New York, US (PANA) - While Sierra Leone has made impressive progress since the end of its civil war, the international community still needs to help the country's transition efforts, according to the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Configuration of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, Guillermo Rishchynski. Full text...

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - African priests have welcomed the choice of Pope Francis saying he would bring new vibrancy to the evangelization of the Gospel and institute broad reforms within the church. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission Thursday began receiving nomination papers from candidates contesting in the West African nation's local government election, slated for April, PANA reported, citing a statement from the electoral body. Full text...

Blantyre, Malawi (PANA) - Hundreds of supporters of the former senior Malawi government officials, arrested last Monday following the publication of a report of an inquiry into the death last April of former president Bingu wa Mutharika, broke into jubilation after Lilongwe High Court judge, Justice Ivy Kamanga, granted them bail. Full text...

Washington, DC, US (PANA) - US President Barack Obama has expressed his country's support for the ongoing democratic transition in Libya, according to a statement from the White House. Full text...

Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The United States, United Kingdom and Norway have hailed the Full text...

Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) – Rwanda has turned down a request from Mali to join the international force involved in the liberation of the north of the West African country. Full text...

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenya's Media Council warned Wednesday it would crackdown on propaganda mongering on the social media after the government announced it intended to act against foreign reporters operating without government licenses. Full text...

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Botswana, whose former President, Festus Mogae, observed the Kenyan elections, has become the first nation to signal possible travel ban against Uhuru Kenyatta, winner of the 4 March polls. Full text...

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenya's Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD), which featured outgoing Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, may have scored a first-round victory in its bid to challenge Uhuru Kenyatta's victory in the 4 March presidential polls in Kenya. Full text...

Blantyre, Malawi (PANA) - The Chief Resident Magistrates Court in the Malawi capital, Lilongwe, has levelled treason charges against all the 12 suspects in an alleged coup plot to stop Vice President Joyce Banda from taking over the reigns of government after the sudden death of former Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika last April. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – The Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh, has appointed Nana Grey-Johnson as his new Minister of Information and Communications Infrastructure, PANA confirmed from here Wednesday. Full text...

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) – The Libyan Prime Minister, Ali Zeidan, is due in New York, US, at the start of a three-day working visit to the US during which he will discuss crucial issues with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and with the President and members of the UN Security Council. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - A Nigerian Non-Governmental Organization Wednesday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to 'rescind without delay' the presidential pardon he granted a former governor of his oil-rich Bayelsa state, Mr. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and former head, Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama, both of whom were convicted of corruption charges. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - Heads of ECOWAS National Units, Civil Society and Immigration officials have recommended the abolition of two key provisions of the regional Protocol on free movement of persons, according to an ECOWAS Commission press statement, obtained here by PANA Wednesday. Full text...

Brussels, Belgium (PANA) – France has officially requested for 30 more Belgian soldiers to help support the European Mission for the training of Malian army (EUTM), according to a press statement published by the Belgian government here Wednesday. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Nigeria's federal government has set up a board of inquiry to investigate the recent attack on the country's Embassy in Dakar. Full text...

Blantyre, Malawi, (PANA) - Malawi's President Joyce Banda has expressed gratitude to Britain for what she has described as the “encouragement and support” extended to her administration’s Economic Recovery Plan. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - A Select Committee of the ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff met in Bamako last Friday to consider procedures for the transformation of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) into a United Nations operation, according to a statement from the ECOWAS Commission here Tuesday. Full text...

Blantyre, Malawi (PANA) - The 11 former senior Malawi government officials, arrested on Monday following the publication of a report into the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika, have been charged with various offences, including conspiracy to break the law, sedition and perjury. Full text...

Belle-Vue, Mauritius (PANA) – Mauritians from all walks of life gathered at the Anjalay stadium of Belle-Vue Tuesday to attend the official ceremony marking the 45th independence anniverssary of the Indian Ocean nation. Full text...

Niamey, Niger (PANA) - Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou Tuesday visited the eight Chadian soldiers who were wounded in the war against "jihadists" in northern Mali and currently admitted to the National Hospital in Niamey, according to Niger's news agency, ANP. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The increasing number of conflicts and wars on the African continent has been blamed on socio-economic imbalance, the privately-owned GUARDIAN Newspaper quoted a former Ghanaian leader, Mr. Jerry Rawlings, as saying. Full text...

Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Sudan and South Sudan on Tuesday signed a final accord on the full implementation of a series of agreements they signed in December last year, including the exportation of South Sudan oil via Sudanese facilities. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - There is widespread confusion in Nigerian government circles over the reported killing of seven foreigners who were abducted last month by the Islamic sect Ansaru in the northern state of Bauchi. Full text...

Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) – The Mauritanian and Malian presidents have hailed the intervention of the French-African troops to restore Mali's sovereignty and territorial integrity, threatened by small terrorist groups who seized the north of the country. Full text...

Pailles, Mauritius (PANA) – Mauritian Prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, on Monday said his country would continue to back India's bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. Full text...

Brussels, Belgium (PANA) – The European Union (EU) has lauded the decision by Malian authorities to set up a commission for national dialogue and reconciliation, describing the move as a key step to establishing an all-inclusive process toward the total reconciliation and political re-foundation in the West African country. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The US government has sent a message of congratulations to the Indian Ocean Island of Mauritius, which celebrates 45 years of independence on 12 March, according to a press statement, received here by PANA Monday, from the office of the US Secretary of State, John Kerry. Full text...

Blantyre, Malawi (PANA) - Dr. Necton Muhura, the deputy Chief Secretary to the Malawi Government, has been arrested, pushing to 11 the number of senior Malawian government officials arrested on Monday for allegedly plotting to prevent then Vice President Joyce Banda from assuming power following the death of former president Bingu wa Mutharika in April last year. Full text...

Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) – Some opposition party leaders in exile are back home in Burundi to participate in a national political dialogue, organized by the United Nations Office in Burundi, PANA reported Monday. Full text...

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The African Union Commission (AUC) has congratulated Kenya's President-elect, Uhuru Kenyatta, his Vice President-elect, William Ruto, and their Jubilee Coalition party for winning the hotly-contested maiden presidential polls under the country's new constitution. Full text...

Blantyre, Malawi (PANA) - At least 10 former senior Malawian government officials, including ministers, were arrested on Monday for allegedly plotting a coup to prevent then Vice President Joyce Banda from assuming power following the death of former president Bingu wa Mutharika in April last year. Full text...

Plaisance, Mauritius (PANA) - Indian President Shri Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Mauritius on Monday as the chief guest of honour at the country's national independence day to be celebrated on Tuesday, PANA reported. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ms. Fatou Bensouda, Monday withdrew the charges against Kenya’s former Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura, who was among those accused of instigating the 2007 post-election violence. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - As the 54 Commonwealth members celebrate the 2013 Commonwealth Day on Monday, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Carter, has described the family as a unique organisation whose relevance remains even after many years of the dismantling of colonial rules. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - As the 54 Commonwealth members celebrate the 2013 Commonwealth Day on Monday, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Carter, has described the family as a unique organisation whose relevance remains even after many years of the dismantling of colonial rules. Full text...

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) – The Speaker of Libya's parliament, Mohamed al-Megrayef, has hailed the efforts of the Home Affairs ministry to flush armed groups out of the country. Full text...

Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The US has welcomed the recently-signed technical pact between Sudan and South Sudan on the implementation of the Agreement on Security Arrangements, signed by the Presidents of the two countries 27 Sept. 2012. Full text...

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenya's newly-elected President Uhuru Kenyatta has continued to receive congratulatory messages from leaders across Africa, including Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa and Nigeria, as well as organisations. Full text...

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - US Secretary of State John Kerry has promised that his country will continue its long standing relationship with Kenya, following the election of Uhuru Kenyatta as the fourth President of the African nation. Full text...

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenya's outgoing Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, will take his election petition to the Supreme Court for a final decision on the outcome of the 4 March presidential polls, won by Uhuru Kenyatta. Full text...

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenya's newly-elected President, Uhuru Kenyatta, Saturday pledged to tackle insecurity with the full force of Kenya's resources and cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC). Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, has urged the Kenyan president-elect, Uhuru Kenyatta, to form a truly national government that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of all Kenyans, including his opponents and their supporters. Full text...

Lomé, Togo (PANA) – The Togolese National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) will commence the registration of voters on 15 March, 2013, for the upcoming parliamentary and local government elections, PANA reported Saturday, quoting a CENI source. Full text...

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's first President, Jomo Kenyatta, was declared Kenya's fourth President on Saturday, handing out the country's biggest electoral defeat to popular politician Raila Odinga. Full text...

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's founding president, Jomo Kenyatta, has been officially declared winner of the 4 March, 2013, presidential election in Kenya. Full text...

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Uhuru Kenyatta, the deputy Prime Minister of Kenya, cruised past the 50.3% mark required to be declared the outright winner of the Kenyan presidential polls although the official result is yet to be announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Full text...

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - With 5.88 million votes in his favour, Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of founding Kenyan President, inched closer to the presidency with votes in 264 of 291 constituencies counted. Full text...

New York, US (PANA) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) said it has set 9 July as the trial date for Kenyan presidential contender Uhuru Kenyatta and two former Kenyan officials for post-election crimes in 2007, a statement said on Friday. Full text...