Africa

Molara Wood Renowned Nigerian master wood carver Kasali Akangbe Ogun has been buried following his death last week after a brief illness. He came from a long line of wood carvers from the Yoruba people, and took the tradition from his birthplace of Osogbo in the country’s south-west to the …

Ethiopian Orthodox Christians have been celebrating the festival of Timket, or Epiphany, which commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. In the town of Batu, on the shores of Lake Dambal in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, priests from the local churches escort replicas of the Ark of Covenant – …

Senegalese fans celebrate their team’s victory at the Africa Cup of Nations. BBC News

Armed gangs have kidnapped dozens of people attending two churches in Nigeria’s Kaduna state, according to local police. A senior church leader said more than 160 worshippers were abducted by gunmen during Sunday service. It is the latest mass kidnapping in Nigeria, where both Christians and Muslims have been targeted. …

Thomas Naadi,BBC Africa, Accra and Jean Otalor Cyber Security Authority The authorities released pictures of some of those found in the raids along with their equipment Ghana’s security forces have arrested nine Nigerians suspected of co-ordinating a host of cyber-crime activities from makeshift offices in and around the capital, Accra. …

Thirteen school pupils have died in South Africa after the minibus they were travelling in collided with a lorry south of the city of Johannesburg. The crash happened on Monday morning at around 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) in Vanderbijlpark, the local education authority said. Eleven students died at the …

South Africa has sent a team to help with rescue efforts after a local politician was swept away by floodwaters while visiting neighbouring Mozambique. Andile Mngwevu, a councillor in the Ekurhuleni municipality, east of Johannesburg, and four others were in Mozambique’s Gaza province when their car was caught in a …

Andalou via Getty Images Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has declared Monday a public holiday after the national team won the Africa Cup of Nations after beating tournament hosts Morocco 1-0 in a dramatic final on Sunday. A disallowed goal, players walking off the pitch and a saved penalty made …

Sammy AwamiBBC Africa, Kampala Bloomberg via Getty Images For supporters of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, his resounding victory in the just-concluded election is a vindication of his 40-year-long rule. He won with 72% of the vote, close to his highest-ever tally of 74% in Uganda’s first direct presidential election in …

President Yoweri Museveni has been declared the winner of Thursday’s election extending his four decades in power by another five years. He gained 72% of the vote, the election commission announced, against 25% for his closest challenger Bobi Wine, who has condemned what he described as “fake results”. Wine has …

Anita Nkonge,BBC Africaand Lucy Fleming Getty Images Bobi Wine, President Museveni’s main rival, has questioned the credibility of the results Police in Uganda have denied allegations that presidential candidate Bobi Wine was abducted on Friday evening as vote counting continues in the East African nation amid an internet blackout. Wine’s …

Vote-counting continues in Uganda after a polling day marred by delays caused by technical failures. President Yoweri Museveni, seeking a seventh term after 40 years in power, has so far garnered 75% of the votes counted. He is followed by his main challenger, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, who has secured …

A Nigerian imam who gained international recognition for saving hundreds of lives from a mainly Christian community during an outbreak of violence has died at the age of 90. Abubakar Abdullahi had been suffering from a heart condition and was being treated in hospital, where he died on Thursday night, …

Senegal, meanwhile, progressed past record seven-time champions Egypt in the last four thanks to a second-half strike from talisman Sadio Mane. The 33-year-old netted the winning penalty in the 2021 final, also against the Pharaohs, and proved once again that he is the man for the big occasion. The former …

Ongoing floods in the north-eastern provinces of South Africa has led to the closure of the world-famous Kruger National Park. BBC News

The US has accused South Africa’s defence ministry of refusing to obey orders from its own government to send home Iranian warships that have been conducting naval exercises in the African country’s waters. “South Africa can’t lecture the world on ‘justice’ while cozying up to Iran,” it said in a …

Mansur Abubakar,Abujaand Makuochi Okafor,BBC Africa, Lagos EPA Popular author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie alleges her toddler was denied oxygen and excessively sedated, leading to cardiac arrest A series of harrowing cases of allegations of medical negligence, including the death of novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 21-month-old son, has ignited a fierce debate …

Moroccan fans celebrated through the night as their beloved Atlas Lions beat Nigeria to make it to the Afcon final. BBC News

Logistical problems have delayed voting in Uganda’s presidential and parliamentary elections in many parts of the country amid an internet shutdown. The BBC observed growing frustration among voters queuing at some polling stations in the capital, Kampala, in the morning, although voting later took place in most areas. The delays …

Ethiopian police say they have seized thousands of rounds of ammunition sent by Eritrea to a violent armed rebel group, stoking fears of renewed armed conflict. Eritrea has denied the allegation and accused Ethiopia of “floating false flags to justify the war that it has been itching to unleash for …