The novel coronavirus has complicated the election-year calendar for Africa, as elsewhere, prompting some polling delays, suspensions and uncertainties. It also has created openings for leaders to exploit fears and tighten their grips on power, political observers say. At least nine African countries – including Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe – have postponed elections at some […]

Burundi’s election commission declared ruling party candidate Evariste Ndayishimiye the winner of the country’s presidential election.   The retired general won just under 69% of the vote, according to results released Monday.  Opposition party leader Agathon Rwasa received about 24%, with five other candidates splitting the rest.   Voting last Wednesday was peaceful, but speaking […]

Ruling party candidate Evariste Ndayishimiye has won Burundi’s presidential election by a landslide, preliminary results show, while the main opposition party cries fraud. The independent election commission (CENI) announced partial results Monday, giving Ndayishimiye 69% of the vote and his chief competitor Agathon Rwasa of the opposition CNL party 24%. Current First Vice President Gaston […]

A prominent Madagascar journalist detained a month ago after criticizing President Andry Rajoelina’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic was released on Monday. Arphine Rahelisoa, who heads the pro-opposition newspaper Valisoa, was charged on April 4 with “inciting hatred” after running a blog that notably said “COVID-19, lockdown, Andry Rajoelina, killer.” The charges against Rahelisoa, the only […]

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General. All right.  Good afternoon.  Bear with me.  We have quite a few updates for you today that we had held since yesterday.  But, once again, please remember to mute your microphones and make sure that you are sending […]

DAR ES SALAAM, April 17 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — Tanzania has canceled this year’s April 26 national holiday celebration commemorating the 1964 merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar to become Tanzania as the country’s coronavirus tally rises. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the Union Day observance was called off because of the pandemic. Majaliwa said President John Magufuli […]

South Africans on Friday began the first day of a three-week nationwide lockdown aimed at stemming the tide of coronavirus cases, now topping 900 in South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa urged troops on Thursday to be a “force of kindness,” saying people are terrified of the virus and the soldiers should not do anything to […]

Opposition leaders in Tanzania are criticizing the government’s response to the coronavirus, after President John Magufuli said he would never close down places of worship. While Tanzania has been taking the same measures against coronavirus as other African nations — closing schools, quarantining foreign arrivals, and banning public events — Magufuli’s government refuses to close down churches. […]