Africa News From Africa

Senegal: Maltreatment of journalists

2012-02-09T12:18:26Z

Information and Communication Professionals - Senegal's journalists union concerned about maltreatment of members - Senegal's umbrella journalists' union SYNPICS (the Senegalese union of Information and Communication Professionals) has expressed concern over the maltreatment of journalists during the ongoing campaign for the 26 Feb. presidential election in the country.

South Africa: SA group welcomes suicide prevention group

2012-02-09T12:16:52Z

Cape Town, South Africa - The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) Thursday welcomed Facebook’s new suicide prevention tool, which gives users a direct link to online help from counsellors.

Football: FIFA changes venue of 2012 U-20 Women's World Cup to Japan

2012-02-09T11:22:52Z

Football-2012 U-20 Women's World Cup - The venue of the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup has been shifted from Uzbekistan to Japan, the world soccer's governing body has announced.

Ghana-Zambia CAN 2012: We lost to ill luck

2012-02-09T08:33:17Z

Football-Ghana - We lost to ill luck - Ghana's Assistant Coach - As Ghana's loss to Zambia in the semi-final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations continues to generate disappointment among the team's fans and shock among bookmakers, the Black Stars' Assistant Coach has said the team lost to ill-luck.

Nigeria: Wole Soyinka blames growing cancer cases on poor leadership

2012-02-09T08:32:30Z

Health-Cancer cases - Nigerian Nobel Laureate blames growing cancer cases on poor leadership - Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has blamed the growing cases of cancer in the country on years of poor leadership that saw the collapse of the electricity supply system, thus forcing people to use generators, with deadly impact on people and the environment.

Nigeria: Mr. Nuhu Ribadu gives reason for taking government job

2012-02-09T07:12:03Z

Politics - Nigeria's opposition presidential candidate gives reason for taking govt job - The presidential candidate of Nigeria's main opposition party in last year's election, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, has said he took a job offer from the federal government because he saw it as a national call to service.

Agriculture: Niger re-evaluates cereal deficit

2012-02-09T07:10:46Z

Cereal deficit – The government of Niger re-evaluated upwards its cereal deficit from 520,000 tonnes to 692,000 tonnes, according to a survey conducted by the Coordinating Unit of the Early Alert System (CC/SAP) in collaboration with the National Statistics Institute (INS) and the technical and financial partners.

Salaries of civil servants in Niger

2012-02-09T07:09:56Z

Nigerien govt. increases salaries of civil servants – The Nigerien government has increased the salaries of its civil servants by between 5 and 10 per cent, and reduced water and electricity tariffs, according to an agreement signed on Wednesday in Niamey, the capital, between the government and the workers' union.

Security: 'Malian troops taking refuge in Niger are no deserters'

2012-02-09T07:09:10Z

Malian soldiers, who have entered Niger, are not deserters, Mali's defence and War Veterans' minister, General Sadio Gassama, told the press Tuesday. About 45 soildiers who were based in Anderaboucane, at the border with Niger, who took refuge in Niger in the face of the threat posed by the advance of rebels, the minister explained.

Forex rates in Nigeria

2012-02-09T07:07:58Z

Latest exchange rates in Nigeria - The following are the latest exchange rates of the Nigerian currency, the Naira, against major foreign currencies on Wednesday, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Cote d'Ivoire-Mali CAN 2012 result

2012-02-08T21:20:56Z

Africa-Football - Cote d'Ivoire beats Mali 1-0 to reach final

CAN 2012 Result: Ivory Coast-Mali 1-0

2012-02-08T21:15:45Z

Football Africa - Ivory Coast through to the final to play Zambia - Ivory Coast marched into the final of the 28th edition of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations after edging Mali 1-0 at Stade de l ’Amities in Libreville. On a day when the Elephants started the match as the remaining favourites after Ghana fell to Zambia any fears of a repeat giant-killing act were quickly dispelled by a dominant Ivorian side from first whistle.

