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☆ South Africa Approaches World Court Over Israel's Rafah Offensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's government said on Tuesday that it had asked the World Court to consider whether Israel's decision to extend its military operations in Rafah required the court to use its power to prevent further breach of Palestinians' rights. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent its troops from committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, in a case brought by South Africa. Israel is planning to expand its ground assault into the city of Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinians have sought refuge from the offensive that has laid waste to much of the Gaza Strip since Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7. War in Israel and Gaza View All 206 Images(Reporting by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Alexander Winning)Photos You Should See View All 22 Images

Persons: Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning Organizations: Court of Justice Locations: JOHANNESBURG, Rafah, Israel, Gaza, South Africa

☆ South African Foreign Minister: States Must Stop Funding Israel's Military
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - All states have an obligation to stop funding and facilitating Israel's military actions in Gaza after the World Court indicated that those actions could plausibly be genocidal, South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor said on Wednesday. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent its troops from committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, in a case brought by South Africa. South Africa has for decades been a strong advocate for the Palestinian cause, comparing the plight of Palestinians to that of Black South Africans under apartheid. Israel has strongly denied allegations of genocide and rejects the comparison to the apartheid era. (Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian and Nellie Peyton; Editing by Alexander Winning)

Persons: Naledi Pandor, Anait Miridzhanian, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning Organizations: Court, Court of Justice, Black South Locations: JOHANNESBURG, Gaza, Israel, South Africa, Black

☆ South Africa's Ruling ANC Suspends Membership of Ex-Leader Zuma
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Nellie PeytonJOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) said on Monday it had suspended the membership of former president Jacob Zuma after he announced he would vote for another party in this year's general election. His suspension reflects deep-seated divisions in the party of liberation hero Nelson Mandela that has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid. "The formation of the MK party is not an accident," the ANC said in a statement. The MK party is named after the ANC's former armed wing, in a challenge to the long-dominant movement. Zuma has been at odds with the ANC's leadership since he was forced to quit as party leader in 2018.

Persons: Nellie Peyton JOHANNESBURG, Jacob Zuma, Zuma, Nelson Mandela, Cyril Ramaphosa, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning, Andrew Heavens Organizations: National Congress, Analysts, ANC, Forces, Natal Locations: South Africa, KwaZulu

☆ Nigeria lawmakers pass 2024-2026 budget framework with naira at 700 to dollar next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ABUJA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Nigeria's lower house of parliament passed the medium-term expenditure framework for 2024-2026 on Tuesday, a set of assumptions that will be used to prepare the country's budget over the next three years. The naira last week briefly slumped to a record low of 1,105 against the dollar on the official market, bringing the official exchange rate within touching distance of the parallel market rate. The fiscal framework must also be passed by the upper chamber of parliament. Tinubu is also due to send the country's 2024 spending plan of 26 trillion naira ($34 billion) to parliament for approval. Below are some of the assumptions in the medium-term expenditure framework:Reporting by Camillus Eboh in Abuja Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha Editing by Alexander Winning and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bola Tinubu's, firming, Camillus, Chijioke, Alexander Winning, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Tinubu, Camillus Eboh, Abuja

The IMF approved a tweaked deal, but official creditors again rejected it, Zambia said. The country's External Bondholder Steering Committee said it was deeply concerned with recent developments and that its latest offer would provide more debt relief than official creditors on a net present value basis, as well as a principal haircut when official creditors were offering none. The Common Framework has been severely criticised, as it is yet to provide any countries with debt relief. "If the OCC does not row back, sovereign debt restructuring would have taken a huge step backwards," said a second source familiar with the situation. Ghana, which is also undergoing Common Framework debt treatment, saw its international bonds slump up to 1.4 cents on the dollar .

