By Rédaction Africanews with AP US President Donald Trump has said it may not be “appropriate” for Iran to take part in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing safety concerns as tensions remain high between the countries. Writing on social media on Thursday, Trump said the Iranian national team would technically be welcome at the tournament but suggested their participation could raise security risks. “Iran’s national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I don’t believe it would be appropriate for their own life and safety,” he said. His remarks appeared to differ from comments earlier this…
Author: Montage Africa
By Rédaction Africanews with AFP A Senegalese soldier has been killed and six others wounded in the Casamance region during operations aimed at destroying cannabis fields near The Gambia, the army said on Thursday. The military “confronted a group of armed individuals in the Kadialock area,” the armed forces said in a statement. The incident happened on Wednesday and “an initial report indicates one soldier was killed and six others injured,” the statement said, adding that some of the attackers were also killed. The army said it is continuing its operations to “combat cannabis cultivation, track down all armed groups…
Today, Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), met with His Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe, at State House to discuss the need for Rugby Africa and Zimbabwe to support the nation’s preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2027, one of the largest sporting events in the world. After 34 years, Zimbabwe returns to the Rugby World Cup, with the team—known as the Zimbabwe Sables—securing victory in the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup in Kampala to confirm their qualification. The achievement marks a historic moment for the nation, as Zimbabwe becomes the only African team to qualify through the regional competition, aside from reigning champions, South Africa’s Springboks, who qualify automatically. Organised…
A well-known Eritrean satirical cartoonist has been freed from prison after spending 15 years in detention without charge, his family and friends have told the BBC. Biniam Solomon, now in his early 60s, was arrested in the capital, Asmara, in 2011 but was never tried. The reasons for his continued imprisonment were not made clear. Known by his pen name Cobra, Biniam gained fame for his critical and witty cartoons tackling political and social issues. The authorities have not said why he was set free but it is the latest in a string of similar releases. Nevertheless thousands remain in…
By Rédaction Africanews A French aid worker for the UN children’s agency has been killed in an air strike in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a city controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia. Since taking up arms again in 2021, the M23 has seized swathes of the mineral-rich Congolese east with Rwanda’s backing, unleashing a fresh spiral of violence in a region long plagued by fighting. Despite Rwanda and the DRC signing a peace deal at US President Donald Trump’s urging in early December, in the latest attempt to end the conflict, clashes between the M23 and Congolese…
By Rédaction Africanews and AP A man is in custody after allegedly driving a van into security gates outside the White House in Washington, DC. The vehicle crashed into a gate north of the presidential residence at around 6.30 on Wednesday morning, the Secret Service said in a statement. No injuries have been reported and the suspect’s identity hasn’t been released. The driver was immediately arrested by the officers from the Secret Service uniformed division and is being interviewed, the agency said. Criminal charges against him are pending, officials said. A bomb squad was also called to the scene to…
By Africanews with AP Attacks on shipping traffic and energy infrastructure pushed oil above $100 a barrel on Thursday, as American and Israeli strikes pounded Iran with no sign of an end to the war in sight. Iran hit a container ship off the coast of Dubai, caused a blaze near Bahrain’s international airport, targeted a major Saudi oil field with a drone attack and forced Iraq to halt operations at all the country’s oil terminals after an attack on its port of Basra on the Persian Gulf. Since the United States and Israel sparked with war with a Feb.…
Nigeria to host the fifth Intra-African Trade Fair 2027 (IATF2027) from 5 to 11 November 2027 The Federal Republic of Nigeria has today signed the host agreement for the fifth Intra-African Trade Fair 2027 (IATF2027), taking over the baton from Algeria which hosted the highly successful fourth edition that recorded US$49.94 billion in trade and investment deals. The agreement signing ceremony was held in Lagos, the designated ‘host city’, in partnership with African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, reinforcing Nigeria’s central role in advancing Intra-African trade and economic integration…
At least 64 people have been killed in floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in the Gamo Zone of southern Ethiopia, local police inspector Abraham Buha says. Earlier in the week officials had put the death toll at more than 30. Dozens are still missing. The authorities reported that most people had died in highland areas, where saturated slopes gave way after days of intense rain. They urged residents in vulnerable areas to take precautions. Torrential rains have unleashed widespread flooding across East Africa in recent days. Dozens have also died in neighbouring Kenya. Forecasters say storms are becoming…
The South African government has summoned the new US ambassador after he made what they called “undiplomatic” comments about an anti-apartheid chant. Leo Brent Bozell III, who started in the role last month, caused offence by disagreeing with a legal ruling about the chant Kill The Boer. Some say the chant amounts to hate speech, although the Constitutional Court has ruled previously that it does not. A formal protest was issued – known as a demarche – by the government, which said it took Bozell’s comments “with a very dim view”. He issued a clarification on Wednesday and a representative…