Delegates from around the world gathered in Panama City for the tenth conference of the Parties (COP) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, known as the WHO FCTC. It was the first in-person COP since 2018, with earlier meetings held remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although in the past 20 years tobacco prevalence among...

 South Sudan is heading towards its first elections at the end of this year. The United Nations Mission in the nation and the UN Development Programme recently held an interactive workshop in the capital Juba. Despite the magnitude of the task ahead, the Chair of South Sudan's electoral Commission believes free, fair, and credible elections ca...

 Iconic buildings and recreation spaces in the Kenyan capital Nairobi have been dazzling in red since Thursday to celebrate the arrival of Chinese Spring festival,which falls on Saturday. The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, is China's grandest traditional festival marked by family reunions. Chinese people usually host colorful activi...

 The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has convened an emergency meeting to address pressing issues across the region. Among the key concerns are the political turmoil in Senegal and ongoing tensions with military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The gathering in Abuja, Nigeria, scheduled for Thursday, February 8, wil...

 A South African court on Tuesday upheld a ban on opposition party leaders from attending President Cyril Ramaphosa's speech this week to mark the opening of the new parliamentary session, after were sanctioned for disrupting the event a year ago. The leader, deputy leader and four other representatives of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) ,...

 Senegal's parliament backed late Monday (Feb. 05) the postpone****ment of the February 25 election and the extension of the mandate of president Macky Sall which was due to expire on April 2nd. The news hit like a bomb and has divided Senegalese since. "Just like thousands of Senegalese, I feel frustrated because we didn't expect Macky Sall t...

 On February 5th, Burkina Faso became the second country in the African Region to integrate the malaria vaccine into its routine immunization schedule. The country has officially introduced the RTS,S malaria vaccine into its expanded vaccination programme across 27 health districts. The World Health Organization endorsed the vaccine two years ...

 Senegal's government on Monday restricted access to the mobile internet as opposition leaders and supporters launched protests against President Macky Sall's decision to postpone the Feb. 25 presidential election over an electoral dispute. Federal lawmakers were set to debate a bill that recommends an election delay of up to six months. It wo...

 Celebrations rocked several towns in Ivory Coast after Oumar Diakite scored in stoppage time of extra time to send 10-man Ivory Coast into the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a dramatic 2-1 win over northern neighbor Mali on Saturday. Fans watching on large screens in Abidjan flipped into party mode, jumping, dancing and celebrat...

 A massive fireball over a Nairobi apartment block captured by 19-year-old Philip Awinyo Jeremiah turned a regular night into chaos, leading to a viral video on social media. The explosion, caused by the rupture of liquid petroleum gas cylinders in an illegal depot, left behind a war zone-like area, claiming the lives of at least three people ...

 Nigeria and Angola kick off the AFCON quarter-finals on Friday (Feb. 02) at 5 PM GMT. The tie pits the highest ranked FIFA team still in the competition, against the lowest ranked. The Super Eagles beat rivals Cameroon in the round of 16 while Angola eliminated Namibia to make history by recording a first victory in the tournament's knockout ...

 Early Friday (Feb.02nd) moring, Kenyan firefighters were still hosing a warehouse after a vehicle loaded with gas exploded igniting homes, vehicles and businesses in Nairobi. The Assistant Inspector General of Police revised the death toll to a least 3 fatalities. Around 270 people were injured the assistant inspector at the scene said. "We h...

 Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency said Tuesday it has for the first time managed to shut down 20 WhatsApp groups allegedly operated by the extremist group al-Shabab for extortion and intimidation. NISA in a statement said its cyber division had identified what it described as the virtual hubs for illicit activities by East A...

 Crime has a global reach, and Africa is not exempt from its impact. The continent grapples with crime rates influenced by socio-economic disparities. Factors such as poverty, limited educational access, and economic inequality contribute to a climate where some individuals resort to illicit activities for survival. Certain African cities face...

 Zimbabwe launched a cholera vaccination campaign on Monday, aiming to immunize over two million people against the waterborne disease. Administered orally, the vaccine offers protection for at least six months. Beginning in Kuwadzana near Harare, Health workers, focus on schoolchildren and door-to-door initiatives. The outbreak, ongoing since...

 Nigerian authorities have issued a wanted notice for former beauty queen Aderinoye Queen Christmas, also known as Queen Oluwadamilola Aderinoye, in connection with alleged drug trafficking. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) revealed that the ex-beauty queen eluded capture during a recent raid on her residence in Lagos. Accordin...

 In a transformative effort to address the persistent issue of insufficient electricity in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Chinese companies, particularly Sinohydro, have played a pivotal role in constructing the Zongo II Hydroelectric Power Plant. With an impressive installed capacity of 150 megawatts, the pow...

 The military juntas in West African nations Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger jointly announced their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States on Sunday. The juntas accused the regional economic bloc of imposing inhumane sanctions aimed at reversing recent coups in their respective countries. The joint statement, br...

 In the aftermath of recent attacks in the Red Sea, vessels are opting to bypass the Suez Canal and navigate around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope. This shift has disrupted a crucial global shipping route, compelling ships to add another 15 days to their journeys, accompanied by increased costs. Despite the Cape of Good Hope route requiring ...

 In a setback for the Kenyan government, the Court of Appeal has rejected its bid to dismiss an appeals case challenging a contentious housing tax. The High Court had previously ruled in November that the 1.5% monthly levy unfairly targeted formal sector workers, prompting a halt in payments. On Friday, the Court of Appeal extended the suspens...