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Rachel Savage, Karin Strohecker, Bhargav Acharya, Marc Jones, Libby George, Alexander Winning, William Maclean, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Monetary Fund, REUTERS, International Monetary Fund, IMF, OCC, Government, Paris Club, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Zambia Zambia, Ghana, Sri Lanka, JOHANNESBURG, Zambia, China, Base, France, India, London

☆ Ethio Lease set to wind down operations in Ethiopia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NAIROBI, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Equipment leasing company Ethio Lease, Ethiopia's only foreign-owned firm to obtain a financial services licence from the central bank, said on Wednesday it was winding down operations in the east African country. The National Bank of Ethiopia granted a financial services license to Ethio Lease in 2019 - the first such for a foreign firm - as part of the government's economic reforms aimed at opening up the economy. New York-based African Asset Finance Company, the owner of Ethio Lease, has instructed the company to begin the process of voluntary liquidation, Ethio Lease said in a statement. "Despite their sustained efforts, Ethio Lease and its investors have been unable to achieve resolution with the Ethiopian government." Ethio Lease's license enabled it to lease equipment such as MRI scanners, tractors and drilling rigs to companies that could not import such equipment themselves due to foreign exchange shortages.

Persons: Abiy Ahmed, Bhargav Acharya, Duncan Miriri, Jason Neely, Alexander Winning, Nellie Peyton, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Equipment, Ethio, National Bank of, Lease, African Asset Finance Company, Ethio Lease, birr, Ethiopian, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, National Bank of Ethiopia, New York, birr, Johannesburg, Nairobi

First launched in 2000, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) grants exports from qualifying African countries duty-free access to the United States - the world's largest consumer market. African countries are pushing for an early 10-year extension without changes to reassure businesses and investors. A recent push in the U.S. Senate is aiming to pass a quick AGOA renewal. 'FORWARD-LOOKING VISION'Over $10 billion worth of African exports entered the United States duty free last year under the programme. More than 80% of duty-free non-petroleum AGOA exports, for example, have come from just five countries - South Africa, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar and Ethiopia - in recent years.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jonathan Ernst, Joe Biden's, Biden, Blinken, Katherine Tai, Cyril Ramaphosa, Harriet Ntabazi, We've, Ntabazi, Carien du, Tannur Anders, Alexander Winning, Nick Macfie Organizations: Hamas, Joint Base Andrews, REUTERS, U.S . Senate, United States Congress, United, U.S . International Trade Commission, U.S . Trade, U.S ., Central African, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Washington, East, Asia, Joint Base Andrews , Maryland, U.S, JOHANNESBURG, United States, Africa, China, Johannesburg, South Africa, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Gabon, Niger, Uganda, Central African Republic, AGOA, Carien du Plessis

MARRAKECH, Morocco, Oct 13 (Reuters) - After getting debt relief from China, Ethiopia is requesting similar treatment from other creditors, the International Monetary Fund's deputy director for Africa said on Friday. Ethiopian authorities said in August that China was allowing Ethiopia to suspend debt payments for the fiscal year running until July 7, 2024. "The Chinese authorities have already provided debt relief to Ethiopia and we understand that they're in the process of requesting a similar treatment from other creditors. "There is a debt service suspension with China, which is providing substantial relief," she said, adding that this was the agreement announced in August. Ethiopia regularly suffers from foreign exchange shortages and a wide gap between the official and black market currency exchange rates.

Persons: Africa's, Annalisa Fedelino, Fedelino, Rachel Savage, Dawit Endeshaw, Tannur Anders, Bhargav, Alexander Winning, Susan Fenton Organizations: Monetary, IMF, Boston University, birr, Thomson Locations: MARRAKECH, Morocco, China, Ethiopia, Africa, Marrakech, birr, Addis Ababa

☆ South African rand slightly firms as US dollar dips
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

South African Rand coins are seen in this illustration picture taken October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The South African rand traded slightly higher on Wednesday following several days of weakness as the softening of the U.S. dollar supported risk sentiment. At 1619 GMT, the rand traded at 19.2800 against the dollar , about 0.3% stronger than its previous close. South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond was weaker in afternoon deals, with the yield up 6.5 basis points to 11.085%. Reporting by Tannur Anders and Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Alexander Winning and Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mike Hutchings, Tannur Anders, Anait, Alexander Winning, Chris Reese Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., P, Africa PMI, Local, Woolworths, Africa's, Thomson Locations: Rights JOHANNESBURG, Africa, Stillwater, Johannesburg

