Breaking news from AFRICA, Maghreb and Sub-Saharan Africa

2012 Africa Cup of Nations

Zambia beat Ivory Coast 8-7 in finals

Zambia defeated Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties to win its first Africa Cup of Nations in Libreville, Gabon on Sunday. Stophira Sunzu scored the deciding sudden-death penalty.

EGYPT

'Disobedience' for anniversary of Mubarak's fall

Egyptian activists are planning a "day of disobedience" Saturday to mark the one-year anniversary of Hosni Mubarak's ouster. The increasingly unpopular military said it would deploy additional troops to respond to scheduled strikes and protests.

Mali

UN calls on Mali's Tuareg rebels to halt advance

The United Nations on Wednesday called on rebels in northern Mali to cease their attacks, just after the Tuareg-led MLNA seized the key border town of Tinzawatene. The rebels say they are fighting to create an independent state in north Mali.

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SOUTH SUDAN

Kidnapped Chinese workers released in Sudan

A group of Chinese workers kidnapped by rebels in Sudan's South Kordofan state 11 days ago were released Tuesday and flown to the Chinese embassy in Nairobi, a foreign ministry statement said.

SENEGAL

Thousands rally in Dakar for new anti-Wade protests

Thousands of opposition supporters marched in the Senegalese capital Dakar on Tuesday to protest against President Abdoulaye Wade's controversial plans to seek a third term in a February 26 presidential election.

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NIGERIA

Fresh attacks against police in flashpoint city of Kano

Armed militants blew up a police headquarters and shot an officer in the Nigerian city of Kano on Monday as more blasts were reported in Maiduguri, a hotbed of Boko Haram Islamists. Coordinated attacks in Kano last month killed at least 185 people.

EGYPT

Clashes continue in Cairo over football deaths

Protesters clashed with police in sporadic battles Sunday at security headquarters in Cairo as unrest over 74 deaths at a football match in Port Said last week entered a fourth day.

SENEGAL

Wade opponents form united front

Senegal's fractious opposition has agreed to pool together in an effort to force President Abdoulaye Wade to withdraw from next month’s presidential election, claiming his bid for a third term in office violates the country's constitution.

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EGYPT

Egyptian plans for NGO workers to face criminal trial angers US

Egyptian judges on Sunday referred 44 employees of US-funded NGOs, including 19 Americans, to criminal trial for alleged illegal activities. The US warned it may halt its more than $1 billion in annual aid to Egypt unless the situation is resolved.

EGYPT

Gunmen kidnap two Americans, one Egyptian in Sinai

A south Sinai security official said Friday that unidentified gunmen had intercepted a tourist minivan and kidnapped two female American tourists and their Egyptian tour guide at gunpoint near St. Catherine's Monastery.

SENEGAL

Opposition vow to keep fighting Wade

Opposition figures vowed to continue mounting protests against President Abdoulaye Wade's bid for a third term in office, calling for a prayer gathering on Friday to remember victims of the violence that has swept the country in recent days.

SOUTH AFRICA

Mining company fires 13,000 after strike

South African mining company Impala Platinum, the world's number-two producer, said it fired 13,000 workers after they staged an illegal strike for better pay on Monday. That brings the number sacked by the company in the past month to 17,200.

SYRIA

Some Arab observers in Syria ‘for pleasure'

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DR CONGO

Kabila's party and allies win parliamentary majority

DR Congo President Joseph Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy and its allies won an absolute majority in November's contested legislative elections, results showed Thursday.

SENEGAL

Youths clash with police in fresh anti-Wade protests

Hundreds of Senegalese youths clashed with police in Dakar Wednesday night, one day after a student was killed amid rioting. National and international pressure is mounting on President Abdoulaye Wade to give up his plans to seek a third term.

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AFRICA UNION

African Union vote on new leader ends in deadlock

An African Union vote to elect a new head for the bloc ended in a deadlock Monday with Gabonese incumbent Jean Ping failing to secure a two-thirds majority against South Africa's Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

SENEGAL

Wade: The man who would be president – again

When he finally became Senegal’s president after four unsuccessful bids, Abdoulaye Wade was a symbol of democracy. But over the past 12 years he has been steadily chipping away at that badge of honour.

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IVORY COAST

EXCLUSIVE: Ivorian president vows reconciliation

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouatarra insisted there will be no "impunity" as he vows to bring to justice those who committed crimes in the violence which followed last year's disputed elections.