PRETORIA, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has called for cannabis to be legalised in order to collect more tax revenue. He made the announcement on Twitter that he will put the idea to cabinet. He also tweeted a series of pictures showing it already growing.…

Libya: East-based rebels impose ‘no-fly zone’ over Tripoli, reject Jan 12 ceasefire

TRIPOLI, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A no fly zone embargo has been imposed over the Libyan capital Tripoli’s airspace, a spokesman for the east-based Libyan National Army announced in a televised speech.Ahmed al-Mosmari, said the current no-fly zone would be expanded to include the city’s Mitiga airport, which has operated…

Liberia sends ‘hazardous waste’ back to Greece

Plastic waste MONROVIA, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Liberian authorities say they are returning to Greece four shipping containers stuffed with tonnes of hazardous polyethylene waste bags that had been smuggled into Liberia “under the pretext of being recyclable materials”.Anti-smuggling officers raised the alarm at the port of Monrovia when containers…

Swarms of locusts threaten food security in Kenya – Govt/FAO

NAIROBI, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Large swarms of desert locusts are spreading through Kenya, after wreaking havoc in Somalia and Ethiopia, posing a significant threat to food security, the agriculture minister said.The locusts — part of the grasshopper family — have led to what the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)…

The richest black woman on earth is Nigerian

Nigerian oil magnate, Folorunsho Alakija ABUJA, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sixty-two-year-old, Nigerian oil magnate, Folorunsho Alakija, has emerged the wealthiest black woman on earth according to Forbes. The report noted that Alakija assumed the new status after displacing the renowned media executive, talk show host, and philanthropist, Oprah Winfrey who…

Ethiopia forces fire at students demanding peace in western Oromia

Ethiopia security forces fired at varsity students in the country’s south ADDIS ABABA, Jan 11 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Multiple news outlets are reporting of a death and injuries to protesters after Ethiopia security forces fired at varsity students in the country’s south. The privately-owned Addis Standard portal said about a dozen…

US Pres Trump claims “I saved a country” playing big role in Ethiopia-Eritrea peace deal

WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — United States President Donald Trump has disclosed that he had a big role in the 2018 peace deal between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Despite not clearly mentioning both countries in his claim at a rally in Ohio on Thursday, he said the leader of one of…

French FM says resolving Libya crisis is priority for France

Tunisian President Kais Saied (R) meets with visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Tunis TUNIS, Jan 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said resolving the crisis in Libya is a real priority for France and the Middle East region. Speaking to reporters after meeting in…

Heavy rains leave 41 dead across Angola: official

A flooded street in Luanda, capital of Angola LUANDA, Jan 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — Heavy rains that struck Angola early this week have left 41 people dead and caused widespread destruction, Interior Minister Eugenio Cesar Laborinho said. In remarks to the press at the first meeting of the National Civil Protection…