☆ South African police say 18 suspects killed in shootout
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Eighteen suspects were shot and killed during a shootout with South African police in the Limpopo province, the police said on Friday. Senior police officials were on their way to the crime scene in Makhado in South Africa's northernmost province, elite police unit the Hawks said in a statement, without providing further details. Reporting by Bhargav Acharya Editing by Alexander WinningOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bhargav, Alexander Winning Organizations: South, Senior, Hawks, Thomson Locations: JOHANNESBURG, Limpopo, Makhado, South Africa's

☆ South African police say 18 suspected robbers killed in shootout
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows a crime scene after at least 18 cash-in-transit robbers were shot and killed during a shootout with a specialised airborne police unit in Makhado, Limpopo, South Africa September 1, 2023. South African Police Service/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Eighteen suspected robbers were shot and killed during a shootout with South African police in the Limpopo province, the police said on Friday. "We do believe this syndicate has been involved in a number of CITs in this province, Mpumalanga and Gauteng," Masemola said. One police officer was injured in the shootout, which lasted about 90 minutes, he added. Reporting by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Alexander WinningOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fannie Masemola, Masemola, Bhargav Acharya, Alexander Winning Organizations: South African Police Service, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, South, Thomson Locations: Makhado, Limpopo, South Africa, Rights JOHANNESBURG, South Africa's, Mpumalanga, Gauteng

☆ Niger junta instructs police to expel French ambassador
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Nigerien security forces launch tear gas to disperse pro-junta demonstrators gathered outside the French embassy, in Niamey, the capital city of Niger July 30, 2023. REUTERS/Souleymane Ag Anara/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNIAMEY, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The junta that seized power in Niger last month said that the French ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itte, no longer had diplomatic immunity and police had been instructed to expel him. The junta on Friday ordered the ambassador to leave the country within 48 hours in response to actions taken by the French government which it said were "contrary to the interests of Niger". The visas of the ambassador and his family were cancelled, the junta said in a statement dated Aug. 29 and confirmed as authentic by the junta's head of communications. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the ambassador would stay in the country despite the junta's pressure and reiterated France's support to Niger's ousted president Mohamed Bazoum.

Persons: Sylvain Itte, Emmanuel Macron, Niger's, Mohamed Bazoum, Boureima Balima, Anait Miridzhanian, Alexander Winning Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Nigerien, Niamey, Niger, NIAMEY

☆ Reaction to Gabon army officers announcing coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Below are reactions to what appeared to be the eighth military coup in West and Central Africa since 2020. FRENCH GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON OLIVIER VERAN"We condemn the military coup and recall our commitment to free and transparent elections." EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY JOSEP BORRELL"If this is confirmed, it is another military coup which increases instability in the whole region. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON MARIA ZAKHAROVA"Moscow has received with concern reports of a sharp deterioration in the internal situation in the friendly African country. U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES"The Secretary-General is following the evolving situation in Gabon very closely.

Persons: Gerauds Wilfried Obangome, Ali Bongo, Moussa Faki Mahamat, BOLA TINUBU'S, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GENERAL PATRICIA SCOTLAND, OLIVIER VERAN, WANG WENBIN, Bongo, JOSEP BORRELL, MARIA ZAKHAROVA, JOHN KIRBY, It's, GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES, Nellie Peyton, Sofia Christensen, Alexander Winning, Sharon Singleton, Andy Sullivan Organizations: REUTERS, Central African, AU, H.E, WEST, BLOC ECOWAS, GENERAL, Commonwealth Secretariat, MINISTRY, EU HIGH, Thomson Locations: Libreville, Gabon, West, Central Africa, Gabonese Republic, Republic, NIGERIA, African Union, CHINA, China, Central African Republic, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Moscow

[1/4] Ostallos Siziba, the Deputy Spokesperson for Zimbabwe's main opposition party The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) speaks to media in Harare, August 29, 2023. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo Acquire Licensing RightsHARARE, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition party on Tuesday called for last week's elections to be re-run, saying the polls were riddled with flaws and calling on other African countries to help mediate in its impasse with the ruling party. The elections commission said Mnangagwa received roughly 53% of the vote against 44% for the CCC's Nelson Chamisa. Christopher Vandome from policy institute Chatham House's Africa programme said he was unsure the opposition would go the legal route at all. Zimbabwe's foreign ministry summoned European ambassadors to Zimbabwe on Monday and told them their mission's report was "full of misrepresentations and allegations".

