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http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Lesotho’s prime minister Pakalitha Mosisili has conceded defeat in a parliamentary election to his opponent Thomas Thabane, the government said, easing concerns of political instability in the mountain kingdom. “His Majesty King Letsie III has accepted the resignation of The Right Honourable the Prime Minister, Dr. Pakalitha Mosisili,” a government statement received on Friday said. Mosisili will remain in his position until Thabane is sworn in, the statement said. Thabane’s All Basotho Convention (ABC) won 48 parliamentary seats, compared with 30 won by Mosisili’s Democratic Congress, results released on Tuesday showed. Thabane won a national election at the weekend but failed to gain an outright majority in parliament and will now form a coalition government, the party said on Tuesday. Newsmen report that the election outcome reverses the result of an election two years ago, when Mosisili’s DC ousted Thabane and the ABC by uniting with smaller parties. Mos...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J No fewer than eight districts in Jema’a Local Government, Kaduna State, on Thursday signed peace deals to end hostilities and ensure permanent peace in their locality. The agreement followed months of interaction and negotiation spearheaded by Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Nigeria, an NGO. The districts include Dangoma, Goska, Ambam, Bakin Kogi, Unguwar Fari, Unguwar Baki and Gerti. After deliberations, the eight districts unanimously agreed to forgive each other and directed all farmers and herdsmen to go about their normal activities. “They also agreed to form very close collaborations to attain pre-conflict relationship while encouraging all their critical stakeholders resident outside the chiefdom to honour the development.” The Country Director, Global Peace Foundation Nigeria, Mr John Oko said the organisation was happy with the outcome. “GPF is happy with this outcome. We shall continue to monitor the progress and work with the communities to ensure s...

http://ift.tt/2rsz8hi PHOTO:AFP Qatar Airways said on Monday it had suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia as a major diplomatic crisis escalated in the Gulf region. The move by the Doha-based carrier came just hours after Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut diplomatic ties with Doha over accusations it supports extremism. Several airlines from those countries earlier announced they would no longer fly to Qatar. “Qatar Airways has suspended all flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” until 1159 GMT the same day, a statement from the airline said. A spokeswoman said it was unclear if the suspension would be extended. Qatar Airways flies to nine cities in Saudi Arabia. UAE carriers Emirates, Etihad, Fly Dubai and Air Arabia, as well as Saudi Airlines, all announced earlier on Monday they would suspend flights to Doha starting from Tuesday morning. It was not immediately clear if Qatar Airways would also suspend flights to other countries. Regiona...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Muslims in the country have been urged to reflect on the significance of the Ramadan period to offer prayers for the nation’s peace, development and economic recovery. In an interview with the newsmen, Alhaji Sodiq Afolayan, the Chief Imam of Omu-Aran Central Mosque described Ramadan as a sacred period for prayers and devotion. He said: “It is in the light of the holiness of the Ramadan period that we should not hesitate in offering prayers for guidance for our leaders. “We as patriotic citizens should specifically offer prayers for speedy recovery of the nation’s economy said to be presently in a state of recession. “Surely, this is one sacred period where prayers of the righteous are promptly accepted and granted,’’ he said. Similarly, Alhaji Mustapha Abdulsalam, the Missioner of Nasrullahi-lifathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), Omu-Aran chapter, urged leaders in the country to imbibe the exemplary leadership style of the holy Prophet Muhammad. He said “Prop...

http://ift.tt/2pBtlVv Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe . / AFP / JEKESAI NJIKIZANA Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe insisted on Thursday that his country is not a failed state and accused the US of being fragile because of its economic dependence on China. Mugabe pointed to Zimbabwe’s 90-percent literacy rate to support his claim that the southern African country, which has battled economic chaos in recent years, is one of the best resourced on the continent. “We are not a poor country and we can’t be a fragile country, I can call America fragile, they went on their knees to China,” he said during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Durban. “Zimbabwe is the most highly developed country in Africa after South Africa.” Long-time leader Mugabe has ruled through the country’s dramatic economic collapse. Hyperinflation wiped out savings more than 10 years ago, unemployment is sky-high and economic output has halved since 2000, when many white-ow...

http://ift.tt/2qzeWXx Djamel Ould Abbes, Algerian Secretary General of the National Liberation Front (FLN), gestures at a party conference in the capital Algiers on April 28, 2017, while campaigning for the upcoming legislative polls scheduled for May 4. / AFP PHOTO / RYAD KRAMDI /  A two-party alliance led by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s National Liberation Front dominates Algeria’s parliament. In Thursday’s legislative poll the alliance will face an Islamist opposition organised in two main coalitions in a bid to regain ground five years since the worst electoral defeat in their history. – Presidential alliance – Bouteflika’s National Liberation Front (FLN) and the Rally for National Democracy (RND) led by the president’s chief of staff, Ahmed Ouyahia, together enjoy an absolute majority in parliament, which they are expected to retain. The FLN, which was the main player in Algeria’s long and bloody struggle for independence from France, alone holds 221 of the na...