Latest news with #AfricaDaily
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Politicians accused of Liberia parliament arson bailed
Liberia's former speaker and three other members of the House of Representatives have been released from prison after paying a bond of £325,000 ($440,000). Jonathan Fonati Koffa, Abu Kamara, Dixon Seboe and Jacob Debee were charged over their alleged role in the burning of the Capitol building last December. All four men face several charges, including arson, criminal mischief, attempted murder and other alleged offences. The huge blaze broke out at the parliament building a day after plans to remove Koffa as speaker sparked protests in the capital, Monrovia. Police value the damage at $8.6m. On Friday, Liberian police said there were "credible links" to suggest Koffa was "strategically involved" in the incident. Koffa has previously denied any connection to the fire. Lawmakers Kamara, Seboe and Debee - who are all members of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party - were detained alongside Koffa on Friday in connection with the case. They spent a night in detention at the national police headquarters, before being transferred to the Monrovia Central Prison on Saturday, where they were held for two nights. Representative Priscilla Cooper has also been charged, but was not detained due to ill-health. The court has placed a travel ban on the accused pending the conclusion of the case. The blaze on 18 December last year destroyed the entire joint chambers of the West African nation's legislature. No one was inside the building at the time. The day before had seen tense protests over the plans to remove Koffa, with demonstrators including an aide to former President George Weah arrested. Several individuals, including Koffa and Representative Frank Saah Foko, were brought in for questioning by police. Foko, a prominent figure in the House of Representatives, allegedly uploaded a video to Facebook in which he said: "If they want us to burn the chambers, we will burn it." Liberia's House of Representatives has been beset by a long-running power struggle. Koffa had been locked in a stand-off with his political opponents, with dozens of lawmakers voting for his impeachment last October over accusations of poor governance, corruption and conflicts of interest. Although the bid to impeach him fell short of the two-thirds majority required, the group of 47 lawmakers who had voted for the move unilaterally appointed their own speaker. Last month, Koffa resigned as speaker after months of political deadlock. Plane carrying Liberian president involved in landing scare Life begins at 40? Africa's legendary veteran footballers Liberian star JZyNO: Kendrick Lamar is a prophet to me Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Botswana's diamond giant slashes output as demand falls
Botswana's main diamond company has paused production at some of its mines, citing a prolonged downturn in global demand. Debswana, a joint venture between the government and global mining giant De Beers, saw its sales revenue drop by almost 50% last year. Botswana is the world's largest producer of diamonds by value. The industry accounts for a quarter of the country's total annual income (GDP), according to the International Monetary Fund. On Friday, Debswana said production this year is being scaled back to 15 million carats - approximately a 40% decrease from its output in 2023. The company, which accounts for around 90% of Botswana's diamond sales expects this reduced output will lead to "significant cost savings" across areas like fuel and electricity. In a statement, Debswana said it continued to "prudently navigate the challenging market conditions" citing low demand and "emerging pressures such as US-imposed tariffs". The global market for mined diamonds has been experiencing a decline since 2023, partly due to the availability of lab-grown alternatives. In response to this downturn, Debswana paused production at its flagship Jwaneng mine, as well as its Orapa mines, last month. Each mine will be closed for three months in total. The southern African country has for decades been trying to shift its economy away from being dependent on diamond sales, to varying degrees of success. Although successive governments have boosted sectors such as tourism, finance and the mining of minerals such as copper, diamond sales still make up three-quarters of Botswana's foreign exchange earnings. This income is likely to be hit by Debswana's decision to temporarily close its mines. The company has stressed that no involuntary job cuts are planned, although it continues to offer voluntary redundancy. As a result of the sustained downturn in the global diamond industry, Botswana will cut its 2025 economic growth forecast to almost zero, a senior finance official was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency. World's second-largest diamond found in Botswana How friends became foes in Africa's diamond state 'Proud to be young' - Beauty queen, lawyer and Botswana's youngest cabinet minister Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
DR Congo bans reporting on ex-President Kabila
The Congolese government has banned the media from reporting on the activities of former President Joseph Kabila and interviewing members of his party. This comes after Kabila returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo last month amid heightened tensions between himself and the government, led by his successor, President Félix Tshisekedi. The authorities are pushing to prosecute Mr Kabila amid accusations of treason and alleged links to the M23 rebels which have been fighting the army - something he has previously denied. Breaches of the ban could result in suspension, said the head of DR Congo's media regulator, Christian Bosembe. Responding to the announcement by the regulator, known as the the Supreme Council of Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC), an M23 spokesperson said the media outlets in parts of the country under its control would not abide by the ban. There has been no immediate response from Kabila, however, the secretary of his party, Ferdinand