Africa

DAKAR, Senegal — Nigeria plans to repatriate at least 600 of its citizens living in South Africa after recent attacks in and around Johannesburg that targeted Nigerians and other African immigrants and left at least 10 people dead. The announcement, made by President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria and Godwin Adama, the Nigerian consul general in Johannesburg, is the latest effort to respond to a conflict that has consumed the continent’s two largest economies and angered people across Africa. “We have made arrangements for the immediate voluntary evacuation of all Nigerians in South Africa who are willing to return home,” Mr. Buhari said on Twitter, adding that he is very worried about “the recurring issue of xenophobia.” “If nothing is done to stop it,” he added, “it could negatively affect the image and standing of South Africa as one of the leading countries in Africa.” South Africans began attacking immigrants and … [Read more...] about Nigeria Plans to Airlift Its Citizens Out of South Africa After Xenophobic Riots

(CNN)Rwanda's President Paul Kagame Monday inaugurated what is being described as Africa's "first high tech smartphone factory" in the country's capital Kigali. President Kagame hailed the launch as another breakthrough for development in Rwanda, which has enjoyed rapid economic growth in recent years and gained a reputation as a hub of innovation. "The Mara Phone joins a growing list of high-quality products that are made in our country," the president said at the Mara Phones Factory which is situated on the outskirts of Kigali. The Mara Group, a pan-African business headquartered in Dubai, says the factory will deliver "high quality smartphones at an affordable price." Mara is producing two types of smartphone in Rwanda: The Mara X with 16GB storage space will retail for 120,250 francs ($130), while the more advanced Mara Z model with 32GB storage is on sale for around 175,750 francs ($190), the company said. Read More Previous 'made-in-Africa' phones included imported … [Read more...] about Rwanda opens ‘first entirely homemade’ smartphone factory in Africa

For years, it's been confounding to New York's lovers of African cuisines that options are so slim: a few Ethiopian and Moroccan joints, or a jaunt up to West 116th Street for authentic, low-budget West African fare. Meanwhile, our most prominent African-born chef, Marcus Samuelsson, has kept busy doing great things at Aquavit with the cuisine of Sweden, where he was raised, and then with Japanese fusion at Riingo. In 2006, Mr. Samuelsson tantalized us by publishing a book of pan-African recipes; now, at last, he has opened a restaurant to match: Merkato 55. The new place is a palatial two-story affair in the meatpacking district, with ebonized wood throughout and various African decor touches such as mud-cloth and cowries. Merkato's menu is split, rather confusingly, into kidogo, which are small snacks and dips, plus the usual starters and mains, which are called "small plates" and "large plates" respectively. A few main courses are listed under "In A Pot" instead. Fortunately, the … [Read more...] about Out of Africa

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Wednesday took their four-month-old son Archie to meet Desmond Tutu in Cape Town, the royal baby's first public outing since his birth in May. To the delight of royal-watchers, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan walked into the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation carrying a smiley Archie in blue dungarees. The family touched down in Cape Town on Monday for a 10-day trip in South Africa and other countries in the region. Both parents have hit the ground running -- speaking up for victims of gender violence, delving into local history and visiting charities that support poor children and disadvantaged youth. But little Archie had yet to make an appearance, until he was taken for tea with one of South Africa's iconic anti-apartheid figures. Archbishop Tutu and his wife Leah came out to greet the trio as they arrived, and Tutu kissed the baby's forehead. In a video posted on Twitter by journalists attending the event, Meghan bounced Archie on her … [Read more...] about Royal tour in Africa: Baby Archie meets Desmond Tutu

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle kicked off their first official tour as a family with powerful speeches in South Africa about masculinity and gender violence.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent the day in the Nyanga township in Cape Town to learn about the Justice Desk initiative, which teaches children about their rights and provides self-defence classes and female empowerment training to young girls.The two speeches, delivered separately, made a strong statement about the kind of work the royal couple intends to pursue and the brand they want to create for themselves.The Duchess of Sussex used the opportunity to address the significance of the visit because of her own African heritage, telling the crowd that she was there not only as a representative of the royal family, but also "as a woman of colour and as your sister". To whoops and cheers, the duchess said: "While I’m here with my husband as a member of the royal family, I want you to know that for me, I am here … [Read more...] about Meghan Markle Said She Is Visiting South Africa “As A Woman Of Colour And As Your Sister” And The Crowd Loved It