Rwanda hit by mass mayoral resignations

Social media has dubbed the resignations “Tour of Rwanda”, due to how widespread it is becoming KIGALI, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four mayors and six deputy mayors – all elected officials – have resigned in Rwanda in the last 24 hours. Following their resignation, Interior Minister Anastase Shyaka tweeted: “They…

Republic of Congo gets $65m funding to protect earth’s lung, Congo Basin

Congo Basin PARIS, Sept 5 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Republic of Congo is joining an international program that will grant the country 60 million euros ($65.6 million) to better protect the rainforest and fight climate change.The country’s president, Denis Sassou N’Guesso, will formally sign up for the Central African Forest Initiative during…

Mali: More than a dozen killed after explosion hits passenger bus

BAMAKO, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 14 people have been killed when an explosion hit a bus carrying passengers in Mali’s Mopti region, according to the security minister.Salif Traore said 24 people were also wounded in Tuesday’s blast, with seven being “in a critical state”.He did not provide further…

Burkina Faso: Coup leader’s wife sentenced to 30 years in absentia

The 2015 coup, led by Gen Diendéré, failed after a week OUAGADOUGOU, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The wife of a former Burkina Faso general who led a short-lived coup in 2015 has been sentenced in absentia to 30 years in jail by a military tribunal. Fatoumata Diendéré’s sentence exceeds the…

Nearly 300 arrested in South Africa over xenophobic attacks: Pres Ramaphosa

Looters take a vending machine from a shop during the unrest CAPE TOWN, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told officials and business leaders that he was committed to quelling attacks on foreigners that have threatened to cast a cloud over an economic forum aimed at boosting…

Two die fighting fires in Bolivian Amazon, says president

LA PAZ, Sept 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — At least two people have been killed trying to stamp out fires raging in Bolivia’s Amazon rainforest, President Evo Morales said. The fires, which have been burning for a month, have destroyed about one million hectares of forest and pastureland, he told reporters at…

FARC dissidents kill mayoral candidate, 5 others in SW Colombia

BOGOTA, Sept 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — Dissidents of the disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group killed mayoral candidate Karina Garcia and five others, the government said. Garcia was running for mayor of Suarez, a southwest coastal department of Colombia, where the government announced a sizable reward for information…

Bolivia seizes 220 tons of drugs in 8 months

LA PAZ, Sept 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — Bolivian anti-narcotics forces seized 220.7 tons of drugs during 8,261 operations between January and September this year, an official said. With the support of some international bodies, Bolivia’s antinarcotics model is “producing important results,” Deputy Interior Minister Jose Luis Quiroga told the press. Of…

Chile to invest 5 bln USD to revamp railways: president

SANTIAGO, Sept 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced a 5 billion U.S.-dollar investment plan to renovate and expand the country’s railway network. “Trains are not just going to be part of the daily life of Chileans as passengers, but also part of our country’s economic life,” said Pinera.…

UN envoy confirms working to guarantee reopening of Tripoli international airport

TRIPOLI, Sept 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — The UN Special Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame said that the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is working to guarantee the reopening of the Mitiga International Airport, which was closed after being hit by shelling. Salame made the remarks at the end of a…