Kambere, rejected the ban, describing it as "arbitrary" on X. Kabila was last week seen in the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, which is under M23 control. He has been highly critical of the government after the senate voted to lift his immunity over his alleged support of the M23 group. DR Congo's neighbour, Rwanda has been accused of backing the rebel group, but Kigali denies this. Kabila, who has not yet been charged with any crime, launched a scathing attack on the Congolese government last month, describing it as a "dictatorship". A government spokesperson at the time rejected Kabila's criticism, saying he had "nothing to offer". Reacting to the announcement by the CSAC, activist and president of the African Association for the Defence of Human Rights, Jean-Claude Katende, said the ban constituted an "abuse of power", according to local media. Since returning to DR Congo after two years of self-imposed exile, Kabila's party has been posting his activities online, which include visiting civil society groups and local religious representatives in Goma. Additional reporting from BBC Monitoring. What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR Congo Is Trump mulling a minerals deal with conflict-hit DR Congo? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
UN aid trucks come under attack in Sudan
United Nations trucks carrying aid for the war-torn Sudanese region of North Darfur have been attacked, with initial reports of "multiple casualties", a spokesperson for the organisation has said. The Sudanese government said "guards, drivers and civilians" had been killed in the assault, which it blamed on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group fighting the army in a gruelling civil war. However, the RSF blamed the army for the assault, which took place in the town of el-Koma on Monday night. The UN has not said who was responsible, but explained that the convoy was attacked while waiting to leave for el-Fasher, a beseiged city where famine conditions have been reported. El-Fasher is the last major location in North Darfur under army control. Civilians and military personnel there have been under attack by the RSF for over a year. Four members of the UN convoy travelling to el-Fasher were killed on Monday night and two more were injured, RSF spokesperson Basha Tabiq said in a post on X. The el-Koma Emergency Room, a group of local volunteer responders, posted a video of a burnt out truck, loaded with sacks of supplies, on Facebook. They blamed the attack on "Sudanese army drones". El-Koma, which is controlled by the RSF, has previously been the target of frequent attacks in the conflict between the paramilitary group and the army. Assaults on the city have resulted in civilian deaths and damaged key infrastructure. The el-Koma Emergency Room said at least 89 people were killed or injured after Sudanese army warplanes launched airstrikes in the town on Sunday. The army has not responded to this accusation. According to the Sudan Tribune news website, the planes struck a busy market in el-Koma. The war, which began more than two years ago, has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. On Tuesday Eujin Byun, a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, said more than four million people have fled since the beginning of the conflict. The civil war broke out in 2023 following a vicious struggle for power between the army and the RSF. The two had jointly staged a coup to derail Sudan's transition to democracy, before their commanders fell out. A simple guide to what is happening in Sudan The mother and children trapped between two conflicts A front-row seat to my country falling apart Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
UN aid trucks come under attack in Sudan
United Nations trucks carrying aid for the war-torn Sudanese region of North Darfur have been attacked, with initial reports of "multiple casualties", a spokesperson for the organisation has said. The Sudanese government said "guards, drivers and civilians" had been killed in the assault, which it blamed on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group fighting the army in a gruelling civil war. However, the RSF blamed the army for the assault, which took place in the town of el-Koma on Monday night. The UN has not said who was responsible, but explained that the convoy was attacked while waiting to leave for el-Fasher, a beseiged city where famine conditions have been reported. El-Fasher is the last major location in North Darfur under army control. Civilians and military personnel there have been under attack by the RSF for over a year. Four members of the UN convoy travelling to el-Fasher were killed on Monday night and two more were injured, RSF spokesperson Basha Tabiq said in a post on X. The el-Koma Emergency Room, a group of local volunteer responders, posted a video of a burnt out truck, loaded with sacks of supplies, on Facebook. They blamed the attack on "Sudanese army drones". El-Koma, which is controlled by the RSF, has previously been the target of frequent attacks in the conflict between the paramilitary group and the army. Assaults on the city have resulted in civilian deaths and damaged key infrastructure. The el-Koma Emergency Room said at least 89 people were killed or injured after Sudanese army warplanes launched airstrikes in the town on Sunday. The army has not responded to this accusation. According to the Sudan Tribune news website, the planes struck a busy market in el-Koma. The war, which began more than two years ago, has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. On Tuesday Eujin Byun, a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, said more than four million people have fled since the beginning of the conflict. The civil war broke out in 2023 following a vicious struggle for power between the army and the RSF. The two had jointly staged a coup to derail Sudan's transition to democracy, before their commanders fell out. A simple guide to what is happening in Sudan The mother and children trapped between two conflicts A front-row seat to my country falling apart Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
