Ethiopia, AU mediators call for Sudan talks

KHARTOUM, July 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — African Union and Ethiopian mediators invited Sudan’s ruling generals and protest leaders to resume talks, as they seek a breakthrough on creating a new governing body for the country. The call to attend talks planned for Wednesday comes as tension remains high between the two…

Canada promises support for Ukraine in wake of Russian ‘aggression’

TORONTO (Canada), July 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau promised to support Ukraine in the wake of Russian “aggression,” after a meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Toronto. The two leaders met while Zelensky was in Toronto on his first visit to North America to participate in…

Niger: 18 dead, four missing in attack on army camp

NIAMEY, July 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eighteen soldiers were killed when“terrorists” struck an army camp in western Niger, the government said. In a statement, the defence ministry said US and France air support were called to help repel the assault. The attack took place on Monday afternoon at a camp at…

Mauritania’s new president takes office on Aug 1, victory validated

NOUAKCHOTT, July 2 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Mauritania’s constitutional council has confirmed Mohamed Ould Ghazouani as the country’s president-elect. The council announced Monday that Ould Ghazouania had been elected to a five-year term. He is to be inaugurated on Aug 1. Ould Ghazouani, 62, a retired general who served as defense minister…

Colombia says FARC lawmaker accused of drug trafficking has gone AWOL

BOGOTA, July 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Colombian FARC rebel leader turned lawmaker who is accused by the United States of conspiring to traffic cocaine has vanished in an apparent attempt to evade justice, President Ivan Duque said. Seuxis Paucias Hernandez, better known by his nom de guerre, Jesus Santrich, took…

Costa Rica education minister resigns under Evangelical fire for LGBTQ policy

SAN JOSE, July 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Costa Rica’s education minister Edgar Mora resigned on Monday following protests against policies including his support for gender-neutral bathrooms, in a sign the cultural issues that dominated last year’s presidential election remain divisive. Protesters included members of the Pentecostal Christian-aligned opposition party, as well…

Kenya, South Sudan to deepen trade ties, set up joint border commission

NAIROBI, July 2 (NNN-KBC) — Kenya and South Sudan have reached a deal to deepen their trade ties including a plan for Kenya to hold a trade expo in Juba in November. Kenya has also agreed to allocate land for a dry port to South Sudan at the Naivasha Special…

World Bank backs Kenya’s Big 4 Agenda

NAIROBI, July 2 (NNN-KBC) — World Bank Vice President for Africa Hafez Ghanem has assured of the Bretton Woods institution’s support for Kenya’s Big 4 development blueprint. Ghanem singled out the provision of affordable healthcare as an area that his organization is keen on collaborating with the Government to ensure…

US imprisons Rwandan linked to 1994 genocide for immigration fraud

BOSTON (US), July 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US federal judge in Boston sentenced a Rwandan man to more than eight years prison on Monday for lying about his involvement in the East African country’s 1994 genocide. Jean Leonard Teganya, 47, was convicted in April of two counts of immigration fraud…

Tunisia president recovers, leaves hospital

TUNIS, July 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisia’s 92-year-old President Beji Caid Essebsi, who was hospitalised last week in critical condition, returned home Monday after having recovered, his office said. “The head of state left the military hospital to his residence in Carthage after having received the necessary treatment and having recovered,”…