CAN 2012 Ghana-Zambia: Ghana football fans disappointed

2012-02-08T19:53:57Z

Ghana football fans disappointed as Black Stars lose to Zambia - Ghanaian football fans on Wednesday expressed disappointment as the nation's football team, the Black Stars, crashed out of the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.

Ghana-Zambia CAN 2012: Zambia qualifies for final

2012-02-08T19:52:12Z

Zambia qualifies for final, beats Ghana 1-0 in semi-finals - With a missed penalty (by superstar Asamoah Gyan) in the eighth minute and heroics by the Zambian goalkeeper, Kennedy Nweene, the Black Stars of Ghana watched their hope for a fifth Nations Cup title fizzle out Wednesday at the Estado de Bata, Equatorial Guinea.

Security: ECOWAS sends fact-finding mission to rebellion-hit Mali

2012-02-08T19:50:28Z

An ECOWAS fact-finding mission is due to arrive in Mali on Thursday for a three-day assessment of the situation in the northern part of the country, where a Tuareg rebellion that started last month has killed many and displaced thousands, a source at the regional bloc told PANA here Wednesday.

Olympic Games: Coe says London on course to host 'Games for everyone'

2012-02-08T19:49:37Z

Lord Sebastian Coe, the Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG), has said that the London Games are on track and running well within budget.

Belgium: Clashes in northern Mali worry EU

2012-02-08T19:48:35Z

The European Union (EU) has expressed concern at the violence which erupted in the northern part of Mali on 17 January, following attacks launched by the National Movement of Liberation of the Azawad (MNLA), according to a statement issued on Wednesday in Brussels.

International: Darfur Regional Authority

2012-02-08T17:10:25Z

UN chief, Gambari welcome inauguration of Darfur Regional Authority - The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said that the inauguration, on Wednesday, of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) marked an important milestone in the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) and a significant step forward in the pursuit of permanent peace in the area.

FAO: 'Millions of South Sudanese will face hunger in 2012 if'

2012-02-08T17:09:14Z

Food crisis - Millions of people in South Sudan will face hunger this year if urgent action is not taken, according to a joint report issued Wednesday by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

Forex rates in Zambia

2012-02-08T17:07:35Z

Latest forex rates in Zambia - Following are the latest exchange rates for the Zambian Kwacha as released here by the Bank of Zambia Wednesday.

Nigeria: ACN disowns presidential candidate after taking govt job

2012-02-08T13:50:20Z

Politics - Nigeria's opposition party disowns presidential candidate after taking govt job - Nigeria's main opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on Wednesday distanced itself from its presidential candidate in the 2011 elections, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, after he was named head of a government task force on oil revenue.

Nigeria: Boko Haram faction to dialogue with government

2012-02-08T13:48:54Z

The Boko Haram group that has agreed to dialogue with the Nigerian government is the breakaway faction of the violent Islamic sect, the private Punch newspaper reported Wednesday. The paper reported that the breakaway faction of the sect, which had denounced the main group for the increasing deaths of Muslims in its attacks, is behind the dialogue move.

Gambian President receives Wade's envoy

2012-02-08T13:47:48Z

Politics - Gambian President Yahya Jammeh Tuesday received in his office in Banjul, the Gambian capital, Senegalese Foreign Minister Madicke Niang, PANA confirmed from official sources.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project-Nigeria

2012-02-08T13:47:03Z

Stolen funds - Nigerian NGO 'gets court clearance' to pursue case on recovered stolen funds - A Nigerian non-governmental organisation, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), said on Wednesday it had received court approval to compel the federal government to disclose how it spent the stolen funds it had recovered since the return of civilian rule in 1999.

Security: Darfur rebels to join peace process

2012-02-08T13:45:26Z

President al-Bashir appeals to Darfur rebels to join peace process - Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir on Wednesday appealed to the Darfur rebels who are yet to join the region's peace process to do so, and end the resort to arms to achieve political ends.

