The West African nation of Niger is observing three days of national mourning following the death of former President Mamadou Tandja at the age of 82. The government said Tuesday Tandja died in the capital, Niamey, but no cause of death was given. Tandja was twice elected president of Niger starting 1999 to 2010 before he was overthrown in a coup for attempting to change the constitution to hold onto power. Tandja’s ouster paved the way for Issoufou Mahamadou to become president in the 2011

Kenyan doctors are threatening to go on strike next month unless the government addresses their concerns about safety, health insurance, and staffing needs to fight COVID-19.  The threat comes after at least 10 doctors died from the virus this month. Speaking to reporters in Nairobi Tuesday, the secretary-general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists

Sudanese health authorities said Sunday that seven medical doctors died from COVID-19 in 10 days, a development that reflects Sudan’s sharp rise in cases in recent weeks. Nearly 100 deaths were recorded in the past month. A statement issued by Sudan’s ministry of health said the seven doctors “worked tirelessly” to treat COVID-19 patients, prevent

Armed men attacked a school in Cameroon’s southwestern town of Kumba on Saturday, killing at least four children and wounding at least 15 others. No one claimed responsibility, but the government blamed separatists who had ordered that schools in the area be closed. Patrick Ebale, 17,  said he was still recovering from the shock of

Human rights group Amnesty International and authorities in Nigeria disagree on the number of people killed at a shooting Tuesday in Lagos. Amnesty International says at least 56 protesters have died in clashes with security forces during weeks-long demonstrations in Nigeria against police brutality, with at least 38 people killed Tuesday — 12 of them

Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is expressing his condolences and promising justice for as many as 12 peaceful protesters shot dead by Nigerian Security Forces at the Lekki toll plaza. Osinbajo’s comments, in a series of tweets Wednesday night, were the first public comments from the country’s leaders referring to Tuesday’s shooting in Lagos state.

New rapid coronavirus testing, soon to be available throughout Africa, could be a “game changer” for the continent, the World Health Organization said Thursday. The new, cheaper, less fragile tests could help health systems identify and treat cases more quickly, said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa. 20 million antigen

Friends and family members are demanding answers following the death of a Rwandan gospel singer in police custody in February. Rwandan authorities have called Kizito Mihigo’s death a suicide, but his supporters believe he was killed for his political opinions. They have offered no solid evidence to back those assertions. Mihigo was honored in September