Author: Montage Africa

By Rédaction Africanews with AFP Benin’s president Patrice Talon said “the best is yet to come for Benin” before casting his vote in Sunday’s presidential election that will decide who will be his successor. Nearly eight million voters are eligible to cast ballots to choose a successor to Patrice Talon, who is stepping down after two five-year terms and has endorsed Romuald Wadagni, the current finance minister, as his successor. Turnout will be a crucial factor after a lacklustre campaign hit by voter apathy. “We must vote to ensure a high turnout,” said Yvan Glidja, a man in his 30s…

By Rédaction Africanews  South Africa’s second-largest party, the Democratic Alliance, elected Cape Town’s mayor Sunday to lead it into the 2029 national polls, stepping up a drive to take votes away from the faltering ANC. The election of Geordin Hill-Lewis, 39, marks a reset for the centre-right DA that entered a multi-party coalition government in 2024 when the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority. “I stand before you as your newly elected leader with one promise — however long I have the privilege of serving in this job, I will be dedicated to the mission of building a stronger…

By Rédaction Africanews with AFP Despite a relative decline in international attention, the humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) remains severe and largely ignored. 2.3 million people – 35 percent of the population – live in extreme vulnerability. The number of people in need is well beyond what humanitarian assistance alone can address. Conflicts particularly in the southeast and west, epidemics, and climate-related chocs continue to be the root causes of vulnerabilities that lead to humanitarian needs. Without renewed visibility, solidarity, and political engagement, this silent crisis risks deepening and fueling regional instability. Regional dynamics are exacerbating already…

The Nigerian Air Force says it has launched an investigation after dozens of civilians were reportedly killed in an airstrike on a market on Saturday. The strike happened at Jilli market, along the border between Borno and Yobe states, as military aircraft were hunting Islamist militants. Local residents and Amnesty International say more than 100 people lost their lives. Authorities have yet to confirm the death toll, but some hospitals in Yobe state say they are treating those injured. In a statement, the Nigerian Air Force said it had sent a team “to immediately proceed to the location on a…

By Dominic Wabwireh with AP Benin began counting ballots Sunday after a presidential election that could extend a decade of economic growth while testing the country’s democratic balance. Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni is the frontrunner to succeed outgoing president Patrice Talon, who is stepping down after two terms. Electoral commission chief Sacca Lafia said voting was calm overall, though civil society monitors reported about 100 incidents, including early openings and suspiciously full ballot boxes. Despite nearly eight million eligible voters, turnout appeared modest in several polling stations visited in Cotonou. A race without strong opposition Wadagni, backed by ruling parties,…

Ghanaian footballer Dominic Frimpong has died after suspected armed robbers opened fire at the bus carrying his team Berekum Chelsea back from a fixture. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) expressed its “profound shock and deep sorrow”, and shared its “heartfelt condolences” to the 20-year-old’s family, teammates and all who work for the team. “Dominic was a promising young talent whose dedication and passion for the game embodied the spirit of our league,” it added. According to Berekum Chelsea, the team bus was returning from a Ghana Premier League fixture on Sunday, when they came under attack by “masked men wielding…

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) (https://PFLmma.com) made its Pretoria debut at SunBet Arena, where a packed South African crowd was treated to a full night of MMA action and statement performances across the card. In the bantamweight main event, Pretoria was treated to Nkosi Ndebele vs. Michele Clemente, who traded sharp punches and elbows early. The Italian “Arrow” pushed with relentless pressure but frequently ran into sharp counters from the “King of Many Nations.” The two threw down in an all-time classic with the South African walking away with the unanimous decision win. The heavyweight division delivered a wild one as Senegal’s Abdoulaye Kane and…

By Rédaction Africanews Dozens of people died in airstrikes in Nigeria’s northeastern Yobe state as military aircraft hunted Boko Haram jihadists, local residents and Amnesty International said on Sunday. The airstrikes occurred on Saturday, and the death tolls differed according to the sources. Amnesty International said on X there were “more than 100 dead” and 35 people seriously wounded, while a local chief spoke of “200 dead and wounded”. Nigeria’s military did not immediately respond to a query from AFP. Africa’s most populous country has been fighting a jihadist insurgency for 17 years, since Boko Haram’s 2009 uprising, which has…

Africa’s Eden has concluded another highly successful trade show, bringing together 50 buyers and 48 exhibiting companies in what organisers described as one of the strongest editions to date. The event’s unique format, an intimate trade show exclusively connecting African-domiciled buyers with regional products, proved hugely beneficial, allowing delegates to not only focus on basic destination training but also on high-level strategic partnerships. Exhibitors from across the Africa’s Eden region – including Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – met with buyers from Botswana, South Africa, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. During the event, Africa’s Eden introduced its Community and…

By Rédaction Africanews and AP Geordin Hill-Lewis has secured the top job in Cape Town, but his ambitions are already stretching well beyond the city, as he positions himself for national leadership. South Africa’s second-largest party, the Democratic Alliance, has elected Hill-Lewis to lead it into the 2029 general elections, signaling a renewed push to challenge the long-standing dominance of the African National Congress. His rise comes at a pivotal moment in the country’s political landscape, with growing competition and shifting voter sentiment. In his acceptance speech, Hill-Lewis thanked party delegates for their support and pledged to serve with humility…