Africa (except North Africa)

Ethiopian Airlines hesitant about using Boeing Max jets

DALLAS (AP) — The CEO of Ethiopian Airlines says his airline might never fly the Boeing 737 Max again after a deadly crash in March, and if it does, it will wait until other carriers use the plane first.

Tewolde Gebremariam told NBC News that Ethiopian won’t use the plane unless the airline, its pilots and passengers are convinced that it is safe.

“If we fly them again, we will be the last airline to fly them again,” he said.

Prolonged drought disheartens Namibian farmers

WINDHOEK, May 13 (Xinhua): When there is a prolonged dry spell, the sea of withered amber crops becomes a common sight in the northern part of Namibia.

Every day before the sun was up, Liina Mupopya from Oshana region in northern Namibia came to observe her pearl millet field. However, the sight of withered crops disheartened her.

"The rain is delayed and some crops become withered. Some have not even germinated," said Mupoya.

Namibia had been experiencing droughts since 2013, affecting about 60 percent of the households dependent on crop farming and agriculture.

South Africa chief vows to purge ANC of ‘deviant tendencies’

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s president on Sunday vowed to purge his party of “bad and deviant tendencies” as he prepares to appoint a new Cabinet following a victory in national elections.

The 57% share of the vote was the worst-ever election showing for the African National Congress, which has ruled since the harsh apartheid system of racial discrimination ended 25 years ago. The party won 62% of the vote in 2014.

Gunmen attack Catholic church in Burkina Faso; 6 killed

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Authorities say gunmen have attacked a Catholic church in Burkina Faso, killing a priest and five worshippers.

The attack on Sunday took place in Dablo, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the capital, Ouagadougou.

Urbain Kabore, a government spokesman for the West African country’s Sahel region, said the gunmen also set fire to a health center and destroyed all places serving alcohol.

Victory in sight for ANC in closely-watched South Africa poll

10 May 2019; AFP: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's ruling ANC was in touching distance of election victory Friday but with diminished support, complicating efforts to revive the country's flagging economy and fight corruption, results showed.

The African National Congress (ANC), in power since 1994, held a very comfortable lead with nearly 57 percent after four-fifths of voting districts were officially tallied following Wednesday's vote.

South Africa ANC takes early lead in election results

9 May 2019; AFP: South Africa's ANC surged into the lead in early official results Thursday with 55 percent of the vote in the first electoral test of President Cyril Ramaphosa's bid to reinvigorate the ruling party.

With just over a fifth of voting districts tallied, the Election Commission put the African National Congress well ahead, with its closest rival the Democratic Alliance trailing with a distant 26 percent.

South Africans head to polls tipped to be won by ANC

Johannesburg, May 8 (AFP) South Africans go to the polls on Wednesday in national elections which the ruling ANC party, in power since 1994, is the favourite to win despite corruption scandals and sluggish economic growth and record unemployment.

The ANC has won all the past five elections, but Wednesday's vote is set to be an electoral test on whether the party has staunched a decline in popularity.

UNGA president visits Nigeria to strengthen security support

ABUJA, May 7 (Xinhua): Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday at his office held a closed-door meeting with the visiting President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Maria Espinosa.

Espinosa, president of the 73rd session of UNGA, is in the West African country on a two-day working visit.

A presidency source told Xinhua that the agenda of the bilateral meeting included issues bordering on insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin, development and environmental protection, among others.

Feature: Chinese doctor wins hearts of South Sudanese medics

JUBA, May 5 (Xinhua): A Chinese doctor working for the China medical team in South Sudan has received enormous praise from his local counterparts for his exceptional work in the conflict-torn east African country.

Since coming to South Sudan a year ago, Zhu Ming, an anesthesiologist who is tasked with perioperative care of patients before and after surgery has won the hearts of many South Sudanese health workers because of his readiness to share knowledge and interact freely with locals.

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