Persons: Siziba, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mnangagwa, Nelson Chamisa, Chris Maroleng, Christopher Vandome, Carien du Plessis, Bhargav, Alexander Winning, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Citizens Coalition, REUTERS, Philimon, Rights, Citizens ' Coalition, CCC, PF, ZANU, Good Governance, Southern African, SADC, Thomson Locations: Harare, Philimon Bulawayo, Rights HARARE, Zimbabwe, Good, Chatham, Africa, European

REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko Acquire Licensing RightsHARARE, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's elections commission said late on Saturday that incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa had won this week's presidential election with roughly 53% of the vote, but the opposition and analysts immediately questioned the result. ZANU-PF supporters started singing and cheering at the results centre after the elections commission said Mnangagwa had won. Mnangagwa also narrowly defeated Chamisa at the last presidential election in 2018. The opposition alleges that election was rigged but the constitutional court upheld the result. While the run-up to the election has been largely free from violence, the police routinely ban opposition rallies and arrest opposition supporters using Zimbabwe's tough public order laws.

Persons: Emmerson Mnangagwa's, Siphiwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa's, Nelson Chamisa, Chamisa, Nicole Beardsworth, ZEC, Nyasha Chingono, Nelson Banya, Carien du Plessis, Bhargav, Alexander Winning, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, ZANU, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Citizens ' Coalition, PF, University of, SADC, Thomson Locations: Shurugwi, Midlands Province of Zimbabwe, Rights HARARE, Zimbabwe, Southern, Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Police sealed off roads around the election results centre on Friday morning, and members of the public were being stopped for questioning, a Reuters reporter in the capital Harare said. However, results announced so far by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission showed ZANU-PF winning 38 parliamentary constituencies and the main opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) winning 32, out of a total of 210 single-member constituencies. The early results showed ZANU-PF retaining its rural base, while the CCC captured the urban vote, as has been the case in previous elections. In the highest-profile loss yet for the ruling party, the electoral commission said on Friday that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube had lost his parliamentary contest to a CCC challenger. Mnangagwa took over from longtime strongman Robert Mugabe after a 2017 coup and won a disputed election in 2018.

Persons: Emmerson Mnangagwa's, Nelson Chamisa, Patrick Chinamasa, Mthuli Ncube, PF's Chinamasa, Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, Nelson Banya, Bhargav Acharya, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning Organizations: REUTERS, Philimon, Rights, Emmerson Mnangagwa's ZANU, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Police, ZANU, National Assembly, Commission, Coalition, PF, CCC, Thomson Locations: Harare, Zimbabwe, Philimon Bulawayo, Rights HARARE

A tally by state broadcaster ZBC showed ZANU-PF winning 101 parliamentary constituencies and the main opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) winning 59, out of a total of 210. The result of the presidential vote has not been announced yet. The ERC later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that 16 of its staff together with Zimbabwe Election Support Network members had been released on $200 bail each by a magistrate. Mnangagwa last week told state media that if he got a second term, it would be his last. As in previous elections, the parliamentary results appeared to show ZANU-PF retaining its rural base, while the CCC captured the urban vote.