Football: Senegal sacks coach, assistants

2012-02-08T13:44:13Z

CAN 2012-Football - Senegal sacks coach, assistants after Nations Cup debacle - The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has sacked national team coach Amara Traore and his assistants, over the country's poor outing at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

USA-Senegal: Senegal summons U.S. Ambassador

2012-02-08T13:41:23Z

POLITICS - Senegal summons U.S. Ambassador over Wade candidacy comments - Senegalese Foreign Minister Madicke Niang has summoned the U.S. Ambassador in Dakar, Mr. Lewis Lukens, following the envoy's comments on the candidacy of President Abdoulaye Wade, ahead of the Senegal's presidential election on 26 February.

Forex rates for Mauritanian Ouguiya

2012-02-08T13:39:48Z

FOREX - Wednesday's forex rates for Mauritanian Ouguiya - Following are Wednesday's exchange rates for the Mauritanian Ouguiya:

Forex rates for Mauritian rupee

2012-02-08T13:38:47Z

Following are Wednesday's exchange rates for the Mauritian rupee:

Developement: Cooperation Japan-Nigeria

2012-02-08T10:31:08Z

Water supply and sanitation - Nigeria has received 723b naira as grants from Japan since independence' - Japan has given grants worth 723 billion naira to Nigeria for developmental purposes since the African nation's independence in 1960, according to the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji (US$1=156 Naira).

Food crisis: FAO appeals for urgent food assistance to Sudan

2012-02-08T10:27:14Z

Food assistance - The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has appealed to donor nations, humanitarian agencies and the Government of Sudan to work together to prevent a possible food crisis in the country.

FIFA-Football: SA Minister bags top FIFA position

2012-02-08T10:25:28Z

Media committee of world soccer's governing body, FIFA - The South African Football Association (SAFA) on Wednesday saluted the appointment of government Minister Tokyo Sexwale to the media committee of world soccer's governing body, FIFA.

Kenya: Cheruiyot named Sportswoman of the Year 2011

2012-02-08T08:51:48Z

Kenyan runner Vivian Cheruiyot has been named the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Award winner for 2011 at a gala event in London. According to the sport's world governing body, IAAF, the 28-year-old Kenyan was honoured at the even in London on Monday night.

Uganda: Amnesty International condemns anti-homosexuality bill

2012-02-08T08:50:56Z

Anti-homosexuality bill in Ugnada - Amnesty International has described the re-introduction of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in the Ugandan Parliament as a “grave assault on human rights” that must be rejected. In a statement obtained by PANA here Wednesday, Michelle Kagari, Deputy Africa Programme Director at Amnesty International, was quoted as saying: “It’s alarming and disappointing that Uganda’s Parliament will once again consider the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

Egypt: FIFA support families of football tragedy victims

2012-02-08T08:49:59Z

Cairo, Egypt - World soccer's governing body, FIFA, has announced a donation of US$250,000 to the families of the victims of last week’s tragedy in Port Said, Egypt, according to a FIFA statement obtained by PANA here.

Olympic Games: 'Time for Olympics to come to Africa'

2012-02-08T08:48:59Z

Lagos, Nigeria - The Chief Executive Officer, London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), Lord Sebastian Coe, has promised to support efforts to stage the summer Olympic Games in Africa, the only other continent (apart from Antartica) that is yet to host the four-yearly sports extravaganza.

CAN 2012-Africa: Last four teams slug it out

2012-02-08T08:48:05Z

2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea - The finalists at the ongoing 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea will emerge later Wednesday, when the semi-final matches are slated to be played.

Promote the spirit of peace and development in Central Africa

2012-02-08T08:47:13Z

UN, CAF team up for peace, development in Central Africa - The UN Political Office in Central Africa and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday forged a partnership to promote the spirit of peace and development in Central Africa.

