Africa | featured news

The decision to drop a crimes against humanity case against Francis Muthaura, the cabinet secretary, casts doubt on the prosecution of Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya’s president-elect.

Incoming Chinese president Xi Jinping's first trip as head of state will take him to Africa, the government said on Saturday, as China seeks to cement a growing trade and energy relationship that has caused alarm bells to ring in Washington.

A major al-Qaeda base has been dismantled by French forces in the remote mountains of northern Mali, France's Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says.

Kenya's presidential race tightened on Friday as Uhuru Kenyatta's lead narrowed over his main rival, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, raising the prospect of a second-round run-off.

The father of "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius – the Olympic star accused of murdering his girlfriend – has been accused of racism after he claimed the family needed guns to protect themselves because they could not rely on South Africa's police.

John Kerry made his first trip to an Arab capital as secretary of state on Saturday, hoping to prod Egyptian politicians to show a measure of political peace and a commitment to economic change.

The episode, caught on cellphone video, has prompted anger because of its brazen and outsize cruelty.

Oscar Pistorius was to hold a private memorial service Tuesday for the girlfriend he is charged with murdering. Slain model Reeva Steenkamp was cremated and mourned at a family service last week while Pistorius was in custody during a weeklong hearing on whether he should be released on bail.

A hot air balloon full of tourists exploded near the southern city Luxor just after dawn Tuesday, killing at least 18 people and injuring three in the latest blow to Egypt’s moribund tourism industry.

The US has deployed 100 troops to Niger to assist French forces in neighbouring Mali, President Barack Obama says.