Paramilitaries strike Port Sudan for first time, army says

Catherine Heathwood & Catherine ByaruhangaBBC NewsTidjane Thiam, ex-CEO of Credit Suisse and leader of the Ivorian opposition, is contesting a court ruling that disqualified him from the presidential race due to his dual nationality. Thiam argues that the ruling, based on a 1961 nationality law, is politically motivated and undermines his Ivorian citizenship, which he claims is inalienable. Despite relinquishing his French nationality, Thiam faces a legal challenge as his party protests his disqualification ahead...

Khanyisile NgcoboBBC News, ZuurbekomThe International Pentecostal Holiness Church in South Africa hosted a mass wedding on Easter Sunday, featuring 55 marriages, including polygamous unions. Evelyn Sekgalakane, who was marrying Lesiba Molala, walked down the aisle alongside his first wife, Shirley Molala, in a ceremony celebrating polygamy as a biblical practice. While such weddings are uncommon in South Africa, the church, recognized for officiating polygamous marriages, held the event amid vibrant festivities, concluding with a blessing...

The economic situation in Kenya is dire, with recent tax increases causing take-home pay for salaried workers to drop by 9%. President William Ruto's administration has raised payroll taxes, excise taxes, and fees to address the country's staggering $80 billion debt, significantly impacting low-income earners while failing to provide essential services. Public discontent is growing as corruption and mismanagement persist, leading to skepticism about the government's ability to repay debts or deliver on promises of...

A court in Tunisia has sentenced former Prime Minister Ali Laarayedh to 34 years in prison on terrorism charges, marking a significant event as he is a prominent critic of President Kais Saied and leader of the Ennahda party. Laarayedh, along with seven others, was accused of establishing a terrorist cell and facilitating the travel of young Tunisians to join Islamist fighters abroad, charges he denies as politically motivated. His sentencing is part of a...

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has firmly dismissed any discussions around succession He urged supporters of Deputy President Paul Mashatile's presidential campaign to exercise patience and refrain from pushing the agenda prematurely. Mbalula's statement emphasizes the importance of waiting for the appropriate time for such discussions, indicating that the current focus should remain on unity and stability within the party. His remarks highlight the ongoing dynamics within the ANC as it navigates leadership aspirations and internal...

The Togolese leader, Faure Gnassingbé, has been sworn in as "President of the Council of Ministers," a new role created following constitutional reforms that ended presidential elections and established a parliamentary system, which critics argue allows him to remain in power indefinitely. His family has ruled Togo for 58 years, and the recent constitutional changes have been labeled an "institutional coup d'état" by opposition figures. With his party, the Union for the Republic, holding a...