Persons: Emmerson Mnangagwa's, Nelson Chamisa, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Castaldo, Nevers Mumba, Patrick Chinamasa, Mnangagwa, Eldred Masunungure, Robert Mugabe, Nelson Banya, Bhargav Acharya, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning, Devika Syamnath, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Emmerson Mnangagwa's ZANU, ZBC, ZANU, Coalition, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, REUTERS, Philimon, Rights Police, Zimbabwe Election, Election, Centre, ERC, Zimbabwe Election Support, Southern African Development Community, National Assembly, University of Zimbabwe, PF, CCC, Thomson Locations: EU, HARARE, Harare, Zimbabwe, Philimon Bulawayo, SADC

☆ BRICS invites six countries including Saudi Arabia, Iran to be new members
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A person walks past the Sandton Convention Centre, which will host the upcoming BRICS Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa August 19, 2023. REUTERS/James Oatway/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The BRICS group of nations has decided to invite six countries - Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - to become new members of the bloc, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday. The debate over expanding the BRICS bloc, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has topped the agenda at a three-day summit in Johannesburg ending on Thursday. While all BRICS members have publicly expressed support for growing the bloc, there were divisions among the leaders over how much and how quickly. Reporting by Bhargav Acharya, Carien du Plessis and Anait Miridzhanian Editing by Alexander WinningOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: James Oatway, Cyril Ramaphosa, Bhargav Acharya, Carien du Plessis, Anait, Alexander Winning Organizations: Sandton, REUTERS, Rights, United Arab, South, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights JOHANNESBURG, Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Russia, India, China

Leslie Maasdorp, Vice President and chief financial officer (CFO) of New Development Bank (NDB), speaks during an interview with Reuters at the bank's headquarters in Shanghai, China July 10, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG, Aug 23 (Reuters) - The New Development Bank of the BRICS group of nations will not be announcing new members at the BRICS Summit in South Africa this week, its Chief Financial Officer Leslie Maasdorp told Reuters on Wednesday. The bank, which was set up in 2015 to give BRICS members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa a greater say in financing infrastructure than in Western-led institutions like the World Bank, is keen to attract new members to boost its capital base after U.S. sanctions on Russia hobbled its lending. "The process of ratifying new countries is happening at the discussion of the (BRICS) leaders, which they are having without us as the bank," Maasdorp told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the summit. ($1 = 94.4650 roubles)Reporting by Rachel Savage; Writing by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Alexander Winning and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Leslie Maasdorp, Aly, Maasdorp, Rachel Savage, Bhargav Acharya, Alexander Winning, Emelia Organizations: New Development Bank, Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, World Bank, United, United Arab Emirates, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Brazil, Russia, India, Western, Egypt, Bangladesh, United Arab, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Argentina

☆ Niger junta: ousted president could be prosecuted for high treason
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum addresses the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoNIAMEY, Aug 14 (Reuters) - The junta that seized power in Niger in a July 26 coup said late on Sunday that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum could be prosecuted for high treason. Colonel Amadou Abdramane, a spokesperson for the junta, said on state TV that it had "assembled the necessary elements to prosecute the ousted president ... for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger." The bloc's parliament on Saturday said it wanted to send a committee to meet the junta in Niamey. Writing by Anait Miridzhanian and Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Alexander Winning and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Mike Segar, Bazoum, Amadou Abdramane, Anait Miridzhanian, Alessandra Prentice, Alexander Winning Organizations: United Nations General Assembly, REUTERS, Sunday, ECOWAS, Security, Central, Thomson Locations: U.N, New York City, U.S, NIAMEY, Niger, West, Niamey, Union

☆ South Africa's Zuma appears at prison, released under remission process
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Former South African president Jacob Zuma reacts as he addresses a news conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, October 22, 2022. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File PhotoJOHANNESBURG, Aug 11 (Reuters) - South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma appeared at the Estcourt correctional facility on Friday morning and was released under a remission process, a senior prisons official said. Zuma's initial arrest two years ago led to violent protests across South Africa that saw over 300 people killed. He handed himself over to authorities in July 2021 but was released on medical parole due to ill health two months later. Reporting by Carien du Plessis Additional reporting by Bhargav Acharya Editing by Alexander WinningOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jacob Zuma, Siphiwe, Zuma, Carien du Plessis, Bhargav, Alexander Winning Organizations: South, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, JOHANNESBURG

☆ West Africa bloc pins hopes on Niger coup mediation ahead of summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Members of a military council that staged a coup in Niger attend a rally at a stadium in Niamey, Niger, August 6, 2023. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has scheduled the summit to discuss its standoff with the Niger junta, which seized power on July 26 and ignored an Aug. 6 deadline to stand down. In a sign of the United States' interest in the country, U.S. acting deputy secretary of state Victoria Nuland flew to Niamey on Monday. MILITARY ACTION PLANThe 15-nation ECOWAS bloc has taken a harder stance on the Niger coup than it did on other recent government overthrows. "It is fundamentally not in the interests of regional states."

