Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari ABUJA, June 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The African Development Bank has loaned Nigeria just over $288.5m to help it deal with the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. The finance minister warned last month that Nigeria’s economy – Africa’s largest – could shrink by up to 9%. Nigeria suffered a…

Chad’s former dictator, Hissene Habre DAKAR, June 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chad’s former dictator, Hissene Habre returned to prison in Senegal on Sunday after a two-month release aimed at protecting him from the coronavirus. Habre seized power in Chad in 1982, fleeing to Senegal in 1990 after he was overthrown. The…

Coalition of the People of Azawad (CPA) fighters BAMAKO, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mali pledged to investigate claims that the army killed dozens of civilians in its conflict-riven centre, as complaints about the military’s conduct in the West African nation escalate. Some 30 people were killed and a village burnt…

MAPUTO, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Twelve people were reported to have died, including several children, when a boat sank in the bay of Pemba off northern Mozambique.Thirty-five people survived after swimming ashore on Wednesday.But they were then apprehended by the police on suspicion that they could be recruits to a…

Madagascar’s education minister planned to order more than $2m worth of sweets for schoolchildren ANTANANARIVO, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Madagascar’s education minister has been fired over plans to order more than $2m worth of sweets for schoolchildren. Rijasoa Andriamanana said pupils would be given three lollipops each to mask the…

BAMAKO, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four prisoners in Mali’s capital Bamako have died after a “mutiny” which saw inmates break out of their cells and attack prison guards. The violence occurred on Friday while anti-government protesters were demonstrating in Bamako, according to government spokesman Yaya Sangare. “A mutiny occurred at…

CAIRO, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Strongman Khalifa Haftar has backed a ceasefire in Libya starting Monday, Egypt’s president announced after talks in Cairo, following a series of military victories by forces loyal to Tripoli’s UN-recognised government. “This initiative calls for respecting all international efforts and initiatives by declaring a ceasefire…

Members of the Public Servants Association (PSA) protest in Pretoria JOHANNESBURG, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five public sector trade unions have taken the South African government to court to try to force it to pay salary increases agreed as part of a three-year wage deal, court papers showed. The government…