CAN 2012-Ghana: Black Stars to put lessons of past failures behind them

2012-02-08T08:45:47Z

2012 African Cup of Nations - Black Stars midfielder, Sulley Muntari, says Ghana is determined to put the lessons from past failures behind them and win the 2012 African Cup of Nations.

Japan: Policy perspectives one year after Tsunami

2012-02-08T08:44:50Z

UNESCO, UN University review policy perspectives one year after Japan Tsunami - One year after the devastating tsunami hit the east coast of Japan, UNESCO and the United Nations University (UNU) are organizing a symposium in Tokyo 16-17 February, to examine the lessons learnt from the disaster; consider its policy implications, and the importance of preparedness and discuss tsunami warning systems, UNESCO indicated in a press statement, received here Tuesday by PANA.

Nigeria: Foremost Nigerian economist dies at 83

2012-02-08T08:40:47Z

Lagos, Nigeria - A foremost Nigerian economist, Prof. Sam Aluko, died Tuesday at the age of 83. According to local media reports, Aluko died in a London hospital of an undisclosed ailment.

South Africa: Cape Town to host 6th Africa Economic Forum, 2012

2012-02-08T08:39:45Z

Africa Economic Forum - Global Pacific & Partners on Monday announced that the sixth Africa Economic Forum would take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 5-7 March, 2012.

New York: UNHCR steps up support for Malian refugees

2012-02-08T08:38:21Z

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has deployed its workers to assist some 20,000 people forced to flee fighting between government troops and
rebel Tuareg groups in Mali. In a statement, made available to PANA in New York, it said that, 'most of those uprooted by the violence in the Azawad region of northern Mali that began in mid-January have fled to Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania'.

Sudan: ICRC airlifts 29 abducted Chinese workers in Sudan to safety

2012-02-08T08:37:12Z

Chinese workers in Sudan - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Tuesday airlifted 29 Chinese citizens, released by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement - North, to safety in Nairobi, Kenya, according to an ICRC press statement issued simultaneously in Khartoum, Geneva, Nairobi and Beijing.

Female Genital Mutilation in Sudan

2012-02-08T08:35:54Z

Stakeholders unite to end Female Genital Mutilation in Sudan in 2018 - Sudanese religious scholars, senior journalists and doctors held a special event here on Tuesday in a show of solidarity with the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), observed globally on 6 February.

Belgium: EU names ambassador to Libya

2012-02-08T08:33:40Z

EU ambassador Libya - The European Union (EU) has appointed Peter Zsoldos as the head of its maiden diplomatic mission to Libya, according to a communiqué issued on Tuesday in Brussels.

Nigeria: 1 dies in failed suicide bomb attack on Nigerian Army formation

2012-02-08T08:32:08Z

Nigerian Army formation - Eagle-eyed Nigerian Army soldiers Tuesday foiled a suicide bomb attack on one of the country's most-guarded military formations, the headquarters of the 1 Division, in the northern city of Kaduna.

Portugal: Angolan VP urges cooperation among Lusophone countries

2012-02-08T07:48:27Z

Lisbon, Portugal - The Angolan Vice-president, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, on Monday called on Portuguese-speaking countries to boost cooperation among themselves with a view to consolidating the gains so far made by the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).

Protection of oceans and coasts

2012-02-07T18:23:04Z

World Future Council, partners to honour influential policies on oceans, coasts - The World Future Council (WFC), which brings the interests of future generations on environment to the fore, announced Tuesday that it would present its 'Future Policy Award 2012' to the world’s most inspiring, innovative and influential policies on the protection of oceans and coasts.

Nigeria: Thousands of children need treatment for lead poisoning

2012-02-07T18:22:01Z

Lagos, Nigeria - Thousands of children in Nigeria's northern Zamfara state need immediate medical treatment, while dozens of villages remain contaminated two years into the worst lead poisoning epidemic in modern history, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Tuesday in the country's economic capital city of Lagos, while releasing a video on the issue.