Persons: Mahamadou, Mohamed Bazoum, Antony Blinken, Victoria Nuland, Bazoum, Ben Hunter, Alessandra Prentice, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning, Gareth Jones, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, West African States, French, RFI, ACTION, ECOWAS, Thomson Locations: Niger, Niamey, NIAMEY, West, Central Africa, United States, Europe, China, Russia, Africa

☆ Niger waits for West African bloc's response after junta rejects ultimatum
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Members of a military council that staged a coup in Niger attend a rally at a stadium in Niamey, Niger, August 6, 2023. On Sunday as the deadline expired, the junta closed its airspace until further notice, citing the increased threat of military intervention. I hope that the ultimatum of ECOWAS, which expired last night at midnight, will be extended today," Tajani told La Stampa newspaper. The United States are very cautious about this, it is unthinkable that they would start a military intervention in Niger," Tajani added. Writing by Alessandra Prentice and Alexander Winning; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Antonio Tajani, Tajani, Antony Blinken, Alessandra Prentice, Alexander Winning, Lincoln, Toby Chopra Organizations: REUTERS, NIAMEY, West African, West African States, La Stampa, Thomson Locations: Niger, Niamey, Europe, China, Russia, juntas, Mali, Burkina Faso, Italy, United States, U.S

It has taken its hardest line yet with Niger, saying it had to show that it "cannot only bark but can bite". One of the demonstrators in Niamey held a placard that said: "Long live Niger, Russia, Mali and Burkina. France has between 1,000 and 1,500 troops in Niger, helping to fight an Islamist insurgency that has spread across the region. INTERVENTION PLANWest African defence chiefs meeting in Nigeria were due to conclude their discussions about possible intervention in Niger, although they have said this would be a last resort. The goal of the two-day meeting was to draw up a plan for an eventual military intervention to restore constitutional order, according to a statement from Ivory Coast's National Security Council.

Persons: General Abdourahamane Tiani, Mohamed Bazoum, Tiani, Ivory, Salifou Mody, Joe Biden, Nigeriens, Camillus Eboh, Thiam Ndiaga, Tiemoko Diallo, Ange Aboa, Alessandra Prentice, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning, Emelia, Nick Macfie, Giles Elgood Organizations: REUTERS, West, Economic, West African States, EU, Reuters, Ivory Coast's National Security Council, ECOWAS, juntas, Nigerien, Islamic, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, NIAMEY, ABUJA, West, Central Africa, Russia, Burkina, Down, France, Nigeria, Nigerian, West Africa, Guinea, Bissau, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Paris

☆ South Africa's recognition of sign language signals new hope for the deaf
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Thando Hlophe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Before it was an official language... there was absolutely no access" to communicating with other people, he signed. Still, South Africa only has about 40 deaf schools and one tertiary institution that is fully accessible to deaf people, meaning there is still work to be done to improve that access. "It is a very rich, beautiful language but we need people who are going to be equipped enough to develop it even more," said Andiswa Gebashe, a South African Sign Language activist and former interpreter for Ramaphosa. World Atlas, an online site that studies demographics, says only 41 countries recognise sign language as an official language, just four of them in Africa - Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. "Now that it's an official language, I know that I can go to university and I can make my dreams come true," he said in sign.

Persons: Cyril Ramaphosa, Manana, Andiswa Gebashe, Wilma Newhoudt, Thando, Tannur Anders, Alexander Winning, Nick Macfie Organizations: inclusivity, Sizwile School, Thomson Locations: Pretoria, Read, JOHANNESBURG, Johannesburg, Dobsonville, Soweto, South Africa, Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe

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